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By Rhaydz Barcia LEGAZPI CITY --- Albay Governor Noel Rosal has ordered the strict observance of “no man’s land” restrictions within the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) as unrest at Mayon Volcano intensified at the start of 2026. Rosal issued the directive on January 1, 2026, following the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology’s (PHIVOLCS) decision to raise Mayon’s alert level from Alert Level 1 (low-level unrest) to Alert Level 2 (increasing or moderate unrest). “Based on the Mayon Volcano Bulletin issued on January 1, 2026 at 6:00 a.m., Alert Level 2 has been raised, indicating current unrest driven by shallow magmatic processes that could lead to a hazardous magmatic eruption,” Rosal said in PDRRMC-APSEMO Advisory No. 1. In view of the situation, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), through APSEMO, ordered the following measures for disaster avoidance and public safety: Strictly no human activity inside the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone, including mountain climbing, orchid picking, and vegetable harvesting; All-terrain vehicle (ATV) rides are limited to the Cagsawa Ruins area only, while operations in all other areas are temporarily suspended; Declaration of a no-fly zone directly above Mayon Volcano; Temporary closure of Mayon Skyline until further notice; and The Philippine National Police, through the Albay Provincial Police Office, is directed to enforce the restrictions in coordination with the concerned local government units. Rosal also directed all city, municipal, and barangay disaster risk reduction and management councils surrounding Mayon to remain on heightened alert, maintain preparedness and monitoring status, and mobilize resources as necessary. The public was advised to remain vigilant and to await official updates and further advisories from PHIVOLCS and local authorities. “We are now under Alert Level 2. There will be limited ATV operations and no entry to Mayon Skyline for safety purposes. Strict compliance is required,” the governor said. Meanwhile, Mariton Antonia Bornas, chief of the Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division of PHIVOLCS, warned local disaster officials and the public to remain on guard following the escalation of magmatic unrest at Mayon Volcano. Bornas said that since November 2025, an increase in rockfall from the summit lava dome has been recorded by the visual and seismic monitoring systems of the Mayon Volcano Network. “A total of 599 rockfall events were detected in the last two months of 2025, averaging 10 events per day. However, during the last week of December 2025, the average increased to 21 events per day. On December 31, 2025 alone, 47 rockfall events were recorded—the highest in a single day over the past year,” Bornas said. She noted that increased rockfall at Mayon has been a precursory sign of magmatic dome growth within the upper edifice, similar to conditions observed prior to the 2023 eruption. Bornas added that while there have been no significant volcanic earthquake or sulfur dioxide anomalies, ground deformation has remained anomalous for nearly 18 months—unlike the 2023 unrest episode. Long-term ground deformation data from electronic distance measurement (EDM), continuous GPS, and electronic tilt monitoring indicate that Mayon’s edifice, particularly the eastern to northeastern slopes, has been swelling or inflating since June 2024. Short-term inflation on the western to southwestern slopes began in May 2025. “Persistent and increasing rockfall, coupled with long- and short-term swelling of the edifice, may indicate an increased likelihood of an eruption at the summit of Mayon, generating life-threatening volcanic hazards that could impact surrounding communities,” Bornas said. PHIVOLCS reiterated that Alert Level 2 means ongoing unrest driven by shallow magmatic processes that could lead to hazardous magmatic eruptions. The public is strongly advised to refrain from entering the six-kilometer PDZ to reduce risks from sudden explosions, pyroclastic density currents (PDCs or uson), rockfalls, landslides, and ballistic projectiles. Local government units were also advised to prepare communities within the PDC hazard zone for possible evacuation should unrest escalate further. Civil aviation authorities were likewise urged to advise pilots to avoid flying near Mayon’s summit due to the risk posed by ash and ballistic fragments. PHIVOLCS said it continues to closely monitor Mayon Volcano and will immediately communicate any significant developments to concerned stakeholders.

