The low pressure area located east of Borongan City has developed into a tropical depression now named ‘Ambo’ as the first tropical cyclone to affect the country this year, according to the state weather bureau. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said as of 11:30 a.m., ‘Ambo’ […]
MANILA — The Department of Education has teamed up with Microsoft Philippines in launching the EGG, a self-contained classroom that could be set up in remote areas, filter its own water and generate power system and has internet connectivity. The EGG can accommodate more than 30 students and can be […]
A Filipino priest has been appointed by Pope Francis as new bishop for the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa on Friday. Fr. Ryan Jimenez will be the second bishop of the diocese located in Saipan, the largest island in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, a United States territory. His episcopal […]
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 […]
DAVAO CITY — Kidnap victim Marites Flor was finally released in Sulu by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG). This as President-elect Rodrigo Duterte on Friday warned the ASG against continuing its kidnapping activities, saying the day of reckoning is coming. Duterte’s statement was issued after receiving the kidnap victim from […]
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 […]
MANILA — The only known reason a Comelec official is set to quit his post is due to “unacceptable policy shift” of the poll body. Commissioner Christian Robert Lim is set to resign as head of the Campaign Finance Office on Monday next week to the Comelec en banc. Asked […]
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 […]
The general population would readily welcome rain any time of the day to offset the sweltering effect of heat, like the short episode of raindrops yesterday afternoon in some parts of Camarines Sur. Yet, the country will remain storm-free in the next three days, Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services […]
Another Canadian hostage in the province of Sulu may have been beheaded by Abu Sayyaf kidnappers even as a Malacanang executive on Monday said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is confirming the reports. ”AFF is verifying,” Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said. It must berecalled that armed […]
Watch here the live stream feed of the 118th Philippine Independence Day Celebration direct from the Rizal Monument at the Rizal Park, near Roxas Boulevard, Manila. MANILA – President Benigno S. Aquino III expressed hope on Sunday that the Filipino people would continue to protect and defend democracy even beyond […]
ORMOC CITY, Leyte — Undaunted with the prospect of holding no Cabinet post designation under the incoming administration of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, Leni Robredo will still work on her advocacies. A Robredo spokesperson, Georgina Hernandez, declared that Vice President-elect Robredo would engage the participation of the private sector to fulfill […]
MANILA — A simultaneous flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremonies at 8:00 AM on June 12, 2016, in all places of national significance in the country will highlight the 118th anniversary celebration of the proclamation of Philippine independence. Secretary Mel Senen S. Sarmiento of the Department of the Interior and Local Government […]
MANILA — The “laglag-bala” dented Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) will implement a heightened alert status until June 20 as passengers using public transportation are expected to increase in time for the opening of classes. MIAA General Manager Jose Angel Honrado said that the airport is ready to accommodate students […]
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 […]
CANBERRA — The Universe is expanding faster than expected, possibly caused by an undiscovered force called dark radiation, the Australian National University (ANU) said on Friday. Lead Australian researcher and ANU astrophysicist Brad Tucker said the precision study of star movements found the Universe is currently expanding between 5 percent […]
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 […]
MANILA — Without a strong 2-party system, the exudos of political butterflies is apparent. A characteristic most very descriptive of the political landscape much deeply rooted to self-presevation, ambition and political patronage only in the Philippines. Saying this, eleven officers and members of ruling Liberal Party on Thursday joined the […]
Manila — The policy-making Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has cancelled the Certificate of Registration of Philrem Services Corp., the remittance service provider facing lawsuits for alleged involvement in the laundering of about US $81 million stolen from Bangladesh Bank in February 2016. The board also cancelled […]
