It is more fun in the Philippines. It is really more fun in Bicol, Philippines. But will it stay more fun with all the sporadic but high profile killings in the Bicol provinces, some begging to be solved? This year alone, Bicolanos were summarily executed on separate occasions in Masbate, […]
More than one hundred residents of barangay San Ramon of Rapu-rapu municipality suffers from chikungunya fever. The barangay, located in the almost isolated island of Batan in Albay province, has been reported infected with mosquito-borne disease known to have started to spread in the area in July. The fever brought […]
The Commission on Elections today announced the disqualification of party-list Ako Bicol from participating in the coming May 2013 mid-term election. It must be recalled during the 2010 general election, the Bicol party-list received about 1.5 million votes enough for three seats of their nominees in the House of Representatives. […]
Other than the two “big” island-provinces of Masbate and Catanduanes, there are several islands comprising 7 municipalities in the Bicol region. The island of Burias, west of Albay province and slightly north northwest of Masbate main island, hosts the towns of San Pascual and Claveria. Ticao island, near north of […]
As a sharp contrast to the report about 20 Towns and Cities Over One Third of Bicol Population, 19 Bicol towns registered a population with the combined total of 242,965. It is equivalent to 4.48% of Bicol’s 5.42M in the official census conducted last May of 2010. Majority of these […]
In the official national census conducted for May of 2010, twenty Bicol cities and towns registered a total count of 2,051,067 equivalent to over one third or 37.84% of the regional total. Eight of these cities and municipalities has population exceeding the 100,000 population mark. The eight cities and municipalties […]
One lucky Bicol RTC branch will get the full legal eyes and ears of former Interior secretary Jesse Robredo’s widow soon enough. There are four vacant regional trial courts in the region which includes the Ligao-Albay RTC branch 13, Pili-Camarines Sur branch 32, Calabanga-Camarines Sur, branch 63 and Daet-Camarines Norte […]
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 […]
Special Report Calabanga, CamSur, September 20, 2011- A total of ten light house stations in the six provinces of Region V (five) covered by the Bicol Coast Guard District are not operating, according to the agency’s web site. This is in the heels of a finding disclosed by the Philippine […]
The most prestigious beauty pageant in southern Luzon was held on September 7 with the venue at the Naga city coliseum. Seventeen Bicol lass vied for the coveted title.
The province of Albay and the city of Naga has been shortlisted among the top ten best governed provinces and cities of the Philippines according to the Local Governance Performance Management System report for the year 2010.
Local government units, non-governmental agencies, Catholic heirarchy, parishes, parishioners and the general citizenry are gearing up for the coming religious and civic festivities in Calabanga, Daraga and Naga city this September 2011.
We were taken for a ride about the story of the school girl from Malinao who was catapulted to instant fame and became a local heroine. Maraming nakuryente!!!
The formal opening of the port of Pio Duran town of Albay ushers a new era for people and business to open up or look forward to progress. The modern roll-on, roll-off facilities of the port will serve primarily the southwestern Bicol.
Antigong Simbahan. Catholic churches constructed in Albay by the Spanish conquestadores and friars. Earlier, we posted the teaser for this award winning film by gifted students of the premier state university in the regional capital of Bicol. A presentation by Cbanga360 Production of the mini-documentary by Bem’s Angel Production in […]
Exactly two weeks before the rain floods of typhoon Bebeng hit the bountiful ricefields of Calabanga, in the quadrant bounded by sitios and barangays of Taculod, San Roque, San Pablo and Ratay, the farmers got busy with their hand-driven rice harvesting tool of sickle (asyab). The farm workers worked fast and quick for the scorching heat of the summer sun has a skin-burning effect.
I strongly believe one of the most beloved pope in the world is Pope John Paul II. He visited the Philippines twice. The first historic and memorable visit to the city of Legaspi was on February 21, 1981. He made a return trip to the country during the World Youth Day Celebration in January 12-16, 1995 in Manila.
For income year of 2007, the local government unit of Libon eclipsed the always front runner first class Albay town of Daraga which slid one notch lower. Libon earned over P113M against Daraga’s P109.8M. Polangui followed in far third with P84M. Coming close was Bacacay with P83.6M annual income.
Albay Governor Joey Salceda has ordered the reactivation of evacuation plans for landslide and flood prone areas and residents in six towns following the continuous and heavy rains almost all throughout the Bicol region, and most heavily Albay for the past six days.
The past weeks, Albay inmates had been busy doing “assembly” of the always popular, but traditional Bicol parol (Christmas lanterns) made of bamboo and adorned/wrapped with Japanese paper in various colors, shades, cut and design. The end product are hundreds of cute, small and big, five-pronged-star of a Christmas decor.
The new airport in Daraga town of Albay, otherwise referred to as the southern Luzon international airport, is Bicol’s share in the PPP project being initiated by the PH government. Funding for its construction and completion will be sourced thru the new initiative.
