Istambay sa Mindanao

Go to new Istambay sa Mindanao address

2007-04-17T10:40:00.000+08:00

at www.istambay.wordpress.com. Thank you!

New address of Istambay sa Mindanao

2007-02-27T17:33:00.000+08:00

Please visit the newIstambay sa Mindanao address @ www.istambay.wordpress.com. Thank you.

Mindanews photo by Froilan Gallardo

2007-01-28T22:34:00.000+08:00

Mindanews photo by Froilan Gallardo
Originally uploaded by Waltzib.

There were evacuations, again, in Midsayap town in North Cotabato as government forces clash with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.. But the two parties have met on January 28 to prevent more clashes. The fighting has stopped as of Saturday afternoon, but the situation is still tense in at least five barangays in the town even if both forces have disengaged before the Sunday meeting.

Thanks for dropping by.

2006-08-27T08:35:00.000+08:00

This blog has moved to www.istambay.wordpress.com. Salamat!

A patent office with support services for Mindanao!

2006-08-26T10:40:00.000+08:00

We need not just a patent office but one which aids inventors also in patent research and product develpment. That's the demand from MIFI or the Mindanao Inventors Federation Inc.
Engr. Samuel Abrenilla spoke with me for a MindaNews story why they were "disgruntled " with this lack of support from the government for the development of technologies. He said Filipino inventions are bought by foreigners, like American IT firms who have the capital to assume patent ownership.

In return, Filipino inventions were absorbed by foreign capitalists with the invenstors obscured in the sidelines. He said it doesn't contribute to the building of a Filipino morale as an inventor or innovator.

He said the government must change that framework that relies our surging need for technologies from foreigners. The Mindanawons and the rest of the Filipinos have a rich collection of these products stalled in household bodegas. The government is putting to waste, he said, the Filipinos technological advances.

Freeman

2006-08-25T21:07:00.000+08:00

Just moments after posting "Conscience List" in this blog, I received an unsolicited text message from a "friend" who frequents Istambay sa Mindanao. I was advised to take out that entry because it will "diminish" my aim for objectivity as a journalist. "That is so unprofessional and unbecoming". Then I was advised to have balance in this blog. Well thank you for your 2 cents worth!

I am happy that this shoestring endeavor pretending to be a blog has its few followers. Very few to be exact. Honestly, I average only 15-20 visitors a day (excluding my own visits). That's one reason I wonder high why my "friend" is worried. I'm sure it gets circulated, I know this is the internet.

Thank you for your concern. But this is a PERSONAL blog. Nobody tells me what to post or not to post here.

And you tell me to learn how to accept defeat. What defeat? Ah OK. The 173-32 vote. OK. I got you. I should understand why you think like that. You only think this is just the affair of the members of the House of Representatives. That's your call. Me? I would rather make the people decide after this.

Besides, even if my opinion is alligned with the opposition, whom many I also doubt, I don't really mind. I refuse to be boxed in partisan politics where people are stripped off their humanity and polarized as if life is just about administration-opposition.

My intentions go up higher than that. This is not just an exercise of political rights, but a matter of keeping humanity intact. This is not just becoming humane, but human. Basic!

I will speak up my mind. I will post more dissenting blogs. I will continue to advance the truth. I will continue to adhere to justice, fairness, transparency, and democracy.

That is where my aspiration to be a professional journalist is founded.

It doesn't matter if my mind speaks the language of the losers in the impeachment bid. I dont mind because in that sense losing means courage, quest for truth, justice, transparency, integrity, heroism, peace of mind, and a million other noble things of virtue.

Certainly, I don't want to speak the language of the victors, if it means allegiance to accused cheaters, obstructors of justice; mediocre, corrupt, flawed leadership--those who could not lead by example, those who do not give a chance for truth to pacify the mind of a free people.

I do not want to be among the victors if that means having no balls to stand by the principles that built this nation.

I will continue to be human even if I'm a journalist confronted with all the lures of the world to put personal interests over the public's.

I pray to God for guidance, provision and protection as I live humanity like a freeman. At least, I aspire to be.

