LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – The provincial government of Albay yesterday said it would seek permission from the Department of Tourism (DOT) and other concerned organizations to become the lead agency in regulating the flow of trekkers to Mt. Mayon.

MANILA, Dec. 31, 2012—Catholic Church officials expressed deep sadness over the death of Jesuit priest Fr. James Reuter.

“I am very sorry to hear of his death. He was a very pious and exemplary Jesuit priest who was always wearing his sotana, the habit of Jesuits,” said Bishop Arturo Bastes of Sorsogon.

“He was a great communicator of the Good News of Jesus, using modern media, even musicals, plays and movies,” the bishop said.

MANILA, Philippines - A four-year-old boy died after being accidentally shot while playing near their home in Mandaluyong City during the New Year revelry, police reported Tuesday.

MANILA, Dec. 29, 2012–An Ateneo de Manila theology professor has resigned, realizing that he could “no longer share the path” taken by the Jesuit-led university community that went all-out for the passage of the reproductive health (RH) law despite opposition from the Catholic Church.

Prof. Rafael Dy-Liacco, in a resignation letter, decried the “failure” of Ateneans to reject what he said was an alliance with a “spirit of disdain for the Church” that had worked for the RH bill’s passage.

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino urged Filipinos to “paddle in the same direction” and work for national unity as he led the annual ceremonies yesterday commemorating the execution of national hero Jose Rizal.

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has quietly signed the Reproductive Health (RH) bill into law, although the exact date of the signing is not yet clear.

In this Year of Faith, I express my Christmas greetings and good wishes in these words taken from one of the Psalms: “Truth has sprung out of the earth”. Actually, in the text of the Psalm, these words are in the future: “Kindness and truth shall meet; / justice and peace shall kiss. / Truth shall spring out of the earth, /and justice shall look down from heaven. / The Lord himself will give his benefits; / our land shall yield its increase. / Justice shall walk before him, / and salvation, along the way of his steps” (Ps 85:11-14).

MANILA, Dec. 26, 2012— A 400 year-old church was gutted by a fire early dawn Wednesday in a remote village in Camarines Norte, police reports said.

Weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration on Monday said "Quinta" has strengthened into a tropical storm.

Tropical depression Quinta has moved closer to Surigao City, the weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said on Tuesday.