LEGAZPI CITY, Albay, Aug. 13 -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo directed the Department of Public Works and Highways today to expedite the completion of the Presentacion-Caramoan coastal road in Camarines Sur. The Chief Executive, who was scheduled to visit Caramoan, deferred the road inspection due to inclement weather. She instead proceeded to her scheduled visit to this city to inaugurate the re-opening of the tolling facilities of Legaspi Oil Company in Barangay Arimbay.

Naga City - - THE EQUIPMENT OF A LOCAL CONSTRUCTION FIRM HERE, has been razed by suspected communist rebels in a series of three incidents, the police provincial office (PPO) here had reported.

ROME, August 12, 2009-- The president of Etica Bank in Italy, Fabio Salviato, said this week that the new encyclical by Pope Benedict XVI, "Caritas in Veritate," is a guide for redefining the world economic system.

NAGA CITY-Police investigators are yet to find out who raped and killed April Joy, 7, who on Sunday was found lifeless and without clothes beside a creek in Barangay Cagaycay in Goa town in Camarines Sur.

Naga City -- Reacting to reports which allege that the Archdiocese of Caceres has demanded from the Naga City Government that vending in the City's plazas be prohibited, Caceres Communications Commission Director Fr. Louie Occiano issued a press statement belying such allegations. In his statement, Fr. Occiano clarified that the Archdiocese did not make any such demands.

NAGA CITY, Aug. 14 -- Police anti-narcotics operatives swooped down on Thursday a house of a suspected illegal drug trader and seized close to P4 million worth of Metamphetamine hydrochloride, or commonly known as shabu, in a subdivision here.

IRIGA CITY--The University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP) will declare a “Cory Day” starting next year as a lasting tribute to former President Corazon C. Aquino, the university top official announced after the mass celebrated in honor of the country’s icon of democracy here last Aug. 4.

THE CLOUDS ARE GREY for Filipino artists today. The air, dry for us, cannot be breathed for sustenance of life. I refer, of course, to the death of dignity and honor of the Order of the National Artists in our country. Interestingly, at the time of writing, I am in Manila waiting for the road to Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, to be opened again for traffic. Bayombong is the birth place of one of the greatest influences of Philippine literature, National Artist for Literature Dr. Edith Tiempo, and she will be paid tribute there.

A civil society group composed of representatives from the media, NGOs, and the academe has recently alerted the public of the irregularities surrounding the implementation of the DENR's multi-million reforestation project in the province of Camarines Sur. At issue is the DENR's report stating the completion of the reforestation efforts at Brgy. Lupi of Tinambac town; this claim is seriously challenged by the said multi-sectoral group led by Fortunato Mendoza. There is good reason to believe Mendoza and his group and be suspicious of the regional DENR office on this matter.

Cory did not deserve those yellow ribbons. Those were touchy-feely artifacts. The kind that one sends to a puppy love. But not to a tough woman. Cory was a tough woman. She was tough because of the principles she held on to, stubbornly perhaps, but nevertheless as steadfast in the manner male politicians would rarely show.