MANILA - It what appears to be a challenge to the assertions of conservative groups and the government that the Church should not be involved in politics and the "affairs of the state," priests from all over the country - in a historic first - gathered to discern and discuss their role amid these turbulent times.

MANILA, Oct. 23, 2009-Catholic bishops on Friday said that they will seek a dialogue with President Arroyo to express their concerns to aerial spraying of pesticides in banana plantations. Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said all they want is to bring to Arroyo's attention concrete cases related to aerial dust cropping.

VIRAC, Catanduanes, Oct. 23- This provincial capital is raising over P83 million to finance the establishment of a controlled solid waste dumpsite within a vast sanitary landfill site at the town's outskirt.

Twenty-one journalism students from the University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP) were declared winners in the recently concluded Division Secondary Press Conference conducted on October 11 and 12 at the Rinconada Technical Vocational School at Sto. Domingo, Iriga City .

MANILA - He has been hinting it ever since he made himself visible again by embarking on provincial sorties. Thus, when former president Joseph "Erap" Estrada announced, at the end of a 30-minute speech, that he would run for president again, nobody was surprised. Every one was expecting it even if the majority opinion is that his running for reelection violates the 1987 Constitution.

I learned about a new mechanism that ensures substantial and sustained involvement of civil society in addressing human rights issues in our country. In a Training Conference on Human Rights of Women in Southeast Asia sponsored by the Swedish International Development Agency, a representative from the United Nations Human Rights Council introduced this mechanism called the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

Following the EDSA Revolution of 1986, one of the innovations the writers of the 1987 Constitution introduced was the "free and open party system" or multi-party system. Simply put, this is a multiple choice selection for voters based on allowing as many political parties people would want to organize. And to date we can somehow see some stability in the host of political parties now preparing to compete in next year's national and local elections. Of crucial note here is the presidential race where the question of standard bearer is literally the ultimate issue.

PILI, CAMARINES SUR (18 October) - A local gang leader known as "Capt. Decon," who heads a crime gang called " Mission X Death Squad" or " Mission XDS Bitag," died in a shoot-out with composite units of the police and army intelligence battalion in the abandoned Subadan Resort at Zone 1, Barangay Binanuanan in this capital town.

Naga City (22 October) - The PANGATAMAN-BIKOL (Bicol Center for Environmental Protection) threw its support to the people of Lupi who are opposing the P700-M dam which will submerge a large portion of the town.

LEGAZPI CITY, Oct. 23 ---Mayon Volcano continues to disgorge fluctuating levels of sulfur dioxide gas - a sign that may lead to an eruption. This prompted the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) to be on heightened alert. It is now closely checking the restive behavior of the volcano signified by high level of sulfur dioxide emission and high and low frequency volcanic quakes.