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Human Events Stories

We’re Blushing And We Are Moving

We’re humbled to learn some items and passages of our posts here in Cbanga360 on Blogspot and on Facebook, get reposted, quoted and/or referenced in some neat, news/info gathering/sharing platforms.

What’s Up on Kanibag Hill

Viewed by the ricefields at the back of our house, Kanibag hill is a balding mound of soil, a geological anomally, perched on the shoulders of Mount Isarog.

A Street Urchin from Sabang

While the combined local and national election brings a cacophony of promises from candidates addressed to all the voting and non-voting people of the land, I wondered what promises are hollowed ideas and concepts that may just fade in thin air once elected.

Houses on Stilts by the Sea

A boat ride is one way in getting to the city of Masbate and the island province of Masbate from the Bicol peninsula.

The Parish Church of Divine Mercy in Paolbo

What can the alliance of dream, determination, cooperation, faith, hope, charity, hard work, perseverance, community organization and vision accomplish and build?
A parish church and pious Catholic community in the sub-hilly part of Calabanga’s village in Paolbo.

People Watching People At The Bay

People watching people at the bay. Many times I do engage in people watching just for the joy of it. But how do I know I am not the object/ subject of another’s curiosity?

Easter Beer Plaza Fund Raising at the Octagon

The “Octagon” is a squat building that occupies the municipal lot which used to be an open space with a basketball court. It was there we watched various village teams compete for the championship trophy during the summer night games.

High Poverty Incidence Prevails in Rural Areas

The great divide between the poor and the rich in the country is nowhere more clear than when one goes to the rural areas. In the seaside village of Sabang, more than many nipa houses abound and inhospitable for people to live in. Dilapidated. Frail. Not safe for human habitation. Inadequate.

Blog Comments, Missing or Not the Correct Count

Just noticed this morning older posts (those beyond the home page/first page) with comments from friends and visitors who dropped by are either lost or not counted as it displays “0” (zero) or “1” by merely looking at the bottom of the post. I tested clicking on the comment link and would lead me to the window that displays the comments.

Always The Humble and Resilient Nipa

The nipa (pronounced neepa, as in long e) palm or nypa fruticans is an unusual tree that thrives abundantly on the creek at the back of our house. Obviously it is the perfect and natural breeding area which is muddy and wet ground.

Cbanga360 Followers Appreciation Day

How many times would I tell myself that if ever I follow one’s blog, it is because the contents strike a strong and compelling interest that make me check it out on a regular basis and not just to reciprocate a friendly gesture.

Let A Thousand Bikes Vroooom

When bank and store credit was eased even to low income singles and families, the first option was to get one motor bike for ease in mobility. A very affordable monthly, some weekly, financing plan enticed one too many in our region; an effective sales drive that spread like wildfire not only in urban centers but also in suburban areas. Add to that the prospect of more savings on daily gas expense, and there should be no second thoughts but walk into the bike store and grab one.

At the Port of Legazpi

Thankfully enough we have this boat on the foreground. There’s the hint of blue in the sky but so faint and the general mood of the day is drab and dreary. The port at the city of Legazpi is the port of call for cargo and passenger ships that ply […]

Into the World of Local Cyclists

Our town offers a distinct opportunity for local cycling enthusiasts to prove their prowess and grit by trekking to the hillsides and the rural country which is literally straddling the broad shoulders of mighty Mt. Isarog.

Heroes of Youth, or A Matter of Point of View

Many thanks and photo courtesy of League of Filipino Students and the Arkibong Bayan The great divide, nay, a chasm, between poverty and opulence both obtained in the urban centers like mega Manila and the rural areas is an encouragement for courageous and idealist youths to take up a different […]

White Orchids from Aunt’s Garden

A fresh band of white blooms of orchid from my Aunt’s garden. Thank you for hosting Luiz, Denise, Laerte and Valkyrien. See more flowers here at: Today’s Flowers

The Fifteen Bicol Martyrs of 1897

The story of the Bicol martys began with the discovery of the Katipunan secret society. And the message sent by then Manila-based Governor-General Blanco to all civil governors precipitated mass arrests throughout the country.

