This year's tercentenary celebration for Bikolandia's most revered Patroness, Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia, more popularly known as 'Ina,, will not be totally complete without making mention of the two historic bells adorning the belfry of the centuries-old Our Lady of Peñafrancia Shrine in Naga City.

The two antique and ancient bells were donated in 1863 and 1868 by Simon Li Tuanqui, a successful Chinese trader-philanthropist converted to the Catholic faith and who has since become a devotee of 'Ina'.

The Ateneo de Naga University's Rayan Abogado Oliva ranked first nationwide in the Nursing Licensure Examinations held last July 3-4, 2010.

A member of the BSN Class 2010, Oliva graduated Magna Cum Laude.

Out of the 138 examinees, 97 passed or 70.29% against the national passing rate of 41.40%.  Of the 97 passers, 68 are first takers (77.27%).

Among those who made it to the distinguished top 10 in Region V were Mr. Clinton Rabadon of Bicol University and Ms. Dioliza Sacil of Universidad de Sta. Isabel - both ranked 10th.

Legazpi City (27 August) -- The province of Albay has enjoined all sectors to support and pray for the victims of Monday's bloody hostage crisis.

"In response to the hostage crisis, the Provincial Government of Albay, local Catholic Church, Filipino-Chinese community, Catholic schools, city government here and other local government units will hold simultaneous Mass Offering with special intentions for the Hong Kong nationals hostage victims, both for those who perished and survived," Albay Governor Joey Salceda said.

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 27 -- The Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) Family Circles Confederation, Inc. in Bikol has sought the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) here to take the necessary steps to protect OFWs based in Hong Kong from possible harassment and maltreatment as an offshoot of the tragic hostage-taking incident in front of Quirino grandstand last Monday.

MANILA, August 26, 2010-Hundreds of devotees of the Our Lady of Peñafrancia are expected to attend the International Pilgrims Congress (IPC) in Naga City on September 16 to 17.

The gathering of pilgrims, not just of Filipinos but also those coming from the other countries will highlight and culminate the Archdiocese of Caceres' Tercentenary devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia.

Organizers said that over the years, the devotion to what the Bikolanos refer to as "Ina" has taken root in various parts of the Philippines and of the continents.

NAGA CITY, Aug. 27 -- In furtherance of its socialized housing program, the city government laid down once again the cornerstone for the development of a new resettlement site in Sitio Salunguigui, Barangay Cararayan, this city.

The one-hectare resettlement area is seen to accommodate 116 family beneficiaries whose home lots will have an average of 60 square meter area each.

Masbate City (27 August) -- Police has filed criminal charges against the son of a former mayor of Monreal who was arrested last week August 16 for allegedly selling methamphetamine hydrochloride or "shabu" to a police informant.

Senior Inspector Lope E. Badillo of Masbate City Police Station identified the suspect as Benigno C. Cantela, said to be a son of former Mayor Sotero Cantela who reportedly operates nightspots in Legazpi City.

Iriga City ---   Even before flying off to Chicago to attend the First International Grand Alumni Homecoming last July, the UNEP community already extended its congratulations to Ms. Conchita Albino-Ibarondo, chosen by Metrobank Foundation as one of this year's Outstanding Teachers of the Philippines.

Atty. Remelisa Alfelor-Moraleda, UNEP President, said the university took pride in her achievement being one of the university's alumnae who, up to now, continuous to give credence to the university's battle cry of promoting quality education.

Daet, Camarines Norte (27 August) -- The Provincial Sagip Batang Mangagawa-Quick Action Team (SBM-QAT) has been recently reactivated and will intensify its anti-child labor program, said a provincial official.

In a meeting held here Tuesday (August 21), Camarines Norte Provincial Field Officer Ruben Romanillos of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said that they will reactivate the SBM-QAT to fully support the programs and projects of the Provincial Council for the Welfare of Children (PCWC).

Matnog, Sorsogon (27 August) -- Local public officials have joined residents and the Catholic Church here in calls for the cessation of the operations of a mining project extracting iron ore in a watershed area of this small fourth class town.

The calls are directed to incumbent Sorsogon Gov. Raul Lee whose office issued the small-scale mining permit (SSMP) to the project and the regional office for Bicol of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) that provided an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) to it.

NAGA CITY, Aug. 26 --- At least 1,500 families from the city's five barangays have met the standard set by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to qualify in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

The program is a developmental approach designed to promote investment in human capital among poor families with 0 to 14 years old children.