Conscience list

2006-08-25T20:09:00.000+08:00

This long list is found in almost every website or blog that covered the House plenary vote from Aug. 24-25 on the impeachment of HER EXCELLENCY GLORIA ARROYO. (Capitalization, bold text, red font color to emphasize disgust. Missing middle name intended, because it sounds like the Filipino term for "thick" and I might be tempted to put it instead.)

But I will call this "conscience list". For the 173 who voted to junk the impeachment (in turn stood that Arroyo did not cheat, is honest, is a good president and model to the youth), I only have prayers. Beginning today, I will pray for their defeat in the next elections. I will pray that they could sleep peacefully at night. I will pray that they will not suffer the pain of being hit by the truth when it is time to reckon. But I will pray for their good health so that they have enough life to feel the consequences of their sacred vote.

I don't want to judge these people. But they are who they are and they have chosen that.

THE ARROYO CHEERING TEAM:

Affirmative votes:
1. Benjamin Abalos, Jr.
2. Bienvenido Abante Jr.
3. Harlin Abayon
4. Roque Ablan Jr.
5. Rodolfo Agbayani
6. Rodolfo Albano III
7. Proceso Alcala
8. Felix Alfelor, Jr.
9. Joel Mayo Almario
10. Antonio Alvarez
11. Genaro Rafael Alvarez III
12. Prospero Amatong
13. Hussin Amin
14. Rodolfo Antonino
15. Trinidad Apostol
16. Jesus Reynaldo Aquino
17. Munir Arbison
18. Ignacio Arroyo
19. Augusto Baculio
20. Alipio Badelles
21. Leovigildo Banaag
22. Roseller Barinaga
23. Salacnib Baterina
24. Claude Bautista
25. Luis Bersamin
26. Ferjenel Biron
27. Anna York Bondoc
28. Narciso Bravo Jr.
29. Danton Bueser
30. Elias Bulut
31. Belma Cabilao
32. Douglas Cagas
33. Roberto Cajes
34. Carmen Cari
35. Bobbit Carlos
36. Tranquilino Carmona
37. Nanette Castello-Daza
38. Fredenil Castro
39. Arthur Celeste
40. Antonio Cerilles
41. Edgar Chatto
42. Leonila Chavez
43. Erwin Chiongbian
44. Solomon Chungalao
45. Eufrocino Codilla Sr.
46. Mark Cojuangco
47. Guillermo Cua
48. Junie Cua
49. Antonio Cuenco
50. Rodriguez Dadivas
51. Samuel Dangwa
52. Simeon Datumanong
53. Del de Guzman
54. Jose de Venecia
55. Arthur Defensor
56. Matias Defensor
57. Raul del Mar
58. Antonio Diaz
59. Baisendig Dilangalen
60. Abdullah Dimaporo
61. Victor Dominguez
62. Mauricio Domogan
63. Jack Duavit
64. Faysah Dumarpa
65. Tomas Dumpit
66. Ramon Durano VI
67. Consuelo Dy
68. Faustino Dy
69. Glenda Ecleo
70. Eileen Ermita-Buhain
71. Gerardo Espina Jr.
72. Amado Espino Jr.
73. Edgar Espinosa
74. Emilio Espinosa
75. Conrado Estrella III
76. Peter Paul Jed Falcon
77. Catalino Figueroa
78. Eduardo Firmalo
79. Antonio Floirendo
80. Orlando Fua Jr.
81. Albert Garcia
82. Vincent Garcia
83. Janette Garin
84. Ernesto Gidaya
85. Raul Gonzalez Jr.
86. Oscar Gozos
87. Eduardo Gullas
88. Joey Hizon
89. Gregorio Ipong
90. Nur Jaafar
91. Eladio Jala
92. Cecilia Jaloslos-Carreon
93. Cesar Jalosjos
94. Exequiel Javier
95. Uliran Joaquin
96. Josefina Joson
97. Simeon Kintanar
98. Jose Carlos Lacson
99. Danilo Lagbas
100. Edcel Lagman
101. Marcelino Libanan
102. Teodoro Locsin
103. Jaime Lopez
104. Mikey Macapagal-Arroyo
105. Benasing Macarambon Jr.
106. Emilio Macias II
107. Sunny Rose Madamba
108. Amang Magsaysay
109. Ma. Milagros Magsaysay
110. Corazon Malanyaon
111. Suharto Mangudadatu
112. Alfredo Marañon Jr.
113. Rodante Marcoleta
114. Roger Mercado
115. Florencio Miraflores
116. Anthony Miranda
117. Abraham Kahlil Mitra
118. Rafael Nantes
119. Francis Nepomuceno
120. Reylina Nicolas
121. Ernesto Nieva
122. Prospero Nograles
123. Arrel Olaño
124. Ernesto Pablo
125. Pedro Pancho
126. Jacinto Paras
127. Remedios Petilla
128. Prospero Pichay
129. Arthur Pingoy Jr.
130. Monico Puentevella
131. Herminia Ramiro
132. Isidoro Real Jr.
133. Jesus Crispin Remulla
134. Victoria Reyes
135. Miles Roces
136. Isidro Rodriguez
137. Antonino Roman
138. Jesus Jurdin Romualdo
139. Eduardo Roquero
140. Gerry Salapuddin
141. Joey Salceda
142. Federico Sandoval
143. Rizalina Seachon-Lanete
144. Hans Christian Señeres
145. Lorna Silverio
146. Eric Singson
147. Jose Solis
148. Nerissa Corazon Soon-Ruiz
149. Danilo Suarez
150. Victor Sumulong
151. Mary Ann Susano
152. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado
153. Judy Syjuco
154. Emmylou Taliño-Santos
155. Gilbert Teodoro
156. Herminio Teves
157. Acmad Tomawis
158. Generoso Tulagan
159. Aurelio Umali
160. Renato Unico Jr.
161. Edwin Uy
162. Reynaldo Uy
163. Edgar Valdez
164. Florencio Vargas
165. Rene Velarde
166. Eduardo Veloso
167. Luis Villafuerte
168. Ma. Amelita Villarosa
169. Eleuterio Violago
170. Laurence Wacnang
171. Antonio Yapha
172. Eduardo Zialcita
173. Juan Miguel Zubiri (from Bukidnon)

