By Rhaydz B. Barcia LEGAZPI CITY --- Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian flew to the island province of Catanduanes, one of the hardest-hit areas in Bicol, following the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Uwan (international name Fung-Wong) over the weekend. Gatchalian led a coordination meeting with Governor Patrick Alain Azanza, Representatives Jose “Bong” Joson Teves Jr. and Leo Rodriguez, and other local chief executives to assess the typhoon’s impact

LEGAZPI CITY --- Albay Governor Noel Rosal has declared the province under a state of calamity following widespread devastation caused by Super Typhoon Uwan (international name Fung-Wong). The declaration, in addition to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s nationwide directive, allows local government units (LGUs) to access their 5% calamity funds to assist families affected by the typhoon. “The 18 LGUs can use the calamity fund, but they cannot spend it all because December

By Rhaydz B. Barcia LEGAZPI CITY — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division has dismissed the disqualification case filed by former Albay 2nd District Representative Joey Sarte Salceda against Governor Noel E. Rosal, saying it was filed beyond the allowed period. In a resolution dated November 5, 2025, but released Monday, the Comelec junked Salceda’s petition (Case No. APA 25-249 [DC]) seeking to nullify Rosal’s candidacy and proclamation in the May 12, 2025 ele

By Connie Calipay LEGAZPI CITY --- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 5 (Bicol) has distributed more than PHP44 million worth of humanitarian aid across the region following the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Uwan (international name Fung-wong). In an interview on Tuesday, Norman Laurio, DSWD-5 director, said that in addition to the 19,000 family food packs already prepositioned in the island province, an additional shipment of food packs has arrived

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time First Reading: Malachi 3:19-20a Responsorial Psalm Psalm 98:5-6, 7-8, 9 R. (cf. 9) The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice. Second Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12 Gospel Reading: Luke 21:5-19 While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, "All that you see here--the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown dow

By Walter Sánchez Silva/Catholic News Agency VATICAN --- Pope Leo XIV met on Saturday with 15 survivors of clergy sexual abuse in a meeting marked by dialogue, listening, and prayer, according to the Holy See Press Office. The encounter, described as one of “closeness with the victims, of deep and painful listening and dialogue,” lasted nearly three hours. The meeting concluded with “an intense moment of prayer” shared between the pope and the survivors. This was the second t

Delegates from the Archdiocese of Caceres attend the recently concluded 16th PREX (Parish Renewal Experience) National Convention in Baguio City, Nov 7-9. (Photo credit: Archdiocese of Caceres - PREX Facebook page)

By Fr. Mayo Cesar Herrera From November 3-8, the Clergy of the Archdiocese of Caceres, arranged by quadrants, had their annual spiritual retreat in various retreat houses across Luzon. Those in Quadrant 1 were in Sta. Catalina Spirituality Center in Baguio City with Fr. Anthony Ireneo, AOR as retreat director. Quadrant 2A priests were guided by Fr. Arlo Yap, SVD while Fr. Mimo Perez headed the Quadrant 2B priests in Mariapolis Peace, Tagaytay City. Quadrant 3 priests, in Pogg

Robert Francis B. Garcia I needed to explain myself to the judge. Naga City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge (ret.) Soliman Santos - or simply Sol to his colleagues and comrades - had been judiciously following up the book review that I have been promising for quite a long while). I said that it was taking me so much time to finish his book because I’ve been reading it “in small increments.” Sol’s reply, probably his way of manifesting patience over my glacial pace, was that

By Connie Calipay LEGAZPI CITY --- Residents of Catanduanes are urgently in need of construction materials to rebuild homes destroyed by Super Typhoon Uwan (international name Fung-wong), which battered the province with fierce winds and heavy rains over the weekend, Governor Patrick Azanza said Monday. Azanza said the prepositioned 19,000 food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development would be insufficient for almost 90,000 individuals displaced by the supe

By Connie Calipay LEGAZPI CITY --- The Department of Labor and Employment in Bicol (DOLE-5) has started finalizing arrangements for the implementation of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program. The initiative aims to assist residents of Camarines Norte and Catanduanes affected by Super Typhoon Uwan (international name Fung-wong). Imelda Gatinao, DOLE-5 regional director, said over PHP160 million has been allocated for emergency empl

Kinokondenar kan manijamiento kan Camarines Sur II Electric Cooperative (Casureco II) Inc., an ginigibong pang-sasabotahe sa linya nin kuryente sa Tinambac, Camarines Sur na nagreresulta sa halawig na brownout. Sinabi ni Rinner Bucay, opisyal na parataram kan cooperativa an pang-sasabotaje sa paagi nin pagsabit nin alambre sa poste na nagiging dahilan sa pagpurotok kan saindang transformer sa Barangay Sta Cruz, Tinambac asin kabale sa perwisyo sa brownout iyo an Siruma, Camar

Halangkaw an numero kan piglalaoman na voters registrant sa Ciudad nin Naga na nagpoon kan Oktubre 20, 2025 hasta Mayo 18, 2026 mantang aaboton sa pitong bulan an target kan Commission on Election digdi 15 mil na mapalista. Bakong arog kan Agosto 2025 nagdurar sana nin sampolong aldaw inabot sana sa tres mil an nagpalistang botante. Ini an mga pahayag sa Bicol Mail ni Election Officer Atty. Maico Julia Jr. alagad sa ngunian hababa pang mga registrant an nagpapalista sa sainda

Ni Sonny Malate San Jose, Camarines Sur ---  May libreng serbisyo na sa internet access  an mga estudiantes sa anom na escuelahan sa secondarya sa banwaan na ini. Huli sa  Ordinance No. 2025 - 017 na pigpadrinohan ni Municipal Councilor Juancho C. Ras sa Sangguniang Bayan sa pamamayo ni Bise Alkalde Daniel Pervera, an mga escuelahan sa secondarya sa banwaan na ini an magkakaigua nin libreng serbisyo kan internet gikan sa sarong privadong service provider. Segun ki Ras, an mga