By Ernie Delgado LEGAZPI CITY --- As Super Typhoon Uwan (Fung-Wong) battered the Bicol region on Sunday, residents shared on social media real-time weather updates and their troubles in their areas. Catanduanes and parts of Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur experienced extreme, life-threatening conditions throughout the day, with sustained wind speeds reaching 185 kilometers per hour under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 5 in some provinces. The rest of the Bicol regi

By Paulo Papa ABOUT 27,000 residents at risk in flood-prone areas were safely evacuated by the Barangay and City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (BDRRMC and CDRRMC) before and during the onslaught of Super Typhoon Uwan. Jason Neola, public information officer at the LGU Naga, said the evacuees were rescued from their homes in various low-lying barangays and brought to safer grounds. He confirmed that by the morning after the typhoon’s passage, the evacuees had

By Ernie Delgado MASBATE CITY --- A magnitude 3.2 earthquake shook Burias as the island was being pummeled by Super Typhoon Uwan. The state earthquake monitoring bureau reported that the quake struck on Sunday evening (November 9) at a depth of approximately 28 kilometers off the southwest coast of Claveria, Masbate. The earthquake was felt mildly in Claveria, but residents panicked. Social media posts showed objects knocked off shelves. In a bulletin, the Philippine Institut

By Maida Boragay The local government of Naga has recognized the significant assistance provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through the prepositioning of food packs ahead of the Super Typhoon Uwan, which hit the city over the weekend. This move was pivotal in ensuring prompt and efficient disaster response. A key feature of the city’s preparedness strategy was the strict enforcement of the DSWD policy: only evacuees would receive the food packs

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