KORONADAL CITY — Four leaders from the provinces of (North) Cotabato, Maguindanao and South Cotabato were among the favored faces of the new cabinet of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte. Foremost among the four was incoming Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol who, after his appointment was made public, immediately embarked on “Biyaheng […]
MANILA — The Supreme Court upheld the findings of probable cause against Janet Lim Napoles in connection with the alleged pork barrel queen of scam Janet Lim Napoles. This after the SC upheld the findings of probable cause against Napoles in connection with the said anomaly which indicted them for […]
DAVAO CITY –- Presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte is ready to pardon former Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and allow the burial of former dictator Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani to “erase” hatred in a divided nation. Duterte disclosed to reporters on Monday night that he has talked […]
MANILA — The camp of vice presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. on Tuesday filed criminal cases before the Manila Prosecutor’s Office (MPO) against Smartmatic executives and an Information Technology (IT) representative of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for their alleged unauthorized change of the script in the […]
DAVAO CITY — Presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte will release all political prisoners if leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines – National Democratic Front (CPP-NDF) say “yes” to come home and sit down with government for talk peace. Duterte said coming home for the negotiations will be his only […]
MANILA — As the 16th congress nears its adjournment, on Monday, resumed from a four-month break to pass on third and final reading 27 measures, including 21 from the House of Representatives which aims to either grant or extend franchises to the telecommunications, radio and television operators in the country. […]
In the heels of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives’ start of canvass of votes for president and vice president on Wednesday, May 25, the camp of vice presidential candidate-Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is hoping that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will approve their request to conduct a system […]
One way for a senior citizen to avoid pneumococcal disease is getting the neccessary vaccination. This is the prime drive of the Department of Health (DOH) by encouraging those with age between 60 and 65 to visit the nearest government health facilities for free pneumococcal vaccine. The call was made […]
MANILA, May 19 — Ako Bicol regained three congressional seats for its group, having topped the 2016 congressional derby among party list. It garnered 1,664,975 votes (5.1423%) out of the 32,377,841 votes cast for the party-list polls. Comelec has allotted 59 seats for party-list groups in the House of Representatives […]
MOSCOW, May 18 — Agricultural researchers at a Dutch university are growing vegetables in soils similar to those found on the Moon and Mars in the hope that one day the human Martians can cultivate their own crops. “When people go to the Moon and Mars they also have to […]
MANILA, May 18 — The camp of vice presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. is set to ask the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to open the Automated Election System for a systems audit after uncovering irregularities while tabulating results of the May 9 elections based on the Certificates of […]
DAVAO CITY – Presumptive President-elect and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte will formally receive well-wishers at the privately-owned clubhouse of Matina Enclaves residential condominium here on Monday. Peter Laviña, spokesperson of the Duterte camp, said he was not sure if the mayor would be meeting the public. He said Monday […]
MANILA — Filipinos abroad who participated in the overseas absentee voting (OAV) have voted for Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., as their president and vice president, respectively, in the recently concluded May 9 polls. According to the data released by Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner […]
Results: Philippine Election 2016, the Unofficial count of Cbanga360-Bicol Street Journal based on the Comelec-GMA mirror server. PRESIDENT DUTERTE, RODY 15,951,891 VOTES 38.58% ROXAS, MAR DAANG MATUWID 9,695,934 VOTES 23.45% POE, GRACE 8,934,418 VOTES 21.61% BINAY, JOJO 5,316,392 VOTES 12.86% DEFENSOR SANTIAGO, MIRIAM 1,424,422 VOTES 3.44% VICE PRESIDENT ROBREDO, LENI […]
MANILA — A total of 52 clustered precincts from 11 towns, many in the Autonumous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Eastern Visayas will hold a special voting on Saturday, May 14. This was confirmed as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has declared failure of elections in 11 municipalities in the […]
