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Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez at the launching of the 2026 MassKara Festival on Friday*Ronnie Baaldonado photoIt is now highly possible that the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on Nov. 2 will be postponed, Deputy House Speaker and Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said Friday, Sept. 11.That is because the bills fixing the barangay and SK terms to five years and resetting the polls to November 2028 have made progress in both Houses of Congress, he said.The House of Representatives version has been approved on third and final reading, and the Senate has approved its counterpart measure on second reading.Once fully enacted into law, the legislation will amend Republic Act No. 12232, extending the term length of barangay and SK leaders from four years to...

Modesto Palacios Sa-onoy receiving his Knighthood in the Equestrian Order of Pope St. Sylvester.*photo courtesy of Aufred Sa-onoyNegrense historian, author, and journalist Modesto Palacios Sa-onoy died of pneumonia complications at Riverside Medical Center in Bacolod City at 11:13 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10.He was 88.Sa-onoy died the day before his wife, Verobina, marked her 80th birthday, their son Aufred Paul, said Friday.“He was so many things — an author, a journalist, a teacher, a consultant, an army reserve officer, and an active member of so many organizations. But most importantly, he was a father to me and Angel, a father-in-law to Ephie and Stephen, the loving husband of Verobina Abeto Sa-onoy, a grandfather to Alran, Gabrielle, Sam, and Jaez, and a great-grandfath...

The MassKara dancers at the launch*Ronnie Baldonado photoThe MassKara Festival 2026 was launched with the unveiling of its new “Share the Smile. Celebrate Gugma” campaign along with the introduction of this year’s Miss Bacolod MassKara contestants and street dance competition participants at Roy’s Hotel  in Bacolod City on Friday, Sept. 11.The festival will officially run from October 1 to 18, with post-festival activities extending through October 25. The festivities will peak with the Electric MassKara and streetdance competitions from October 16 to 18.New venues for the major street dance and arena competitions and Miss Bacolod MassKara 2026,   a twin-logo concept, and an expanded lineup of activities aimed at making the celebration more accessible to Bacolodn...

Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez (l-r)*Local political groups  Love Negros and the United Negros Alliance (UNegA) should convene to discuss whether they will field a unified candidate for governor of Negros Occidental in 2028, Deputy House Speaker and Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo "Albee" Benitez said Friday, Sept. 11.“I don’t think there should be any individual or one person who should decide what will happen. It is a collective decision and consensus of all members of both groups,” Benitez said.Benitez noted that while discussions between the two groups  are likely ongoing, he is open to initiating  talks himself or asking Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson to call a meeting.The statement comes amid political speculation surrounding potential...

The police arrested a 27-year-old man and seized about P1.1 million worth of stolen items and a loaded .22 caliber revolver  in Brgy. Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City.The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region said the incident happened at Greenplains Subdivision at around 10:45 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9Police identified the suspect only as alias “JC,” a resident of Brgy. Banago.Initial investigation showed that the homeowner discovered the suspect inside the residence after he had allegedly forced his way in and taken several personal belongings.The victim immediately sought police assistance.When confronted, the suspect allegedly attempted to escape by jumping over a hollow-block fence.Responding personnel of Police Station 8 pursued and cornered him.Pol...

The document was left in the residence’s mailbox after no one was found at the property, the LTO-NIR said.*The Land Transportation Office-Negros Island Region has served a resolution holding the registered owner of a van administratively accountable after the vehicle allegedly evaded a routine inspection in Talisay City, Sept. 11.LTO-NIR said the incident happened on July 7, when the van allegedly failed to stop for law enforcement personnel during an inspection.The agency subsequently issued a show cause order as part of its investigation.LTO-NIR said the registered owner was held administratively accountable for failing to exercise due diligence over the use of the vehicle.Personnel of the agency’s Intelligence and Investigation Unit attempted to personally serve the ...

The Miss MassKara 2026 bets with the city’s 2025 reigning queens.*Ronnie Baldonado photoThe  15 Miss Bacolod MassKara 2026 candidates were introduced during the launch of this year’s MassKara Festival at Roy’s Hotel in Bacolod City on Friday morning, Sept. 11.“In line with our thrust to bring the MassKara back to the grassroots, this year, for the first time, the Miss Bacolod MassKara contestants will be representing their barangays,” MassKara Festival Director Rodney Mitz Ascalon said.This year’s contestants are Aleyssa Dionio of Barangay Alijis, Hannah Damasco of Barangay 29, Margarette Ymballa of Barangay Taculing, Jasper Anne Lucero of Barangay Mandalagan, Ma. Zonora Ellyssa Curaza of Barangay Sum-ag, Eurica Cielo C. Abarro of Barangay Estefania, Ashley Nicole R. Andrade of...

he Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has ordered the regional implementation of the Secondary Price Cap (SPC) in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), applying it retroactively to the August 2026 billing period to curb soaring power rates in Visayas and Mindanao.The regulatory body acted motu proprio after internal data revealed persistent supply tightness in August 2026, during which Visayas and Mindanao registered 652 hours and 89 hours of combined Red and Yellow Alerts, respectively, a press statement posted by ERC on its facebook page Thursday evening DSept. 10, said.Spot market prices surged to peaks of PhP18,590 per megawatt-hour (MWh) in Visayas and PhP19,560/MWh in Mindanao, it said.Despite the severe local spikes, the existing system-wide SPC mechanism failed ...

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson presides over the 3rd quarter Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council meeting Thursday.* Richard Malihan photoThe  Negros Occidental provincial government is preparing for a “super, super El Niño”, the height of which is expected to be felt starting October to hopefully only the first quarter of 2027, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Thursday, Sept. 10.“Hopefully it will not go beyond the first quarter”, said Lacson, who presided over the 3rd quarter Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council meeting at the Negros Occidental Capitol in Bacolod City.The entire province of Negros Occidental is forecast to be affected by El Niño, he said, adding that they received a report that Hinigaran is already feel...