By Manuel T. Ugalde LEGAZPI CITY --- It began in Sorsogon on November 13, when an Engineer III allegedly took his own life after suffering from depression and stress linked to the ongoing probe by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI). The incident was followed by another shocking case involving a senior female undersecretary, bringing the reported number of deaths connected to the probe to four within a one-month span. Senior Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral reportedly plunged to her death from a 30-meter-deep cliff along Kennon Road in Baguio City on December 18. The site is linked to the controversial P250-million slope protection and rock-netting project. The ICI earlier reported the initial discovery of 482 alleged ghost flood-control projects worth billions of pesos. Of the four reported ICI-related casualties, one involved an engineer who was ambushed in Ilocos Norte, while another case in Bicol—initially attributed to health reasons—was later alleged to have been a suicide. Sorsogon is the home province of former Senate President Francis Escudero. Sources claim the province received billions of pesos in projects, allegedly awarded to Centerways Construction, owned by Laurence Lubiano, a Sorsogon-based associate. President Marcos earlier named Centerways Construction among the 15 construction firms accused of being involved in anomalous, billion-peso public works projects, allegedly in connivance with corrupt officials and lawmakers. Another disturbing development reportedly surfaced at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bicol regional office in Legazpi City, involving an alleged suicide initially reported as a natural death. The incident occurred days after the first Sorsogon case. The victim was identified as an Engineer III assigned to the regional planning division and a resident of Daraga, Albay. Sources said he had also shown signs of depression and stress while serving as project engineer for one regional project described as virtually a “ghost” project. The first reported suicide victim was identified as Larry Reyes, 60, an Engineer III and chair of the Bids and Awards Committee of the Sorsogon First District Engineering Office. He was reportedly experiencing severe stress due to the ongoing ICI investigation.

By Ryan Mostar THE Supreme Court (SC) has released the 2025 Philippine Bar Examination results, bringing months of anticipation for aspiring lawyers across the nation to a dramatic close. For examinees, the announcement marks a defining milestone in their pursuit of legal excellence and the long-sought license to practice law. Renowned as the country’s most prestigious and grueling professional licensure test, the Philippine Bar Examinations stand apart from all others, conducted exclusively under the supervision of the Supreme Court—not the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). Article VIII, Section 5 of the 1987 Constitution empowers the Court to set the rules governing admission to the legal profession, ensuring that only the most capable join the ranks of Filipino lawyers. Famed for its rigor, the Bar challenges examinees across a broad array of legal subjects, with passing rates historically hovering between 20% and 40%. To succeed, candidates must earn a general weighted average of at least 75 percent—though the Supreme Court retains the discretion to adjust this threshold, as it did in 2019 and 2024, when the passing mark was lowered to 74 percent. Before the official announcement, the Court held a special en banc session to “decode” the results, with the Office of the Bar Confidant (OBC) opening the sealed envelopes that revealed the names of successful candidates. The 2025 exams, held from September 7 to 14, set new records with unprecedented participation. A total of 11,425 examinees completed the three-day tests—the largest number of finishers in Philippine Bar history. Day 1 drew 11,437 candidates, followed by 11,429 on Day 2. The exams were administered using Examplify, a secure computer-based platform, with in-person proctoring and CCTV monitoring ensuring strict supervision. Successful examinees will take their oath on February 6, a milestone in their journey into the legal profession and a recognition of the Supreme Court’s role in upholding the prestige and standards of the Philippine Bar.

By Rhaydz Barcia LEGAZPI CITY ---The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Bicol has allocated ₱137 million in standby funds and relief stockpiles to assist families should Mount Mayon erupt in the coming days. DSWD Bicol Regional Director Norman S. Laurio said during an emergency meeting convened by Albay Governor Noel Ebriega Rosal on Monday that the department has ₱137 million worth of funds and relief supplies prepositioned in its warehouses amid the intensified activity of Mayon Volcano. Rosal convened the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) to discuss preparedness measures following the volcano’s notable increase in activity. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) raised Mayon’s alert level from Level 1 to Level 2 on January 1, 2026. Laurio said DSWD Bicol has been closely coordinating with the Provincial Government of Albay to ensure the safety of residents living in high-risk areas. On January 5, 2026, the DSWD Bicol Disaster Response Management Team attended the PDRRMC emergency meeting at the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO), presided over by Rosal and attended by local mayors, as well as representatives from the AFP, BFP, and PNP. To ensure immediate assistance once augmentation is requested, Laurio said the agency has ₱137 million in combined standby funds and relief stockpiles. He added that two mobile kitchens, a mobile command center, and a mobile water system are on standby for deployment, while Quick Response Teams (QRTs) are ready to assist in evacuation center management and relief distribution. Laurio underscored that the agency has been proactive since the alert level was raised. “Immediately after Alert Level 2 was raised by PHIVOLCS, we dispatched our Disaster Response Management Division team together with other DSWD personnel to coordinate with local government units and inspect evacuation centers for readiness. We focused on the safety of 2,889 residents, comprising 729 families, currently living within the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ),” Laurio said. “I have also requested an additional 100,000 Family Food Packs to ensure sufficient supplies for any contingency,” he added. Following the directives of DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., DSWD Bicol remains in close coordination with the Provincial Government of Albay and municipal disaster offices to monitor the situation and provide technical and resource support as needed. The PDRRMC, led by Rosal, reviewed volcanic activity