Trust and confidence in the poll body was bolstered with the quick upload of partial but unofficial results through poll watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible voting and print media entities mirroring returns on their websites. But the national and local elections was held on May 9, 2016, and four […]
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. […]
SULTAN KUDARAT, Maguindanao, May 9 — Police and military authorities here are hunting down about 20 men who barged inside the Maguindanaon Elementary School and forcibly took at least 10 Vote Counting Machines in Barangay Katuli, Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao. Senior Insp. Esmael Madin, the town police chief, said […]
COTABATO CITY — At least five persons were confirmed killed while 10 others wounded so far in Maguindanao election-related violence for the past 72 hours, the Army’s Sixth Infantry Division (6ID) reported. “Only last night (May 8), two separate explosions caused by rifle-launched M-79 grenades rocked the public market of […]
MANILA — The 55.4 million registered voters, or a percentage of it, will troop to their polling precincts today to vote for their bets. So, today, May 9, 2016 let the local and national elections voting begin. This, as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it is 100-percent ready to […]
After a grueling 90-day election campaign, independent presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe showed up in a star-studded miting de avance ready to face the verdict of the 54.4 million Filipino voters on Monday. In front of the thousands of supporters at the Plaza Miranda on Saturday night, the petite but […]
As the campaign period for this year’s election ended Saturday, administration bet Mar Roxas expressed extreme confidence that the Filipino people would vote for him and the Daang Matuwid slate, adding that Filipinos would rather choose democracy over dictatorship. He said that the threats to democracy is real, brought about […]
These areas are no-fly zones during #election2016 as the Armed forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police has order to enforce and shoot down drones. The Civil Aviation Administration of the Philippines has identified and declared three areas in Metro Manila as no-fly zones during and after the […]
At the miting de avance at Quirino Grandstand of Rizal Park, Manila Saturday, PDP-LABAN standard bearer Rodrigo Duterte vowed to enforce all laws of the land if elected in the May 9 presidential elections. Mdanwhile, United Nationalists Alliance (UNA) standard bearer and Vice President Jejomar Binay called for a clean […]
Will Roxas or Poe cancel candidacy to forge a coalition win? Is there a last minute looming coalition between presidential candidates, former front runner Grace Poe of independent Partido Galing at Puso and Mar Roxas of the ruling Liberal Party? Who will offer self as sacrtifice? Will one of the […]
In his latest sortie of the Bicol region this week, the President of the Philippines (POTP) went on a whirlwind visits and inauguration of finished government projects just in time for the last minute push for the administration’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates. The POTP also visited the municipality of Calabanga […]
Check this out! Hackers striked back. This time, not only one but more websites were hacked and taken over, identifying themselves as ‘Pinoy Hackers.’ We sample one hacked site, http://www.fliptoplines.com and the defaced front page displays the message “Pinoy Hackers,” and with the message “Greetings Philippines! We are Pinoy Hackers. […]
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. […]
This is the anti-Duterte, PDP-Laban presidential standard bearer Rodrigo Duterte, ad that was aired on Thursday evening on national television. The TV ad was allegedly paid for by independent vice-presidential candidate Antonio V. Trillanes, IV. Netizen supporters of Duterte reacted harshly to the political ad in various social networks. Because […]
This is how Comelec will deliver a credible election results. The poll body will deliver a credible election by following the law that mandates a fully automated system as it was first used in the May 2010 and again during the May 2013 national and local elections. We are referring […]
After its website was hacked last March, the Commission on Elections just gave a strong assurance that restored website which will also display results of the May 9, 2016 elections will be firewalled from malicious users and hackers. Learning from its mistake, the agency said adequate security measures are put […]
These candidates who trace their roots to Bicol have spent a total of P.979 billion already from February 9 to April 27, 2016 for television advertisement alone according to the Nielsen Media data. The list is topped by Liberal Party vice presidential candidate and Camarines Sur 1st district freshman representative […]
