MANILA, June 25, 2009-Pope Benedict XVI made an appeal again on Wednesday to the Abu Sayyaf to release their one remaining hostaged Red Cross volunteer.

A team of specialists from the Czech Republic returned to Naga City this month to assist in the implementation of the city government's 10-year solid waste plan. Jan Pavlik, the team's project manager, was accompanied by technical experts Jaroslav Jakubes, Jiri Klicpera, Jaroslav Koubal, and Ivo Pospisil. The experts conducted several inspections and engaged in dialogues with some city officials during their week-long stay.

Bicol Association of Catholic Schools' (BACS) president, Fr. Joel Tabora, S.J., expressed the view that the joint statement recently released by the Naga City government and the Archdiocese of Caceres is an invitation to further discern the relevance of the military parade to the celebration of the Peñafrancia Fiesta. Earlier, the BACS had issued its statement opposing activities which do not have relevance or do not enhance the religious feast's celebration, among them the Military Parade.

We welcome the development brought about by Nicanor Perlas' bid to seek the presidency and see this a sign that people espousing alternative forms of governance and policies are now coming out seeking a break from the current situation of our country.

On 19 June 2009 members of the Bicol Association of Catholic Schools (BACS) who had joined the military parade in the past came together in the spirit of discernment and reflection on the conduct of the Peñafrancia Fiesta.  Our Archbishop Leonardo Z. Legaspi, O.P., D.D., had called the discernment and reflection forth.  In the wake of many secularized and commercialized fiesta activities, which tended to draw people away from true devotion to Ina, he challenged not only our schools but all devotees of Ina to a more authentically devout celebration of the fiesta.

MANILA, June 25, 2009-Street parties and beauty pageants will no longer be allowed starting this year's celebration of the Peñafrancia Festival in Naga City. The Catholic Church in Bikol and local government authorities agreed to ban the fiesta's civic components to avoid diverting the public's attention from the church's celebration. The agreement was reached recently between Caceres Archbishop Leonardo Legaspi and Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo.

A solemn mass and an offering of healing on June 22 momentously marked the 33rd birthday celebration of UNEP President Atty. Remelisa Alfelor-Moraleda with no less than the Mission Director of the SVD Mission Philippines, Rev. Fr. Algerico "Jerry" M. Orbos as the main celebrant.  On that red- letter day, UNEP faculty members, students and well-wishers gathered at the University of Northeastern Philippines' gymnasium to offer their own little wishes and prayers.

I SHALL BEGIN THIS wit h a period. Which is wrong. Very wrong. And you know that this—this—is even wrong.

LEGAZPI CITY, June 20, 2009-Bishop Administrator Lucilo B. Quiambao has challenged all the priests to restrain from secularism, worldly sciences and preserve virtues most relevant to them during the high mass held yesterday at St. Gregory the Great Cathedral, here.

The anti-Charter change (Chacha) and anti-Arroyo forces had barely a week to mount the muscle-flexing protest action yesterday in Ayala Avenue, Makati City and in major urban centers nationwide. They achieved a big measure of success by gathering thousands in Makati and hundreds if not thousands more in various cities and big towns nationwide.