We from Bicol Movement for Disaster Response (BMDR) are saddened by the fact that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her economic spokesperson Gary Olivar are callous to the plight of Mayon residents who have been evacuated due to the volcano's imminent eruption.

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 22- The Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed the allocation of P6 million for medicines and portable toilets for distribution in all evacuation centers in Albay province.

A sister vacationing, a Japanese brother in-law updating his textbook memories of Bikol from his geography classes, and another Japanese getting a chance to confront the colonial roots of a faith were my companions in driving through Canaman, Magarao, Bombon, Quipayo and Calabanga.

Last December 22, the Bicol River Basin and Watershed Management Project (BRBWMP) which is headed by Mr. Tomasito Monzon called for a press conference in which it was announced that the implementation of the Libmanan-Cabusao Dam Project (LCDP) was indefinitely suspended. The stated reason for the suspension was the unresolved matter regarding the relocation of more than 70 families who were identified as being adversely affected by the dam project. Once this issue has been addressed, that is, once the families have been relocated (the target date is 30 January 2010), the implementation of the dam project would resume.

Last December 22, the Bicol River Basin and Watershed Management Project (BRBWMP) which is headed by Mr. Tomasito Monzon called for a press conference in which it was announced that the implementation of the Libmanan-Cabusao Dam Project (LCDP) was indefinitely suspended. The stated reason for the suspension was the unresolved matter regarding the relocation of more than 70 families who were identified as being adversely affected by the dam project. Once this issue has been addressed, that is, once the families have been relocated (the target date is 30 January 2010), the implementation of the dam project would resume.

Germany's president Horst Köhler spoke to the nation this Christmas. One might wonder and ask: Does Germany have a President? Does it not have a Chancellor? And in fact that is correct. True political power in Germany is concentrated in the position of the Chancellor, who happens to be Angela Merkel.

LEGAZPI CITY-Liberal Party standard bearer Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino acknowledged on Tuesday the surge in the latest Pulse Asia survey of his cousin and rival, former Defense Secretary Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro. "My younger cousin's increase in figures in the latest survey, I admit, is dramatic," Aquino said.

Is it a mere coincidence to find Christmas towards the end of the year? Keeping in mind what transpired this year, we cannot help but brace ourselves for an unknown year to come. Would it be a year of more blessings or more chaos? Will we have better leaders or the same old ones? Will there be more stronger typhoons or some few ones next year?

The liturgy of the Mass at Dawn reminded us that the night is now past, the day has begun; the light radiating from the cave of Bethlehem shines upon us. The Bible and the Liturgy do not, however, speak to us about a natural light, but a different, special light, which is somehow directed to and focused upon "us", the same "us" for whom the Child of Bethlehem "is born". This "us" is the Church, the great universal family of those who believe in Christ, who have awaited in hope the new birth of the Saviour, and who today celebrate in mystery the perennial significance of this event.

MANILA, Dec. 23 - Scenic Mayon Volcano continues to send booming sounds and columns of ashes as high as 1000 meters across villages surrounding the mountain, but the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) clarified alert level 4 remains hoisted over the area. This means a hazardous eruption is possible within days, the Phivolcs said in a bulletin issued Wednesday.