I only have high respect for those who voted for Filipinos to see Arroyo in trial --once and for all to clarify, investigate, make transparent and end the confusion and distrust of people to government. I offer prayers for success, good life, bountiful blessings, good health for good life and above all a place in Heaven for you when God reckons us for our deeds here on earth. Congratulations!

Negative votes:
1. Henedina Abad
2. Nereus Acosta (from Bukidnon)
3. Benjamin Agarao
4. Mario Aguja
5. Juan Edgardo Angara
6. Darlene Antonino-Custodio
7. Agapito Aquino
8. Benigno Aquino III
9. Teddy Casiño
10. Alan Peter Cayetano
11. Justin Marc Chipeco
12. Francis Escudero
13. Roilo Golez
14. Teofisto Guingona III (also from Bukidnon)
15. Mujiv Hataman
16. Ana Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel
17. Ruy Elias Lopez
18. Renato Magtubo
19. Manuel Mamba
20. Imee Marcos
21. Rafael Mariano
22. Liza Maza
23. Florencio Noel
24. Saturnino Ocampo
25. Rodolfo Plaza
26. Gilbert Remulla
27. Etta Rosales
28. Rolex Suplico
29. Lorenzo Tañada III
30. Joel Villanueva
31. Joel Virador
32. Ronaldo Zamora

Abstention:
1. Joseph Santiago

Congress vote: How to obstruct justice

2006-08-24T19:37:00.000+08:00

The crooks, cowards and obstructors of justice masquerading as representatives of the people in the House voted 173-32 to finally junk impeachment complain versus the President.

I listened to some of those who explained their 'junk' votes and I realized that I have overestimated the 2% trust and confidence level I placed with the House. It is (except for some brave few) an unreliable institution in the Philippine society.

Do you really think people can move forward with this? No.

If you are not allowed to present evidence in court, where? Sense and sensebility is dead. I join the national day of mourning.

Journalists as peacebuilders ...

2006-08-22T23:09:00.000+08:00

workshop
Originally uploaded by waltzib.

..is one great task, but the role has to be played. There is too much violence, conflicts, wars and misunderstanding. Are we part of the solution or the problem?

I got messed with these reflections on August 10 when I was asked to speak on Peace Writing to at least 150 campus journalists. Carol asked me to give the talk in her place for she was on a mission to Manila.