data, evacuation strategies, and the possible activation of evacuation centers to ensure an orderly transition for affected families should the alert level be raised to Level 3. Meanwhile, the Albay Provincial Tourism, Culture and Arts Office (PTCAO) has prohibited tourists from entering areas within the six- to seven-kilometer danger zone in compliance with the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) directive. PTCAO Tourism Chief Dorothy Colle said the no-entry policy within the six- to seven-kilometer PDZ will be strictly enforced starting this month until further notice. “The tourism advisory prohibits tourists from entering the six- to seven-kilometer PDZ in compliance with the PDRRMC issuance,” Colle said. In line with PDRRMC-APSEMO Advisory 2026-1, all tourism-related activities are strictly prohibited within the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone of Mayon Volcano, effective immediately. “No entry of tourists and visitors, no tours, trekking, sightseeing, recreational activities, tourism operations, or events. This measure is for public safety, and all tourism stakeholders and the public are urged to strictly comply until further notice,” Colle said. She clarified that tourism destinations outside the restricted zones remain safe for visitors. PHIVOLCS Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division Chief Mariton Bornas reported that incandescent rockfall from Mayon’s summit lava dome was recorded at 10:46 p.m. on January 5, 2026, as captured by camera and seismic monitoring systems of the Mayon Volcano Network. PHIVOLCS also recorded sulfur dioxide emissions amounting to 702 tons on January 6, 2026. A total of 85 rockfall events were recorded in the past 24 hours. Alert Level 2 remains in effect over Mayon Volcano, and entry into the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone is strictly prohibited. PHIVOLCS also warned against entry into the Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) without utmost vigilance. Possible hazards include sudden steam-driven or phreatic eruptions, rockfalls, landslides or avalanches, lahars during heavy and prolonged rainfall, and the prohibition of aircraft flights near the volcano.

THE Business One Stop Shop (B.O.S.S.) of the city government of Naga is once again in operation from January 5 to 31 at the Naga City People’s Hall, providing business owners a faster and more convenient way to process applications and renewals of business permits. The City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) said penalties will be imposed on applications for renewal of business permits and new business applications filed starting January 21 onwards. Aside from regular office days, the CTO is also open on Saturdays to accommodate more business owners during the B.O.S.S. operations. City Treasurer Socorro Gayanilo reminded business owners that securing a mayor’s permit must not go beyond January 31. She further advised applicants to first secure their Fire Safety Inspection Certificates (FSICs) from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), which is one of the prerequisites for business permit processing. A team of BFP personnel is stationed at the B.O.S.S. venue to ensure faster transactions. Applicants are also required to present receipts and photos proving that their stores or commercial establishments are equipped with closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, as mandated by a city ordinance. Other requirements include a barangay clearance issued by the barangay where the business operates or will operate; building or occupancy permit from the Office of the City Building Official; zoning permit from the City Planning and Development Office; sanitary or health permit from the City Health Office; and a grease trap permit from the City Environment and Natural Resources Office. Personnel from the Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce and Industry are likewise participating in the B.O.S.S. operations, assisting business owners filing new applications and renewals, and enlisting them in its Business Registry Databank. In 2025, around 9,000 businesses paid their taxes at the CTO. Gayanilo expressed optimism that this year’s B.O.S.S. operations will accommodate a higher number of taxpayers, noting that the number of registered businesses increases by about 10 percent annually. Jason Neola RUSH Business owners crowd the Naga City People’s Hall on the first day of operations of the Business One Stop Shop (BOSS) as they file applications for the renewal of business permits and licenses, as well as applications for new businesses. Photo courtesy of Winson Escolano/City Mayor’s Office

The 2025 Ateneo de Naga University Grand Alumni Homecoming, held on December 30, 2025 at the Ateneo Covered Courts, was a joyful reunion that brought together generations of Ateneans in one unforgettable evening. Proudly hosted by Batch 2000, the Silver Jubilarians, the night was a beautiful blend of memories, recognition, music, and fun. Guiding the program with warmth and energy were the event hosts, Richard Nabua and Macy Zapata, who set the tone for an evening that felt both meaningful and lighthearted—formal when it mattered, and festive when it called for celebration. As the program unfolded, one of the evening’s highlights was the launch of the first Alumni Awards, honoring batches whose lives and contributions continue to reflect Ateneo’s core values. The Golden Knight Award was awarded to Batch 1985, Batch 1990, and Batch 1999, recognizing their outstanding achievements and sustained service to the community. Meanwhile, Batch 1975, the Golden Batch, was fittingly honored with the Pillars Award, a tribute to their enduring support and leadership through the years. Adding to the excitement were the much-anticipated raffle draws, which kept the energy high throughout the night. Lucky alumni went home with prizes that included microwaves, JBL speakers, Apple iPads, and Samsung Galaxy tablets, bringing cheers, laughter, and friendly anticipation at every draw. The celebration was further elevated by live music from alumni bands FOT, FUME, and Alter Ego, whose performances turned the covered courts into a shared space of nostalgia and joy. Their music reminded everyone that while years may pass, the Atenean spirit—and the songs that bring us together—never fade. As the evening drew to a close, the symbolic torch turnover to Batch 2001 marked the passing of responsibility to the next host, reinforcing the shared mission of keeping alumni engagement alive and strong. More than just a gathering, the 2025 Grand Alumni Homecoming was a reunion of hearts. Through the leadership, dedication, and generosity of Batch 2000, the night became a celebration of legacy, community, and the enduring bond that makes Ateneo de Naga University a home—wherever life may take its alumni- High shall our purpose be.

