Legazpi City (14 September) -- Laboratory experts of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Bikol said that only 3.98 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride or "shabu" were seized on Wednesday by anti-drug operatives in Masbate and not 5.28 kilograms as earlier reported.
Naga City --- Undoubtedly one of the University of Northeastern Philippines' (UNEP) best performers, the UNEP Chorale sings its heart out once again in a loving tribute to the Bikol Patroness, Our Lady of Peñafrancia, held September 13, 2010 at this city.
Sorsogon City- Education, health and city government officials of Sorsogon forged a partnership as government intensified its campaign against dengue which continues to rise in the Bikol region.
DOH officials led by Assistant Regional Director Virgilio Ludovice turned over Olyset Net worth P1.5 million to the City Schools Division led by Dr. Virgilio Real, Schools Division Superintendent, and the city government represented by City Health Officer Dr. Larry Garrido, City Coun. Mike Go, chair of the city council's health committee, and City Legal Officer Atty. Glenn Olbes.
Naga City (9 September) - Just a day before the Traslacion, the Ateneo de Naga University was once again packed with students and faculty members from various Catholic schools all over the Bikol Region to celebrate Dolot Ki Ina 2010.
Loyola Heights, QC-The 10th Ateneo National Writers Workshop, organized by the Ateneo Institute of Literary Arts and Practices (AILAP) with the support of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Office of the President, Ateneo de Naga University (AdNU), will be held on October 24-28, 2010 at the AdNU Campus, Naga City.
LEGAZPI City, Sept. 15, 2010-Militant groups have staged mass protests here opposing the power rate increase imposed by Albay Gov. Joey S. Salceda to consumers of Albay Electric Cooperative (ALECO).
Bayan Muna, Gabriela and Albay Consumers Watch (ACW) staged a picket at Peñaranda Park fronting Albay Capitol in protest of the P1.66 per kilowatt hour power hike which the power cooperative has passed on to more than 200,000 member-consumers.
Naga City (14 Sept) -- The highest political power in the land has declared during the Peñafrancia Novena Week Naga City and the province of Camarines Sur as 'pilgrimage capitals' of the Bikol region.
In his Executive Order (EO) #33 dated September 10, President Benigno Aquino III, took cognizance of the annual celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia as an "epic historical event that [had] become part of our cultural heritage," and that Naga City "where the 300-year old image is enshrined, has long been recognized and considered as the pilgrimage capital of the Bikol region."
The President's EO stated that programs and activities held as part of the Peñafrancia Fiesta "must be assisted and maintained by the government, and that the solemnity and sensitivity to the nature and character of the festivities must be preserved."
Moreover, the EO stipulated that government must ensure that aside from respecting the essential activities of the feast, "commercial exploitation during the pilgrimage period such as street parties that may become rambunctious, drinking sprees in plazas, street vending that obstruct passages towards the pilgrimage sites, and other similar activities, shall be discouraged."
MANILA, Sept. 7, 2010-An arch critic of Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo said he cannot wait to see the former president testify in the graft trial against one of her officials implicated on the botched multi-million dollar national broadband network (NBN) project.
Retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz said that Arroyo's testimony could pressure Romulo Neri, the National Economic and Development Authority director general during her term, to disclose what he really knows about the controversial project.
MANILA, Sept. 10, 2010-As Filipino Muslims mark the end of Ramadan, Catholic missionaries in Mindanao called for a "renewed friendship" Friday, urging both faith communities to serve humanity.
Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo said he is hoping that this year's observance of Eid-ul-Fitr would spur not only Muslims but also Christians in working towards peace in the war-ravaged Mindanao region.
The holiday of Eid-ul-Fitr marks not only the end of the fasting period of the holy Islamic month of Ramadan, but also a time of forgiveness, and making amends.
MANILA, Sept. 8, 2010-The Peñafrancia Devotees Association in Metro Manila will join the whole of Bikolandia in celebrating the 300 years of devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia, fondly called "Ina."
Triduum of Novena and Masses at the St. Andrew of the Apostle Parish Church in Makati City will be held at every 6 p.m. from Sept. 9 to 11.
On Sept. 12, the feast day, a fluvial procession along Pasig River will be held at 4 p.m. in keeping with the Peñafrancia Naga tradition.
PILI, Camarines Sur, Sept. 7 - At least 300 Philippine Army soldiers cleaned over the weekend the Naga City Bikol River in preparation for the week-long feast of Bikolandia's Our Lady of Peñafrancia set on the second week of September.
Lt. Col. Erwin De Asis, the 9th Infantry Division's Civilian-Military Operations (CMO) officer, said the clean up drive covered some two kilometers stretch of the Naga River where a fluvial procession would be held in observance of the Virgin of Peñafrancia popularly known as "Ina" among Bikolanos.
The City Government of Lucena recently signed up with Philippine Veterans Bank for its ATM payroll services, featuring the 5-in1 Veteranteller ATM card which not only provides payroll services, but also functions as a company ID, debit card, discount card and timekeeping card providing a complete HR solution package. Under the agreement, PVB will soon service the payroll requirements of the Lucena City Government.
