NAGA CITY--They came and burned US flags but something was eerily missing amid the fiery speeches and loud protestations calling for the scrapping of the Visiting Forces agreement, the effigy of the commander in chief of the military troops they would not welcome-— Barack Obama. Thousands of protesters from all over Bikol Region had joined last week’s anti-VFA caravan, which culminated in a big rally in Legazpi City. But lost amid the rally was the littlest mention of Obama, even as the loudspeakers blurted out anti-American sentiments.

Lenten is upon us once again. It is a time to be with the Lord in a special way, a time to pray, to fast, and thus to follow Him on the way to Jerusalem, to Golgotha, and to the final victory over death.

MASBATE CITY--Call it the curious case of Bishop Baylon. Bishop Joel Z. Baylon of the Diocese of Masbate has called for a status quo in the top elective positions in this province come 2010 elections.

LEGAZPI CITY--THE HIKE in commercial rice prices in Bikol by P 31.00 to P34.00 pesos per kilo since late January this year, is expected to go down to its previous levels at P 25.00 to P 30.00 per kilos comes March or April this year.

LEGAZPI CIT Y--The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) regional office in Bikol has set March 31, 2009 as deadline for the 1st quarter contribution among individually paying members.

LEGAZPI CITY--The Spanish government through the Agencia Español de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID) turned over on Thursday some P110 million worth of infrastructure projects to the province of Albay, Governor Joey Sarte Salceda said. The turnover ceremonies led by Luis Romero Arias, Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines and Salceda including city and town executives here were held separately on Thursday in the cities of Legazpi, Ligao and the town of Daraga where the Spanish government projects are located...

LEGAZPI CITY--The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Masbate has filed multiple frustrated murder charges against seven top ranking New People’s Army (NPA) leaders for the ambush of Masbate Governor Elisa Kho last January 11 in Cataingan town in Masbate.

IRIGA CITY--The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) bestowed the choral group of the University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP) here with the prestigious “Ani ng Sining” award during the closing rites of the 2009 Philippine International Arts Festival last Feb. 28 at the historic Manila Hotel.

The SM Environm ent Committtee’s first major project for 2009, the SM Supermalls Green Bag Project was conceived with the recycling principle in mind. The bag, intended to reduce solid waste as customers shop, was launched simultaneously in all SM Malls and is now available for excited SM City Naga mallers. An environmental sustainability initiative, the limited edition bag features the art of famous Filipino painter, Mr. Manuel “Manny” Baldemor.

In a consultation-meeting held on February 24, 2009, the NCF administration through its Vice President for Finance, Ms. Emerita V. Padua, announced that the school will have no tuition fee increase for the coming school year 2009-2010.