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NAGA CITY (11 December) -Camarines Sur Representative Dato Arroyo is willing to recommend to the National Irrigation Administration the temporary suspension of the construction of the P1.9 billion Libmanan-Cabusao dam project amid "social acceptability concerns," Presidential Assistant Secretary for Bicol Affairs Tomasito Monson said Tuesday.

"Congressman Arroyo said he would recommend to concerned agencies especially National Irrigation Administration to conduct further study on the effects of the dam to surrounding areas."

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur, Dec. 9 -- Army troopers recovered from an abandoned safe house on Tuesday a cache of high powered firearms and ammunition in a remote village in Mandaon town in Masbate, report reaching the 9th Army Infantry Division said Wednesday.

The soldiers were on combat and retrieval operation after villagers tipped off military authorities of the presence of unidentified armed group in the area.

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 11 -- At least 29 volcanic earthquakes jolted Mayon Volcano on Friday, the highest recorded seismic event this week indicating that the volcano's abnormality is still up, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

Scientists are continuously observing Mayon volcano's fluctuating seismic precursors such as quakes, gas emission and ground deformation these are indication that the volcano's seismic activity may possibly lead to an explosive eruption.

CAMP OLA, LEGAZPI CITY (11 December) - SEVEN SUSPECTED MEMBERS of the communist New People's Army's "Celso  Minguez Command" operating in Sorsogon province have been charged with Multiple Murder and Frustrated Murder.

Reportedly identified by the PNP Intelligence through witnesses, the suspects were charged together with some 14 other unidentified members of the communist movement in Sorsogon.

NAGA City (28 November) --  Tomas "Nonoy" Rentoy VII (30-199) and Irvin C. Ayo (30-54) last November 27 were elected as the new chapter president and chairman of the board, respectively, of the Kabalikat Bicol Naga City (KB30) Chapter effective January 1 - December 31, 2010.

Rentoy, one of the pillars of KB Bicol and the perennial operations chief of the chapter, will replace Engr. Salvador "Buddy" Altar (30-129) who steered the KB30 chapter with flying colors.  Altar was elected as the vice chairman of the board.

Since its inception in May 2004, the University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP) Chorale has continuously widened its turf and is now one of the most reputable names in the music industry. As its way of paying tribute to its members, the chorale, together with its original members will celebrate its 5^th year Anniversary thru a concert comes December 20, 2009, 2pm at the UNEP Theater.

Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB) and long-time partner, PhilHealth, recently signed a memorandum of agreement whereby PVB will be providing PhilHealth Region 3 employees ATM and payroll services including PVB's unique "5-in-1" card that works as a company ID, ATM, timekeeping card, debit card, and discount card . The MOA was signed by PVB President and CEO Ricardo Balbido Jr. (2^nd from left) and PhilHealth President Dr.

Amid the dramatic resurgence of Albay from the natural catastrophes that had befallen it of recent, the Diocese of Legazpi has welcomed Most Rev. Joel Z. Baylon as its sixth bishop last week. Bishop Baylon is in all respects an Albayano, having spent his early years and young adulthood at Albay, and as such his installation as Legazpi's prelate serves as a homecoming after having served various pastoral and ecclesiastical functions outside the province.

To be honest I have not seen a sleigh bell and the only silver bell I have seen was in an antique shop, away from anything Christmasy. But I promise you when I sing "Sleigh bells ring, are you listening," I will have the fervor to own that old carol, Winter Wonderland.

Unpack your sack, St. Nikolaus

I've been well-behaved, as everyone knows.

I am an honest child - you know this for sure -

listening to my Mom, not annoying her.

I never teased my sister all year,

never took her toys nor put her to fear.

Unpack your sack, St. Nikolaus

I've been well-behaved, as everyone knows

I'm nice and kind and early to bed

close my eyes right away. I am a good lad.

Our government leaders have grown up and survived in a culture of scratching each other's backs. Presently led by Gloria Arroyo, this government has inherited a political culture carried down from past administrations. Except the administration of Cory Aquino, I think.

As the grim details of the Maguindanao slowly come out, we find ourselves at a loss for words to describe it other than -

UNSPEAKABLE, BARBARIC.

And equally for us all, we assert that the massacre is not "a mere aberration" as Malacañang puts it. In truth, it stands as a stark reminder of unfettered lawlessness in the country by lawless elements tolerated, if not encouraged by direct support or inaction, by the "Strong Republic" of the present dispensation.

MANILA - The Ampatuan massacre last November 23 shocked the nation and the world. It was shocking not only because of its ferocity, claiming the lives of 57 innocent people including passersby, and barbarity, which included the rape of women, desecration of bodies and beheading of some victims, but also because of the brazenness in the commission of such abhorrent atrocities.

Gusto kong magtubod na sa ngunyan, gabos na kamo nakakaaram kan mamundong nangyari sa satong kapwa-Pilipino sa Maguindanao. Sosog sa huring bilang, 64 katawo an nakuang gadan. Tinaradtad nin bala sa lalawgon. Dai na magkabiristo. 37 an mga journalists. 21 an mga kababaihan. Linupigan bago ginaradan. Saro bados. Asin 3 an mga kaakian.

KAN NAKAULAY TAKA PO, MAYOR Raul Matamorosa, makusog an pagsabi mong bilang alkalde kan banwaan, prayoridad mo an kamugtakan kan mga taga-Lupi. Alagad, an sinabi mong ini garo natunaw kan sinabi mo man sako na mayong plano an lokal na gobyerno kan Lupi na kontrahon an proyekto kan mag-inang Gloria asin Dato na dam diyan sa Malaguico, Sipocot, na maglulublob sa banwaan na saimong pinamamayohan.

MUMBAI, India (UCAN) -- As people recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of the collapse of the Berlin Wall in November 1989, the news was full of euphoric memories as well as critical analysis. Berlin's Archbishop Cardinal Georg Maximilian Sterzinsky pointed out that there are still fundamental differences across that former East-West border.