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Human Events Stories

Peñafrancia Festival in Retrospect

“All’s well that ends well,” a popular saying that is often quoted by many and here we are, doing the same, for we just can not leave behind the immediately past regional event last week without this concluding piece. The Penafrancia tercentenary, religious festivities, celebration and fiesta all rolled into nine days in the Bicol region which centered its focal events in the city of Naga eclipsed the previous and many years of observance.

Winners of 2010 Peñafrancia Regional Civic Parade

Here’s the results of the civic parade competition during the Peñafrancia regional parade held in Naga city last week. All photos here are from the vantage point near or about the parade review stage at the Plaza Quezon.

Winners of 2010 Peñafrancia Regional Military Parade

Here’s the results of the military parade competition during the Peñafrancia festivities regional parade held in Naga city last week. Photo here is the winning form of the corp of cadets of the CBSUA-Calabanga.

Peñafrancia Fluvial and the Pagoda

We focus our attention on the volunteer devotees, the people that paddles manually the boats all stringed together pulling the “vancuerna” or “pagoda” or the barge that carries about one hundred fifty people including the images of the Virgin of Peñafrancia and the Divino Rostro.

Peñafrancia Fluvial on the Naga River

Some 300 military personnel helped in cleaning the river due to unwanted debris and garbage before the actual fluvial procession. The residents and the city government of Naga should take not only one look but also envision a program on how to keep the river clean and alive again before is too late.

How People Watched the Peñafrancia Fluvial Event

This is part two of the photo recap of the Penafrancia fluvial procession last Saturday. This is a photo-study of how people waited for the procession and the fluvial event in back yards, alleys, and every available space one can occupy to gaze at the passing venerated images of the Divino Rostro and the Virgin of Peñafrancia.

Peñafrancia Fluvial Photo Recap

This is part one of the photo recap of the Penafrancia fluvial procession last Saturday. If only to give us an idea of how people celebrated, witnessed and participated in their own ways the tercentenary celebration of the devotion to the Virgin of Peñafrancia.

Peñafrancia Fluvial Unfolds this Afternoon

It’s all systems go for the Penafrancia fluvial and procession this afternoon. The event rolls on at 2:30 P.M. with the recitation of the novena at the cathedral. Tentative schedule here- Procession starts at 3:00 P.M. At 4:00 P.M. arrival at the embarcation point- the place where the images are destined to be transferred to the barge. It will happen at the foot of the Tabuco bridge.

Devotees Await Peñafrancia Fluvial Procession

The official opening of tercentenary celebration of the devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia winds down this Saturday with the traditional fluvial procession. It is the combined procession and river boat ride of the images from the Metropolitan Cathedral back to the Basilica Minore by way of the Naga river.

Voyadores Adds Color to Peñafrancia Tercentenary

The thirteenth edition of the colorful and now popular “Voyadores festival” was held yesterday at the parochial grounds of Naga Metropolitan Cathedral. The show of colors and body movements through street dancing was focused on the alternative expression of piety and devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia (Ina) through music and vibrant dancing.

Iriga Beauty Crowned Miss Bicolandia 2010

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.

The Tale of the Forlorn Couple

The past days and more to come, many of us get the kind of “high” feeling because of jubilation and things happening about the neighborhood or pretty much everywhere. But away from the maddening crowd of people celebrating fiestas and other festivities, away from the euphoria of highly charged atmosphere […]

Albay Fights Back with Inter-Generation Class Suit

The province of Albay is in a tight bind caused by the pending threat of electric supply disconnection by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) on Albay electric cooperative (Aleco) due to unpaid and outstanding power bill debts.

Traslacion Over, Mass Held Outside Cathedral

Earlier, at noon, the procession started out from the Plaza de Padre Miguel de Covarrubias (the Peñafrancia shrine patio). It was dampened with a downpour that actually cooled the air. The throng of people that heared the mass, the crowd waiting outside the church and the sideways of the Peñafrancia avenue where the procession passed got some relief from the previously prevailing sweltering afternoon heat.

Traslacion Kicks Off Peñafrancia Festivities

This afternoon, the official festivities on the celebration of the tercentenary of Peñafrancia in the region kicks off at the Basilica Minore in barangay Balatas of Naga city. The revered images of Our Lady of Peñafrancia and the Divino Rostro will be transported via a long and winding procession on the city streets after the traditional high mass at the home church of the images.

Caceres Archdiocese Unveils Porta Mariae

The Archdiocese of Caceres unveils today the Porta Mariae, a commemorative arch of the tercentenary or 300th celebration of the devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary in front of the Metropolitan Cathedral in Naga city.

Happy 2010 Fiesta, Calabanga!!!

Happy Fiesta, Calabanga! The town fiesta here seems to be a one week affair now which began a few years back with two separate parades on two days. And there are may more fun attractions and happenings about the town. And don’t forget to check-out the video-report of the civic parade below the text post.

Military Contingent Added Success to Parade

Fancy drills of cadets may have engaged the crowd to cheer and swoon. Perhaps, the training and discipline instilled was enough guarantee that not one may not slip in their routine. It must be exhilirating for every participant but over all, they delivered what was expected.

