MANILA, July 30, 2010—For environmental advocates, President Benigno Aquino’s first State of the Nation address should have included specifics on how his government will work to protect the nation’s ecology.

MANILA, July 29, 2010—The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) said the new system of automated elections should be replicated in the 2013 presidential elections.

PPCRV chairperson Henrietta de Villa said the automation will improve the quality of elections as it did last May 10.

MANILA, July 29, 2010— The Archdiocese of Caceres mourns the passing of 35-year old Rector of the Holy Rosary Preparatory Seminary and Archdiocesan Vocation Director Fr. Baltazar A. Acompanado, Jr.

MANILA, July 29, 2010—A foreign missionary based in Mindanao has been cited for his invaluable contribution in the promotion of peace and interreligious dialogue among Christians and Muslims in Mindanao.

Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, PIME, received the Bukas Palad Award during a ceremony at the Erwin Shaw Theater in the Loyola Heights campus of Ateneo de Manila University on July 22.

MANILA, July 29, 2010—A congress for persons with terminal illness was held to plan concrete actions to respond ably to current situations of the handicapped, sick, aged and dying people.

ALTÖTTING, Germany, July 28, 2010—More than 300 Filipino Pilgrims, mostly from Germany, Austria and Switzerland made a pilgrimage to Altötting, Bavaria, Germany to venerate the Black Madonna of Altötting on July 24, 2010.