THE year 2025 may well mark a defining rupture in the country’s long, uneasy relationship with corruption. Not because corruption suddenly appeared—Filipinos have lived with it for decades—but because it finally reached a scale so vast, so destructive, and so visible that denial became impossible. For years, corruption in public office had been treated as a grim constant, almost an entitlement attached to power. It was rationalized as part of a patronage-driven system, excused by the notion that some benefits eventually trickled down. Questionable budget insertions were waved through as legislative prerogatives, tolerated so long as they remained within what political actors considered “manageable.” That balance collapsed in 2025. The first crack came with the floods. Extreme weather exposed what years of glossy reports and ribbon-cuttings had concealed: flood control systems that were substandard, incomplete, or entirely imaginary. Billions of pesos—once heralded as proof of decisive governance—translated into crumbling structures or empty riverbanks. What should have protected communities instead revealed the human cost of neglect, overpricing, and outright theft. The second rupture was greed unchecked by restraint. As siphoning public funds became easier, the scale of corruption ballooned. Kickbacks grew, the number of hands demanding a share multiplied, and soon there was nothing left to skim but entire project budgets. Ghost projects flourished. Paperwork replaced concrete, audits became shields rather than safeguards, and flood control turned into a preferred pipeline for private enrichment. The third was political. Congress’ overhaul of the 2025 National Expenditure Program produced a budget so distorted that even the executive disowned it. “Adjustments” and “insertions” reshaped national priorities to fit parochial interests. President Marcos’ rare public rebuke—ending his SONA with “Mahiya naman kayo!”—was striking not just for its tone, but for the uncomfortable truth it acknowledged. What followed only deepened the crisis. Naming contractors without naming politicians satisfied no one. The digital portal inviting citizens to inspect flood projects appeared reformist, even bold, but it also shifted the burden of accountability to the public. In the age of social media, however, truth proved difficult to fence in. Beneficial ownership was traced. Political connections surfaced. Accusations escalated. Counter-accusations followed. The result is a government mired in a credibility crisis, unfolding amid economic pressure and simmering public anger. What sets this moment apart from past scandals—most notably the 2013 PDAF-Napoles affair—is not outrage. Filipinos have never lacked moral indignation. What is different is visibility. Corruption in 2025 was not abstract or technical; it was concrete, flooded, photographed, and shared. Ordinary citizens could see it, document it, and call it out. Once exposed, it could no longer be quietly absorbed into routine. This does not mean redemption is near. Changing personalities alone will not dismantle a system built to reward abuse. Elections, while necessary, are not a cure-all. But exposure matters. Sustained public scrutiny matters. The vigilance shown in 2025—if carried forward—can force reforms that restore boundaries, accountability, and restraint. Corruption could no longer hide. The harder task now is ensuring that, once exposed, it is not simply allowed to return under a different name.