MANILA — As the Philippine elections near the final homestretch, the poll body is set to hold the final testing and sealing of the vote counting machines this week. The focus of activity will be the conduct by the Commission on Elections of a one-day event participated in by designated […]
Fund for the construction of the much delayed project of Bicol International Airport was already approved by the Department of Transportation and Communications. According to Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, DOTC Secretary Abaya called him up last Friday that the P780-million fund for the project has already been awarded. The now […]
In so many words, this is what Malacanang can say after the heinous beheading of hostage, a Canadian natonal, selected from among many others, by the Abu Sayyaf. “We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Canadian national John Ridsdel who had been held captive and confirmed killed […]
TULUNAN, North Cotabato — Emotions ran high after the family of an Army man met him following his release Tuesday by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in a remote village here. The freed captive, Army Private First Class Eduardo Hilaga Jr. was abducted by members of the NPA Front 72 […]
MANILA – Election is on! That is for the more than 24,000 local absentee voters who can now cast votes beginning today, Wednesday, April 27 but only until Friday, April 29. The Committee on Local Absentee Voting (CLAV) chief Rowena Guanzon said those who registered under the LAV to participate […]
MANILA – The country’s flag carrier Philippine Airlines and the Department of Budget and Management’s Procurement Service signed on Tuesday a general fares agreement on domestic travel for an initial 23 national government agencies. The agreement covers only official domestic trips of government officials, employees and personnel which will get […]
Just a few days after Albay Governor Joey Salceda resigned as regional chairman of the Liberal Party and vowed support for independent presidential candidate Grace Poe, more Bicol provincial officials followed his move. On Monday, it was confirmed that Gov. Edgardo Tallado (LP) of Camarines Norte, Gov. Raul Lee (UNA) […]
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 […]
If you watched attentively during the 3rd and last presidential debate held yesterday at the Phinma University of Pangasinan, then you should have heard of candidate Grace Poe’s promises. Independent candidate Sen. Poe vowed to create a government that is sensitive to the needs of the suffering Filipino people, the […]
DAGUPAN CITY, – The third and last presidential debate under the auspices of the Commission on Elections will follow a town hall format on Sunday from 6 PM to 9 PM at the student plaza of the University of Pangasinan Phinma in Dagupan City. Prepared questions would range from very […]
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 […]
Opening salvo: Preliminary conference on Marcos poll protest VS. VP Robredo starts July 11 The Supreme Court of the Philippines (SCOTP) sitting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) will start the preliminary conference on the election protest of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. against Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday. […]
The memory of the Maguindanao Mamasapano incident which resulted in the massacre of 44 members of the Special Action Force (SAF) unit of the Philippine National Police is not forgotten, it seems. On Monday the Philippine senate upheld previous ruling to reopen the Mamasapano incident investigation based on “new matters” […]
This month of April, we mark the birthday of this site. So that as part of that celebration, we are happy to share the top 25 stories and posts that garnered the top most views through the years, up to now. Going over these posts, we were surprised for the […]
Sharing here the livestream Philippine Senate hearing on proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law being conducted by the Committee on Local government chaired by Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. This is Agenda: S. No. 2408 – Bangsamoro Basic Law Senate Hearing on June 3, 2015. Audio is crappy, though.
December 2013 Dentist Licensure Examination results The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announces that 271 out of 580 passed the November 2013 Dentist Licensure Examination (Written Phase) and 265 out of 281 passed the Dentist Licensure Examination (Practical Phase) given by the Board of Dentistry in Manila this December 2013. The […]
These areas are no-fly zones during #election2016 as the Armed forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police has order to enforce and shoot down drones. The Civil Aviation Administration of the Philippines has identified and declared three areas in Metro Manila as no-fly zones during and after the […]
Katherine Dominique Lagrimas was proclaimed Miss Bicolandia 2010 in the pageant held at the new multi-million peso Metro Naga Coliseum. She won over four other lovely Bicolana semi-finalists in the September 8 crowning ceremony.