The School Bands Rock the Town Fiesta

With every observance of the town fiesta here in Calabanga, we also look forward to the drum and bugle corps that now has been transformed and adapted to the current trend- a band more apt to the occasion. The cacophony of sound and music more enlivens the festive mood.

Majorettes Amaze Crowd at Calabanga 2010 Parade

Yesterday, during the pre-fiesta parade celebration, many of these institutions fielded representatives showcasing the showmanship, talent and faces of their students. Consider how long the parade went on with the long list of participants. They presented exhibition and action fronting the makeshift review grandstand, right into that commercial area, everybody calls the “Parada”.

Albay Under Threat of Electric Service Disconnection

The province of Albay and the Albay Electric Cooperative braces for a bleak week with the looming disconnect action that dangles from the National Power Grid Corporation of the Philippines. This is due to Aleco’s falure to pay the PHP982M outstanding electric bill with the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation.

Paolbo Parish Observes Peñafrancia Tercentenary

The image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia and the Divino Rostro was routed around the parochial vicinity of the parish of Divine Mercy in Paolbo. Pious volunteer “voyadores” carried the images in a makeshift platform on their shoulder towards the San Miguel bay by the shoreline of barangay Belen.

The Miss Calabanga 2010 Candidates

Candidates for the search for Miss Calabanga 2010 in a location shoot at Barangay San Bernardino. On August 30. candidates don their swimsuit for the competition held at the main lobby of the municpal hall.

Calabanga Celebrates Town Fiesta

On September 6 and 7, the townsfolk of Calabanga will celebrate the feast day of Nuestra Señora de la Porteria. The civil and religious heirarchy in the whole municipality closes ranks to celebrate as one the joyous occasion.

Math Whiz Kid Hails From Legazpi

The newest toast of the town in Legazpi’s math class circle is this fourth grader enrolled at the Bicol University integrated laboratory school.

All Roads Lead to Bicol

A few days from now, on September 10, the region begins the celebration of 300 years of devotion, the Tercentenary of the Virgin of, and Our Lady of Peñafrancia.

Bicolanas Win Mutya ng Pilipinas Crowns

Two lovely Bicolanas took the win in the just concluded Mutya ng Piipinas 2010 beauty pageant. Carla Lizardo and Ashley McGarry shared the stage with two distinct crowns at the end of the pageant.

The Camarines Sur Tourism Ad: Come South CamSur

Come South, CamSur. For all our friends, kababayan, visitors and prospective tourists, come and enjoy the hospitality, sights, sounds, food, adventure, amenities and many more of the premier province of Bicol. Appearing on this tourism campaign commissioned by the provincial government is the singer and movie actor Karylle with the […]

The Season of Flowers is Fading

Legazpi city: Summer has long been gone here. It starts just when the school year ends in March. So students connect summer to days without the regular classes, homeworks and tests. No tensions, more of fun, outings (to the beach and movies?) and also malling (now a favorite past time […]

AdeN U Grad Tops Nursing Board

A graduate from the Ateneo de Naga University college of nursing topped the nursing licensure examination given this July 2010, according to the statement released by the professional regulation Commission.

Bicolana Wins in Mrs. Universe Pageant

Look, we have another news-source of joy. This is a belated report on the result of Mrs. Universe beauty pageant. Bicolana Maria Muriel Moral added more laurels for the Philippines upon coveting the Mrs. Intelligence award in the just concluded pageant.

Is it Quo Vadis, Mount Isarog?

With all these exploration and mining actions in the Bicol region initiated by the national government which contradicts itself, and at times awarded to foreign companies that solely enjoy the benefits and fruits of the national patrimony, whom do we ask for relief?

Orchids Mark Our First Year

The orchids bloom this time at our sister’s Legazpi frontyard are remarkable. Her residence with a certain degree of elevation due to the hillside location of the housing district gives ample growth area for the aerial plants.

Cbanga360: One Year and Counting

Cbanga360, the street journal about Calabanga and many things Bicol, was one idea of how to fill dull days into something worth productive. It turned out, the process of maintaining the blog, i.e., writing posts consume our time coupled with leg work, research, coordination and much more.

A Bird’s-Eye View of Calabanga

So how do we get a good impression of the vicinity about the poblacion- Parada of Calabanga, other than taking a snap from the window of a plane or helicopter or using the Google satellite-generated image?

A Sperm Whale Dies in Rapu-rapu

The recent discovery of the humongous dead sperm whale is another thorny issue that is being blamed and connected to the current mining operations in the island of Rapu-rapu.

The Glutenous Politics on Rice

To many who eat always with rice as part of the regular meal, the knowledge that the country is awash in supply of the commodity is one good news.