The Children of a Restive Mayon Volcano

It’s been more than two weeks now (and counting), the evacuees of about forty seven thousand people are huddled in designated safe centers in the province of Albay. The “former” residents who called their home the slopes of restive, almost perfect-coned Mayon volcano, spent their first Christmas and New Year, in cramped and crowded surroundings.

More Signs of Unrest Observed Within Mayon

Resident volcanologists declared on Monday Mayon volcano continues its ash explosions which are more becoming stronger despite the evacuees eagerness to return to their homes within the danger zones.

The Ubiquitous Flower of the Season

This post should be less wordy. We’re churning one for Cbanga360 on Facebook, which should be online much later. And that would be about Mayon volcano update. Thank you for hosting Luiz, Denise, Laerte and Valkyrien. See more flowers here at: Today’s Flowers

Archdiocese of Caceres Installs New Calabanga Parish

A new Catholic parish was canonically erected last October in the town of Calabanga by the Archdiocese of Caceres. The parish of St. Peregrine of Laziosi with its seat at barangay Sto. Domingo, is the 79th of the archdiocese. The new church is under the vicariate of Our Lady of La Porteria. Archbishop Leonardo Z. Legazpi, OP, DD, himself installed Fr. Joseph Collada Olin as the first parish priest during the mass held at the Union elementary school.

Flowers Are A Source Of Joy And Delight

Flowers are a source of joy and delight. Even if I am not that familiar of one too many, am posting here a specie gathered from my sister’s frontyard. Could this be the New South Wales Christmas bush flowers (Ceratopetallum gummiferum)? It’s a guess though. Will always stand corrected, maybe […]

Albay, Our World of Roads in Disrepair

Residents of barangay Salvacion have to walk roads in disrepair, with asphalt washed away by flood and strong rains the past few months, a prevailing situation many times common to areas in the region.

Short Film on Poverty Touched Millions of Viewers

The short film “Chicken a la Carte” by Ferdinand Dimadura, was made in 2005, beat some 3,600 entries when it won the 56th Berlin film festival award for short films in 2006.

Students Bring Christmas Cheers to Inmates

Colorful “star”-shaped lanterns of varying sizes made by inmates were unveiled in a program Sunday at the Albay provincial jail compound.

Flowers for the grieving heart

Our family, and perhaps much of the folks in our place, have that very close family and extended kinship ties. We still know our cousins up to that we might call “fourth cousins,” fourth degree of consanguinity! (Memory and Tongue twisters: 1st cousins are my parent’s niece and nephews on […]

Family Survives Wrath of Nature and Human Error

How “bad events” struck twice in a row is a story so true and experienced by a good religious family in Daraga town, province of Albay. The first was brought about by the wrath of nature, the second by negligence and human error.

The Days of All Saints and Souls Remembered

We were at the town’s only public Catholic cemetery yesterday and visited our dear departed. Here in our place, as in the whole country, November 1st is designated by the church and the government as All Saints day.

Calabanga is now with 3rd Congressional District of CamSur

With the creation of a new congressional district in the province, our town is now in the third, well, the whole old second district was renamed new third district. It took effect when Republic Act 9716 was signed into law October 12th this year which reapportioned the first district of […]

Happy nuBlogger

With the initial post here of I’m a new blogger, am calling these collective thoughts, insights and learnings, etc., of a nuBLOGGER.

The Bubbling Water of Lake Nag-Aso in Manito

The rural town of Manito is opening up to the influx of tourists brought about by the eco-tourism drive of the government. While it is home to the 160-megawatt Manito-Bacon geothermal plant, the site is being developed to cater to tourists.

A New University in Town

There are arrivals and changes that are welcome but make drastic contrast in memories stored in our mind. Take for example the recent conversion of the Camarines Sur State Agriculltural College (CSSAC) into the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) system last October 12, this year.

Bicol Wikipedia

Less than two years since its launching last November 24, 2007, the
Bicol Wikipidya, an alternative choice and online reference source now has 4.654 articles and increasing.

I’m A Newbie

At one time I visited over one hundred fifty blogs which took me hours sitting by myself and staring at the screen, reading-learning and be mesmerized of the amazing photos and typing comments quick and fast.

What Could be Done Better with the Inarihan Dam

This is the lock of the Inarihan dam located in barangay (village) Binaliw of Calabanga constructed many decades ago.

