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.
A boat ride is one way in getting to the city of Masbate and the island province of Masbate from the Bicol peninsula.
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.
Beside the gate of the public Calabanga central division pilot school is its massive, proud, yet paint-fading marker signage.
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?
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.
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.
Twenty one year old Bicol lass Maria Venus Raj from the town of Bato here in the province of Camarines Sur, bested twenty three other beauty contestants.
At 6:28 in the evening, stalls at the only public market in the town start turning off lights one by one.
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.
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.
I hate goodbyes. It pricks the innermost recesses of my heart and pour tears on my eyes. It makes me sad and switch to a somber mood. I am very sentimental. I hate goodbyes.
The gate opens up and lead to the Archbishop’s Palace, the official residence of the archbishop of (Nueva) Caceres in Elias Angeles street in the city of Naga.
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.
The parish church of Our Lady of La Porteria, one of the six in the town, gets the much needed roof renovation.
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.
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 […]
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.
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 […]
The other night, I have to “combat” an infection of my daughter’s notebook. It was an oversight on my part the real antivirus software expired a week ago.
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
This is a sky photo taken during our visit of the village of Balongay here in Calabanga.
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.
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.
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.
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
It is Christmastime here in the areas surrounding the perfect-coned volcano of Mt. Mayon. And instead of snow, the towns experience ashfall showers and ground rumblings.
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.
On June 11, 1978 the Philippine national historical commission by virtue of presidential decree 1505 declared the baroque-inspired Quipayo church as a national historical landmark.
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 […]
Enjoy this short clip of the green and leafy sea dragons. First published in YouTube in widescreen.
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.
Developers and stakeholders of the newest commercial development in the city of Legazpi and in the province of Albay are in the upbeat mood.
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.
Colorful “star”-shaped lanterns of varying sizes made by inmates were unveiled in a program Sunday at the Albay provincial jail compound.
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 […]
Last Wednesday (11 November 2009), about 1:50 A.M. Mt. Mayon had a minor explosion lasting for about three minutes which brought ash fall on the towns surrounding the volcano.
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.
Let’s spend an afternoon, and perhaps wait for the sun set, at the Rompeolas of Sorsogon city.
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.
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 […]
With the initial post here of I’m a new blogger, am calling these collective thoughts, insights and learnings, etc., of a nuBLOGGER.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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.
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 […]
Very moody. The horizon is always adorned with thick clouds this side of the town.
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.
Calabanga is one of the major rice producers in the province. With the looming unwelcome downpour coming, farmers are in deep trouble.
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.
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.
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.
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 […]
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.
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, […]
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.
Maogmang aldaw! is the Bicol phrase greeting one a good happy day, encompassing every Bicolano’s spirit of hospitality and friendship. Bicol is a distinct, complete language by itself, spoken by the majority of people in the region.
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. 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.
Very popular among the folks on small towns is this means of transport where gas is not required to make it go the distance. It feeds on pedal power, endurance and foot strength of the trike operator. The three wheeled pedal trike’s popularity is all over that from the town […]
Calabanga is a small speck of dot as seen on the map of the province of Camarines Sur, down the region and peninsula of Bicol in southern Luzon, the Philippines.
The once white, thick puffy clouds hovering above turned darker in due time, cool air sweep the area and then tiny droplets of crystal water began to pour from above.
NPA rebels burn construction equipment of Masbate contractor MASBATE CITY, Masbate, Feb. 14 — Suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels burned the truck and a road roller of an engineer-contractor at the project site in Barangay Bagahanglad, San Jacinto, Masbate on early Wednesday afternoon for allegedly not paying revolutionary tax, […]
Did regret came too late? A girl who transitioned to becoming a boy during teenage year speaks of great regret for having done so. Charlie Evans “became” male for close to ten years before making a turn-around from a decision made. Evans detransitioned in 2018. But will it recoup the […]
LIVE BLOGGING. This afternoon, the official religious festivities on the closing celebration of the tercentenary of Peñafrancia in the region kicks off at the Shrine here in the city of Naga,
A soothing tribute to all the brave men and women working as one in the battle to combat the pandemic #covid19. This post originally set to mark our celebration of milestones for having attained a modest 3K+ subs, 650K+ (654,785) channel views and 2.68M+ (2,680,101) lifetime watched minutes as of […]
KIDAPAWAN CITY, April 8 –- Two of the top Philippine National Police officers in North Cotabato province were sacked of their posts as part of the fallout of the violent dispersal of protesting farmers last April 1 here. PNP region 12 administrative head Police Sr. Supt. Danilo Peralta confirmed Friday […]
It isn’t funny anymore with the not-once-in-a-blue-moon errors of national dailies on news coverages which detail events outside Manila. This time, have you noticed the news from Manila Standard Today about the “Ship sinks off Bohol, 2 killed, 12 missing” posted on Jun. 15, 2013 at 12:02am and bylined by […]
MANILA, — The Department of Education is prioritizing the National Capital Region, Bicol and the Cordillera Administrative Region for the implementation of the Toxics-Free Schools Program (TFSP) for school year 2014-2015. Under a memorandum of agreement signed on Friday, DepEd has partnered with the environmental group BAN Toxics to prevent […]
Farmer returns helmet, military gadget of fallen SAF commando SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao, Feb. 16( –- A farmer who asked not to be named for security reason returned items of slain police commandos in the January 25 PNP Special Action Force debacle. Police officers in Maguindanao are expecting more personal items, […]
TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 18 –United States government boosted its humanitarian aid to typhoon-afflicted areas of the Philippines with an additional US$24.6 million on top of its $ 62 million already been provided. US Secretary of State John Kerry during his visit here Wednesday underscored the additional assistance to be coursed […]
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.
