To be honest I have not seen a sleigh bell and the only silver bell I have seen was in an antique shop, away from anything Christmasy. But I promise you when I sing "Sleigh bells ring, are you listening," I will have the fervor to own that old carol, Winter Wonderland.

Amid the dramatic resurgence of Albay from the natural catastrophes that had befallen it of recent, the Diocese of Legazpi has welcomed Most Rev. Joel Z. Baylon as its sixth bishop last week. Bishop Baylon is in all respects an Albayano, having spent his early years and young adulthood at Albay, and as such his installation as Legazpi's prelate serves as a homecoming after having served various pastoral and ecclesiastical functions outside the province.

Our government leaders have grown up and survived in a culture of scratching each other's backs. Presently led by Gloria Arroyo, this government has inherited a political culture carried down from past administrations. Except the administration of Cory Aquino, I think.

NAGA CITY (11 December) -Camarines Sur Representative Dato Arroyo is willing to recommend to the National Irrigation Administration the temporary suspension of the construction of the P1.9 billion Libmanan-Cabusao dam project amid "social acceptability concerns," Presidential Assistant Secretary for Bicol Affairs Tomasito Monson said Tuesday.

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur, Dec. 9 -- Army troopers recovered from an abandoned safe house on Tuesday a cache of high powered firearms and ammunition in a remote village in Mandaon town in Masbate, report reaching the 9th Army Infantry Division said Wednesday.

CAMP OLA, LEGAZPI CITY (11 December) - AFTER TWO GUNMEN attempted to assassinate a provincial board-member in Kalipay, Masbate City last December 7, the PNP regional office in Bikol and COMELEC have expressed concern that the shooting incident may again be a prelude to the traditional culture of violence during elections in this island-province.

MANILA, Dec. 4, 2009- Suspended Catholic priest, Eddie Panlilio, current Pampanga governor, is facing a major sanction as he opted to continue his political career over his priesthood.

MANILA, Dec. 1, 2009- Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar formally assumed the presidency of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) today. The 69-year old, who was elected last July by an overwhelming majority of bishops from 86 dioceses, will serve a two-year term. He is the 18th head of bishops' collegial body.

MANILA, Dec. 1, 2009- Catholic bishops yesterday opposed calls for the revival of the death penalty, for whatever purpose it may be. Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco said that no society has the right to take life.

MANILA, Dec. 3, 2009- The 79-year old Irish missionary who was recently held by unidentified armed men in southern Philippines for 31 days left at 1:05 AM today on board Etihad Flight EY 421 for a five-week vacation in Ireland by way of Abu Dhabi.