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For Anti-VFA Groups in Bikol, It's an Extended Honeymoon for Barack Obama

Jonas Cabiles Soltes

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.

Commercial Rice Prices Expected to Normalize by March

Sonny Sales

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.
National Food Authority (NFA) regional director for operations, Atty. Jose Guevara, told Vox Bikol that the rise in prices is due to current market demands with the farmer sector still in the planting months; meanwhile the NFA is in the process of milling some 1.1-Million cavans of Palay produced last year in mainland Bikol.

Joma and Top Communist Leaders Charged with Frustrated Murder in Masbate

PNA

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.
Facing multiple frustrated murder with damages to property are Jose Maria Sison alias Joma, Luis Jalondoni, Gregorio Rosal, Luis Gonzaga aka “JP”, Greg Banares, Joel Atibagos alias Ka Joel of Barangay Parina, Palanas, Masbate, and Elizabeth Yanzon of Barangay Gahit, Cataingan.

Masbate Bishop Says "status quo" Will Stop Election-Related Violence

Jonas Cabiles Soltes

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.
Bishop Baylon said this coming election would be relatively peaceful if the three incumbent district representatives and the governor of the province would run for re-election unopposed.
The three congressmen are Narciso Bravo Jr. (First District), Rizalina Lanete (Third District), and Antonio Kho (Second District). Elisa Olga Kho, wife of Rep. Kho, is the governor.

NCCA Cites UNEP Chorale "Ani ng Sining" Awardee

Vox Bikol

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.

NCF Announces No Tuition Fee Increase for SY 2009-2010

Vox Bikol

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.
The said decision came up to heed the appeal of the government, particularly the Commission on Higher Education, not to increase tuition fees because of the difficult economic situation being experienced globally.

PhilHealth Set Deadline for 1st Quarter Contribution

PNA

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.
PhilHealth assistant vice president Orlando Inigo Jr., said all individually paying members includes self-employed and voluntary members are once again reminded to pay their contribution on or before the deadline.
“It is important to pay your contribution on time since retroactive payment for Individually Paying members is not allowed,” Inigo said.

Rosales Seeks Dialogue With Arroyo Over CARP Extension

Roy Lagarde

MANILA --Dissatisfied with the lawmakers’ handling of the call for agrarian reform, Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales is bringing the issue right on President Arroyo’s doorstep.
Rosales is seeking a dialogue with Mrs. Arroyo on the issue of extending the life of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) which expired last December.
In a letter to the President, the Church leader said the dialogue would also include Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker Prospero Nograles.

SM Supermalls "Green Bag" Now in Naga

Vox Bikol

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.

Spain Turns Over P110-M Projects to Albay

PNA

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.

Barangay-Based Blood Donation Pushed in Legazpi

PNA

LEGAZPI CITY--The City Health Office of Legazpi is pursuing a massive blood letting activity to encourage voluntary donors from the 70 villages. According to this city’s Health Promotion Division, the residents are very supportive of this endeavor.
It said that it had just conducted a blood letting activity at Barangay Bigaa, this city Friday morning where a total of 46 people volunteered for blood screening.
The division said there were 26 of them who qualified for blood donation and the blood bags were sent directly to the regional blood bank in Daraga, Albay.

Bikolano-Led Study Suggests Electric Field May Alter Discoloration in Fruits, Vegetables

Vox Bikol

A recent study at the Food Engineering Laboratory of the Ohio State University (OSU) showed that the enzyme causing browning in plant and animal tissues can be activated or inactivated at certain frequency and holding time under moderate electric field.

Bishop 'regrets' Effects of Holocaust Comments

CNA

LONDON, England-- Society of St. Pius X Bishop Richard Williamson has expressed regret to the Church and to Holocaust victims and their relatives for the harm caused by his remarks on Swedish television minimizing Jewish suffering in the Holocaust. He also apologized to those who took “honest scandal” from his comments.
Though describing his opinion as that of a “non-historian,” he did not explicitly retract it.

Leaders Meet for Advocacy vs HIV in Bikol

PNA

SORSOGON CITY--An advocacy meeting for local chief executives of Sorsogon province is set Friday to help address the increasing problem and threats of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Sorsogon Governor Sally A. Lee called the one-day activity to initiate a local response and the establishment of a local coordinating mechanism to address the increasing number of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) in the province.

Military Belittles Communist-Declared Offensive in Bikol

PNA

LEGAZPI CITY--Military authorities belitled the communist movement’s declaration to launch a full tactical offensive against government forces reportedly to signal its strong resistance to the holding of the RPUS Balikatan exercises in three provinces in Bicol.
Army Col. Ariel Bernardo, commander of the 901st Army Brigade based in Albay, said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is always prepared to meet the challenges declared by the communist movement.

Naga en todo el mundo a unirse "luces apagadas" vs calentamiento global

PNA

Naga City - La unidad del gobierno local (UGL) aquí, se unirá a otras ciudades y pueblos de todo el mundo en apagar sus luces durante una hora a las 8:30 pm el 28 de marzo, como una acción significativa contra el calentamiento global. Bautizado como La Hora del Planeta 2009, el evento quiere enviar un "mensaje global de gran alcance" que hay acciones significativas que pueden llevarse a cabo para neutralizar el fenómeno del medio ambiente como al apagar las luces para reducir las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero.

Naga to Join Worldwide "lights off" vs Global Warming

PNA

Naga City --The local government unit (LGU) here, will join other cities and towns all over the world in turning off their lights for one hour at 8:30 pm on March 28, as a significant action against global warming.
Dubbed as Earth Hour 2009, the event wishes to send a “powerful global message” that there are meaningful actions which can be undertaken to neutralize the environmental phenomenon like by shutting down the lights to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

New Highway Between Albay and Camarines Sur Opens

PNA

LEGAZPI CITY--The Depa rtment
of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
has completed the construction of the
34.7-kilometer road network that opens an
alternative highway between Albay and
Camarines Sur.

The construction is composed of
concreting and establishment of line canals
covering the 34.7 kilometer section that
starts at Barangay Hawanan, Ocampo,
Camarines Sur and cuts through barangays
Burokbusoc and Sagrada of Buhi town of the
same province down to the municipality of
Malinao, Albay.

Opposition to Balikatan Exercises Snowballs

Elmer James Bandol

LEGAZPI CITY--Calls to consolidate efforts by multisectoral groups against the planned US-RP Balikatan military exercises this April, has snowballed following a three-day rally held here.

Diocese of Legazpi spokesman, Rev. Fr. Rex Orjona said parishes will continue to document people’s reactions to Balikatan exercises and the possible human violations that go with it.

UNEP Tops Tinagba's Street Dancing Tilt

Vox Bikol

IRIGA CITY--The street dancers from the Performing Arts department of the University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP) won the grand prize of the recently concluded 2009 Tinagba Festival Mardi Gras/ Street Dance contest after they wowed judges and thousands of spectators with their impressive dance moves and magnificent performance.
The UNEP Performing Arts group was awarded the most coveted title of Best Performer with a cash prize of P 200,000. It won over 11 other contenders that vied for the top honor.