It is back to school today in all levels in public elementary and high school. The one week-long semestral break being finally over. According to the Department of Education, the semestral break which started on October 22nd up to the 25th was extended due to the nationally-declared Eid Ul-Udha holiday. […]
The Malacañan Palace on Tuesday confirmed that President Rodrigo Duterte really has health condition, in fact a lot of issues with his spinal. During the recent Wallace Business Forum dinner at the Palace, the POTP (President of the Philippines) said his doctor advised him to undergo surgery to cure a […]
Former United States presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton has conceded defeat from Republican candidate and President-elect Donald Trump. The defeated Democratic candidate and former US Secretary of State called by phone the winning Mr. Trump a few minutes ago. The ongoing election tally being broadcast live by major US news […]
Austrian pilot and daredevil Felix Baumgartner finally broke the sound barrier on Sunday, October 14, 2012. That happened in a skydive from the stratosphere, from the height of approximately 38.5 km (128,000 ft, 24.24 miles) above the Earth’s surface. The jumper reached Mach 1.24 or 1,342 km/h (833.9 miles per […]
The Philippines remained a great bystander before and during the much ballyhoed Unha-3 three stage rocket launch by North Korea that was after all a great dud. Some four hours after the rocket exploded over the Yellow Sea, the North admitted the satellite had failed to enter orbit, and that […]
MANILA, March 30 — Starting June employees will enjoy higher mid-year benefits with the effectivity of the implementing rules of the new law raising to P82,000 the maximum amount of obtainable tax-free bonuses, House Deputy Majority Leader and Makati City Rep. Mar-Len Abigail Binay said Sunday. “We expect an additional […]
MANILA, April 13 — The Department of Health (DOH) said on Monday that no trace of any toxic substance was found from the samples of the milk tea that allegedly caused the death of two persons and the hospitalization of another one in Manila last week. In a press briefing […]
SORSOGON CITY, May 8 — A possible phreatic or stream-driven explosion of Mt. Bulusan maybe forthcoming after the volcano exhibited steam and ash explosions on May 1 and another stream-driven explosion on May 6. With this prospect, residents within valleys and along rivers and stream channels are warned to be […]
Sharing here the sixth and last State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Benigno S. Aquino, Jr., at the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City. The sixth time President Aquino will report to the people his achievements and some more plans, if any, will be the heart of his speech […]
Continuing here the live stream sharing coverage of Pope Francis in Philadelphia, with the spotlight on meeting with Bishops, guests of the World Meeting of Families. Pope Francis meets the Bishops, guests of the World Meeting of Families in the St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia Scheduled for Sep 27, […]
It is confirmed. Feisty Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago is running for president in the 2016 elections. The bonus announcement this Thursday also include the confirmation her running mate is Ilocano senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. READ: Also running: Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago joins 2016 presidential derby? Santiago said she will […]
The Department of Health is advising the people, particularly the elderly, children and those with asthma or other chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPDs) on ways of coping with the risks of haze now being experienced in some parts of Mindanao. Read more:Indonesian haze worsens, compromise Southern Mindanao air quality DOH […]
An official of the National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA) of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said the Catholic charity group Caritas Internationalis has spent more than P3.2 billion in assistance of victims of super typhoon Yolanda for the last two years. Of the P3.2 billion allocated […]
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Sunday called on world leaders to step up their efforts to eliminate their differences in order to reach an agreement in Paris in late November on tackling the climate challenge for the global community. “With two weeks left before the start of COP-21, it is […]