Ecumenical Prayer Meeting for Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Election in the Philippines

Thursday, March 11, 2010 - 6.30 PM

Donau City Church, 1220 Vienna

 

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Catholic women’s Movement in Austria supports social and humanitarian projects in the Philippines

The “Followers of the Good Shepherd” – choir of the Philippine Catholic Community. More pictures here

 

The  Catholic Women’s Movement in Austria  initiates a program that  could help women’s group in the third world countries – including the Philippines.

The whole Austrian Catholic Church conducted a “Suppensonntag” on February 28, 2010 with the primary aim to collect financial support for its programs. This year, the Catholic women’s Movement is geared to support educational awareness programs and scholarship grants in the Philippines.

The “Followers of the Good Shepherd” – choir of the Philippine Catholic Community sang during the mass of the “Familienfasttag” in Lainz, 1130 Vienna. The mass was also in collaboration with the Parish Priest,. Fr. Wolfgang Dolzer, SJ and the Pascua Family and Mrs. Volet Gerstl.

 

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Hitmakers successful Concert in Vienna

 

Great Filipino performers Rey Valera, Jessa Zaragosa and Renz Verano joined up at a filled Colloseum21 Concert Hall on February 19, 2010 in Vienna Austria. This is their first concert in Europe as they are scheduled to perform in other six countries in the continent. The three OPM artists gagged up fans to the hilt with songs and concrete laughs.  Jessa, Rey and Renz ensure best placements in the Philippines charts and are among the most successful recording artists in the Philippines. Not for nothing they are also called the “Philippines’ Hitmakers.” Catchy tunes like “Bakit pa”, “Remember me” and “Maging Sino ka man” come from their pens, and they have already turned into legends.

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February 17, 2010 - Ash Wednesday Mass with Msgr. Stefan Turnovsky, Vicar General, Archdiozese of Vienna - Pfarre Lainz, Speising, 1130 Vienna. Aside from the traditional ceremony of receiving ashes with the sign of the cross on the foreheads, the candidates for the sacrament of confirmation from the Afro-Asian and Latin Communities received personal blessings from Turnovsky. A Filipino community choir sang during the celebration.

 

PANGATAMAN-Bikol - RNews Release

 

Reference: Engr. Virgilio Perdigon Jr., vice-president for external affairs, PANGATAMAN-Bikol

Unmindful of the destruction of the island Lafayette to expand operations in Rapu-Rapu!

Green group asks new Legazpi bishop to oppose mining in Rapu-rapu

The environmental institution PANGATAMAN-Bikol (Bicol Center for Environmental Protection) raised the alarm that once again Lafayette is gearing to further exploit Rapu-Rapu Island to the detriment of its residents and environment. The company is already operating in three (3) villages of the island. The Mineral Production Sharing Agreements already held by Lafayette, per MGB records, covers 4,610 hectares out of the island's 5,589-hectare land area, or 82.5%. In the 2008 Annual Report of Malaysia Smelting Corporation, which owns 30% of the mine, the total area covered by MPSA's is 5218 hectares. This means an additional 608 hectares. In the endorsement of MGB V, exactly 608 hectares is specified as the area of Poblacion and Morocborocan that would be explored. The area targeted for exploration was cited by Governor Joey Salceda in 2007 to be vetoed by his office should Lafayette intend to apply for exploration there. more

 

For Bikol and the World! - By Che Carpio

Is “Intermediate” the “Best?”

Jesse Robredo is set to finish his third term as Mayor of Naga on June 30. With his first three terms from1988-1998 and his succeeding three terms from 2001-2010, he will then have been in power for 18 long years.

As his valedictory address to the People of Naga, he delivered his “2009 State of the City Report” to the City Council on September 1, 2009, dubbed “A city poised for greater things.”

“A rock solid City Hall” is one of “Six Key Strengths” he said he was leaving behind.  As “latest proof” against “those who are not yet convinced,” he cited the World Bank-commissioned international credit rating of Naga by Standard & Poor’s. He quoted in part:

“The overall FMA score of ‘Intermediate’ for Naga City reflects its moderately developed level of financial reporting and fairly high level of disclosure, adequate performance in annual budgeting and debt management skills which are more sophisticated than most local peers. More