When Cory Aquino was on her knees, with rosary beads rolling in her fingers, eyes shut in prayer, she was a picture of a daughter relying on the Blessed Mother's intercession.  When she spoke of her faith, her eyes danced in the glow of the Father's light. There was no doubt there was truth in her words. When Cory Aquino spoke of her presidency, she knew where her power emanated -from the people. Not in the hands of the military and the games the generals play.  Not in the bottomline of corporations and the influence of their advertising campaigns.

NAGA CITY-In recognition of the legacies of the country's two icons of democracy, the city council of Naga passed an ordinance that will name one of the city's thoroughfares as "Ninoy and Cory Avenue."

MANILA, August 7, 2009- Catholic bishops said they will keep watchful eyes on the implementation of a law extending the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program with reforms.

NAGA CITY -- AFTER A SERIES OF INVESTIGATIVE VISITS at supposed completed reforestation projects of the DENR under the Bicol River Basin and Water Management Program (BRBWMP) since February this year, a Multisectoral Committee (MSC) created as a "watchdog" for the rapid appraisal of the BRBWMP reforestation projects, had expressed dismay at the inaction of the environment agency regarding findings of alleged irregularities on the multi-million reforestation program.

Cory has left us a great many challenges to continue fighting for like a new president in 2010, clean and honest elections, stamping out graft and corruption, and building a better future for our people. The spontaneous outpouring of love and support for her and the indubitable rekindling of the EDSA spirit vis-à-vis the widespread sentiment of wala-kang-mapili from among the "presidentiables" and GMA's cryptic SONA in sharp contrast with Cory's Paalam before, all seem to point to one thing that can give us reason for hope: Noynoy for President.

THE TITLE OF THIS COLUMN is from the poem of Chiara Lubich. The homily of the Jesuit Father Catalino Arevalo during President Corazon Aquino's funeral mass spoke of her selflessness, faith, and love for her family. I think great men and women lived their lives with a great sense of sacrifice, with a tenacity of purpose and a consistency of life that finds its source from an ardent love of God and neighbor. I would like to dedicate this poem to President Corazon Aquino who was not only an icon of democracy but a living witness of faith.

We all live with models. We identify with a model aiming to become alike, to in a way take in the model's characteristic behaviour, to copy it so we become a bit of who the model is.

Nabuhay akong nagkaroon ng politikal na kamulatan sa kasagsagan ng diktaduryang Marcos. At bahagi ng kamulatang ito, ang pag-challenge ni Cory Aquino sa diktadurya. Bago siya pumasok sa asasinasyon ng kanyang asawang si Ninoy, isinumpa raw ang henerasyon namin-"ang martial law babies"-na ang tangi naming pangulong makikilala ay si Marcos, at matapos, si Imelda.

BOTOLAN, Zambales, Aug. 7 -- More than 1,000 families were affected as 10 barangays in this town went under water after a protected dike here collapsed due to heavy rains brought by typhoon "Kiko" late Thursday

JUBAN, Sorsogon, Aug. 6 -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has earmarked P7 million for the construction of 100 housing units under the government's core shelter program implemented nationwide for homeless families.