Community

NOGC members celebrated with Santa and his cheerful elf helper, Levi*The festive season sparkled early in Bacolod City as the Negros Occidental Garden Club (NOGC) staged its annual Christmas celebration and induction of 2026 officers and directors at the Acacia Hotel in Bacolod City.Nonoy Lope Napao was sworn in as the club’s 63rd president by honorary member retired Judge Lorna Demonteverde. In his acceptance speech, Napao — continuing his leadership from 2024 and 2025 — thanked members for their unwavering support and pledged to advance gardening and community projects across the province.NOGC 2026 officers and directors, sworn in by Judge Lorna Demonteverde (5th from left), with Nonoy Lope Napao, (6th from left) the club’s 63rd president*Retired Judge Lorna Demonteverde ...

EB Magalona Mayor Matt Malacon during his visit to the Barangay 1-Poblacion Early Childhood Development Center.*EB Magalona PIO photo EB Magalona  in Negros Occidental has been named a Child-Friendly Municipality by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).The Child-Friendly plum is a validation how his administration ensures and nurtures a safe space for children in EB Magalona,  Mayor Matthew Louis Malacon said in a press statement on Sunday, Dec. 7.EB Magalona was among the 17 local government units in Negros Occidental or 79 localities in Region 6 recognized as passers of the  2024 Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance (SCFLG) award.Malacon said that beyond politics, he feels the need for a safer environment for children in EB Magalona."With so ...

Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo has secured two nominations in the prestigious 38th Annual Aliw Awards, while the town’s cultural celebration — the Magayon Hinuptanan Festival — also earned a nomination under the Best Festival category.The Aliw Awards, the country’s first and longest-running recognition body for excellence in live entertainment, at the Manila Hotel Fiesta Pavilion in Manila will be held on Dec. 15.In recognition of her leadership in strengthening the cultural and artistic programs of Garcia-Yulo was nominated in  two categories: Best Festival Catalyst/Organizer and Best Festival Director.She is nominated alongside other mayors and festival officials from across the Philippines — a clear sign of Moises Padilla’s growing prominence in the national cultural ...

The Coast Guard District Southern Visayas hosted a courtesy visit from Alexandru Chiric, the Southeast Asia Representative of the Critical Maritime Routes Indian Ocean (CRIMARIO) program at its headquarters in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, on Sunday, Nov. 30.The visit signaled a growing partnership between the Philippines and CRIMARIO in advancing maritime security across the region.Discussions focused on boosting information-sharing systems, upgrading maritime domain awareness tools, and strengthening coordination in monitoring sea lanes in the Visayas.The meeting also emphasized the need for joint initiatives to address emerging maritime challenges, including illegal activities at sea, navigation safety concerns, and the increasing demand for real-time situational awarenes...

The Avon Independent Managers Multi-Purpose Cooperatives (AIMMPC) Social Development Group recently turned over vegetable seeds to the Negros Occidental Garden Club (NOGC) in Bacolod City, recently.The donated seeds will be used by NOGC in upcoming vegetable seed dispersal activities across schools and public institutions, supporting efforts to sustain the nutritional needs of the community, a press release from the club said..By encouraging the establishment of vegetable gardens, the initiative aims to promote health and well-being, foster self-sufficiency and cultivate a culture of healthy eating among families and institutions, it said.“These little seeds are going to do big things for our community,” said Rebecca Zepeda, NOGC secretary. “From fresh, homegrown vegetables on ...

In a strong show of unity and compassion, a joint bloodletting activity was successfully conducted recently at the Brgy. Madalag People’s Hall, E.B. Magalona.The initiative was spearheaded by M.M. Abello Masonic Lodge #260, under the leadership of Worshipful Master Joaquin Jude G. Ledesma, in partnership with Brgy. Captain Joel Paredes and National Jail Management and Penology Training Institute trainees led by Jail Senior Inspector Jennylind R. Hermida, a press release said.The activity was carried out in close cooperation with the CLMRMH Blood Bank personnel, responding to the urgent call to replenish the regional hospital’s blood supply. The hospital had been unable to conduct blood donation drives for eight consecutive days following the devastation of Typhoon Tino, leaving pat...

Cadiz Mayor Salvador Escalante*The construction of 50-bed hospital in Cadiz City is expected to be completed by 2026, Cadiz Mayor Salvador Escalante said on Tuesday, Nov. 18.The  P270 million hospital building  being built at the reclamation area in Cadiz City is funded by the city government, he said.The city government is entering into a joint venture with the private  firm  that will  provide the furnishings and equipment for the hospital, he said.Meanwhile, two super health centers  funded by the Department of Health are  being built in barangays  Luna  and Jerusalem in Cadiz, Escalante said.The super health centers will augment the operations of the hospital, he said.*