Articles in "All"

SORSOGON CITY--Members of the provincial legislative board of Sorsogon have expressed support for the full autonomy of Bikol, the second poorest among the country’s 16 regions, as an alternative to better governance and progress.
A multi-sectoral group, under the First Regional Forum on Bicol Autonomy launched over the weekend, spearheads the move.
Sorsogon provincial board member Arnulfo Perete said through a genuine and full autonomy, Bikol could fully harness its potentials to emerge as a “super region,” considering its rich natural resources.

MANILA--Members and friends of Focolare have observed the first death anniversary of Focolare founder, Chiara Lubich through a Eucharistic celebration and a book launch of her writings. Papal Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams led the memorial Mass together with His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, other bishops and clergy of the Archdiocese of Manila at the Manila Cathedral on March 13.
Bishop-emeritus of Alaminos Most Reverend Jesus A. Cabrera, during his homily, described Lubich as a woman full of love for God, for men and for the Church.

MANILA--The Gospel may be 2,000 years old, but the
Catholic Church is grateful to new Internet-driven technologies for aiding their work of spreading the Scripture.
The Archdiocese of Caceres has recently launched a new weekly “podcast” of Sunday homilies aimed at reaching Catholic Filipinos working abroad. Podcasts are like an audio broadcast but aimed at—or subscribed to by—specific audiences. The audio can be accessed live or downloaded for listening at a more convenient time.

Some of the count ry’s top merchants had a glimpse of the upcoming SM City Naga during the recent Tenants’ Preview at the SMX Convention Center. SM Prime Holdings President Hans T. Sy welcomed the tenants during the event together with SCMC President Annie Garcia, VP for Leasing Daisy Chua, and SM City Lucena’s Mall Manager Jason Terrenal.

LEGAZPI CITY--Women have greater educational advantage over men in all six provinces of the Bikol Region both in 2000 and 2003, estimates of gender-related development indicators generated by the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) showed.
The Gender Development Index (GDI) measures the average achievement in the three basic dimensions captured in the Human Development Index (HDI) – health, education and standard of living – adjusted to account for inequalities between women and men.

Ligao City--The children who witnessed the gunfight between forces of the New People’s Army (NPA) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) last Feb. 18 in barangay Balanac are severely traumatized, according to Cylek Manano of the Children’s Rehabilitation Center.
The Children’s Rehabilitation Center is a non-government organization which helps children involved in armed conflicts in the country cope with physical health problems and emotional disorders.

Legazpi City --Environment activists rescued what they believe might be the smallest living offspring of the world’s biggest fish— a whaleshark (rhincodon typus) the size of a forearm.
The World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature said maritime officials, along with the environment activists in Pilar, Sorsogon, a town in the eastern Philippines, rescued the 15 inch–long newborn whale shark last week and released it in deep waters.

Naga City --Nicole is a victim again, according to the official statement of Gabriela. According to the statement released by the progressive group, Nicole’s retraction through her new affidavit is a clear manifestation of the pressure the Subic rape victim is experiencing.
 

NAGA CITY- Paciencia Tabinas, city auditor, spoke for Mayor Jesse Robredo on Friday (March 14), saying that the city government had not hidden the 2007 Commission on Audit Report from public.
Tabinas was reacting to the issues raised by Vox Bikol columnist Atty. Che Carpio, regarding the claims to transparency of the Naga City government through the posting of vital information in its website.
“COA reports are very accessible to anyone since it is posted on the website of [COA],” she said.

LEGAZPI CITY--At least six policemen and two civilians were injured by an explosion from an improvised landmine that hit the passenger jeep they were riding on Thursday in Balud, Masbate, a Philippine Army (PA) report said Friday.
Hurt in the blast were Police Officer (PO)2 Rogelio Bolante, PO1s Ian Mark Antiporda, Menard Danao, Darius Capili, Juvy Llunar Ronel Paac and civilians Editha Race and Gilbert Leonor, driver.

VATICAN--Pope Benedict XVI said the recent murders in Northern Ireland were not only an affront to the sacredness of human life, but risked derailing the peace process and dashing people’s hopes for reconciliation.
He made an urgent appeal that “no one will again give in to the horrendous temptation of violence and that all will increase their efforts to continue building -- through the patient effort of dialogue -- a peaceful, just and reconciled society.”