Ni Jay-ar Nodalo Malapit na ang halalan sa Barangay Mapayapa. Makukulay ang mga tarpaulin, maingay ang mga sasakyan, at araw-araw ay may mga nangangako ng pagbabago. Tahimik lamang si Nico habang pinagmamasdan ang lahat. “Anak, sino ang iboboto mo?” tanong ng kaniyang ama. “Ang kandidatong may gawa, hindi lang magaling magsalita,” sagot ni Nico. Ngumiti ang ama. “Tandaan mo, ang politika ay hindi paligsahan ng pinakasikat. Pananagutan ito.” Kinabukasan, dumalo si Nico sa isan

Ni: Dr. Christian C. Vega Malamlam na mata, mahinang kalamnan, kalog na tuhod, maputlang balat. Araw-araw na napapansin ito ng amang si Rene sa kanyang anak na si Marie. Sa likod ng bahay, pasimpleng nagpapala ng maliit na butas hanggang maging parihabang hukay si Rene. Sa pagdaan ng mga araw lumalalim ng lumalalim ito. Dito laging inaalok si Marie upang maglaro at kumain. Dala ang hingaan at kumot ay kinukwentuhan ng mga masasayang mga bagay ng Ama ang kanyang nag-iisang ana

By Marti Stelling, Health Reporter EATING oysters may reduce the risk of cancer, a study suggests. Researchers at the University of Ferrara in Italy found that an extract made from native Pacific oysters can cut inflammation in intestinal cells. Chronic inflammation is a factor in many diseases, including cancer, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and inflammatory bowel disease. It can often be caused by changes in the permeability of the intestinal barrier, known as ‘le

Ni Dr. Christian C. Vega Halos mapunit ang damit noon ni Inay sa tuwing luluwas ng baryo patungong bayan. Humahagod sa mura kong katawan ang pinanipis na kawayan na nagsisilbing panakot at ang pagkakaranas na mabuhusan ng isang baldeng tubig na pantugon upang ako ay tumahan. Salat sa paggabay at takot ang bumabalot sa akin sa tuwing may kakulangan na ipaliwanag sa mura kung isip ang ganitong paulit-ulit na sitwasyon. Namulat sa isang lugar na ang tuntunin at kultura, na sa ba

With immense pride and gratitude, the Bong Peralta Taekwondo Center BPTC11888 proudly celebrates an unforgettable victory at the 2026 R5 Poomsae and Kyorugi Regional Taekwondo Championship, held on July 4–5, 2026 at the Ibalong Centrum for Recreation, Legazpi. Against the region’s finest athletes, our warriors stood their ground, fought with courage, and showcased the true spirit of Taekwondo. Every match, every performance, every sacrifice, and every drop of sweat has led u

By Soliman M. Santos, Jr. Naga City, 4 July 2026 Given renewed calls for a criminal statute defining and penalizing red-tagging, it is imperative that we get right the most crucial definition of the crime. The premise of course is that red-tagging properly defined is a substantive evil that Congress has a right, and also duty, to prevent. The substantive evil involved here are “threats to a person’s life, liberty or security” and also threats to the legitimate exercise of c

By Rob Shapiro 10 heart health habits… (As part of Bicol Mail’s advocacy to promote better health, we are publishing these heart-healthy habits recommended by doctors. We hope our readers will not only read these tips but also take them to heart, incorporate them into their daily lives, and put them into practice. – Editor) 1. Stay Physically Active Most Days Cardiologists consistently recommend regular physical activity because it helps improve circulation, lower blood pres

THE OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE PHILIPPINE PILGRIMAGE 2026 marks a nationwide Catholic devotion centered on the Pilgrim Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, inaugurating a six-month journey of prayer, consecration, and spiritual renewal throughout the Philippines from June to December 2026. Framed within a broader ecclesial and Marian movement, the pilgrimage is understood as a collective act of entrustment of the nation to the maternal care of the Blessed Virgin Mary, uniting the Churc

By Christopher B. Dacer CBSUA-College of Development Education Beyond the busy streets and towering school buildings lies another face of Philippine education. One found in remote villages, mountain communities, and isolated islands. Here, education is sustained not by abundance, but by determination. At the heart of these communities stands a modest multigrade school, where one classroom nurtures many dreams. For countless children, the nearest complete elementary school may

By Christopher B. Dacer CBSUA-College of Development Education For many people, a multigrade school is often seen as a temporary solution, a small school with limited resources, serving children in far-flung communities. Yet behind this common perception lies a powerful truth: some of the most meaningful learning happens in these modest classrooms. A multigrade classroom brings together learners of different grade levels under the guidance of a single teacher. At first glance

By Mariel R. Estrella, PhD Camarines Sur’s coastal villages—Cagsao in Calabanga and Itangon in Bula—are living testaments to the harmony of nature and culture. Black-pebbled beaches, coral reefs, mangrove forests, tidal caves, and vibrant fiestas make them destinations of rare beauty. Yet, despite their richness, these communities remain peripheral—remote and disconnected from the mainstream tourism market. This proposition reframes this challenge into opportunity: link thes

By Mariel R. Estrella PhD In the heart of Camarines Sur’s Partido district, a quiet revolution is unfolding—not through protests or politics, but through the power of storytelling. The Bandilyo Media Advocacy and Communication Campaign, led by Partido State University (ParSU), is proving that communication can do more than inform—it can transform. A Classroom That Became a Movement When ParSU launched Bandilyo in early 2020, the goal was simple yet ambitious: to train student

By Christopher B. Dacer CBSUA-College of Development Education As the sunlight reaches a small school nestled in the hills, a lone teacher unlocks a classroom where children from different grade levels eagerly await another day of learning. There is no team of teachers waiting in adjacent rooms. There is only one educator. This is the everyday reality of a multigrade teacher. For many Filipinos, education is often imagined as one teacher handling one class at one grade level.