Dateline Ibalon

Dateline Ibalon Learning & Education | Curated stories about Bicol and Its people

As the Philippine Jesuits observe their solemn 7-day commemoration of the life of St. Ignatius Loyola, leading up to his...
25/07/2025

As the Philippine Jesuits observe their solemn 7-day commemoration of the life of St. Ignatius Loyola, leading up to his July 31 Feast Day, we re-post this article about Father Provincial Benigno "Benny" Mayo, SJ whose life exemplified the Ignatian spirit. During the tumultuous period in the seventies, when the nation was under the repressive regime of President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., Fr. Benny led and guided the Philippine Jesuit Province towards the service of faith and the promotion of justice.
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We commemorate Fr. Benigno “Benny” Mayo, SJ, who passed on twenty years ago this month. He became Provincial of the Philippine Society of Jesus after the term of the luminary Fr. Horaci…

The Office of Mayor Leni Robredo issued a statement on FB dated July 5, 2025 regarding Naga’s development framework, "Th...
24/07/2025

The Office of Mayor Leni Robredo issued a statement on FB dated July 5, 2025 regarding Naga’s development framework, "The 2028 Finish Lines outline the city’s strategic aspirations across eight thematic outcome areas: Economic Inclusion, Environmental Sustainability, Mobility and Order, Health, Education and Well-Being, Heritage and Identity, Digital Governance, Good Governance Innovation, and Local Government Efficiency."

Nestor Felix, a retired international NGO technocrat from Naga, expresses concern that although these “Finish Lines” are inspiring, these should come with a clear explanation. They are long-term goals that are difficult to fully achieve by 2028. He recommends that public expectations must be managed. Without clarifying that many goals extend beyond 2028, the city risks criticism for unachieved targets.

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The Office of Mayor Leni Robredo issued a statement on FB dated July 5, 2025. Titled “Leni institutionalizes 2028 Finish Lines as Naga’s development framework,” the statement read: Affi…

Over 12 countries will showcase their best games at the Osaka World Expo on July 22-28, 2025 and Ateneo de Naga Universi...
23/07/2025

Over 12 countries will showcase their best games at the Osaka World Expo on July 22-28, 2025 and Ateneo de Naga University’s own Digital Arts and Computer Animation Department shall represent the Philippines alongside other talented Filipino studios. ADNU is truly honored and excited to bring the creativity of the Bicol region to the global spotlight!

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Established in 2000, the Ateneo de Naga University BS in Digital Illustration & Animation (DIA) pioneered 3D animation education in the Philippines. BS DIA curriculum offers 3 tracks — An…

July 24th is National Tequila Day in the US. On this day when we celebrate our love of this famous Mexican spirit by enj...
23/07/2025

July 24th is National Tequila Day in the US. On this day when we celebrate our love of this famous Mexican spirit by enjoying tequila with friends, let us remember that Filipino sailors from the Manila galleons introduced the technology of distillation to the Mexicans in the 1600s.

Filipino sailors on the galleons brought with them “coconut brandy,” known as lambanog, distilled from tuba, and they had the portable stills needed to distill the spirits. They taught Mexicans the art of fermenting and distilling coconut sap. Distilled tuba became known as vino de cocos in New Spain, quickly becoming a competitor to wine (from grapes), pulque (from the agave sap), and eventually leading to mezcal and tequila (from the agave fruit).

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How the Filipino sailors from the Manila galleons introduced the technology of distillation to colonial Mexico. Introduction Nearly 460 years ago, on October 8, 1565, Fray Andrés de Urdaneta reache…

Geri Matthew "Choi" Carretero, a community development worker and an art and culture advocate from Bicol, writing for jh...
21/07/2025

Geri Matthew "Choi" Carretero, a community development worker and an art and culture advocate from Bicol, writing for jhpiego.org, an affiliate of Johns Hopkins University engaged in maternal, newborn and child health research, reports on Ana Patricia “Patreng” Non, founder of the Maginhawa Community Pantry in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, "She showed that mutual care could be a powerful act of resistance. Today, she continues that work by advocating for something equally powerful: women’s access to healthcare through cervical cancer self-screening. As part of Self-Care Month, Patreng shares her personal journey with self-collection testing, how it empowered her, and how it can do the same for other women."

Read more.... https://dateline-ibalon.com/2025/07/self-collection-is-self-care-how-patreng-non-reclaims-health-and-power-geri-matthew-carretero/

When Ana Patricia “Patreng” Non started the Maginhawa Community Pantry in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, she showed that mutual care could be a powerful act of resistance. Today, she continues …

Abel C. Icatlo, curator of Museo Bulawan in Camarines Norte and a Bikol culture and arts advocate, re-examines the legac...
21/07/2025

Abel C. Icatlo, curator of Museo Bulawan in Camarines Norte and a Bikol culture and arts advocate, re-examines the legacy of the Spanish friars in Philippine history, "Beyond the spiritual realm, the friars played an undeniable role in the socio-economic and infrastructural development of the archipelago. Their initiatives extended to the construction of enduring stone churches, the organization of nascent towns, and the establishment of vital infrastructure such as roads and bridges. Furthermore, their contributions to agriculture, the introduction of formal education, the pioneering of higher institutions of learning, and the implementation of water systems represent tangible historical evidence of their developmental efforts (Andrade, 2016)."

