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Chai Fonacier receives this year's Margaha Lifetime Achievement Award*The 7th Margaha Film Festival, themed “LOKOMO7IB: SineMargahaSIETE,” concluded its week-long run from February 19 to 23, drawing nearly 2,000 viewers across various venues in Sagay City.The closing ceremony, held at the Siete Locomotive Train in the City Public Plaza, saw 27 awards presented to local and national filmmakers.A total of 24 short films competed this year, divided into 12 Philippine Shorts and 12 Sagaynon Shorts.Carrying the theme “LOKOMO7IB: SineMargahaSIETE”, this year’s festival embraced the image of movement, of cinema as a train in transit, carrying stories from different shores and returning home with new voices.PHILIPPINE SHORTS WINNERSIn the Philippine Shorts category, Hasang ...

Spanish organist Andres Cea Galan (as seen on the wide screen) plays the centuries-old pipe organ (upper right corner) during a concert at the St. Augustine of Hippo Church in Bacong, Negros Oriental on Tuesday evening*PNA/Mary Judaline Flores Partlow photoThe St. Augustine of Hippo Parish Church in Bacong, Negros Oriental, needs millions of pesos for its restoration after sections of the church have been found to have deteriorated.Msgr. Julius Perpetuo Heruela, who heads the Committee on Church Cultural Heritage of the Diocese of Dumaguete, said on Wednesday, Feb. 25, that efforts are ongoing to raise funds for the restoration and preservation, with help from the municipal government of Bacong.“We need a huge amount of money to restore the church’s deteriorating sections, and ...

The Church-led EDSA People Power anniversary march in Bacolod City Wednesday.*Ronnie Baldonado photoBacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon called on Filipinos to reclaim the lost gains of the EDSA People Power Revolution through a fierce love of God and country, which he called a force stronger than anger.Buzon, who spoke at a mass to mark the 40th People Power Revolution anniversary in front of the Negros Occidental Capitol in Bacolod City on Wednesday, Feb. 25, stressed the need for the corrupt in government to be held accountable.He also called for an end to political dynasties, for responsible voting to ensure that the right leaders are elected into office, and for personal change.Buzon also stressed the need for repentance, citing the wasted gains at EDSA."Forty years afte...

A barangay kagawad was arrested during a drug buy-bust at New Stockyard, Brgy. 1, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday evening, Feb. 24.The police identified the suspect only as “Lemuel,” 41, a barangay kagawad and resident of Brgy. 6, Isabela town.The operation was conducted at around 6:14 p.m. by operatives of the Moises Padilla Municipal Police Station- Drug Enforcement Team.Police said the suspect was arrested after he handed a heat-sealed plastic sachet containing suspected shabu to a police poseur-buyer in exchange for buy-bust money.Authorities said about four grams of suspected shabu with an estimated value of P27,200 were seized during the operation.Moises Padilla Police Chief, Maj. Ryan Villasario, said the suspect had previously surrendered under Opl...

Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) and Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga, House Committee on Agriculture and Food chairman, (l-r) during the hearing on Wednesday.* Mark Garcia photoA Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) employee was arrested after the police recovered a firearm during the enforcement of a search warrant in Sitio Ma-asin, Brgy. Bato, Hinigaran, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday, Feb. 24.The police identified the suspect as alias “Panoy,” 45, married and an employee of the Hinigaran MDRRMO.The operation was conducted by the Hinigaran police with support from the Provincial Intelligence Unit and the 2nd Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company.Authorities said the search warrant was served for violation of Republic...

Mayor Greg Gasataya, together with DepEd Bacolod Schools Division Superintendent Dennis Develos and city officials, on Wednesday led the ceremonial send-off of 902-strong Bacolod delegates joining the NIRAA Meet.*Five cities in Negros Occidental, including Bacolod, will host various events in the 2026 Negros Island Region Athletic Association Meet (NIRAAM) on March 1 to 7.Contingents from 12 schools divisions will see action in the first Department of Education (DepEd)-led regional sports competition since the establishment of the country’s newest administrative region in June 2024.These include Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Bacolod City, Silay City, Kabankalan City, Dumaguete City, Canlaon City, Bais City, Bayawan City, Guihulngan City and Tanjay City.The 2...

The skeletal remains found in Bago City.*Human skeletal remains of persons believed to be victims of Typhoon Tino were discovered in Bago City and Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday morning, Feb. 24.The skeletal remains of a 13-year-old boy were found beside the Maragandang River in Purok Timawa, Brgy. Ma-ao, Bago City, the police said.The Bago City police said the remains were discovered after a resident noticed his dog digging near a bamboo clump and biting what appeared to be bones.The police said the skeletal remains were positively identified by the victim’s brother and uncle based on the clothing, belt, and teeth.Authorities said the victim was reported missing during Typhoon Tino on Nov. 4, 2025.Skeletal remains were also discovered inside a sugarc...

The protest in Bacolod City on Wednesday.* Ronnie Baldonado photoThe Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO NIR) reported a peaceful conclusion to security operations for the 40th Anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution on Wednesday, February 25.All public gatherings across Negros Island were conducted without major incident, PRO NIR reported.The activities were held in Kabankalan City, Bacolod City and Dumaguete City.To maintain order, PRO NIR deployed a total of 2,127 personnel strategically across key locations.The deployment focused on traffic management, crowd control, and the implementation of public safety protocols in coordination with local government units.PBrig. Gen. Arnold Thomas C. Ibay, PRO NIR regional director, credited the success...