The THIRIS covers the watershed areas of Tigman, in the towns of Calabanga and Tinambac, Hinagyanan and Inarihan, both in Calabanga, with a total land service area of 3,542 hectares (8,752.47 acres.)

The Last and Final Words About Krill

Where in some advanced countries Krill fishing is so elaborate, modern, organized and well-funded to fill the appetite of factories that churn the tiny, minuscule organism into pet food, or extract its oil content for commercial purposes, our town fishers do it simple and still environmentally friendly, and most of all not saturating its population.

Yellow Bells by the Sidewalk

Lucky for us to still find and appreciate flowers so ordinary and common in our place. But for the people ravaged by the typhoons and floods in metro Manila, and still in the flooded area around Laguna de Bay and outlying provinces, and again in northern and part of central […]

Krills and the Bicolano Spirit of Tenacity

Much of the krills harvested in San Miguel bay are destined for human consumption. Depending on the volume, a fisherman would either bring his catch home or sell to a middleman.

Water World

The series of frames here shows the deplorable and severe aftermath of tropical storm Ketsana, local name Ondoy, which caused flooding to a vast area in the national capital region and neighboring provinces due to the unabated torrential rain and wind.

The typhoon entered the eastern side of the big island of Luzon and made landfall between the provinces of Aurora and Quezon, even as rain started pouring earlier on Friday evening.

The Majestic Mayon Volcano in Albay

With its towering height of 8,077 feet (2,462 meters), the almost perfect-coned volcano is the main tourist attraction of the province and the regions’ natural wonder.

But don’t be guiled with its beauty and charm, for it has erupted times too many since its first recorded activity in 1776. The most destructive was in 1814 when the town of Cagsawa was buried under its mudflows and only the church belfry was left standing. The town was later relocated into what is now the bustling trade center of Daraga.

Scouring for Krill in San Miguel Bay

Just a few meters from the rocky shoreline by the breakwater, this Sabang fisherman is making the most out of his early morning hours, scouring the shallow waters catching for the tiny, tiny shrimp-like marine orgnisms which thrives in San Miguel bay.

Mother’s Potted Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea I want to share this one specie of bougainvillea flowers fresh from our Mother’s potted greens by the front porch. She still have time to care for these plants very popular in our place. My brother who is also green-thumbed helps in nurturing them. Mother just love the color […]

Mt. Isarog, The Majestic

This is Mt. Isarog, a dead volcano nestled at the heart of Camarines Sur province, the highest forested peak in the southern portion of the island of Luzon with a height of 1,966 meters (6,450.13 feet) above sea level.

My Aunt’s Orchids

Courtesy of our next-house neighbor and also Aunt Lolit, these orchids are blooms in her garden, a source of joy and delight even as she worries about the rainy season this time of the year. When asked permission for the frames, she obligingly lead the way. On a sad note, […]

Sky View with Tangled Wires

Sometimes can only wish for a good view of the sky clear and far from the electrical post with its tangled wires. We have to sacrifice a little in exchange for some convenience or I won’t be posting this skyview.

Wild Flowers in the Outfield

What’s in a name?A flower will still be a flower, though growing wild and uncared for. Dainty and frail, they thrive well and good outside the backyard fence basking at the sunshine, facing the vast, wide expanse of almost endless ricefields. Ano an yaon sa ngaran?An burak fermi nang burak, […]

By the Ricefield

By the ricefield. The simple joy of living in a rural area.
We tend to our rice farm and look up to the sky for rains to come at times.

What's Recommended

President Duterte douse cold water on claims of fake news site VS Robredo

What’s next when truth is twisted and served as fake news? On Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte doused cold water on the fake news article published maliciously by a dubious, fake news web site, obviously supportive of the administration but into overdrive attack against critics, particularly vice-President Leni Robredo.

