Melo M. Acuña

MANILA, July 31, 2010- The country's "Joan of Arc" and "Icon of Democracy" will be remembered in Sunday Masses in various Catholic churches across the country as the nation remembers the first death anniversary of former President Corazon Aquino.

It will be recalled the mother of current President Benigno Simeon Aquino III succumbed to colon cancer at the Makati Medical Center last Aug.1, 2009.

At 10:30 a.m., Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas will celebrate a special Mass for the late chief executive at La Salle Greenhills in Mandaluyong City.

MANILA, May 22, 2010-The Bikol Region's patroness, Our Lady of Peñafrancia will visit one of the country's popular malls, SM Mega Mall on Saturday until Sunday as part of its preparatory activities for the 300th anniversary in September this year.

MANILA, April 15, 2010- The country's leading prelates said the country's politicians and voters must learn to look at the recent past to learn lessons on leadership and dedication to duty.

Manila Archbishop Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales said important issues take the back seat as the campaign season turn fever pitch during the last couple of weeks before the May 10, 2010 local and national polls.

BACACAY, Albay, April 11, 2010-Celebrating the milestone of his sacerdotal ministry, Legazpi's Apostolic Administrator Emeritus Lucilo Quiambao marked his golden anniversary of priesthood with a thanksgiving Mass in his hometown together with fellow jubilarians Fr. Conrad Goullet, SSS, Fr. Joventino Romano, Msgr. Lucio Odiver and Msgr. Pastor Gotiangco of Ormoc, Leyte.

MANILA, March 10, 2010- The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has recently wired $48,809.00 to the Apostolic Nuncio to Haiti Archbishop Bernardito Auza for the earthquake victims of Haiti.

Msgr. Joselito C. Asis, CBCP Assistant Secretary General and Assistant Treasurer said the donations came from the Catholic faithful in response to CBCP President's appeal to the country's 86 ecclesial provinces. A second collection was held in all Sunday Masses last January 24, 2010.

MANILA, February 18, 2010-A CATHOLIC priest who has marched with peasants and indigenous peoples in street protests is filling an important position in the Church's social action apostolate.

Early this February, a priest in charge of Calapan's Mangyan Missions has been appointed to the Episcopal Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace (ECSA,JP) of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) which is often referred to as the National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA).

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 30, 2009-The provincial government spends at least P1.2 million daily for the upkeep of over 10,000 families who lived in evacuation centers for the past 17 days, since Mayon Volcano began belching ash and lava more than two weeks ago.

This, according to Albay Governor Jose Sarte Salceda, as he acknowledged the donations received by the Provincial Disaster Management Office from various local and international donors.

LEGASPI City, Dec. 10, 2009- The transfer of Masbate Bishop Joel Z. Baylon to the Diocese of Legazpi brought sadness to his parishioners. But the diocesan clergy suffered another blow when one of its priests died December 8 in a motorcycle accident along the National Highway at Barangay Cayabon, Milagros, Masbate.

The fatality was identified as Fr. Norman Crisostomo De Jesus, popularly known as "Father Aga," 38 years old and pioneer parish priest of a newly-created parish in Calumpang, Balud, Masbate.

MANILA, Dec. 3, 2009- The 79-year old Irish missionary who was recently held by unidentified armed men in southern Philippines for 31 days left at 1:05 AM today on board Etihad Flight EY 421 for a five-week vacation in Ireland by way of Abu Dhabi.

Interviewed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport past midnight today, Fr. Sinnott said "I feel find going back home and looking forward to the weather, it's windy, wet and cold."