WATCH THIS: Pope Francis celebrates mass at St. Peters Basilica for Vespers of the Feast of Saint Mary, Most Holy Mother of God and Te Deum of Thanksgiving marking the end of year. The coverage has an English voiceover/ translation. Much later, the first New Year mass at the Vatican […]

Vice President of the Philippines (VPOP) Leni Robredo urges Filipinos to “welcome the new year with hope in our eyes, delight in our hearts and smile in our lips-smile that says despite all we have been through and will go through, there are so many things we should be thankful […]

Year-end wrap of busy Philippine vice-president’s activities Watch the full show, special edition, close to end-of-year wrap, of Biserbisyong Leni. The regular Sunday radio program on Radio Mindanao Network AM station DZXL is anchored by radioman Ely Saludar featuring PH Vice-President Leni Robredo. The radio magazine format is regularly packed […]

Watch this first ever Filipino Catholics’ celebration of the first dawn mass (Simbang Gabi) in Vatican with Pope Francis. Streamed live, Filipino Catholics all over, wherever benefits from the live service presided over the holy mass by Pope Francis direct from the altar of St Peter’s Basilica in the observance […]

Some immediate past events in Philippine history need to be retold, never mind if there are flaws, if only to make us remember. How can one forget those momentous times when history unraveled which began with the return of former senator Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. at the Manila international airport […]

The culmination of the celebration of the Penafrancia festivities unfolds this afternoon with the mass outside, at the Quadricentennial arch, of the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral. Watch the last mass before the foot procession starts winding through the streets of Naga city bringing the images of the Virgin of Penafrancia and […]

In our continuing coverage of the religious celebration (festivities and feastivities) happening now in Naga city, we repost the previous year’s drone coverage of the Saturday foot and fluvial procession and the concelebrated mass closing the event. The inflock of Catholic devotees to the Marian devotion exemplified thru the regional […]

Can’t get enough info about the hardworking VP? Here’s a throwback post about VPOP Leni Robredo on yet another achievement, small as it may. This time, a fruitful and happy outcome out of her effort spearheading flagship program ‘Angat Buhay.’ Way back in May of this year she delivered the […]

The second highest elected official, Vice President Leni Robredo graced the 2019 Ramon Magsaysay foundation awards presentation ceremonies which transpired at the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex in Pasay city.  The VPOP talks about the need to be wellsprings of perpetual hope before guests and awardees. Her address was […]

Happy Easter!! As part of our continuing coverage of the Holy Week and partial culmination of the activities, we share below the just concluded mass celebration in Naga Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. Archbishop of Caceres, the Most Rev. Rolando Octavus Joven Tria Tirona, OCD, D.D. , led […]

Sharing here the message of Vice President Leni Robredo for Easter Sunday 2019. Pagbati po ng isang maligayang Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay sa ating mga kapatid na Kristiyano at sa buong sambayanang Pilipino. Mapalad tayong ipagdiwang ang araw na ito sapagkat kasabay ng muling pagkabuhay ng ating Panginoong Hesukristo ay […]

Happy Holidays, Happy New Year, to all our readers, the few followers and friends of this site and our social media pages. Advisory: After April 21, 2018, we stopped posting links on two of our OLD facebook pages. The first one is thebulletintoday (dot) com page. This originally links to […]

Yes, Camarines Sur rejected medical equipments solicited by vice President Robredo destined for Calabanga. Why the province of Camarines Sur rejected acceptance of medical equipments solicited by vice President Leni Robredo for an infirmary hospital in Calabanga was a no brainer attitude. Here’s the story. Vice President Leni Robredo successfully […]

Imagine this. A handsome building rising on Quituinan Hill fronting the majestic Mount Mayon would be a sight to behold. That prospect emboldens the municipal council committee on infrastructure of Camalig in Albay coming forward with the plan. They proposed to build a P3.5 billion Bicol International Convention Center located […]

The domestic airport in Pili serving metropolitan Naga and the provinces of Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte will soon be capable of catering to evening flight take-off and landing operations. The Naga airport, which is operated by the Air transportation Office (ATO) of the Department of Transportation and Communications, has […]

The town of Daraga in Albay province, has total assets of P1.029 billion making it to the top of the list among the richest municipal local government units (LGU) for 2017, besting 106 others in Bicol region, according to the Commission on Audit (COA). Daraga, aside from topping the list, […]