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The historical narrative surrounding the evangelization of the Philippines has frequently been colored by perspectives that, while influential, warrant a more nuanced and scholarly re-examination. …

Remembering our dear friend Victor Magdaraog (b. July 7, 1951 – December 18, 2022), one of the original advisers of Date...
18/07/2025

Remembering our dear friend Victor Magdaraog (b. July 7, 1951 – December 18, 2022), one of the original advisers of Dateline Ibalon. Re-posting this life story lovingly written by his son Juan “Dickoy” B.K. Magdaraog for the Golden Anniversary Yearbook of the Ateneo de Naga High School Class of 1967, originally published in December 2017.

"Developing talent and helping people defines dad’s professional career for the past forty plus years. The passion for seeing potential in people and harnessing talent has been at the core of his being. This rings true both in his personal and professional life."

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Editors’ Note: We share this life story lovingly written by Juan “Dickoy” B.K. Magdaraog about his father Vic for the Golden Anniversary Yearbook of the Ateneo de Naga High School…

Magallanes, Sorsogon, which was officially declared a pueblo on July 16, 1860, holds a significant place in Bikol histor...
17/07/2025

Magallanes, Sorsogon, which was officially declared a pueblo on July 16, 1860, holds a significant place in Bikol history. The first Catholic mass in Luzon was celebrated by Fray Alonso Jimenez in 1569 in Gibalon, a sitio in this town, marking the beginning of the evangelization of the islands. Ibalon, the ancient name of the Bikol region, is said to have been derived from this pre-colonial settlement. Magallanes is also the location of Bagatao Island, the largest astillero or shipyard in Bikol during the galleon times. Among the most notable galleons built there were Santo Cristo de Burgos and Santísima Trinidad y Nuestra Señora del Buen Fin.

Re-posting this personal account about life in Bagatao by Marco Ragragio Valenciano, a descendant of Don Manuel de Castro, founder of Magallanes.

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I must say that I am unashamedly happy for being descended from Don Manuel de Castro, shipwright (astillero) and founder of the municipality of Magallanes, Sorsogon. Why is this? Well, I have a pec…

We have featured Sam and Reign Dignadice who divide their time between busy careers in Auckland, New Zealand and tireles...
17/07/2025

We have featured Sam and Reign Dignadice who divide their time between busy careers in Auckland, New Zealand and tirelessly developing a thriving bamboo plantation in Bula, Camarines Sur. Click the link to read more...
https://dateline-ibalon.com/2023/12/sam-and-reign-dignadice-making-a-difference-by-planting-giant-bamboo/

The enterprising couple have been featured recently on Agree sa Agri, a popular YouTube channel that promotes agribusiness in the Philippines. Click the link to view...
https://youtu.be/F1f5g6lga-Q?si=bisCnZeQ6FX_aeQt

The Philippines ranks 6th among the largest exporters of bamboo in the world. Export volume is 66 metric tons per year. The total area of bamboo stands ranges from 39,000-53,000 hectares, growing m…

At the southernmost tip of Luzon, where the land bows to the sea, lies the bustling seaport town of Matnog, Sorsogon — a...
16/07/2025

At the southernmost tip of Luzon, where the land bows to the sea, lies the bustling seaport town of Matnog, Sorsogon — a vital maritime artery that has long connected the Philippine archipelago’s northern and southern islands. More than a transit hub, Matnog is a living confluence of history, commerce, ecology, and culture.

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At the southernmost tip of Luzon, where the land bows to the sea, lies the bustling seaport town of Matnog, Sorsogon — a vital maritime artery that has long connected the Philippine archipelago’s n…

The art collectives in Naga City’s mural painting project of July 2024, Bicol Artist Tribe, Salingoy Art Group, Kintab A...
15/07/2025

The art collectives in Naga City’s mural painting project of July 2024, Bicol Artist Tribe, Salingoy Art Group, Kintab Artists Group, and AMA Art Group, can take pride in the thought that they made history last year. They should also challenge themselves by transforming more public wall spaces into their canvasses and making more neighborhoods as their outdoor art galleries in the years to come.

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Public art is good for cities. Art ignites change and transforms public spaces and individual lives. The murals become incredible canvasses and creative expressions for their artist talents. Mayor …

We thank Father Oscar Paraiso from Naga for generously sharing his life story as a priest in the Philippines, Canada and...
14/07/2025

We thank Father Oscar Paraiso from Naga for generously sharing his life story as a priest in the Philippines, Canada and the US. He will celebrate his 44th sacerdotal anniversary in August 2025. The Philippines and the Bicol provinces, in large measure, are blessed for sending priests to serve parishes, ministries and apostolates in foreign lands. In fact, as Fr. Oscar bids farewell to his parish in Virginia, his parishioners welcome a priest from Sorsogon as his replacement. God bless, Father Oscar, and bon voyage!

Feeling the call to priesthood during my 4th year in high school, I remember asking my father’s permission to enter Maryhurst Seminary, the formation house for CICM Missionaries (Congregatio Immacu…

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