Features
‘McDo’ manager saves customer's life, thanks to CPR skills
July 2, 2024, 5:03 am
MANILA – Quick thinking and presence of mind enabled a McDonald’s Philippines store manager to save the life of a male customer who collapsed and was later learned to have suffered a mild heart attack. Bryan Bondoc, assigned at McDonald’s NLEX Drive and Dine in Valenzuela City, applied his… Read More
Albay 'ukay-ukay' entrepreneur scores big in thrift biz
July 1, 2024, 6:39 pm
DARAGA, Albay – On Saturdays at exactly 7 a.m., Rhea Llaneta's "ukay-ukay" shop in the bustling market of Daraga town in Albay province transforms into a treasure trove as bargain hunters dig through piles of secondhand garments to snag the best deals. "It is chaotic and, at the same time, fun… Read More
Elderly farmer reaps fruit of labor of love
June 28, 2024, 6:54 pm
LEGAZPI CITY – Despite age weathering his body, 84-year-old Cresenciano Colagong proudly stood his ground as he held the land title for the agricultural lands in Polangui, Albay he has long tilled for more than three decades. His daughter, Aireen Colagong-Tigue, could not hold back tears as she… Read More
Taal’s Caysasay Church declared cultural treasure, historical landmark
June 25, 2024, 8:18 pm
TAAL, Batangas – Following its recent declaration as National Cultural Treasure and National Historical Landmark, the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Caysasay here is expected to play a significant role in preserving the province’s rich history and fostering Catholic faith. The church was… Read More
How an NGO provides opportunities for women in Albay
June 20, 2024, 3:07 pm
LEGAZPI CITY – For a group of women in the towns of Manito and Camalig in Albay, women empowerment is not just a buzzword. As beneficiaries of the Project WE-LEAP (Women Empowerment on Leadership in Economics Resources, Access, and Participation) of Fundación Educación y Cooperación (Educo)… Read More
Job Fair offers chance for 77-year-old job hunter
June 12, 2024, 10:08 pm
BAGUIO CITY – Evelyn Cotaran, 77, hoped to land a job through the Kalayaan (Independence) Day Job Fair in this city on Wednesday despite her age. Lola Evelyn was among the hundreds of job applicants who hoped to get employment or a better job position with the help of the event organized by the… Read More
Apo Whang-od's doctor on how to be an everyday hero
June 12, 2024, 3:27 pm
DARAGA, Albay – It could have been just another doctor-patient consultation for Dr. Mary Libeney Sito. Except that the check-up required a grueling pilgrimage to the remote village of Buscalan in the town of Tinglayan, Kalinga, in November 2023, to meet the patient: the sprightly centenarian,… Read More
Cordillera's vegetable industry: Igorots’ labor of love
June 11, 2024, 6:48 pm
BAGUIO CITY – Have you ever wondered what the colorful, beautiful-looking, and nutritious vegetables in your favorite “chop suey” or “pancit” go through before reaching the dinner table? With it, goes tons of “labor of love” that farmers and “kumbaya” (persons manually carrying… Read More
Eastern Samar family reunites after leaving NPA
June 11, 2024, 4:12 pm
BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar – For Daniel Belicario, his 62nd birthday is the most meaningful celebration after he reunited with four other family members who also joined the armed struggle in the forests of Samar Island as members of the New People’s Army (NPA). The simple party happened… Read More
Southern Leyte dive volunteers fight destructive starfish
June 3, 2024, 4:58 pm
LILOAN, Southern Leyte – The daunting task and limited resources have not discouraged a group of volunteers in this coastal town from manually picking thousands of destructive and venomous crown of thorns starfish (COTS) that have been damaging coral reefs. The 12 regular members of the group… Read More
How a mother in Albay earns more working from home
May 28, 2024, 3:27 pm
DARAGA, Albay – With the Philippines becoming a popular hub for outsourced and freelance workers, it is not surprising that more and more Filipinos are opting to give up on-site work for a fully remote work setup. In fact, "work from home" still remains the top most searched keyword in the… Read More
Bicolana recruits defy gender stereotypes in law enforcement
May 27, 2024, 5:11 pm
LEGAZPI CITY – At the graduation ceremony of 299 new police officers in Bicol on Friday, Charisse Ann Avisado beamed with pride as she received her medal as the top student of the batch. "I didn't expect to be the top in our Mabanaag class. I just aimed to be the best version of myself. This is… Read More
More Cordillera youths show interest in agriculture
May 21, 2024, 10:00 pm
BAGUIO CITY – Agriculture officials and advocates are seeing an increasing interest among younger people in different agriculture-related activities, with more joining the ranks of agripreneurs, farmers, and fisherfolk. “The RSBSA (Registry System of Basic Sector in Agriculture) list shows… Read More
Continuing gov’t support improves lives of Cordillera farmers
May 20, 2024, 10:30 pm
BAGUIO CITY – Farmers in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) said they do not belong to poor category given the assistance provided to them by the government through the different agencies. “I went abroad but I was not able to save money. I went home and decided to be a corn farmer… Read More
Paying it forward: 4Ps monitored child now program’s municipal link
May 17, 2024, 6:55 pm
MANILA – In the coastal town of Divilacan in Isabela province, producing professionals and white-collar workers among the locals was once a far-fetched dream. However, the stories of 13 former monitored children of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) who have graduated from college are… Read More
Leyte mom builds wealth from sweet potato farming
May 17, 2024, 4:11 pm
DULAG, Leyte – The phrase “go home and plant kamote (sweet potato),” usually heard by Brenda Avelino from an irritated teacher during her elementary days, did not make any sense until three years ago when the crop brought PHP240,000 monthly to her pocket. Known as Leyte’s "Kamote Queen,"… Read More
175-meter-long 'yema' cake satisfies Quezon folk's sweet tooth
May 16, 2024, 8:49 pm
TAYABAS CITY, Quezon – A tradition that began as thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest now helps support the local confectionery industry while also attracting tourists to this city. Tayabasins, the native population here, celebrated their annual “Mayohan” Festival on Wednesday in a unique… Read More
Carabao milk processing, deemed solution to poverty, hunger
May 14, 2024, 2:47 pm
ASINGAN, Pangasinan – The carabao, the country’s national animal, is still relevant amidst the technological innovations, given the growing industry for carabao milk and other related products. The industry is seen to be a solution to poverty and hunger in the countryside. Thus, the Department… Read More
Female cadets thank PMA for equal opportunities to serve country
May 13, 2024, 6:34 pm
BAGUIO CITY – Three decades after the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) accepted the first batch of female cadets, gender has become a non-issue. What used to be “the weaker gender” has shown it can outclass the male population. “In ranking the cadets, the overall accomplishment is… Read More
The inspiring journey of a widowed mom
May 11, 2024, 11:16 am
DARAGA, Albay – Of the 15 million single parents in the Philippines, nine out of 10 are women. As we celebrate Mother's Day on Sunday, we pay tribute to a widowed mom who is proudly bearing the brunt of solo parenthood on her shoulders, all in the name of love. The sole provider Dona Marie… Read More