But while Bicol LGUs earn millions (in pesos), it does not follow that the constituents are also that rich. On the contrary, not much has changed on more than majority of the people’s earnings and income. Many families are still below the poverty threshold level around the region. So that there is the strong contrast of the government awashed with money and the people stricken in poverty.
For the fiscal year of 2006, 33 out of 107 Bicol municipal LGUs earned an income over and above the P50M mark. Camarines Norte capital town of Daet topped with an annual income of P158M followed by Albay’s premier town of Daraga. CamSur’s Pili earned P77M to place 6th. Catanduanes capital of Virac earned P65M for the 17th.
They are the cream of an elite group unto themselves. If they are human, they could be living “la vida loca.” But since they are neither, then they could be comparable to virtual money machines, search engine optimized, sucks every single centavo that comes near their sphere.
Looking deep at the 2005 income of cities and provinces of Bicol this time, the trend is no different from previous years. The moneys earned stay more on the uptrend. The cities of Legazpi and Naga are truly rivals. Sorsogon may seem to occupy the third position now and the next years to come.
There is no stumbling block on the surge of Camarines Norte’s capital of Daet to the top of regional ranking by income of Bicol municipalities for the year 2005. Albay province’s top earner Daraga did not even take the second spot and was relegated to number 3. LGU Labo (again, of Camarines Norte) ranked second.
For the fiscal year of 2004, 48 Bicol towns out of 107 earned an income of P37M or more which totalled P2,478,990,989 out of the regional earnings of P3,951,780,429. Of these local government units, twenty breached the P50M yearly income while the reamaining 28 municipalities earned between P35 but less than P50M.
The province of Camarines Sur and the city of Naga lead the list of top earners in their category for three consecutive years of 2001, 2002 and 2003. The perennial seconders are Albay province and Legazpi city for the same reference periods.
Positioned in rank #1 is Albay province’s premiere town of Daraga with annual income of P108,615,847. Daet, the capital town of Camarines Norte earned P79,165,000 and ranked 2nd. Another town of Camarines Norte, Labo, had annual earnings of P78,378,000 and ranked 3rd. Big town Libmanan of Camarines Sur with earnings of P71,331,958 was ranked 4rth.
Albay governor Joey Sarte Salceda is at his best when speaking in behalf of his provincial constituents. This time, he was thinking aloud about the disparity and inconvenience Albayanos receive when it comes to electricity service and pricing.
Easily, then, Bicol river is both the queen and mother of all rivers in southern Luzon due to its size and influence. It holds sway and impact on the fertile and floodplains of the provinces, dictating the state of economic well-being and status affecting thousands of lives of people- including farmers, fisherfolks, travellers, etc., around its sphere of natural terrain.
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.
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.
The newest toast of the town in Legazpi’s math class circle is this fourth grader enrolled at the Bicol University integrated laboratory school.
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 […]
Beauty titlist Melody Gersbach, Binibining Pilipinas-International 2009 died in a car crash this Saturday morning.
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 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.
Tourism industry in the Bicol region leaped a considerable improvement beginning last year when it ranked fourth overall compared to other regions of the country.
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 […]
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.
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.
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.
Colorful “star”-shaped lanterns of varying sizes made by inmates were unveiled in a program Sunday at the Albay provincial jail compound.
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.
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.
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.
Various studies conducted by government agencies and non-government entities just showed a rise in teenage pregnancy in the Bicol region. The study also revealed that pre-teen girls from age 15 to pre-adult 19 are sexually active, from a low of 6.3% in 2002 to a jump of 7.3% in 2013. […]
Bicolanos from Albay province, numbering 13,892 out of 17,000 registered for the event from all walks of life led by Gov. Joey S. Salceda showed determination in shaping the world’s largest human no smoking sign for the Guinness World Record Friday at Legazpi city’s Bicol University football field. Braving the […]
Must watch interview of the lady doctor from Legazpi city who co-leads project in production of personal protection equipment (PPE). The Bicol region has 4 patients confirmed positive with the Chinese coronavirus, three in the province of Albay and one in Camarines Sur. As more cases of probable infected persons […]
Salceda to junk LP bets because of unfinished Bicol International Airport, which may tip the balance of LP’s winning or losing in his province even as Roxas said he is not afraid to lose Albay. On Thursday, Salceda said his province may junk the administration ticket after the failure of […]
The venerated image of Nuestra Senora del Santisimo Rosario de Manaoag makes an extended whistle stop in the province of Albay beginning last Saturday, July 13 about 8:00 o’clock in the morning and ends today. The replica of the image now used in the pilgrim visits outside of Pangasinan reached […]
