As the official campaign period for the local candidates began last March 26, we can safely assume that the final stretch towards the May 2010 Elections is well underway. Quite visibly, the campaign efforts of political parties and candidates had intensified: motorcades here and there, tarpaulins, and posters of candidates strewn ubiquitously, campaign sorties held almost simultaneously, and house-to-house visits by the candidates themselves.

OFWs and domestic helpers are still going through the same nightmare that Flor Contemplacion suffered. Many rot in jail. Several have been sentenced to death. Thousands suffer abuse from their employers and neglected by their government. To these OFWs, the Arroyo regime is "chief executioner of the rights and welfare of OFWs."

Women victims of violence who seek justice normally go through series of questioning from the police. The investigation process forces them to recall and report their ordeal, painfully, from start to finish, making sure all details are documented. In most cases, it involves medical examinations that require women to undress or allow their bodies to be checked.

SA REHIYON NA INI nin mga rito asin simbahan, an Semana Santa sarong panahon nin pagtuninong. Orog na sa mga banwaan na daing gayo nariribaraw kan maribok na parakpaták nin mga traysikel asin ruab nin nag-iirinotan na mga sasakyan, an semanang ini panahon nin pagtenir sa mga harong-harong, signos nin nakatùdan na pag-ontok na may kaibahan pamibi asin paghorop-hórop. Para sa mga henerasyon na naábot pa an saindang mga kagugurángan, natukduan pa sinda kan mga gawê-gawè tuyong naabot an panahon na ini. Sa kinaban kan mga Katoliko asin iba pang mga pagtubod na nag-roromdom kan pagsakit asin pagkagadan kan Kagurangnan, an Semana Santa panahon man nin pagsakripisyo, asin saro na digdi an pag-ayuno o paglihis nin pagkakan minsan an iba minapili na sanáng dai magkakan nin karne sosog sa tradisyon kan mga Hudeo kaidtong daan na panahon.

LEGAZPI CITY, March 26- As the campaign period for local candidates started Friday, the Bicol regional police office based here has placed all its field units the island province of Catanduanes under heightened alert against possible retaliatory attacks by communist guerrillas for recent setbacks suffered from intensified military operations in the area.

DAET, CAMARINES NORTE (26 March) - BARELY TWO MONTHS before the May polls, a dragging electoral protest since 2007 has ended at the Provincial Capitol here, with incumbent Gov. Jesus "Atoy" Typoco Jr. finally giving-up his office shortly after 5:00 P.M. on Thursday (March 25), after a "Letter of Recognition" served by DILG Bicol Director Blandino Maceda had recognized Edgardo "Egay" Tallado, as the new chief executive of the province.

LEGAZPI CITY, March 23 - The Department of Social Welfare and Development-United Nations Development Programme (DSWD-UNDP) joint recovery project continues in Bikol region to help victims of various calamities.

In pursuit of its ideals to provide their Nursing students with a productive and competitive training ground for health care, the University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP) had recently tied up with South East Asia 's leading television network ABS-CBN, for their student's affiliation.

MASBATE CITY, March 26 -- Determined to put an end to the culture of violence and fear during election period in this island province of Bikol, authorities here have shifted to high gear their campaign against loose firearms and political armed groups.

LEGAZPI CITY, March 24 -- Residents and the business sector here are anticipating frequent power brownouts following the recent termination of the Albay Electric Cooperative (ALECO) operation and management (O&M) contract of the National Power Corporation (NPC).