Vol. 28 Issue 11 01-07 Aug 2010
Naga Boarding House Blaze Claims Two
“Prayer candles” left alit suspected to cause fire
Sonny Sales
Monday, August 9th, 2010
NAGA CITY (4 Aug) -- A FIRE that gutted a two-storey wooden boarding house in No. 12 Santiago 1, St. at Barangay Peñafrancia here killed two women and hurt three others during the early dawn of Tuesday (Aug.3).

Naga City Fire Marshall, Chief Insp. Achilles M. Santiago, told VOX BIKOL that the two women victims, an elderly woman identified as Aida Canuto Ausen, 68, a native of Pili Camarines Sur and Cristina Reis, 19, a midwifery student of Camarines Sur Community College were trapped in their rooms at the second floor of the house during the height of the blaze.

Bikol News

Tercentenary Photo Contest Launched
Vox Bikol
Monday, August 9th, 2010

Pictures are not just moments frozen in time. They bring back memories and lest they lose the delights they bring along with them, they are always worth sharing. Pictures speak of thousands of emotions and of moments of endearment.

It is in this light that Cherished Memories: Peñafrancia Tercentenary Photo Contest 2010 has been launched.

The contest is sponsored by the Documentation and Publication Sub-Committee Caceres Tercentennial Celebration 2010 whose coordinator is Fr. Roy Remo.

Joey Salceda
Testimonial Speech of Gov. Joey S. Salceda
Delivered on the occasion of Testimonial Dinner for DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo, Solicitor General Jose Anselmo “Joel” I. Cadiz and Court of Appeals Justice Ramon A. Cruz sponsored by AdeN-CSI HS’74 at Moraville Hotel, Naga City, Philippines, Aug 7, 2010
Sunday, August 8th, 2010

My apologies for asking to speak first ahead of the 17 other personalities (I was scheduled as the last at 18th) who would deliver testimonials to our three honorees. Its 10.30 and I have miles to walk before I get home.

Government Troops Recover Rebel Arms Cache in Camarines Sur
HM Cabunoc, Chief 9ID PAO
Monday, August 9th, 2010

Legazpi City (2 August) -- Army troopers unearthed over the weekend a buried cache of firearms reportedly hidden by suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebels in a remote village in Lupi, a railroad town in Camarines Sur, a ranking Army official said on Monday.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division, said that one of the rebels who were captured by the 31st Infantry Battalion, led the soldiers to the location of the buried firearms at around 10:30 AM Saturday in Tible village, Lupi town.

Military Hits NPA for Use of Children as Human Shields
Danny O. Calleja
Monday, August 9th, 2010

PILI, Camarines Aug 5  -- The Philippine Army (PA) is "inviting" the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and all other groups advocating human rights to step into the reported use of children by the New People's Army (NPA) as human shields during a recent clash with soldiers in Camarines Sur.

Bicol U to Help Build Resilient Communities
Ping Peralta
BU Extension News
Monday, August 9th, 2010

Legazpi City (3 August) -- The Bicol University through its Extension Service Center launched last July 30, 2010 its program to help the Bicol communities to be resilient. Participated in by more than seventy five representatives coming from heads of Higher Eduaction Institutions, LGU's, the Armed Forces, rescue volunteers and extension workers around Albay province, the launching which was held at the BU College of Nursing Amphitheater, Legazpi City is part of the university's extension mandate of bringing the university closer to the people.

UNEP Journ Students to Attend Media Communication Confab
Lizel Macatangay
Monday, August 9th, 2010

Known for its commitment in promoting quality and excellent education, the University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP) will once again prove its steadfast stand on providing available venues that would enhance its student's capability, particularly in terms of public discourse and writing.

