MAKATI CITY, Philippines (UCAN) - A Catholic forum on World Earth Day rejected the commercial sale of genetically modified eggplants even though no safety issues related to the product have been recorded.

VATICAN, April 21, 2010-- Recalling a recent meeting with victims of sex abuse by clergy, Pope Benedict XVI reiterated his promise that the church was doing everything it could to end abuse. During his April 17-18 trip to Malta, "I wanted to meet with some people -- victims of abuse by some members of clergy," the pope told about 15,000 people gathered in St. Peter's Square for his general audience April 21.

MANILA, April 22, 2010-The clerical sex abuse crisis should serve as a wake-up call for the Catholic hierarchy, a church official said. It also boils down, according to Monsignor Elmer Abacahin, to where the priests came from-seminary formation.

MANILA, April 24, 2010-Mindanao-based Catholic bishops and ulamas are set to meet later this month to discuss the upcoming May polls amid looming scenario of a failure of elections. Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla, convenor of Bishop-Ulama Conference (BUC), said the interfaith meeting is meant to gather more information to guide them in decision making should the elections come out not credible.

The CBCP has always felt the local Church has to play a strong role in turning elections into a vehicle of social change. So in the coming May 10 elections, what do bishops think are the changes most needed today?

This early, we voters should be pro-active and also lay our cards on the table, as it were, on what we would like our next Naga Mayor to do or to be. Remember, we the People are the boss, and the mayor and all other elected officials should only seat in office as our public servants. Regardless of their platform or plans, if any, still we need to air out the mandate we want them to fulfill. Democracy, after all, is to effect the people's will.

The country has been holding elections for more than half a century and yet nothing seems to have substantially changed. Local elections are still being fought with guns, goons, and gold while national elections are nothing more than popularity contests. Proof of this is the fact that the top rankings in the senatorial race are populated by reelectionists and former senators making a comeback, the same old names.

DAKULANG PARTE DAPAT kan bakasyon na Bikolnon an pagsakay sa tren para masaksihan an kagayonan kan mga lugar sa Camarines Sur asin Albay. Kun sasalingoyon an nakaagi, kinapital kan Manila Railroad Company kaidto an gayon kan Kabikolan tanganing gamiton sa saindang mga print advertisements kan 1940s-"Go south, there is Legaspi and Bicolandia with its gripping legends of beauty." Kun kaya sa advertorial na ini totoong tibaad matagbuan an pagmate nin paghidaw huli sa haros kumpletong pagkawara kan serbisyo kan tren sa Kabikolan. Saro ining industriya na dai nanggad dapat malingawan bilang instrumento kan pagbilog kan rehiyon na ini.

With the regular summer vacation soon drawing to a halt, the University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP), is now inviting enrollees who intend to receive a teaching certificate after completing their review for the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) this vacation.

BULUSAN, Sorsogon, April 22 -- The Aggrupation of Advocates for Environmental Protection (AGAP-Bulusan) Inc. has successfully launched recently the Mt. Bulusan Conquest Special held here recently highlighting Mt. Bulusan Mountaineering as its major activity.