NAGA CITY-Hundreds of farmers, peasants and militant leaders conducted protest actions Wednesday (June 10) in key cities in Bikol to denounce the passage of a House resolution (HR 1109) seeking to convene a constitutional assembly (Con-Ass) to amend the Constitution.

MANILA - The Filipino people's vote against the convening of a constituent assembly has been cast. Between 10,000 to 15,000 people joined the rally in Makati on June 10 to show their indignation over the railroading of House Resolution 1109, which provides for the convening of Congress into a constituent assembly with the Senate and House voting as one. Thousands more joined rallies in Baguio, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Laguna, Dumaguete, Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo, Davao, Cagayan de Oro and General Santos.

Archbishop Leonardo Z. Legaspi, O.P. of Caceres is leading penitential processions and the celebration of masses against the spread of the A (H1N1) virus and other diseases.

How exactly will Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo consult "the people" regarding the proposal from the Naga City Executive Council on Tercentenary Celebration to move the schedule of the civic-military parades?

Independence Day for us, I bet, is just another holiday we look forward to. No work and no classes. Unlike Christmas or Holy Week that have deep meanings for us. Celebrating independence would have no point unless it can nurture the following essential elements that make a country: (1) a sense of rootedness or historical awareness, (2) a heartfelt bond with others or sense of belonging, and (3) a personal commitment for the country or sense of mission for the common good. Only if we can go through these three bases, as it were, would we find the home plate that would then allow us all to jump for joy every Independence Day!

IRIGA CITY --- The Kalikasan Group (K-Group) of the University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP), in support of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) program, has lined-up various activities to mark the celebrations of the Environment Month this June and the World Environment Day last June 5.

I left the Philippines last May 15 just when the world was in panic about a kind of flu tagged as having to do with pigs. The image of this animal and the symptoms of high fever were just too much to bear for human beings. The birds brought SARS; the monkeys offered Ebola. Now, the swine is proffering a new disease.

June 5, 9:15 PM. There he is again! Back to Germany for the second time! Oh no, this is not Berlin, it is Dresden. Obama is not heading for Berlin in this visit. In fact he is not really into meeting anyone from Berlin. His concern is completely different.

LEGAZPI CITY - - ON THE EVE of the 50th Charter anniversary of this city, Mayor Noel E. Rosal revealed that after two years the city had finally recovered from the destructive effects of typhoon "Reming" in November of 2006, with the help of the private sector, the national government and foreign agencies which poured in some P 5-Billion in economic and infra investments in this prime Bikol city.

LEGAZPI CITY, June 12 (PNA) - Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile has defended President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on the issue of Charter Change (Cha-Cha) being pushed by the House of Representatives.