ATOP CONVENTION. Tourism officers from the different provinces arrived early yesterday, October 3, 2007 in time for the registration of participants to the 8th National Convention of the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) to be held at the CamSur Convention Center and CamSur Watersports Complex hosted by Gov. LRay Villafuerte and the Province of Camarines Sur. JMTS/JKCASTRO-MMEC

BICOL CRAFTS ON DISPLAY. Various Bicol handicrafts are on prominent display at the exhibit area allotted at the CamSur Convention Center as the 8th National Convention of the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) will be held on October 3-6, 2007 where DOT Sec. Joseph “Ace” Durano will be the guest speaker during the opening ceremonies and Mandaluyong City Mayor Benjamin D. C. Abalos, Jr. will give a keynote address in his capacity as president of the League of Cities of the Philippines. Gov. LRay Villafuerte and the provincial government of Camarines Sur is sponsoring the three-day affair as an opportunity to showcase the progressive strides taken by local government units (LGUs) in promoting tourism-related activities. JMTS/JKCASTRO-MMEC

CHAMPION. St. Joseph School Team composed of (R-L) Jan Garrick Hatol, Sarah Jaye Oliva, Stephanie Del Castillo, Mr. Leo Barrameda (coach) is the Regional Champion of the 1st National Biotechnology Quiz Contest held last September 29, 2007. The event was sponsored by the Philippine Society for Microbiology Inc.

Teenage Model Yna Miranda was chosen Miss Moraville The Garden in the recently concluded For Keeps Year IV, Kasalan, a Bridal Fair held at LCC Mall, Naga City in cooperation with E-Travel and Tours. Moraville the Garden of Pili, CSur under the stewardship of Mktg. Supervisor Margiae Aspe awarded first runner up in the bridal fair.

FLUVIAL PROCESSION. Devotees of Mahal na Ina and El Divino Rostro calmly end the procession along the stretch of Daet River, Daet, Camarines Norte, leading to the images’ home in Barangays Chapel after folks foretold of an omen from the destruction of the El Divino Rostro’s icon in the earlier-concluded Daet Traslacion. FRANCIS ELEVADO

MR. DENNIS V. DEL SOCORRO (seated third from left) is installed as the new Regional Director of BFAR-Bicol. Also in photo are outgoing Regional Director Jaime de la Vega, BFAR National Director Malcolm Sarmiento (seated first and second from left respectively) with BFAR Region 5 employees.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. Former Miss Universe Margie Moran-Floirenda and students from various universities in Manila and Bicol joined the Bicol Express Caravan to rebuild houses for typhoon victims in Albay. Rhaydz B. Barcia

RECYCLED. Naga City Metro Peso Manager Florencio ‘Jun’ Mongoso (right) and MRF operations officer Gerry Abainza (left) view the finished products during the livelihood and skills training on recycled plastic bottles salvaged from the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) at the Balatas dumpsite. The skills training was held Oct. 1-3, 2007 at the Bicol Science Centrum at the City Hall compound under the auspices of Naga Metro Peso and the City Environment Office headed by Oscar Orozco with Antonio Clavecillas of Bgy. Triangulo as training officer.