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Pitcher Erica Arnaiz of Bago City*With a record 85 strikeouts in the just-concluded 2023 Junior League Softball World Series, pitcher Erica Arnaiz of Bago City, Negros Occidental, earned a spot in the Hall of Fame of the Little League international headquarters in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.Arnaiz will have her jersey number 24 retired in recognition of her feat that also led the Philippines, representing the Asia-Pacific Region, to bring home the country’s second championship since 2003.“When I travel back to the United States, I will bring her jersey with me. It’s the first time in history that a player recorded 85 strikeouts in the entire tournament. Her jersey will be displayed in Pennsylvania,” head coach Francis Fuentes said during the welcome dinner for the team at...

One of the shooting victims in Barangay Piapi, Dumaguete City.*Alex Pal photoA Dumagueteño was killed and a policeman was injured in a shooting incident in Brgy. Piapi, Dumaguete City, early Saturday morning, August 19.Ronald Vendiola Patrimonio, alias Wewe, of Barangay Bajumpandan, Dumaguete City, died after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds allegedly inflicted by a certain “Inting Celestial” of Bacong, Negros Oriental.Witnesses said that the suspect followed the victim and fired five gunshots and left on a mountain bike.PSenior Master Sgt. Rolando Jamosmos, who was in the area, responded to the incident but was shot by the suspect in the abdomen.Jamosmos called for backup and they pursued the assailant who fled but was trapped by a high wall, the police said.The ...

Philip Cruz takes guests on a tour of The Quiet Place Farm* Ronnie Baldonado photoA visit to The Quiet Place Farm in Barangay Tabunan, Bago City, Negos Occidental, gives one a renewed awareness of how magical Mother Nature truly is.That is how Ruth Minerva Cruz, manager of the 25-hectare farm, which recently reopened, describes the place.The Quiet Place first opened in 2001 and became a popular venue for weekend visits as well as retreats and small group seminars.It closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and after Typhoon Odette cut down a few of its old trees and damaged some structures, Cruz said.She was at The Quiet Place during the lockdown and took long walks every day.The Quiet Place Farm* Ronnie Baldonado photo“It made me see the place in a new light. We ha...

NFSP president Enrique Rojas.*The National Federation of Sugarcane Planters (NFSP) thanked the eleven representatives who authored a House resolution strongly opposing sugar import liberalization plans on Friday, August 18.“In behalf of all the officers and members of the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters Inc. from all over the country, I wish to convey to you our gratitude for…House Resolution No. 1199, expressing strong opposition against the sugar import liberalization proposed by Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, which will allow food and beverage manufacturers to direct import sugar,” NFSP president Enrique Rojas said.“Allowing food and beverage manufacturers to directly import will wreak havoc on the long-established government regulations over the sugar industry...

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has dismissed an employee of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist from the service for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and malversation of public property effective immediately.Lacson, in a decision dated August 8 and released Friday, August 18, dismissed Agriculturist 1 Herminigildo Basilio for the missing 789 sacks of fertilizer from the provincial government’s Rice Processing Center (RPC) warehouse in Bago City.Basilio was the person in-charge of the RPC warehouse, the decision said.The dismissal of Basilio from the service carried the accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, barring from taking civil service examinations and forfeiture of retirement benefi...

Jonathan Manuel Lo - CM & Sons Food Products Inc. CEO and president, Dr. Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa - DOST-FNRI director, and Bacolod Councilor Jude Thaddeus Sayson (l-r) at the launching rites.*A Bacolod firm launched its pioneering Iron Rice Plus aimed at addressing malnutrition and iron deficiency anemia at L’Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City on Friday, August 18.CM & Sons Food Products Inc., renowned for its Bacolod food pasalubong brand Merzci Bread & Pastries, launched its iron-fortified rice and iron rice premix that aims to fortify diets, especially of young children, adolescents, and pregnant and lactating women.The launching was led by Jonathan Manuel Lo, the firm’s CEO and president, and joined by Bacolod City officials and representative of several national gover...

Councilor Celia Flor wants the ordinance versus sale of rugby to minors strengthened.*Bacolod SP Facebook page photoThe Bacolod City Sangguniang Panlungsod approved a resolution calling on commercial establishments to strictly enforce the city’s “Rugby and Other Volatile Substances Ordinance”, Councilor Celia Flor said on Friday, August 18.Flor said she filed the resolution, which was approved by the SP on Wednesday, to remind establishments against the sale of rugby and other volatile substances to minors.The resolution states that the utilization of these volatile substances by children has been linked to a surge in criminal activities, with documented instances of theft, vandalism, and other antisocial behaviors.City Ordinance 328 or the “Rugby and Other Volatile Substan...

Jonathan Santella at the BInalbagan Police Station after he surrendered.*The third and last suspect in the brutal killing of Binalbagan Catholic College (BCC) teacher Tony Lazaga surrendered on Friday, August 18, Maj. Randy Babor, Binalbagan police chief, said.He identified the suspect as Jonathan Santella, 22, of Brgy. San Jose, Binalbagan.Santella along with John Paul Fernandez, 21, and Johnrey Castino, 19, who were arrested earlier, are facing robbery with homicide charges for the death of Lazaga.Lazaga was stabbed to death 16 times while on the way to his boarding house in Brgy. San Pedro, Binalbagan, early Wednesday morning, August 16.After the killing Santella escaped to Barangay Inolingan, Moises Padilla, where he stayed with relatives.On Friday he surrendere...

The leptospirosis and cholera deaths in Negros Occidental have increased by six, the Provincial Health Office reported on Friday, August 18.The leptospirosis deaths this year increased from nine on July 29 to 13 as of August 12, the PHO said.The most number of leptospirosis deaths were in Murcia with five, the report added.The cholera deaths also increased from four on July 29 to six on August 12. The PHO also reported.The dengue deaths remained at six since July 29, the August 12 report said.San Carlos had the most number of cholera cases with 13 suspected and seven confirmed cases, the PHO report added.The PHO also reported 101 suspected leptospirosis cases in Negros Occidental this year.Leptospirosis is caused by the leptospira spirochetes that are acqu...

A book about historical accounts of Filipinos and their relationships with dogs will be launched in Bacolod City on August 27.The youth organization “Project Saysay” and Visayan history project “Bibliotikal” will hold the launch of “Dogs in Philippine History” authored by Ian Christopher Alfonso at Sea Breeze Hotel next week.Dogs in Philippine History is an impassioned and carefully crafted historical account of the deep bond between Filipinos and their canine companions, it said.Alfonso is a Senior History Researcher at the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and has written other historical titles, one of which is “The Nameless Hero: Revisiting the Sources on the First Filipino Leader to Die for Freedom”, which was published in 2016.The organizer, Project Sa...