WASHINGTON, July 23 — A study published in the U. S. journal Circulation reveals that men regularly skipped breakfast had a higher risk of a heart attack or fatal coronary heart disease. The study analyzed food frequency questionnaire data and tracked health outcomes of over 26,000 men between the ages […]
[flexiblemap address=”Mount Taraw, El Nido, Palawan” region=”Philippines” directions=”true” width=”100%” height=”250px” zoom=”10″ ] A foreign tourist hiked the ruggedly sharp cliffs of Mount Taraw of El Nido on Tuesday with his girlfriend with a good plan. Upon reaching the desired spot, Jean Jacques, the African tourist popped a ring to girlfriend […]
[flexiblemap title=”Moscow” address=”Moscow, Russian Federation” region=”Russian Federation” directions=”true” width=”100%” height=”250px” zoom=”10″] The Russian Emergencies Ministry’s Moscow unit is currently on a high alert mode amid Moscow’s suspension of flights to and from Egypt, the ministry’s press service said Saturday. The ministry has also organized the 24-hour work of the task […]
Red Monkey Talks presents ‘ANG KANDIDATONG NAGTATAGO, HINDI LEADER #short” halaw sa nakaraang presidential debate. Panoorin at namnamin ang maikling paalala sa matapang na bise presidente ng Pilipinas. “…..Sadyang mahalagang sumali sa mga debate. Pagkakataon ito para marinig ang mga plano ng kandidato. ang pagkakataon ng marinig ng taumbayan para […]
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Board for Professional Teachers (BPT) announces that 19,384 elementary teachers out of 62,160 examinees (31.18%) and 25,755 secondary teachers out of 64,792 examinees (39.75 %) successfully passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers (L.E.T.) given last September 29, 2013 in 17 testing centers all […]
Officials of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said in a briefing that Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay and Sorsogon in Region 5; and Quezon, Laguna, Batangas, Cavite and Rizal in Region 4, Bataan in Region 3 were all cut off from the grid as of 8:00 P.M., […]
LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte, March 12 — In the quest for free solar power, some 700 indigenous trees in Currimao town will be cleared for the purpose. That is why Father Robert Reyes, known as the “running priest” from Malabon, is in Laoag City to join young Ilocanos in their […]
The Bureau of Fishiries will provide P6-M for the rehabilitation of San Miguel bay and P20-M for the proposed regional fishport infrastructure that will be located in Calabanga town of Camarines Sur. The fishport will include an ice plant and fish storage facilities. This vague details was shared by the […]
For the fiscal year of 2007, the LGU of Libmanan was the first and only that surpassed the P100M earnings among the 35 municipalities, while capital town Pili had P87M. Rinconada’s Nabua made P73.2M and the third district town of Calabanga earned P72.6M.
Francia Falcon Apelo, one of the pillars of the local educational community will be surely missed soon enough. She last handled the post of school counsellor at the Calabanga Polytechnic college (now the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture). Previous to that, she was well remembered at the Calabanga Central Division Pilot School for the several subjects she ably handled.
The Commission on Population (POPCOM) Bicol regional office reported that early pregnancy and lack of knowledge in FP are main reasons behind its over 5.1 million population.
Seven charitable foundations and institutions in the Bicol region had been cut-off of their monthly and quarterly funding by the numbers gaming agency Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). Many more similar institutions around the country suffered the same funding stoppage. This was revealed by chairwoman Margarita Juico who said the […]
The 3rd Bishop Gainza trade fair opens tomorrow, September 6, in Naga city. According to organizers, the event will offer new twists which include locating the venue at downtown Naga, a few meters from the Metropolitan Cathedral. The site will attract thousands of foot traffic counting on the flock of […]
The Catholic Parish Pastoral Council of Nuestra Señora de la Porteria in Calabanga has released the program and schedule of activities and festivities in the observance of Semana Santa 2013. Schedule of activities: Palm Sunday (Domingo de Ramos) March 24- 6:00 AM Pagbendisyon kan Olivas asin Palmas Hosanna- Pagromdom kan […]
From the glory hole, the provincial government of Catanduanes has retrieved a resolution it used to repel a coal mining in the province four years ago, this time for use against a similar venture that an Australian firm is pressing on. The provincial legislative board recently passed a measure that […]
PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR of CAMARINES NORTE TALLADO, EDGARDO (LP) 103,838 UNICO, KUYA JOJO (NUP) 87,335 TYPOCO, JESUS JR. (NP) 2,014 PROVINCIAL VICE-GOVERNOR of CAMARINES NORTE PIMENTEL, JONAH (LP) 90,311 PADILLA, ROY (NUP) 86,470 MEMBER, SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN of CAMARINES NORTE – FIRST PROVDIST PARDO, PAMELA (LP) 42,505 MALUBAY, TERESITA (NUP) 41,940 QUIBRAL, […]
Employment rate in the Bicol region dropped by 0.9 percentage point in April this year in comparison to the same period last year. This information was released by the National Statistics Office based on the result of their current labor force survey. The jobless rate in April of 2012 was […]