By Aireen Pural Kusog Bikolandia (KB), Bicol’s regional political party, led by its founder and chairman, former mediaman turned businessman Noel De Luna, has signified and committed its all-out support to Vice President Leni Robredo’s presidential bid. On Oct. 7, in a press conference conducted after she filed her certificate of candidacy, Robredo shared how difficult it was to arrive at the decision to run for the presidency. “The presidency is an enormous responsibility an

By Mavic Conde A group has made a crowdfunding page for the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo. Its aim? To help fund her campaign in next year’s elections. Team Leni Robredo on Tuesday, Oct. 14, created the page where donations can be made from as low as P50 to P20,000. Those interested in chipping in more than P20,000 are also welcome. How to donate? Simply go to this page: donation.teamlenirobredo.com But is crowdfunding legal, as far as contributing to a can

By Jason B. Neola The Naga City government is in the process of procuring eight more units of high-flow oxygen machines to augment the 12 similar devices purchased earlier by the city for its Covid-19 treatment facilities. The procurement of the machines was compelled by the escalating number of Covid-19 patients who need to undergo high-flow oxygen therapy (HFOT) because of severe conditions they are experiencing. HFOT is a form of respiratory support where oxygen, often in

By Rhaydz B. Barcia A driver’s son, Al Christian Regorgo Gobres, 22, a resident of Pagasa, Rawis, Legazpi City topped the recently concluded 2021 Chemical Engineering Board examination. Gobres, the middle child among the three children of Lorenzo Gobres, 54, a company driver, topped the 321 passers out of 679 examinees of the 2021 Chemical Engineering licensure examination released Monday, Oct. 11. Gobres bagged the No. 1 spot with a rating of 84 percent. The board topnotch

By Jason B. Neola The Office of the Schools Division Superintendent of the Department of Education (DepEd) in Naga City is now preparing its plan to pilot face-to-face classes in at least one public school. This, after DepEd Supt. Mariano de Guzman took notice of the decreasing number of Covid-19 cases in the city. “At least, we are seeing the opportunity to meet two of the basic requirements set by the Department of Health (DOH) for the conduct of face-to-face learning del

By Danny Aureus The first-ever cardiac or heart center in the Bicol region located in the new building of the Bicol Medical Center (BMC) in Naga City is scheduled for blessing and inauguration on Tuesday, Oct. 19, one week before the retirement on Oct. 25 of BMC chief, Dr. Francisco Sales III. In an interview with Dr. Efren Nerva, the former BMC medical director and currently a hospital consultant, he said that the inauguration of the cardiac center is put on hold for a few

By Ana-Liza S. Macatangay Pasacao Mayor Niño Tayco assured tourists visiting the town’s beaches and other attractions that the local government unit (LGU) has stepped up its safety restrictions, particularly to resort owners who have not yet received their certificate to operate from the Department of Tourism (DOT). “This is our way of protecting not just the economy but also the safety of Pasaqueños and those who are visiting our numerous tourist destinations in this time of

By Paulo DS. Papa The Election Registration Board (ERB) of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will officially approve the registration of 8,587 more voters in Naga City on Oct. 18. From July 1 to Sept. 30 this year, Comelec registered 8,587 people in Naga City, which number will be added to the city’s total voters' population of 106,664 as of Jun. 30, 2021. Lawyer Maico Julia Jr., Comelec Naga head, told Bicol Mail that the additional 8,587 voters are composed of first tim

(Sing to the tune of The Carpenters song, “Merry Christmas, Darling.) Certificates have all been sent, The filing rush is through. I still have one thing to state; A special one for you. Sorry, it’s a mess darling. Breaks my heart; it’s true. But I can dream And in my dream, All this fussing is through. I just thought, maybe I could mix the Christmas and the political seasons in one carol. So, the candidates are now in fighting positions. I feel like my childhood hero has die

Lingawan ngona an politika ta ini orolay asin iriwal kan mga buhay sana harani na pati an pistang mga gadan asin mga kalag kaya an isyung tutukaron ta an dapit sa mga mayo na o nagbiyahe na sa ikaduwang buhay. Sa tahaw kaining pandemya sa bilog na kinaban kadakol man palan kan binabawian nin buhay bako nin huli sana sa Covid kundi sa man iba ibang dahilan arog kan atake sa puso, kagurangan, alta presyon, cancer, aksidente sa vehiculo, baradilan, saraksakan asin iba pa. Sa mg

“...if truth were everywhere to be shown, a scarlet letter would blaze forth on many a bosom...” ― Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter Am I the only one that sees malignancy in the tarps hanging outside homes declared to be in lockdown? The first time I saw a home with that huge tarpaulin, which announced in huge, broad letters the words HOUSE LOCKDOWN, all capitalized, I saw two ancient honored notions crumbled before my eyes. These were the right to privacy as well as t

In Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar,” there’s a scene at Caesar’s funeral after his assassination, where Anthony claims that “the evil that men do lives after them.” Anthony’s message was quite straightforward and unmistakable. He was saying that the evil deeds a person commits do not fade away. They are stuck in people’s memory and never are they forgotten. Fast forward to 2021. Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr, is running for president. It’s no secret that Imelda Marcos harbors

The University of Nueva Caceres - the first University in Bicol and a leader in education, blazes the trail in partnering with parents through the University Parent Engagement Center (UPEC). Dr. Fay Lea Patria M. Lauraya, our beloved University President takes the lead in recognizing the parents as our partners in nurturing future-ready and work-ready students. UNC honors the parents’ role in the academic journey and success of our students. We believe that the formation of t

1970. Mayor Vicente Sibulo pig tugdas an NACIYOS (Naga City Youth Opportunity School) sarong sadit na vocational school para sa mga out-of-school youth. Ini yaon kaidto sa may atubangan kan Nawasa kataid an City Health Office. Maabot sa 50 pobreng elementary graduate hale sa manlaen laen na Baryo kan Naga na dai nakapag padagos sa Hais Kul an nag compuesto kan first batch kan Naciyos. An naciyos iyo an pinaka magayon na escuelahan ta libre an tution, libre an pangodto asin

2003 National Artist and former Chairman of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Virgilio Almario has written a poem honoring what he has described as “ the three stars on his flag”: First Philippine Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, first Philippine Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa, and Presidential candidate VP Leni Robedo. Alongside Rio Alma (as he is fondly called), I daresay our country’s recent history has been replete with women who have brough