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Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI*Vatican News photo“We have just lost one of the great luminaries of the Church,” Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon said of the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on Saturday, December 31.He, passed away at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican.Buzon said “he was a sure guide to us at a time when the world is steeped in darkness and confusion. More importantly, he guided us with his humble leadership and shining holiness of life.”San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza said “Pope Benedict XVI, more than any other pope, has taught and encouraged us to cherish and protect the environment. In fact, he has earned the unique distinction of being called ‘the green pope’."“We are forever grateful for the gift of Pope Benedict XVI to the Church and the ...

Eric T. Loretizo*Public relations man Eric Loretizo, 56, died from cardiac arrest at the Adventist Medical Center Bacolod 7:50 p.m. Saturday, December 31.Loretizo was also a journalist, commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission from December 2007 to July 2010, and secretary general of the Bacolod ASEAN Games organizing committee from 2003 to 2006.He served as executive assistant to the late Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon from 2012 to 2019.Among his public relations clients were former Bacolod mayor Evelio Leonardia, Cadiz Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr., former Sagay City mayor and now Rep. Alfredo Marañon III (Neg. Occ., 2nd District), former representative and now Sagay Vice Mayor Leo Rafael Cueva, and Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya.He also volunteered his ser...

Councilman Dandy De Paula with his sisters Cherry De Paula-Esclamada and Theresa De Paula-Jadoc.*A La Carlota City native has been elected No.1 council member of a city in the United States of America, Mayor Rex Jalando-on said Tuesday, January 3.Dandy De Paula, son of the late SInsp. Eddie de Paula, and the late Nelia Gerzon-De Paula, a DepEd teacher, was elected No. 1 council member of the City of Hawaiian Gardens, California, USA, and was sworn in on December 13, the mayor said.“Dandy has endeared himself to the Hawaiian Gardens community due to the many creative ways he has shown on how to care for and sincerely serve his fellowmen,” Jalandoon said on his Facebook page.His training as a student leader from La Carlota North Elementary School and the Doῇa Hortencia S. Ben...

Former Ilog Mayor Benigno “Boy” Gequillana*Benigno “Boy” Gequillana, the former mayor of Ilog town in Negros Occidental, passed away after a six-year battle with cancer at the Adventist Medical Center- Bacolod on Sunday, January 1.The 72-year-old former mayor had Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which attacks the body's germ-fighting immune system, his son Ilog Councilor Benigno “BG” Gequillana Jr. said.He was brought to the hospital on December 31 after he was hit with pneumonia, his son said.Gequillana was mayor of Ilog from 1988 to 1998.The mayor was a pioneer of the football community of Ilog, a former director of the Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative and an assistant treasurer of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines-Negros Occidental Council.His wake will be at the Ac...

There will be fireworks over the Bacolod City Government Center to usher in the New Year at midnight Saturday.*Bacolod PIO photoThe Bureau of Fire Protection on Thursday, December 29, identified 46 community fireworks display areas and firecracker zones for the New Year celebrations in Bacolod City.Fireworks shows are also set at the Bacolod Government Center and Stonehill Hotel grounds, and at the Seda Hotel rooftop at midnight Saturday, December 31, the BFP said.Meanwhile, the 46 other identified areas are near the People’s Market at barangays 10 and 12, San Agustin Street at Brgy 5, Basketball Court at 24th Street in Brgy 5, Vendors Plaza at Fr. Ferrero Street in Brgy 10, open space beside Brgy Mandalagan Hall, open space between Rabadilla and Prk Active in Brgy Mandalagan; ...

The Toyota Vios to be raffled off.*All is set for the New Year’s countdown raffle at the Bacolod City Government Center on Saturday, December 31.A Toyota Vios and five motorcycles from Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez will be raffled off to Bacolod residents who register to join the raffle, his executive assistant Carmela Arcolas Gamboa said Thursday, December 29.Those who wish to register may go to the Albee Benitez Facebook page and scan the QR code on the poster or go to this link -https://tinyurl.com/NewYearCountDownRaffle.The raffle is open to all Bacolod residents who are 18 years old and above.There will be performances leading to the countdown and fireworks to usher in the New Year, Gamboa said.*

The new Land Transportation Office in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City*The new Land Transportation Office building in Barangay Mansilingan and the provincial government’s Organic Trading Post at San Juan Street in Bacolod City will be inaugurated in January, Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Thursday, December 29.The P33.35 million LTO building was built by the provincial government on its property in Manayaosayao, Barangay Mansilingan, in Bacolod City.The old LTO and Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) buildings at Cottage Road in Bacolod City will be developed into a public private partnership multi-use facility, or another cyber center, to generate income for the provincial government, he said.The Organic Trading Post*The new facility w...

Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz*The contracts of three provincial government executives as pro bono consultants of Bacolod City expire on December 31.“Like all consultancy contracts, they are only valid for the current year that they are granted,” Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz, Bacolod consultant on Administrative Matters and Systems Review, said.Diaz said everything that Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez needs are already in place, there is nothing more he can do to help so there is no need for him to continue his consultancy in 2023.“It is good to note that Mayor Albee is already confident going forward with the systems he already has, “Diaz said.The two other Capitol executives who are Bacolod City consultants are Provincial Economic Enterprise...

All Negros Occidental provincial government hospitals have been placed on Code White Alert for the New Year festivities, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Thursday, December 29.“We are preparing for the festivities that will happen in the New Year and praying and hoping that every one of us will put our safety as top priority to avoid ending up in a hospital,” he said.Code White Alert refers to the readiness of hospital manpower like general and orthopedic surgeons, anesthesiologists, internists, operating room nurses, and emergency room personnel to respond to any situation.Health officials are appealing to New Year’s Eve revelers to avoid the use of pyrotechnics and to instead use safe makeshift noisemakers.The public are also urged instead watch community fire...