Once more, the wonders of technology have worked well for us. While before it was impossible to reach people via snail mail as quickly as possible, today writers can send interview questionnaires in a flick of a finger instead of conducting the usual face-to-face data gathering day.

This is what we did in our feature oftwo young ladies from Bacolod City who landed in the Top Three of the bar examinations, apparently a first-time-ever feat for Negrenses in recent Bar exam memory. One of the topnotchers is now in the United States, the other based is in Manila, yet we managed to reach them thanks to their relatives via the borderless e-mail technology.

Get a first-person view of the experiences of the two lady bar topnotchers—Jennifer Ong and Yvanna Maalat — in our centerspread feature.

For our Japanese friends, the week highlights their celebration of and with nature in their Golden Week, anational holiday. Thailand has also its special occasions which you can read about our op-ed calendar in addition to the war-related commemorations, particularly in Europe where they remember their martyrs and heroes.

Rep. Genaro Alvarez Jr. was bestowed the honorary Doctor of Humanities degree by the Negros State College of Agriculture last week. The Sixth District representative has infused a lot of his congressional funds for educational projects with NSCA as among the major beneficiaries. He is also in the process of seeking the elevation of the college into university status. StarLife is printing the congressman’s speech in accepting the degree from the university based in Kabankalan City.

We feature on our back page some of the photos in the Panaad Festival. The pictorial showcases the diversity of attractions in the 15th province-wideextravaganza, which ended yesterday. We trust that Negrenses and their visitors had another grand time at the Panaad Park during the week just past.

Happy summer!