VATICAN, Jan. 26, 2010-- Pope John Paul II always took penitence seriously, spending entire nights lying with his arms outstretched on the bare floor, fasting before ordaining priests or bishops and flagellating himself, said the promoter of his sainthood cause.

MANILA, Jan. 28, 2010-The more than 5,000 priests and bishops' participants to the ongoing national congress of the clergy currently being held at World Trade Center, Pasay City, have donated one million pesos to the devastated Caribbean nation of Haiti.

ROME, Jan. 26, 2010-- In his homily during the celebration of Vespers at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls on Monday evening, Benedict XVI outlined the essential elements of convergence between all Christian faiths. He also called for a "new, intense evangelization" to respond to important issues in the world today.

Sad to say, Mayor Robredo (through Mr. Prilles; email 01/26/10) is now accusing me, among other personal attacks, of having "cherry-picked" data and of "intellectual dishonesty." He also dragged in Fr. Wilmer Tria and took a swipe at Bicol Mail's editorial writer who allegedly "swallowed your propaganda hook, line and sinker." Given the email's scurrilous and possibly libelous nature, I am unable to give it space here following the ethics of journalism and basic civility.

Sad to say, Mayor Robredo (through Mr. Prilles; email 01/26/10) is now accusing me, among other personal attacks, of having "cherry-picked" data and of "intellectual dishonesty." He also dragged in Fr. Wilmer Tria and took a swipe at Bicol Mail's editorial writer who allegedly "swallowed your propaganda hook, line and sinker." Given the email's scurrilous and possibly libelous nature, I am unable to give it space here following the ethics of journalism and basic civility.

Last week, it was reported that since the COMELEC gun ban had been implemented, 13 violators had been apprehended in the region. "According to the Regional Election Monitoring Action Center (REMAC) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) regional office here, police arrested 11 violators in Masbate and one each in the provinces of Camarines Sur [sic] as of January 18, 2010," stated the news report.

SAN FERNANDO, Camarines Sur-In a thriving eatery along the National Highway in Naga City, there is one thing on display aside from kinalas-the distinctive hot broth prepared by mixing beef strips with noodles and spices.

MANILA - The decision of the second division of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) junking the disqualification case against former president Joseph Estrada makes the May 2010 elections a historical aberration. For the first time since the people's ouster of the Marcos dictatorship, a former president has been allowed to seek for the second time the highest position in the country.

MANILA - The decision of the second division of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) junking the disqualification case against former president Joseph Estrada makes the May 2010 elections a historical aberration. For the first time since the people's ouster of the Marcos dictatorship, a former president has been allowed to seek for the second time the highest position in the country.

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 29 - The Naval Forces Southern Luzon in partnership with Office of Civil Defense led anew an outreach project for the victims of Mayon Volcano eruption in response to a call of Albay Governor Joey Salceda for assistance.