Dubbed as the Home of Global Achievers, the University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP) has proven once more that it truly deserves the title when its Padunungan contenders came home all heads up after being declared over-all champion in the recent 2009 Padunungan competition held in Legazpi, Albay on October 26- 28.

The Consuelo "Chito" Madrigal Foundation - Bikol (CCMF-Bikol), in cooperation with the Parish Pastoral Council, held tree planting activities in honor of Our Lady of Penafrancia in various parishes of the Archdiocese of Caceres. On October 17, CCMF-Bikol's staff and volunteers planted acacia and mahogany trees in three parishes in Pili, namely Christ the King Parish, St. Therese of Child Jesus, and St. Rose of Lima. The respective Parish Pastoral Council identified the sites for planting.

LEGAZPI CITY, Nov. 4 - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office for Bikol here is pushing the establishment of a new weighbridge along the Maharlika Highway to address the problem on overloading, the main culprit in the rapid deterioration of the highway.

LEGAZPI CITY, Nov. 5 --- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Bicol issued a order suspending the issuance of charcoal permits in villages within the periphery of the Bicol Natural Park (BNP), one of the remaining lowland dipterocarp forests in the country.

The last day of October, a few days into All Souls' Day, the thinker who told us that we live in a universe of opposition - of three circles composed of "A," "Not-A," and the one in the middle that was known as "Not-A and not Not-A."

We have always affirmed the truism that the best resource an organization-or a nation for that matter-has is its people, its human resource. And it is in view of this that we laud the Albay Provincial Government headed by Gov. Joey Salceda for the reported granting of a "14th month pay" as well as a P15,000 cash gift to the employees of the said provincial government. What is equally significant about this decision of the Albay Provincial Government is that the funds to be used for this "well-deserved reward" of the provincial capitol's employees are coming from savings of an LGU that was aggressive in effecting its social programs.

SA PAGRULUWASAN KAN KADAKOL na mga endorsement kan 'pambansang kamao' na si Manny Pacquiao, kadakol akong nagkakadarangog na reaksiyon kun tano subuot si Pacquiao an piniling endorser kan mga kapitalistang an natura kan produkto enot nang sulnupanon. Kadakol sa mga nagkokorokonyohan na mga paradalan sa telebisyon an napapangirit asin labi-labi an pagtuyaw sa mga komersyal kan boksingero. Sa mga kahobenan, punto an mga komersyal ni Pacquiao nin mga pag-arog-arog na may katuyuhan na magpangirit. Alagad sa karaskasan na paghiling, ano man nanggad an remalaso?

I delivered the invocation to AGMA (Annual General Membership Assembly) of CASURECO II last October 31, 2009 held at the Civic Center, Naga City. And this is my story. I received a call inviting me to give an invocation to AGMA on October 31, at 1pm at the Civic Center . I did not know what AGMA stood for. I had no inkling it had to do with CASURECO II. After checking my calendar, I said yes. In today's parlance, it's a "no brainer." I believed my participation is a duty intrinsically related to my priesthood. Judging at a beauty pageant or even a singing contest is another thing.

LEGAZPI CITY, Nov. 6 - The Social Welfare and Development Office in the province of Albay has started its stock filing of food relief items specially rice which will be distributed to evacuees in case heavy rains continue to pour.

LEGAZPI CITY, Nov. 5 --- Mayon volcano's edifice continues to swell, signs that magma is still building up, which is an indication that the volcano's state of unrest might lead to a major eruption, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) told the Philippines News Agency, Thursday.