Is this the first time this has happened? Maybe it has, but it happens rarely. The last week of the year is a week-long holiday. So, what do we call it? Do we call it a holiweek? Technically, the holidays are December 30 because it’s Rizal Day, December 31 because it’s New Year’s Eve and January 1 because it’s New Year’s Day. If we had stuck to technicalities, we would have been left with the Monday and Friday as regular working days. Thanks to Memorandum Circular No. 111,December 29 and January 2 (the bookends of the week) were declared as holidays, making the whole week a holiweek. According to the Circular, this is ““In order to provide government employees full opportunity to celebrate New Year's Day activities and to allow them to travel to and from different regions in the country…”. Wow! This is so amazing. Why haven’t they thought of this a long time ago? Did the government just realize this just now? Is it just now that government leaders are realizing that government employees need full opportunity to celebrate New Year's Day activities, and they need to travel to and from different regions in the country? I remember, after New Year’s Day, right on New Year’s night, I had to take the bus from Manila back to Naga to make it to the first day of work in the year. Just right after the celebrations, it was back to work. I barely made it on time. As soon as I got down from the bus at the Central Bus Station on the second morning of the year, I took a tricycle ride straight to work. Yes, you read that right. I was still groggy from that almost 12-hour bus ride from Manila to Naga. I did not go home to rest or freshen up. I went straight to work, because our government who declares holidays, is very considerate and very sensitive. So, was I able to do some efficient and productive work on that first day of work in the year? Maybe, I did. But, I was too tired. I was too sleepy. Maybe, I did something useful that day. But I timed in and out, just like my employers would want. Maybe, I cleaned up that day, fixed some files. But what I’m sure of is that all day, I was waiting for the clock to strike 5, so I could finally go home and get some real rest. Finally, the Philippine government has realized that employees are not just weekday workers, but real persons who have families and friends with whom they celebrate holidays like New Year’s Day. Finally, the Philippine government has realized that not all employees don’t celebrate holidays in their place of residence, that they visit family in other places to celebrate. They may go to Manila, Baguio or Tagaytay. Those in Manila may go home to Bicol. They may go from one region to other regions, visiting family or going to another place for vacation, and going home takes time, and it takes more time because of the consequential heavy vehicular traffic on the highways. That’s just the way it is. As time goes by, it could go heavier, and travel may take longer. So, how could you expect the employee who celebrated the holidays with his/her family to rush to work right after the holiday itself? But, that’s what’s employees have been doing for years now, not just on Christmas and New Year, but also on other holidays. Since we already have achieved the sense to be sensitive and consider the situations of employees who celebrate the holidays with their families, maybe we can also apply this on other holidays. Maybe, we can provide employees full opportunity to celebrate Holy Week activities and to allow them to travel to and from different regions in the country. Maybe, we can provide employees full opportunity to celebrate All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day activities and to allow them to travel to and from different regions in the country. Maybe, LGUs can provide employees full opportunity to celebrate city/town fiesta activities and to allow them to travel to and from different regions in the country. Maybe, Bicol LGUs can provide employees full opportunity to celebrate Penafrancia activities and to allow them to travel to and from different regions in the country. Maybe, the government can provide Muslim employees full opportunity to celebrate Eid al-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha activities and to allow them to travel to and from different regions in the country Happy New Year. Isaiah 43:18: ““Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.”

(Note- For more than eight decades, the wooden two-story right and left wings of the Ateneo de Naga University Main Building stood as a steadfast guardian of teen-aged Bikolanos who wanted to be educated by the bodacious Jesuits. The building featured wide classrooms to accommodate up to forty students, as well as large strategically placed windows that allowed enough light and fresh air to circulate during the summer months. As a young first year high school student in 1962, I did not find the wooden building architecturally imposing. In fact, the building, raised a little higher above the ground, stood on land that became mildly flooded during rainfall, and the students could hear frogs echoing in unison. Few adventurous students would even try their luck catching fish beneath the flooded structure. Notwithstanding these considerations, the building’s wide hallways provided ample space for students to congregate and exchange pleasantries with teachers before and after classes. It was the kind of place where lasting memories were made: the staircases where students sat to review their notes before a test; the classroom where after-school discipline, known as Jug and Post, meant writing “The Our Father” several hundred times; the faculty room where students could speak with their teachers in a more relaxed manner; the dreaded principal’s office, where being summoned was a true day of reckoning; and the chapel where students would proceed to fulfill their penance after going to confession from priests stationed in the assembly hall. Last December 18, the Ateneo de Naga University community gathered for what was described as the Wooden Building Farewell Rites, fittingly titled “Looking Back, Moving Forward.” I understood the theme of ‘moving forward’ as a new administration building will rise in place of the one being demolished. The new building, according to university president Fr. Aristotle ‘Ari’ Dy, SJ, will “house classrooms, administrative offices, a heritage hall, and university bookshop, among other facilities.” Progress has its rightful place in every community. Yet what struck me most profoundly was the theme of ‘looking back.’ I felt as though I was about to lose something that had quietly shaped a part of my life. When the news about the demolition of the building spread on social media, a wave of nostalgia swept over me. After all, I grew up within the walls of this building. I started to reminisce about the building. I wanted to hold onto the feeling of what it once meant to me. In this building, I encountered both lay and Jesuit mentors who approached their vocation with profound seriousness. They taught me that the mere acquisition of knowledge is insufficient; one must use that knowledge in the service especially of the marginalized sectors in society, always guided by a commitment to the greater good. In this building, I came to understand that religion is not merely a set of rituals to be blindly followed, but a personal relationship with God – one that must be nurtured through prayers. In this building, I learned the importance of discipline in building character. I realized early that if I misbehaved or acted inappropriately, there would be consequences for my actions. Although the teachers’ methods of discipline were strict, there was never any sense of vindictiveness. Their purpose was to build character and instill a clear understanding of right and wrong. The prevailing belief was that if I were out of order, I would be accountable for it. In this building, I was introduced to the social teachings of the Catholic Church, foundational principles that would shape my conscience and propel me toward the pursuit of social justice in my adult life. In this building, I learned how to find God in all things. I learned that I could encounter God in my relationships with people, in my parents, in my family, in my friends, in my antagonists, in my academic pursuits, in my moments of despair, in moments of silence, in suffering, in nature, and in my everyday life. I just have to prayerfully reflect on the events and people that I encounter every day. Finally, in this building, I learned that it was okay to have some fun. We were encouraged to play sports and strive for excellence in athletics, attend dance parties, and build healthy friendships with girls our age. And if those relationships drifted beyond the bounds of friendship and began to unsettle our emotional well-being, we had access to a Jesuit counselor that we could confide in fully and guide us to the right path. Progress, of course, has its reasons. The new, modern administration building that will rise in place of the old wooden structure, is poised to serve and inspire future generations of Ateneans. I am one of those Ateneans who is looking forward to it. But even as I am excited and supportive about the new building, there is undeniable sadness in letting go. Losing the building feels a bit like losing a mother or a father – one who patiently and lovingly shaped me to be the person that I am. In the coming months, the ground where the building once stood proudly will feel eerily empty. But that hallowed ground is a reminder that the spirit of an educational institution like the Ateneo de Naga is built not only on what it will create, but on what it chooses to remember. Thus, the memory of the building will live on in the thousands of students who playfully jostled one another in the hallways, in the lasting friendships forged among the students, in the lessons learned, in the meaningful relationships cultivated between students and their teachers, and the simple, everyday moments that have become lifelong memories. Fr. Ari Dy, in his address to the community during the ‘Farewell Rites,’ spoke with unmistakable clarity about the central role the old wooden building played in the existential formation of those students who passed through its halls. He said, “Our gathering today is an acknowledgement that the spaces we inhabit become part of us, part of our collective being and memory. We will make new memories as we inhabit new spaces, but we express our gratitude today for the wooden structures that nurtured the community for more than eight decades.” Yes, the building will soon be gone. But its enduring imprint will never fade in the hearts of countless Ateneans.

Sa paglaog kan bagong taon, poon alas dose nin matanga hanggang Enero 1, ang pinakaenot na aldaw kan taon, dakul akong nabasang post sa social media kan mga litrato nin pamilya, mga handa sa media noche, mga paputok, ruluksohan nin alas dose tanganing maglangkaw pa, asin iba pang mga agi-agi kan ocasion asin dakuln ang nag-caption, “grabe ka na 2026!”. Pasuba sana man ang caption na may patama sa 2025 alagad, inaano ka man kan 2026? Dai pa ngani naarangkada. Dai pa nangangabangaan ang Enero, mala ta garo nadangog kan 2026, dinamlag kita nin uran na dara nin shear line hanggang sa binaha ang ibang lugar digdi sa ciudad. Nagpamate baga. Sa mga taong konektado sa sektor nin agrikultura, ang mga uran uran nagkakawsa na mag-isip kan epekto kaini sa mga pananom asin posibleng danyos na mapababa kan anihon. Ang mga insekto binibisto kung ang mga ini peste o amigo sa pagprodusir nin kakanon. Ang mahal na presyo kan mga inputs o materiales sa pag-oma na nakakapalangkaw gastos sa produksyon. Idagdag ta pa ang bagay na mayo man kita nin kontrol, ang dalagan kan merkado. Demand, suplay, presyo asin ang relasyon kang tolo. Sa sadiring depinisyon kan naging propesor ko kadto sa kursong Agricultural Marketing, si Dr. Eden Piadozo, ang boot sabihon kan terminong “marketing” sa konteksto nin agrikultura, i-english ta na sana, “is a series of services needed in or the process of moving a product from the point of production to the point of consumption.” Pag sinabing “services”, may duwang klase yan, “production services” asin “marketing services”. Ang production services gabos na serbisyo o aktibidades na ginibo hanggang pag-ani kan tanom o produkto. halimbawa kaini land preparation, paglaag abono, pag-apply pestidyo asin iba pang gibohon. Ano man na aktibidad pakatapos mag-ani, malaog na sa marketing services, halimbawa, pagbunag asin pag-molino kan paroy, paggibo nin tablea, pagbiyahe kan inaning mais pasiring feed mills. Masasabi ta na ang paborableng sitwasyon para sa satong paraoma ang pagkakaigwa nin marhay na merkado para sa saindang mga produkto. Marhay ang merkado kung ang marhay man ang presyo digdi. Ang marhay na presyo kawsa nin balanseng demand asin suplay. Ang punto kung saen nag-uyon ang mga nag-produsir (producers) asin ang mga consumidores (consumers) sa tinutubod na patas na presyo sa duwang lado. Ang konsepto nin agri merkado mapoon sa pisikal na espacio para sa mga produkto kan mga paraoma asin parasira. Ini ma-aser pag igua nin demand, kaya ang mga tinatanom naka-base sa kung ano ang kaipuhan kan merkado (market-driven o demand-driven). Mawot ta na mas dakula ang makukua kan nagtanom pag-abot sa mareresibeng ganancia ta sinda ang mas nag-trabaho sa pagprodusir kan produkto. Ini ang patas na parartehan o barangaan. Ini sa hiling ko ang mas mapakusog sa sektor kan paraoma asin parasira. Merkado pabor sa nagtanom, nagpagal para magkaigwa nin kakanon asin magpadagos nin dalagan ang kada lokal na ekonomiya. Mawot ta ang panahon na madangog ang istoria nin pag-asenso kan buhay sa pag-oma, na ang kabuhayan-nakakabuhay man nanggad. Ponan ta ngonian ang direksiyon na ini, probaran ta ang mga stratehiyang ilalatag ta padikit-dikit. Mabiyayang bagong taon satuya gabos!

