Highlights

Last night, I had to buy a phone gadget in a hurry. It was eight in the evening and I had to look for a store to buy it. And look what I found---SM City Naga! The gadget I needed was right there at SM Appliances---all options and various models available at Manila prices.

In his Inquirer column, Amando Doronila argues that US President-elect Barack Obama is "no friend to the Philippines" because Obama snubbed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's congratulatory call.

Amando Doronila is wrong. Since when did we equate Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo with the Philippines? Certainly, Gloria as an unpopular leader comes strong in Barack Obama's radar. Joc Joc Bolante's trial in Chicago, put in spotlight by very vocal anti-Gloria protesters outside the courthouse, was too scandalous to escape Obama's attention. Even US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice is no fan of the sitting Philippine leader. Gloria's misconducts are also all over the Web.

The Physicians for Peace gave out free wheelchairs to pre-screened indigents in Naga City. UP Ibalon Bicol was a partner in this project and may act as conduit for future donations by the Physicians for Peace, an international charity organization headed by a Fil-American, Dr. Juan Montero.

This partnership of the UP Ibalon and the Physicians for Peace came as a result of the efforts of Dr. Josephine (Jenny) Robredo-Bundoc, a UP Ibalon alumna

On Thursday February 5, 2009, the wheelchair and prosthetics project spearheaded by Ibalonians Dr. Josephine (Penny) R. Bundoc and Jose (Butch) Robredo pulled through in Naga City with the participation of the Physicians for Peace, the city government, and the Rotary Club.

Ten public and 9 private high schools around Naga City sent their high school seniors to UP Ibalon Bicol's UP Orientation-UPCAT Review held at Fernando Hall, Plaza Medica, Naga City, last Saturday, June 14, 2008.

He was always Awil to those who knew him since he was a boy who ran around in his birthday suit, his face often caked with mûrit from dirt, dried-up tears, and a breakfast diet of rice coffee that his mother did not bother to wipe off his cheeks. The eldest of ten children, he only went as far as the second grade, and this is the reason he has always had a hard time with math, could not read, and could hardly write – save for his name.