Ownership of the University of Nueva Caceres change hands. Kind of. For decades, the Hernandez family of Naga city and Libmanan town used to own and manage the first and largest university in Bicol. But not anymore as the education arm of the Ayala Corporation, the AC Education, Inc., (AEI) […]

Naga City, Bicol’s financial, business, educational and religious capital now has a total net worth of over P4.675 billion, making it the richest local government unit (LGU) in the region, according to the Commission on Audit (COA). The City of Ligao, in Albay province, followed far second, with a total […]

Why Fuentebella’s Partido Development Administration got the axe. The administration is cleaning up the mess of the past. Or, so it seems. Recently, Malacañang abolished a Bicol-based Government Owned or Controlled Corporation (GOCC) created during the administration of former president Fidel V. Ramos. The Partido Development Administration (PDA) was snapped […]

RODRIGO R. Duterte’s presidency has altered and controlled the public discourse so radically in its favor in ways rude and bold. One tragic result: it has restricted and narrowed the celebrated freedom of the Philippine press and the people’s cherished right to know. Pooled Editorial: Speak Truth to Power, Keep […]

Yes it is. Each time the majestic volcano in Albay province erupts, reactions are in varied forms. The affected residents cower and tremble in fear for their lives, property and livestock. Tourists and disaffected residents flock to the city and get a good view of the eruption. On Monday, the […]

Legazpi water consumers, brace yourselves for the upcoming no holds-barred rate increase in your area. This we learned as the local Legazpi City Water District (LCWD) posed at enforcing its rates increase this August 2017. As with the usual logic, the increase is being justified by the management specifying that […]

The construction of phase one of seawall boulevard project in the northern portion of Legazpi City has begun as part of the P2.1-billion master flood control project supervised by the Department of Public Works and Highways and the City Engineering Office. On Tuesday, city mayor Noel Rosal disclosed the project […]

Many Bicolanos are either living dirt poor, pay check to pay check, do not have money left to put up a bank account, or do not have confidence in the Philippine banking system. Either one of the above could be true. Take a look at the recent finding based on […]

Thanks but no thanks to you, severe tropical storm ‘Nina’ for that awful weather. Some parts of Bicol will go through the most important and final night of Simbang Gabi on a cold, wet and stormy weather, all bundled into one. Before the clock struck 12 midnight severe tropical storm […]

MANILA, Dec. 22 — Just in time for the holiday. Pinoys can bring or send home balikbayan boxes worth P150-K tax free. Starting December 25, balikbayan boxes with values not exceeding P150-K will be exempted from paying duties and taxes. This was confirmed by Bureau of Customs spokesperson Neil Anthony […]

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 12 — The UN Security Council on Sunday “condemned in the strongest terms” a terrorist attack in the Egyptian capital of Cairo, which killed at least 25 people, stressing that “those responsible for these killings should be held accountable.” The 15-nation UN body, in a press statement […]

This is the full text version of the open letter directed to President Rodrigo Duterte, circulated by the Bishop, Clergy, Religious and Lay Leaders of the Diocese of Legazpi, if you may care to read: “The End Does Not Justify The Means” Dear Mr. President WE, the Bishop, Clergy, Religious […]

Tonight is the night. One can have plenty of time (minutes) to catch the one spectacular sight above. The upcoming supermoon tonight, November 14th will be specially super because it’s the closest full moon seen from the Earth since 1958. The nextt episode of another supermoon of the same magnitude […]

One dead, four others injured by riding in tandem attack in Tabaco City TABACO CITY, Nov 3 — Armed men riding-in-tandem sprayed bullets on a group of five men, leaving one dead and four seriously wounded at predawn Wednesday here. The fatality was identified as Joseph B. Borleo, 24 years […]

More local public officials, many on elective posts, are among drug surrenderees according to the last tally by the Philippine National Police in Bicol. Some 351 public officials in the region, mostly barangay officials, suspected of being drug personalities have surrendered to authorities from July 1 to October 21. Bicol […]

BULUSAN, Sorsogon — Active Mount Bulusan, here, spewed a kilometer-high ash cloud that lasted for around nine minutes early morning on Wednesday, its second time this week. Volcanologists of the Philippine Institute of Volcanolgy and Seismology (Phivolcs) found 0.5 millimetres traces of ashes that drifted towards villages in this town. […]

