IRIGA CITY ---  The Bicol Development and Learning Center Foundation Inc., the community extension arm of the University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP) catering to children with learning and physical disabilities, marked its sixth anniversary last month with a simple but meaningful activities.

Daet, Camarines Norte (7 April) -- The province of Camarines Norte is chosen as one of the three shortlisted areas with good practices from among the ten entries submitted nationwide to the Philippines Against Child Trafficking (PACT).

MANILA, April 12, 2009- The Catholic bishops' leadership urged a nation facing a financial crisis, conflict and increasing poverty not to lose hope, but to join in real solidarity for the good of the country. In his Easter message, Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President and Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said Filipinos can accomplish many things by acting in authentic unity.

ROME, April 9, 2009-- The Obama administration has seen three possible candidates it floated for the position of U.S. ambassador to the Holy See sunk due to their views on abortion. Additionally, a source at the Vatican confirmed to CNA that Professor Douglas Kmiec will not become the ambassador due to his stance on life issues.

With the President traveling to Rome in July, when he hopes to meet Pope Benedict XVI, not filling the position would be a major gaffe.

TIGAON, Camarines Sur, April 7 (PNA) -- With its development agenda deeply anchored on agriculture, this far-flung municipality at the inner northeast section of Bikol has set its goal towards becoming the premier agribusiness center of the region. The municipality is presently under the stewardship of Mayor Arnulf Bryan Fuentebella, the 33-year old son of congressman and former House Speaker Noli Fuentebella and grandson of the late Camarines Sur Governor Felix Fuentebella.

LEGAZPI CITY April 8 (PNA) -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) regional office here announced yesterday that they are now accepting applications for the recruitment of 500 new policemen this year. Chief Supt. Paterno Bangui, Bikol police regional director, said the recruitment was in line with government's job generation program to provide employment in the countryside.

MANILA, April 8, 2009─The world's leading human rights organization is looking at the Catholic Church to consistently make its moral voice heard against the series of human rights violations happening in the country. Human Rights Watch Director Kenneth Roth in a press briefing yesterday morning said they need the Church's moral authority to stress that "these (targeted killings) are wrong and a different solution has to be found."

Sorsogon Province (7 April) -- The RP-US Balikatan humanitarian mission formally opened here April 1 in a simple ceremony at Barangay Guruyan in Juban town, this province. Barangay Guruyan is one of the identified recipient barangays of the joint military forces' engineering and medical missions. Barangay Patag in Irosin, also among the identified priority areas, will receive health assistance, school buildings and road component projects.

“FENCE repainting project by Congressman Dato Arroyo.” “Iskolar ni Dato.” “School building: construction courtesy of Congressman Dato.”

Norman Owen is an economic and social historian. He is known for his big book on Bikol and the abaca industry entitled, Prosperity Without Progress: Manila Hemp and Material Life in the Philippines. He has written many articles and has visited Naga and other areas in Bikol many times.