Phivolcs sows fear on Bicolanos of earthquake. Saying that Bicol should brace for possible strongest earthquake to strike the region in the future is like sowing fear in the hearts of Bicolanos straight from mouth of the Phivolcs officer. Director Renato Solidum of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology […]
LEGAZPI CITY — The United Nations Green Climate Fund (GCF) headquarters will formally open on Wednesday, December 4 with an inaugural dedication at 10:30 A.M. The center is located at the G-Tower of Songdo in Incheon City, South Korea. The G-Tower building is specially designed for the GCF and other […]
PH to send medical resources to Ebola-stricken W. Africa The Philippines is sending medical resources to Ebola-stricken countries in Western African region according to President Benigno S. Aquino III. He said the Philippines will send medical resources in support of the global effort to help nations overwhelmed by the Ebola […]
Valerie Weigmann, a commercial model and TV host, who claims her roots from Albay province, was crowned Miss World Philippines 2014 Sunday night in Manila. Also winneres are runners up Lorraine Kendrickson, First Princess; Nelda Ibe, Second Princess; Nicole Donesa, Third Princess; and Rachel Peters, Fourth Princess. Aside from winning […]
LEGAZPI CITY –- The public works and highways department is almost set to start the expansion to four lanes of the Yawa bridge here at a cost of P140 million. According to public works Bicol assistant regional director Armando Estrella, the initial amount of P50 million is now ready, hoping […]
The National Museum of the Philippines has come up with identifying more national cultural treasures and cultural treasures, the latest batch in 2015. The National Museum (Pambansang Museo ng Pilipinas) is a government institution which serves as an educational, scientific and cultural institution in preserving the various permanent national collections […]
A CALL FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE by Oliver O. Olaybal All Albay lawyers are requested to provide legal assistance to their fellow member-consumers in Aleco. Aleco needs your help. A group of unelected individuals have subcontracted the franchise operations of Aleco without the consent of Aleco member-consumers, and without the approval […]
Today, at 9:32 AM, Tuesday, January 23, Legazpi time, we start a live blogging event to document the fury and ferocious destruction of Mayon volcano on its environ and the local residents living in its vicinity. We are getting a live text feed direct from the city fronting the volcano. […]
We are crunching figures here. This time, we discuss how the six Bicol provinces spent the people’s money in 2009. Selected were five current operating expenditures which ate up much of the operating income of, and by comparison with, all six provincial local government units. General Public Service The province […]
Legazpi City, Albay, April 16, 2016 – Remember when the APEC leaders’ meet was held in Manila last November 2015? Despite the monstrous traffic the public riding passengers and motorists were made to endure finally coming up with the #apectado social media reaction, but many found some shining moments about […]
Finally, Albay Governor Joey Sarte Salceda came out with final word on who he will support in the May 9, 2016 elections. The vocal provincial chief ended the speculation on his political plan and confirmed the unwavering support for the candidacy of Grace Poe Llamanzares of the independent Partido Galing […]
Miss Philippines Catriona Gray is crowned this year’s Miss Universe. This is the fourth crown won by a candidate from the Philippines in the history of the popular international beauty pageant. Watch the seemingly long moment while the hopefuls wait for the announcement of the winning Miss Universe 2018. And […]
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.
In the official national census conducted for May of 2010, twenty Bicol cities and towns registered a total count of 2,051,067 equivalent to over one third or 37.84% of the regional total. Eight of these cities and municipalities has population exceeding the 100,000 population mark. The eight cities and municipalties […]
Bicolanos from Albay province, numbering 13,892 out of 17,000 registered for the event from all walks of life led by Gov. Joey S. Salceda showed determination in shaping the world’s largest human no smoking sign for the Guinness World Record Friday at Legazpi city’s Bicol University football field. Braving the […]
Team Albay is sending another humaitarian team, this time, to Eastern Visayan provinces ravaged by typhoon Yolanda. The group is composed of 179 highly spirited volunteers, from the Office of Civil Defense 5. They left Legazpi city at about 8:40 p.m. Saturday, in a convoy of 14 vehicles bound for […]
LEGAZPI CITY -– A proactive Mayor Noel E. Rosal here early this week ordered the city’s Integrated Coastal Resource Management Unit to fully secure the coastal water channel where whale sharks currently inhabit. “We want Poliqui Bay conserved by way of protecting it from illegal fishing activities, water pollution and […]
SORSOGON CITY – After the storm that hit the Bicol region comes the backlash. Sorsogon provincial officials accuses the Albay leadership of allegedly seeming and deliberate exaggeration and padding on estimated disaster report on the value of devastation wrought by Typhoon Glenda. Of the six Bicol provinces, Albay claimed to […]
GUINOBATAN, Albay, Dec. 9 — Boulders, mudflows isolate several barangays of Albay town. At the height of Typhoon Ruby’s howling wind and torrential rains, car-sized boulders tumbled and vulcanic mudflows ran down the lower slopes of Mayon towards Barangay Maipon of Guinobatan town of Albay. The heavy debris caused the […]