If the count of persons daily placed inside body bags is a certain measure of success, then the Duterte administration-driven campaign versus the proliferation of illegal drugs is a calculated success in Bicol. It seems. The rising death count is becoming a source of accomplishment for police officials in the […]

The number of passengers stranded in Bicol is rising due to the oncoming severe Tropical Storm ‘Karen’ (International name: Sakira). On Friday morning, some 1,045 passengers have been stranded in ports after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) suspended sailing of sea vessels due to the prevailing rough weather brought. Updated […]

Tropical cyclone ‘Karen’ (international name ‘Sakira’) intensified into a severe tropical storm Friday and threatened Catanduanes province to unleash maximum sustained winds of up to 100 kph. Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its severe weather bulletin 7 released Friday afternoon that ‘Karen’ packed maximum sustained […]

DONSOL, Sorsogon — The village chief of Barangay Tinagonan of this town was shot multiple times by a lone gunman on Sunday afternoon. The fatality was Joel Briones, 47, the current president of the Bicol Association of Barangay Captains who died on the spot after a lone gunman riddled his […]

Libon, Albay, Oct. 4 — Anoher Bicolano falls victim of extra judicial killing over the weekend here. A man identified by police as Ramon Concepcion, 60, was killed on the spot when a lone gunman shoot him in different parts of the body. Chief Insp. Eduardo Azotea of the Libon […]

A Filipino-Australian model was crowned last night the country’s representative to the upcoming Miss World 2016 beauty tilt in Washington DC in December. Catriona Elisa Magnayon Gray, 22 topped the list of winners among the 23 contestants during the pageant held at the Manila Hotel Tent on Sunday night. Gray’s […]

Less than three months from now or about December 22nd this year, the province of Albay could be out of electric service, again. This is the scenario if local end-user power retailer Albay Power Energy Corp. (APEC) will get disconnected from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) before […]

It was a brief whistle stop. The President of the Philippines (POTP) Rodrigo Duterte arrived Wednesday afternoon at Camp Elias Angeles at the headquarters of the 9th Infantry Division (ID) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Barangay San Jose, Pili, Camarines Sur. Duterte’s scheduled visit was anticipated originally […]

NAGA CITY, Sept. 21 — President Rodrigo R. Duterte is expected to visit government security forces in Bicol under the 9th Infantry Division of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Camp Elias Angeles located in Barangay San Jose, Pili, Camarines Sur today. Upon arrival in the morning in Naga […]

Camarines Sur 1st district congressman Rolando Andaya, Jr., was formally charged by the Office of the Ombudsman, for his role as the secretary of the Department of Budget and Management, in connection with the anomalous utilization of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) released during the term of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

In a typical move of politicians at safeguarding their turf and vested interest, some 500 local Bicol politicians dropped membership from their respective political parties and took their oath on Thursday morning in Legazpi city before House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez as new members of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan. PDP-Laban […]

The blood of alleged vigilante killings now spreads in Bicol. This after two bodies were found in separate areas of Naga City on consecutive days, Saturday and Sunday. Both victims were found with packaging tapes around their heads complimented with board signs by their side that warns: “Huwag tularan ang […]

Trapped in Bicol. The pursuit for the suspect of a road rage killing in Quiapo Monday night ended in Milagros town of Masbate province in Bicol. A joint Army intelligence and provincial police team handcuffed the suspect who surrendered Friday noon. The suspect, identified as Vhon Martin Tanto, also known […]

Three members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Naga City (Camarines Sur) facing investigation as protectors of the illegal drug trade have been relieved of their duties. Police Senior Supt. Marlon Tejada, CIDG regional operations director in Bicol, said an arrested drug pusher pinned down two policemen with ranks […]

Inaugural Message of Leni Robredo during the Oath Taking of the Vice President of the Philippines at Quezon City Reception House, June 30, 2016 To my beloved countrymen: There are moments in our lives that shine brighter than others. Like when I met Jesse. Or when I saw my children’s […]

CALABANGA, Camarines Sur — As third district Congresswoman Leni Robredo got elected vice president in the May 2016 national elections, a barangay in the town of Calabanga was dragged into the limelight. It is because Robredo harvested all the votes of the entire village of Punta Tarawal of this town […]