Magayon ang ginigibo kan Saysay Bikol na nagiging Famoso ngonian sa facebook ta saiyang pinag sasaysay ang agi agi nin buhay nin sarong bikolano na nagka igua nin pangaran sa linya nin musika, edukasyon, arte , cultura asin iba pa. Minsan inapodan ako ni Mr. Victor Dennis Tino Nierva na iyo ang saro sa nagsusurat kan Saysay Bicol ta pig hapot ako kan middle name ni Salvador M. Royales, bistadong radio drama artist asin binisto sa interong pilipinas bilang parasurat asin director nin mga pinoy drama na nadadangog sa mga sikat na radyo sa Manila arog kan DZRH. Inot palan kaming nagka bistohan ni Victgor Nieva, kan ako saiyang imbitaran magtaram sa sarong pagtiripon sa Atneo. Saro sa pig publikar sa FB kan Saysay Bicol iyo an talambuhay asin mga naginibohan sa linya nin edukasyon ni Socorro Federis Tate na bisto sa bikol bilang Coring. Sigun sa mga nakabasa sa Saysay Bicol asin sa Story Telling Bicol na yaon sa FB, Si Coring Tate, ina ni Howard Tate, saro palan sa awtoridad sa linya nin English Literature ta siya nakapag surat nin dakul na libro asin mga English Short Stories na base sa mga tunay na pangyayari sa kabikolan. Si Coring, naging paratukdo sa lenguahing English asin literature sa Ateneo de Naga, Holy Rosary Minor Seminary asin sa kolehiyo duman sa Ciudad nin Iriga. Saro pa sa pinaluwas na istorya kan Sausau Bikol iyo ang manonongod sa mga naginigibohan ni depunto Jess Bolante, sarong matibay na radio announcer kan panahon ninda Eddie Alanis kan dekada 60 asin 70. Saro si depuntong Jess Bolante sa taga radyo na nabuhay nin halawig asin nagkontribuer pa bilang actor sa mga short films manonongod sa kabikolan. Sa istorya ni Announcer Jun Lasgrimas na nakabase na sa Southern California alagad iguang residencia sa Sto. Domingo Nabua, iyo na si Jess Bolante nabisto sa linya nin musika ta magayon siyang magpatugtog na tunay na nagtataong kaalingan sa mga yaon sa harong. Manonongod naman ki Salvador “Badong” Royales, pig suhestion ko ki Mr. Nieva kan Saysay Bicol na makihumapot siya sa DZRH ta naging director kan Drama Deparment si Badong kan siya nabubuhay pa. An solamenteng maiaambag ko sa Saysay Biciol iyo ang kontribusyon ni Badong Royales sa mga paradangog nin radyo sa Naga City kan mga dekada 70 asin 80 . Si Badong Royales sarong matibay na radio announcer asin dramatista ninhuli ta sa saiyang programa sa pagka bangui, natatawanan niya nin buhay an mga pinapadarang surat nin pagka moot kan mga tawong ang kadaklan yaon sa harayong lugar nin kabukiran asin solamente ang pag dangog sa radyo an saindang kaogmahan. Apuera sa malomhok niyang boses na bagay sa oras nin bangui, magayon pa siyang magpatugtog nin mga musika nin pagkamoot. Dara kan saiyang kasikatan sa Naga, na pirate si Badong pasiring duman sa DZRH sagkod na siya ang naging director kan mga drama na interong pig dadangog sa interong nasyon. An samuyang ultimong pag ulay-ulay nangyari sa gilid kan tinampo sa tongod kan City Hall mga sampulong taon na ang nakalipas. Dai ko na siya bisto sa lalawgon alagad nagpabisto siya Sakuya ta ako bistado niya dahil ako ang saro sa Emcee sa sarong media reunion sa tongod kan City Hall na ang nag sponsor iyo si dating Congressman Sal Fortuno. Sa pag olay olay mi ni Badong Royales, nahiling ko saiya ang pagiging humilde sa ibong kan pagigi niyang sika sa radyo. Saro idto sa dakulang kamunduan sa broadcast media sa Naga kan mabaretaan na nagtalikod na sa kinaban si Salvador M. Royales, ang hade kan filipino drama na nagpoon kan saiyang abilidad digdi sa Ciudad nin Naga.