San Miguel Iron Ore Deposit Up for Grabs

With the looming prospect of the San Miguel bay to exploratory mining for iron ore deposit, we surmised the immediate areas that maybe opened. Here we conceptualized that prospective zone of one kilometer from the shore and three kilometers outward. The same area runs in conflict with municipal ordinance that […]

La Porteria Starts Parish Visit

During one of those tempestuous days long, long ago, the Lady of the Gates was said to have saved the areas by the bayside from an impending giant water surge. The Lady was said to have waved Her hand in a gesture like pushing the oncoming water far back from where it came to the relief of the residents.

Bicol Akrho Celebrates Anniversary

The Alpha Kappa Rho (akrho) chapters in Albay celebrate in a parade about the main streets of Legazpi city. Some fraternity and sorority members wear their signature black shirts emblazoned with the organization’s name.

San Miguel Bay Faces Mining Activities

The current environment in the area about San Miguel bay may endure some changes in the very near future with the entry of a new player. Bogo Resources and Mining corporation (BRMC) has been granted by the mines and geosciences bureau (MGB) to explore iron-ore sand in approximately one third of the bay’s offshore area.

The Wealthiest Families in the Philippines

Mang Jaime lives at a make-shift nipa shack across our house by the creek. On farmers market days, he would get up early and harvest fresh shoots of kangkong and sell at Calabanga’s only public market. A bundle of the aquatic vegetable would earn him about five pesos (one peso is equivalent to US $0.0223 at the current exchange rate). Whatever money he gets from the sale of his bundles, he would buy bread and food for his family.

State-Run Hospitals Urged to Practice Sanitation

If only administrators and concerned officials can equate a pastel paint job to good service and health care, then many will change their concept about a government-run hospital. Until then, the poor will be in constant want for good health care service delivery with friendly and courteous attitude from the staff.

Crime Rise in Camarines Sur Noted

The volume of recorded crimes committed in the province of CamSur rose to 256 per cent or 294 cases in the first six months of the past year against 1,047 for the same half-year period, this year. Meanwhile, Naga city’s crime index seemed to follow the provincial trend.

Divine Mercy Parish Celebrates Church Completion

The seven-year journey from its foundation and since the time capsule lowered down the ground, the Divine Mercy parish of Paolbo realized a long- sought dream, the final completion of the church edifice. The last phase that hindered the said event was the altar, the focal attraction of the building.

Positive Change Sweeps Cbanga360

One big change in the layout came about with the quick approval from Google Adsense. Expect there would be more changes in our endeavor to improve Cbanga360 which may include opening our doors to contributors, more responsive articles, a forum, etc. For this, we always maintain a positive outlook.

Doppler System Soon to Rise in Bicol

Our folks would always tell us that experience is a good teacher. I beg to disagree in some instances when the subject is like weather, weather forecasting and disaster preparedness in our country. Either people don’t seem to learn or have short and protracted memory.

A Monument to a Beloved Son

One Calabangueno stand tall and proud on a pedestal facing what used to be the town plaza (up until the construction of the multi-purpose Octagon edifice) for many decades now. He is Emilio Tible, Sr., or should be rightfully referred to as the monument erected and dedicated in his honor […]

My Favorite Balimbing is Now a Turncoat

When I was little, I would perch on the verandah of my grandma’s house, check out and admire the cluster of dangling yellow-greenish fruits from the branches of the much popularly referred to as the balimbing tree. A few more years when I was able to grasp on branches and […]

G20 and the Chasm of Deprivation

The world has divided into rich and poor as at no time in our history. The richest 2% own more than half the household wealth in the world. The richest 10% hold 85% of total global assets and the bottom half of humanity owns less than 1% of the wealth in the world. The three richest men in the world have more money than the poorest 48 countries.

Indigent residents of Calabanga receive medical assistance

Some 350 residents, including children, from five barangays of Calabanga travelled to the off-site location of West Coast high school in Dominorog, were accorded free consultaton and given appropriate medicine, vitamins and anti-biotics.

Remembering Calabanga, Part 1

When I remember my hometown, Calabanga, it is always summer. It is a small town at the foot of the overwhelming Isarog, which is lapped by the San Miguel bay. The town is a lovely place where the skies are bluer than I’ve ever seen them anywhere and the sea is as calm as a still night and overpowering when angry.

Winners Find Strange Bedfellows

Just thinking aloud, did voters opted to elect candidates due to popularity, performance, or otherwise. Voters have a clever way of playing jokes. At times, it hurts.

Election Hang-over And Eye Sores

The election was way past many days now and the remnants of the costliest national exercise already part of the past, and yet we are still confronted with two strong indications that its scepter and shadow still hovers above our heads.

Election Marred with Malfunctioning Machines

Majority of the fifty million registered voters trooped to Philippine polling precints as early as six in the morning Monday in the nationwide exercise of electing a new set of government officials from the president down to municipal town councils.

Rizalina Hernandez Bongat, 63

Just three houses from across ours, she lived a full, frugal and celibate life. She spent her most productive years at the Calabanga Central Division Pilot School in barangay San Francisco, on the other side of the twin roads.

How to Kill a Bird

On Wednesday, I went early to the market if only to avoid the rush and hustle as many people surely will be a crowd too many, buying and selling food stuff.

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