Regrettably, the conversation between President-elect Rodrigo Duterte and the news media has turned sharp and shrill. All but lost in the noise is the two parties’ common duty in law and tradition to serve and to inform the Filipino people on issues, events and policies that affect their interest and […]

Not yet in and yet, the choice technocrats of the incoming Duterte regime are quick to sound off that the European phenomenon called BREXIT, the departure of the United Kingdom (also known as Great Britain) from the European Union will have no effect on the local economy. While many countries […]

As the President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s inauguration rite nears, more drug personalities are either busted or meet their death in the hands of police officers. Is this mere coincidence or cops are upstaging their buddies to be recognized of their loyalty to the new Malacañang tenant? Senior Insp. Bernardo Peñero and […]

DAVAO CITY — What’s in a name of an old government department or agency? Rody Duterte’s incoming labor secretary, Silvestre Bello III, is into deep thoughts of renaming the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Bello told reporters in a Davao City press briefing he is suggesting for the department […]

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) noted in its earthquake bulletin issued at 10:37AM a magnitude 5.6 temblor whcih struck the Batanes province on dawn of Monday. The quake agency traced the location at 65 kilometers west of Sabtang town and happened at 2:20 AM. With a depth […]

LEGAZPI CITY — If he will have his way, outgoing Albay governor Joey Salceda will separate the Office of Civil Defense from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. Now that he is the newly elected representative of the second legislative district of Albay, it is exactly what he […]

Outgoing Bicol Regional Development Council chairman Joey Sarte Salceda announced during the last council meeting at the National Economic Development Authority office on Friday he was given the position of senior vice chairman of the committee on appropriations in the 17th Congress while Camarines Sur 1st district Rep. Rolando Andaya […]

LEGAZPI CITY — The Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) has approved the requests of 12 out of 22 private colleges and universities in the Bicol Region for increases in tuition fees and other school fees this coming school year while it rejected those of eight others for lack of requirements […]

With opponents having conceded defeat, the elected, new president of the Philippines (POTP) is Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte. The maverick candidate from Mindanao garnered 15,763,349 votes, Manuel Roxas II with 9,595,188 votes, Grace Poe with 8,857,728 votes, Jejomar Binay with 5,263,232 votes and Miriam Defensor Santiago with 5,263,232 votes. […]

I am a Filipino. I am a writer. Our tools are vigilance and memory. A growing number of writers and journalists gathered their thoughts together for a united statement. And sharing here is the English only version, although it has a Tagalog translation. A MANIFESTO I am a Filipino writer. […]

Don’t want to watch the playback video coverage of the just concluded 3rd and last presidential candidates’ PiliPinas Debate 2016 held in Phinma University of Pangasinan in Dagupan City? Then, take your time and dig in to the text only, the transcribed version of the dabate here as provided by […]

MANILA — Smartmatic International, the tech firm handling the automated election system of the Commission on Elections for the May 9, 2016 general elections reported that it will deploy some 45,000 technicians in all of the 36,788 voting centers as well as in the canvassing centers. “Everywhere where there will […]

This is just the tip of an iceberg in the Comelec’s readiness in the conduct of the May 9, 2016 elections. Less than sixteen days before the anticipated national polls, the Commission on Elections agency was confronted with ‘minor’ glitches in the highly anticipated tests of its system, at least […]

Here is the official, but partial results of the Palarong Pambansa 2016 being hosted by the province of Albay. Update: Partial results of the Palarong Pambansa 2016 in Albay

As of end of day of April 13, 2016 here is the current medal standing of eighteen competing regional athletic teams on the on-going Palarong Pambansa being hosted by the province of Albay with competition venues spread about the facilities in towns and Legazpi city. Dominating the harvest of gold […]

Security during the Holy Week feastivities and summer season is now in place, according to top Philippine National Police Bicol official on Tuesday. Bicol regional director Police Chief Supt. Augusto M. Marquez Jr. said his directive for this purpose stands effective up to May 31. The summer vacation and holy […]

The two officers of the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation in its Makati city Jupiter branch, where the US $81 million stolen from Bangladesh Bank was processed, have been axed from their jobs. In a statement Tuesday, lawyer Maria Cecilia Fernandez-Estavillo, head of RCBC’s legal and regulatory affairs group, said RCBC […]