Every morning along our street on Misericordia, near Panganiban in Naga City, a familiar voice glides ahead of the day. It comes from a sound system mounted on a humble tricycle, looping like a gentle alarm clock: “Yaon na po, malunggay pandesal, masarap na, mainit pa.” Since the pandemic, it has made its rounds faithfully, announcing not just bread but routine—proof that mornings still arrive, warm and reliable. The pandesal on wheels now crisscrossing Naga City and much of Camarines Sur traces its roots to Masbate, another poor Bicol province. As early as 2019, before the pandemic, pandesal makers there began teaching one another how to bake and sell bread from rolling tricycles. Now they have penetrated every town and city not only in Bicol but Mindanao and the Visayas. According to Arnel Daitol of Camaligan, it was—and remains—a collective struggle. Vendors wake at 4:00 a.m. to mix dough, bake through the dark, load bread by sunrise, and sell until sundown. It is poverty resisted the hard, honest way, learned neighbor to neighbor, without fanfare or guarantees. The tricycle rolls by with its small glass-fronted case, shelves layered with hot pandesal. Steam fogs the panes. Today’s batch is flecked green—malunggay folded into the dough—each roll hiding a small cube of cheese that softens when torn open. You smell it before you see it: yeast, butter, warmth, comfort. It is food that answers a simple human need. That morning, I was supposed to be writing my Bicol Mail column on a post–New Year event—the U.S. attack on Venezuela over the weekend of January 3. But the repeated taped call of the pandesal vendor outside caught my attention, and my hunger. Suddenly, the contrast was unavoidable. Here was the most immediate need of the moment: hot bread promised honestly and delivered by hand. And there was Venezuela—its oil coveted from afar, wealth pursued not by making something, but by taking control of what already exists. From Pandesal to Oil: Two Ways of Earning, Two Moral Worlds. That felt like the right frame. From our window, I watched the vendor steady his rolling store. Long before most of the city wakes, he has already worked for hours. The pandesal worker rises in darkness to mix flour, yeast, water, and effort into dough. By sunrise, the bread is baked, loaded, and sold street by street. Income is uncertain but bigger than most on average. Weather, competition, and appetite decide the day. But the labor is real. What he earns comes directly from sweat, skill, and time. This is money made the hardest way: by producing something useful and offering it to the community. It is the quiet story behind the hundreds—now thousands—of pandesal vendors across Naga, Bicol, and the country. They do not speculate. They do not extract. They work, sell, and hope. Now place this beside another way money is made. When powerful states or corporations intervene in countries like Venezuela to control oil resources, wealth is generated not through personal labor but through power—over land, politics, and people’s futures. Oil is not created by those who profit most from it. It already exists beneath the ground. Control is gained through sanctions, economic pressure, political manipulation, or force. Risks are pushed downward to ordinary citizens; profits flow upward and outward. You may say this is getting political. It isn’t. It’s economics—and morality. The pandesal vendor creates value from almost nothing. Flour becomes bread. Bread becomes breakfast. If no one buys, there is no income. Risk is personal. Dignity lies in work. Resource exploitation works the opposite way. Wealth comes from appropriation rather than production. What is taken is not just oil, but a people’s ability to decide how their resources should shape their own future. Both are called “earning,” but they do not belong to the same moral universe. The pandesal worker takes nothing from anyone else to live. No community is displaced. No sovereignty weakened. His success depends on trust and mutual need. The bread feeds the neighborhood. The other feeds an appetite that is never full—driven by an energy-hungry global system now scrambling for supply, with Venezuela’s vast heavy crude reserves once again in its sights. If we truly value hard work, we must be honest about what counts as work. Getting up at dawn to bake bread is work. Rolling through the streets for small change is work. Rearranging global systems so wealth flows from the weak to the powerful is extraction. It is foreign intervention. The voice calling “malunggay pandesal, mainit pa” reminds us of a moral economy we understand instinctively: you earn by contributing. If we want a just world, we should listen more closely to that sound in the morning—and be far more critical of the silence that follows when a nation’s resources are taken in the name of profit.