Road Tour Albay: Tuburan Ligao to Agos Polangui

Watch this continuing edition of Road Tour Albay. This portion covers the short distance starting from Barangay Tuburan of Ligao City up until Barangay Agos, Polangui town. Agos is the last barangay of Polangui and the Province of Albay before crossing the provincial boundary and entering Barangay Agos of Bato […]

78% of Voters in CamSur 3rd District Like Robredo

If the elections were held between April 11 and 12, the sure winner in the 3rd congressional district of Camarines Sur will be Liberal Party candidate Atty. Leni Robredo. This was the finding of London-based pollster entity Taylor Nelson Sofres. The study revealed the Robredo widow had 78% per cent […]

Research: Mangrove forests in Indo-Pacific region could be gone by 2070

Mangrove forests in the Indo-Pacific region could be completely under water by 2070, threatening fisheries, coastal protection and furthering climate change, researchers at the University of Queensland (Australia) warn. Yet, the outlook in other parts of the world are more positive as “our modelling shows mangroves are likely to persist […]

Will US troopers use force VS. caravan of Central American migrants?

We are like waiting for something expected could happen as the ‘illegal’ migrants from Central America, but mostly Hondurans, mass and knock at the border between Mexico and US. This tense expectation is fueled with the alleged leak of information that the White House has reportedly issued a memo authorizing […]

Pope Francis to canonize Paul VI, Cardinal Romero today

Pope Francis will canonize two new saints today, by far the most controversial personalities of the 20th century in the Roman Catholic Church. St. Peter’s Basilica will host the ascension to sainthood of Pope Paul VI (left photo) and martyred Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador (right photo). Pope Francis […]

AFP to create workforce unit to defend military cyberspace

The Armed Force of the Philippines (AFP) is coming up with a Cyberspace Strategic Plan expected to be finalized within the upcoming third quarter of 2017. “The development of the AFP Cyberspace Strategic Plan is one of the thrusts of the AFP in attaining information security. It will provide the […]

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.

Palace condones tax liabilities of independent power producers

MANILA, Nov. 17 — Independent power produces are getting a hefty Christmas present courtesy of the Palace. Malacañang said on Sunday that President Benigno Aquino III signed an Executive Order that grants the reduction and condonation of real property taxes, interest and penalties for independent power producers (IPP). Palace spokesperson […]

Ang Mga Magbabade Sa Pagawaan Ng Tuyong Isda, P1

This is the first video instalment, of three parts, actually, of a reaction report on the local fish workers from the shoreline village of Barangay Sabang of Calabanga town. Aptly titled “Ang Mga Magbabade sa Pagawaan ng Tuyong Isda,” or really, the workers cleaning, processing raw fish for eventual drying […]

Explosion in Albay’s Batan island mining camp kills 2 persons

CAMP GEN. SIMEON A. OLA, Legazpi City, Nov. 26 – The Bicol regional police director has ordered an investigation of the chief of police of the Rapu-Rapu island municipality in Albay after the latter appeared unaware of an explosion in a mining company that killed two persons and injured two […]

Human Rights Day 2010, Morong 43 and Diplomacy

In the past few weeks, we featured five build-up guest posts with specific reference to prevailing human rights atmosphere in the PH. What a good “coincidence” that as the Philippines, and other nations of the world, observe today, December 10th International Human Rights day, president Benigno S. Aquino III has ordered the department of justice (DOJ) to withdraw the charges against the Morong 43.

SSS starts collecting new rate of member-employer contribution in 2014

MANILA – The Social Security System will start implementing the new rate of 11 per cent in monthly contribution beginning January 2014 as previously announced. The current rate of contribution is 10.4 per cent regularly collected by the state-owned pension fund. The increase in contribution rate is part of the […]

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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.

Throwback: Robredocs Sing Di Mo Ba Naririnig?

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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.

The Bicol Farmer and Double Talk on Rice

In time of domestic rice shortages, to whom the Philippine government rely more often than not. Or at least, for the immediate past year? No, not the Filipino farmer, are you kidding me!

Holy Wednesday Procession of La Porteria Parish

The religious and pious residents and tourists/visitors of Calabanga town move on to observe the Semana Santa now in midweek. This Wednesday will witness a spectacular yet solemn procession of the Santos and devotees. The procession starts when the afternoon mass dismisses attendees toward the parochial grounds. From there the […]

Mac OS X Fixes New Trojan

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Comelec Junks Muhlach Disqualification Case

Erstwhile matinee idol and newbie politician Aga Muhlach must have learned of the good news earlier. We are referring to the decision by the Commission on Elections for dismissal of the disqualification case filed against him. The Comelec ruled Muhlach complied with the one-year residency requirement in San Jose town […]

Albay Province Winners and Losers May 13, 2013 Elections

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