Viewpoints

Editorial Logo
Name Game
Editor
Monday, August 9th, 2010
We wonder what will happen to Villa del Rey and Lago del Rey once Senate Bill No. 2187 gets passed as law. In fact, we also wonder what will happen to all those tarpaulins and posters bearing the names and faces of the province's governor, Naga City's mayor and vice mayor, even erstwhile Naga Mayor and present DILG Secretary, and other local officials once this bill sponsored by Sen.
Signos
Journeying Icons & Faith
Tito Genova Valiente
Monday, August 9th, 2010
I often wonder how the fluvial procession came to be a central element in the celebration of the devotion to our Lady of Peñafrancia. The fact of the river does not explain readily the use of the body of water.
Mayon Limited
Tanóg Asin Tono
Victor Denis T. Nierva
Monday, August 9th, 2010
SINASABING BIKOLANO AN ENOT na may kaoragán sa pipe organ sa Asya asin nagngangaran siyang Alonso de Camarines. Sa mga huring dekada subuot kan ika-16 siglo, linilibot na ni Alonso an Pilipinas asin mga pagtaraid na nasyon na may mga Kristiyanong komunidad para saná magpakaray kan mga pipe organs na ininstilar kan mga prayleng misyonero.
Aquino’s 'straight path' a Work in Progress
NJ Viehland
Monday, August 9th, 2010

Media attention has largely concentrated on President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III's detailed allegations in his first State of the Nation Address of extravagance and profligacy in Gloria Arroyo's administration

The "expose" has been the subject of many column inches since the speech to the 15th Congress on Monday and little is to be gained by devoting more cyber space to issue.

Lord, Make Me an Instrument
Father William Grimm
Monday, August 9th, 2010
Aug. 6 will mark the 65th anniversary of the first time a nuclear weapon was used in war.

Aug. 9 will mark the 65th anniversary of the last time a nuclear weapon was used in war.

Aug. 15 will mark the 65th anniversary of the end of the most extensive, destructive war in human history.

Those atomic bombs that exploded over Hiroshima and Nagasaki ended World War II, a war that had cost more than 60 million lives. Those horrible weapons saved hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, more.

Features

Is the Worst Really Over at PAL? Not Quite, as Workers Brace for More Turbulence
Marya Salamat
Monday, August 9th, 2010
MANILA - In the face of mounting calls for the government to investigate Lucio Tan's alleged losses and abuses of his employees in Philippine Airlines, the Aquino government has retreated from further intervention in the ongoing labor disputes in the airline, suggesting that the trouble at the country's flag carrier may be over.

But is it?

Church News

Naga Prelate Urges End to Speculation Over Priest's Death
CBCPNews
Monday, August 9th, 2010

NAGA City, August 1, 2010- As the investigation gets underway, a prelate urged the public to avoid unnecessary speculation on the death of Fr. Baltazar Acompañado Jr., and wait for more information to become available.

Following media speculation that the priest committed suicide, Caceres Archbishop Leonardo Legaspi said people should avoid it as a matter of respect for the 35-year old priest.

Acompañado was found dead inside his room at the Pre-College Seminary in San Jose town in Camarines Sur last Wednesday with a 38-caliber revolver near his body.

Bishop Urges Arroyo to Cooperate in Corruption Probe
CBCPNews
Monday, August 9th, 2010

MANILA, August 4, 2010- A Catholic bishop said Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo must prove her innocence and is urging the official to cooperate with a probe into her alleged corruption cases when she was still president.

Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez said it would be easy for Arroyo to answer all allegations is she really has nothing to hide.

He urged the former president to attend the proceedings of the investigation set to be conducted by the Truth Commission formed by President Benigno Aquino III.

RH Bill is a Serious Form of Corruption – Bishop
Melo M. Acuña
Monday, August 9th, 2010
MALAYBALAY, Bukidnon, August 4, 2010- The country and its people should brace for a more serious form of corruption should President Benigno Aquino III support the sex education in public schools and reproductive health bill.

This is how Dipolog Bishop Jose Manguiran looks at the present situation.

Vatican Preparing New Document on Abortion Effects on Women
CNA
Monday, August 9th, 2010
VATICAN, July 31, 2010 (CNA/EWTN News).- The new president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, Archbishop Ignacio Carrasco de Paula, announced that his dicastery is preparing a document on the effects of abortion on women, often called post-abortion syndrome. The document will focus on the study of the "habit of abortion" and is expected to be published next year.

In an interview with L'Osservatore Romano, Archbishop Carrasco discussed a few details of the new document. "We believe that in studying this issue, a distinction must be made.