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Emerging artist Daniel Yulo, joined by his parents, during his public debut.* BACHI photoBacolod Arts, Cultural Heritage  Inc. (BACHI) marked a significant cultural moment with the formal launch of three visual artists, a symbolic introduction of their creative voices to the public.The occasion bridged the private world of solitary creation with the wider embrace of community recognition, as each artist aligned their personal narrative with the collective spirit of Bacolod’s lively art scene, a press release from BACHI said Monday, Oct. 19.The launch introduced Boy Dela Peña, a visual storyteller and photographer; Isabel Sola, an interior designer and painter; and Daniel Yulo, a young emerging talent.Visual Artists Isabel Sola with her works on display* Their ...

The Escalante City government center.*Ronnie Baldonado file photoThe Escalante City government condemned the New People’s Army attack in Barangay Malasibog that left a member of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary dead and two soldiers wounded, Oct. 17.The attack happened on Sept. 29 in Sitio Bautista, Barangay Malasibog, Escalante City, Negros Occidental.According to the city government, the incident resulted in the death of one CAFGU Active Auxiliary member and injuries to two soldiers of the Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion.Escalante Mayor Melecio “Beboy” Yap Jr. expressed his condolences to the family of the slain CAFGU member and support for the wounded soldiers and residents affected by the incident.The city government said it strongly condem...

Barangay Taculing dominated the MassKara Festival 2026 Barangay Category Street Dance and Arena Competition on Sunday, October 18, taking home the coveted ₱1 million grand prize along with a near-sweep of major special awards.Taculing wowed thousands of spectators with a high-energy performance along Araneta Street before delivering a championship-clinching presentation on the arena stage at SM City Bacolod.Beyond the top prize, Taculing earned an additional ₱150,000 after winning Best in Theme and Concept, Best in Music, and Best in Introduction—each carrying a ₱50,000 cash prize.The champion contingent also collected sponsor honors, including the SM Choice Award worth ₱60,000, ₱20,000 worth of products as the Pocari Sweat Choice Award recipient, and a ₱10,000 Robinsons gift c...

Two soldiers, a militia member, and an innocent bystander were  injured after suspected remnants of the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels opened fire on them in Sitio Bulod, Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental,  Saturday night, Oct. 17.Acting on community tips about insurgent activity, elements of the 94th Infantry Battalion were patrolling the area when they stumbled upon approximately five armed members of the New People’s Army (NPA) near a roadside. Brig. Gen. Ted Dumosmog, head of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, said Sunday. The unexpected encounter sparked a brief five-minute exchange of gunfire.All victims sustained non-fatal wounds and are currently in stable condition, Dumosmog said."Our troops moved quickly thanks to timely intelligence s...

A 25-year-old woman was killed while a 34-year-old man was wounded in a stabbing incident in Brgy. Daga, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, Friday evening, Oct. 16.Police identified the victims only as  “Denise,” 25, of Brgy. Mandalagan, Bacolod City, and “Johnny,” 34, of Hacienda Bayabas 3, Brgy. Daga.The suspect was identified only as alias “Henry,” 41, also a resident of Hacienda Bayabas 3.The incident happened at around 6:50 p.m.Police investigation showed that the two victims were riding a motorcycle on their way home when the suspect allegedly stopped them and stabbed them in different parts of their bodies.Police said the attack was carried out without apparent provocation, although the motive remains under investigation.Both victims were rushed to the Cadiz...

Two men were arrested and about 100 grams of suspected shabu worth P680,000 were seized during a buy-bust operation in Purok 3, Brgy. I-Poblacion, Pontevedra, Negros Occidental, on Friday, Oct. 16.Police identified the suspects only as aliases “Ron,” 60, tagged as a street-level individual, and “Kiv,” 28, classified as a high-value individual.“Ron” is a resident of Purok 3, Brgy. I-Poblacion, Pontevedra, while “Kiv” is from Brgy. I-Poblacion, Hinigaran.Police said the operation stemmed from information that “Ron” was allegedly involved in the sale of illegal drugs in Pontevedra.Surveillance and monitoring were conducted, during which investigators alleged that “Ron” was sourcing his drug supply from “Kiv.”Police subsequently arranged a transaction that led to the buy-bu...

A 36-year-old motorcycle rider died after his vehicle struck the rear of a parked sugarcane-loaded truck along the national road in Brgy. Tinampa-an, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, Friday night, Oct. 16.Police identified the motorcycle rider only as alias “Jericho,” a resident of Barangay Cabahug, Cadiz City.Initial police investigation showed that a Mitsubishi Fuso prime mover truck loaded with sugarcane stalks was temporarily parked along the outer lane of the road.Police said the truck’s hazard lights were switched on, but no early warning device was placed behind the vehicle.The motorcycle was traveling from Jerusalem Ville in Barangay Cabahug toward Purok Narra in Brgy. Tinampa-an when it approached the truck from behind and hit its rear.The rider sustained injurie...

Mandalagan Elementary School performers.*Andrew Altarejos photoMandalagan Elementary School won the Grand Championship in the elementary category of the MassKara Festival 2026 Street Dance and Arena Competition, receiving ₱750,000 during the awarding ceremony at the Bacolod City Public Plaza on Saturday, October 17.The Arena Competition was held at SM City Bacolod, with seven participating schools: Sum-ag Elementary School, Education and Training Center School II, Handumanan Elementary School I, Vista Alegre Elementary School, Mandalagan Elementary School, Vista Alegre-Granada Relocation Elementary School, and Montevista Elementary School, a press release from Gugma Foundation said.Sum-ag Elementary School placed First Runner-Up and received ₱300,000, while Montevista Elementar...

A 30-year-old man died after he was stabbed following an argument over Small Town Lottery results in Cauayan, Negros Occidental, Saturday afternoon, Oct. 17.Police identified the victim only as alias “Allan,” 30, a resident of Crossing Tilok, Purok 5B, Brgy. Guiljungan.The suspect was identified as alias “Marjun,” 35, a laborer and resident of Purok 3 in the same barangay.The incident happened at around 4 p.m.Initial police investigation showed that the victim and suspect figured in a heated argument over STL results while the suspect was allegedly accepting bets.Police said both men initially drew knives but were pacified by bystanders.The suspect, however, allegedly stabbed the victim in the left side of his back, causing a penetrating chest wound.The victim w...

The Bacolod City National High School performers.*Andrew Altarejos photoBacolod City National High School won the High School Category of the MassKara Festival 2026 Street Dance and Arena Competition on Saturday, October 17.The arena competition was held at SM City Bacolod, with four participating schools: ABKASA National High School, Jovito Sayson National High School, Bacolod City National High School, and Progreso Village National High School.Bacolod City National High School received ₱790,000 in cash prizes, comprising ₱750,000 in championship winnings, ₱20,000 from Mang Inasal, and ₱20,000 from SM City Bacolod. The school will also receive ₱20,000 worth of products from Pocari Sweat.The school won Best in Theme and Concept, Best in Introduction, and Most Disciplined Co...