Legazpi City (9 September) -- The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Bikol has warned anew residents of at least 49 municipalities in the six provinces of Bikol highly susceptible to landslide and flooding to prepare, if not to evacuate to safer grounds, in the advent of the rainy and typhoon seasons.
Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company conducted a special tour for the members of Subic Bay ICT Council at PLDT Subic Innolab which is a showcase of the most responsive ICT-based solutions being offered by the PLDT Corporate Business Group. Shown in photo from left to right are: PLDT Relationship Manager Alfredo Contreras, Jones Lang LaSalle Lee Chiu Assistant Marketing Manager Bobby Lee, Site Director Munish Mahjan, APAC Minacs President of Operations Milind Godbole, Subic Bay ICT Council Chairman Jay Son, and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority OIC of Business and Investment Department for ICT Vergil Lansangan.
LIGAO CITY, Sept. 8 -- Three farmers died while three others were hurt seriously when they were hit by a lightning bolt during a heavy downpour Tuesday afternoon in Barangay Tinampo, this city.
Police identified the fatalities as Reynaldo Prias, Jogi Pobar and Miguel Olazo, all of Barangay Tinampo.
Injured were Joel Borromeo, 34, Rogelio Prades, 32, and Anthony Realingo Borromeo, 19, of the same village.
The University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP) Center for Culture and the Arts (CCA), astounded its audience once again with its rendition of Marian dances and songs, offered solely as a tribute to Bikol's Patroness, Our Lady of Peñafrancia. The event took place at the Plaza Covarrubias last September 9 as an offering to Ina in celebration of our 300 years of faith and devotion.
The Cultural Show portrayed UNEP's unwavering passion and their continuing journey towards strengthening their faith to the Lady which we lovingly called "Ina."
LEGAZPI City, Sept. 12, 2010-The power cut off by the Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC) to the Albay Electric Cooperative (ALECO) on Sept. 12, was seen by its more than 200,000 member-consumers as a means to pave the way for the power rate hike and privatization of the sole power distribution in the province of Albay.
NAGA CITY (11 Sept) - After being kept from the public for decades, the 300 year-old original image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia carved by a Chinese artisan during the Spanish colonial years in Naga in 1709, was again shown to devotees during the Traslacion Mass last September 10.
The icon was venerated during the mass after the "Traslacion" procession on Friday which marked the start the week-long religious rites of the 300th year "Tercentenary celebration" of the Patroness of Bikolandia.
CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur Sep 8, 2010 - Joint elements of the AFP and PNP intercepted a shipment of shabu in Masbate port at around 10am today.
Senior Superintendent Thomas Seminiano, Masbate Provincial Police Commander said that he sent the combined elements of soldiers and policemen to arrest the drug dealers after receiving a tip-off from a 'reliable informant'.
MANILA, Sept. 3, 2010-In what they call an act of religious solidarity, Catholics are doing an outreach activity for Muslim inmates in Southern Philippines.
Basic needs such as toiletries, soap and medicines will be given to around 200 inmates in both the Marawi City and Provincial jails on September 7, the eve of the feast of the Virgin Mary.
"It will also be like a fiesta (celebration) because Maranaos have high regard for Mama Mary," said Marawi Bishop Edwin Dela Peña.
"So we want Mama Mary to be our bridge for peace (between Christians and Muslims), he said.
MANILA, Sept. 1, 2010- A Catholic bishop criticized reports that officials of water utility MWSS received P384 million in bonuses and allowances last year.
Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes said the excessive salaries and benefits of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System's employees is an abuse that must be investigated.
He said the 25 months of bonus last year plus their 12 months basic salary is a "form of corruption."
"They corrupt themselves... there is no reason for them to receive that amount," said Bastes.
MANILA, August 31, 2010- Election watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPRCV) asked the poll body to utilize pre-printed ballots for the barangays and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls in October.
Henrietta de Villa, PPCRV national chairperson, said it would be good if said ballots under the automated elections system would be utilized in the Oct. 25 elections for the voters to be more familiarized with it.
MANILA, Sept. 2, 2010-The Vatican has confirmed the appointment of Father Gregory Ramon Gaston as the next rector of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino in Rome.
The Congregation of the Catholic Education (for Seminaries and Educational Institutions) announced the appointment of the priest who has been assigned since 2008 at the Holy Apostles Senior Seminary in Makati City.
A communiqué about Gaston's appointment was also sent to the Manila Archdiocese by the congregations' prefect, Zenon Cardinal Grocholewski.
The University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP), known for its matriarch's deep religiosity and devotion to Mama Mary is all set to join thousand of Marian devotees around the globe as the highlight of the Tercentenary celebration draws closer.
LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 31- An official of the Department of Tourism (DoT) on Tuesday said that the tourism industry in Bikol remains stable despite adverse travel advisories from China and other countries to the Philippines after the bloody hostage drama last August 23 at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.
Bicol tourism regional director Maria Ong-Ravanilla said that tourism in the region is holding steady so far.
"We are closely monitoring all local and foreign arrivals throughout the Bikol region and there has been no reported room cancellations so far," she said.
