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."

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 300^th year "Tercentenary celebration" of the Patroness of Bikolandia.

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, Sept.3 -- The Department of Health (DOH) in Bikol on Friday said that at least eight people have died and 1,003 people were hospitalized in various parts of Bikol mainly due to dengue, a mosquito-borne disease.

The surge in dengue case in Bikol for the first two quarters of the year prompted health authorities to be on heightened alert by intensifying the agency surveillance units in the six provinces of Bikol.

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, PILI, CAMARINES SUR - WITH THE Commemoration of the International Humanitarian Law Month this August, the Armed Forces' 9th Infantry Division based in this camp issued a statement condemning the series of summary executions perpetrated by communist rebels against civilians in Bikol.

The army reported that the latest victims were Joaquin Candea, 60, a resident of Cogon, Bulusan, Sorsogon, who was shot dead by a rebel hitman in Sabang, Bulusan town on Sunday afternoon (August 29).

NAGA CITY (30 August) - FIVE PEOPLE travelling in an owner-type jeep died in an ambush perpetrated by heavily armed men in an isolated barangay road in Sitio Landing, Barangay Bulod in San Pascual, Burias, Masbate at about 2:30 PM last August 28.

This was reported by the San Pascual Municipal Police Station to a local radio in this city last August 30.

The San Pascual MPS made the report on the ambush incident on Naga radio due to the town's proximity to the Camarines Sur coast than to Masbate City which entailed better phone signals.

NAGA CITY (4 Sept)-MORE THAN 400 policemen who are mostly rookies and have newly graduated from the Public Safety Basic Recruitment Training at Camp Simeon Ola in Legazpi City will augment the current Naga Police force of some 200-man strong for the 20-day Tercentenary celebration of the Peñafrancia devotion this year.

Spokesman of the Camarines Sur Police Office, SPO4 Romulo Pabiano, said that with the scheduled big religious rites of the "Peñafrancia Tercentenary," Catholic bishops, clerics from all over the country, and Pope's emissaries from the Vatican are expected to come to this year's Peñafrancia festivities.

Pabiano said that Camarine Sur Police Director Sr. Supt. Jonathan Ablang has directed a separate force of a 42-man police team from the Provincial Police Office (PPO) to secure visiting Church dignitaries and ranking government officials.

NAGA CITY, Aug. 26 --- At least 1,500 families from the city's five barangays have met the standard set by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to qualify in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

The program is a developmental approach designed to promote investment in human capital among poor families with 0 to 14 years old children.

Daet, Camarines Norte (27 August) -- The Provincial Sagip Batang Mangagawa-Quick Action Team (SBM-QAT) has been recently reactivated and will intensify its anti-child labor program, said a provincial official.

In a meeting held here Tuesday (August 21), Camarines Norte Provincial Field Officer Ruben Romanillos of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said that they will reactivate the SBM-QAT to fully support the programs and projects of the Provincial Council for the Welfare of Children (PCWC).