Community

 Negros Pride, in partnership with Artscenic, officially kicks off its 2026 Pride Month celebrations today, June 22.This year’s festivities are anchored on the theme “FantaSiya”.Over the next seven days, the organizers are staging what is set to be the biggest pride pop-up event in the Visayas region, culminating in the highly anticipated annual Pride Parade, a press release said.The multi-day cultural and community event is split across two major venues in Bacolod City, offering a mix of queer artistry, community markets, and advocacy:June 22–25 | Ayala Malls Capitol Central: The first leg of the massive pride pop-up, showcasing local queer-owned businesses, artists, and creators.June 26–28 | Cinematheque Centre Negros: The second leg shifts focus toward media an...

Dr. Victoria Bantug Hoffarth receives an honorary plaque from members of the Department of Education, Schools Division of Negros Occidental and Banilad Elementary School after they signed a Memorandum of Understanding supporting the digital and functional literacy of the school.* Banilad Elementary School photoA public elementary school in EB Magalona, Negros Occidental, is getting a technological upgrade through a ₱3-million public-private partnership aimed at bridging the digital divide. The Klaus Hoffarth Center for Critical Thinking (KHC) has partnered with the Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division of Negros Occidental for a comprehensive digital and functional literacy program at Banilad Elementary School, located in Barangay Nanca, a press release from the ...

Mayor Greg Gasataya (center) and Councilor Israel Salanga (second from left) honor 20 women who graduated from the Elevate AIDA Program, with JR Roque, Impact Lead for Jobs at Aboitiz Foundation and Agnes Gervacio, Chief Executive Officer of Connected Women (first and second from right).*BCCO photoMayor Greg Gasataya, in partnership with the Aboitiz Foundation, led the graduation rites for 20 beneficiaries of the Elevate AIDA program at the Bacolod City Government Center on Monday, June 22. Gasataya said that the program aims to boost local economic empowerment under the Pag-eskwela to Pagtrabaho (P2P) initiative, which specifically targets students, job seekers, and single mothers from various barangays, a press release from the Bacolod City Communications Office said.“A ...

Property giant Megaworld is allocating more than 2,000 square meters of land within its 34-hectare The Upper East township to the Bacolod Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and  Industry Inc. (BFCCCII) for the construction of the city’s P45-million two-story fire station.The modern facility will rise at the corner of Burgos Street and Cornell Loop and is expected to strengthen emergency response capabilities within The Upper East and nearby communities to further support Bacolod City's continued growth and urban development. a press release from Megaworld said Wednesday, June 17."We believe that building sustainable townships also entails investing in infrastructure andessential services that enable communities to thrive, remain resilient, and stay protected. This initia...

Farmers in Bago City and the neighboring Pulupandan town in Negros Occidental receive the cash aid from the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk Program at the Manuel Y. Torres Memorial Coliseum and Cultural Center in Bago City on June 11.* Bago City PIO photoSome 7,947 farmers in Bago City and Pulupandan in Negros Occidental have received cash aid under the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk (PAFF) program, data from the Department of Agriculture-Negros Island Region (DA-NIR) showed.Among the beneficiaries are rice farmers Emalyn Morales of Barangay Busay and Jerson Esparas of Barangay Napoles, who welcomed the financial assistance of PHP2,325 each that they can use for their household expenses.“I’m really thankful for being one of the recipients....

Lola Maria Magbanua, 101, and her great granddaughter, Kisshia Guen.* Cadiz City PIO photoCadiz City recently celebrated another "Super Lola" as it honored its newest centenarian, Maria Lumampao-Magbanua of Purok ILCO, Barangay Caduha-an, who turned 101 years old on January 20. Lola Maria joins the ranks of the city's oldest residents, including 103-year-old Estelita "Lola Tiling" Alimpolos of Barangay Sicaba,  a press release from Cadiz City said Monday, June 15.The city also fondly remembers the late Visitacion Victorama Contenido of Purok Awa, Barangay Zone 6, who passed away in February at the  age of 109.Born on Jan. 20, 1925, to Cayetano Lumampao and Julian Laurente, Lola Maria was "treated like a princess” by her husband, Felizardo Magbanua Sr.,  ...