It was hard to give the talk because of the short notice and the sensitive topic required ample preparation. Although I studied peace journalism as a journalist, I still feel insufficient. Peace Journ was the theme of the Second Mindanao Media Summit in 2004 and a short term course on media as peace builders before that. My experience with peace journalism is solely with MindaNews. We simply refer to it in the news service as "Reporting Mindanao" as it is not only about "peace writing" but a study of Mindanao's histories and other dynamics.

But it was harder to refuse giving the talk even with the haste. We all need to look closer at the need for peace in these trying times. And the best people to talk to about it are the youth of Mindanao who are its future leaders in government, business, military, media or wherever. If we start it right by letting the youth understand, then, perhaps the future of journalism and peace in Mindanao is bright.

So there goes --- a morning of workshop with Southeastern Mindanao's campus journalists. Thanks to MindaNews, the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCO), Acts for Peace, DepEd and the others behind the workshop.

Baywatch

2006-08-22T22:24:00.000+08:00

On August 21, on board the Coast Guard’s MV Nueva Vizcaya, Davao reporters were briefed about maritime safety in Mindanao and what they are doing about the oil slick in Guimaras Island in Western Visayas.

It’s a sad thing to hear that the Coast Guard is ill-equipped in responding to this environmental disaster. Read about my story here. The oil slick (or floating films of oil; when oil is exposed to water for a while it hardens”) has now reach the shores of two towns in nearby Iloilo province. This might spread to other areas. But this story also tells an encouraging gesture of hairdressers to help address the problem. Read about what they did here.

Surely, Petron and partners who own the sunken Solar 1 and its cargo lost money in this accident. But they have to pay for its effect to the environment, life and livelihood of people in the area.

There is a sign that the accident will become one reason for people to unite to help each other. This should result in greater caution in maritime transportation and more protection of the environment. Also, closer watch by the Philippine Coast Guard.

Suffocated

2006-08-21T00:31:00.000+08:00

I like to see people celebrating. I want to see celebration everyday, in appropriate magnitude. I love celebrations. God too wants people to celebrate. It is such a big gift. Humanity deserves humanity or even more than that.

Certainly it is a better sight than suffering. Also, much better than fighting in big or small wars – armed or verbal and yet all are pointless.

But I have no fancy for big festivals. It goes for Kadayawan or any big similar festival for that matter. I should say I like to see “unity of people” but not paraded in hordes in the streets for “pride’s sake”. C’mon!

One thing I do not like is probably parading itself. I’m sure parading has its merits. I’m sure it is not a universal tradition for nothing. I will not explain on that.

But for one, I hate to be in the midst of a big, strange crowd. I attempted to cover the “indak-indak” (street dancing), my first time. I got suffocated in the midst of people. It is like imprisonment for me, especially that I went there alone. (I should say I’m coping with a certain level of solitude and that didn’t work well with the multitude of people.) It is not the performers or their performance of course.

Yes I walked through the streets like its mine. My steps responded to the beating of the drums and sound of bugles, as if marching. When the contingent from, I think Kidapawan, invited the public to dance with them, I took the challenge. I’m not new to street dancing (and parties all out). I’ve done more when I was in Iloilo’s Dinagyang, Kalibo’s Ati-atihan, or Bukidnon’s Kaamulan.

Maybe I’m not just into fanciful things. I’m not into putting up shows just to make a statement. Although, it is such a positive statement to celebrate amid difficulties. But if it shows, you don’t have to show it, right? Oooops, that’s my opinion.

Earlier, I went out with friends from Lingkod for events in the Matina Town Square. I had fun, but I think it was because I was with friends. Even if it wasn’t Kadayawan, we would have enjoyed it still.

I would want happiness not just manifested in how loud the drumbeats are or how many people are out in the streets to “have fun”. I like tourism – people should not be strangers to their own place and culture. What I don’t like is to see it highly commercialized.

Someone castigated me for this “highlander” outlook. “That’s where we all are headed to!”, I was told. I disagreed but I did not argue. Unity could be manifested in celebrations like Kadayawan. Good that we can now have celebrations like Kadayawan these days.

But growing concerns hinder these celebrations from becoming appropriate and fitting. To name one of many is the growing number of people who died of summary killings right in this “civilized city”! I was shocked at news of death, especially when people do not know who kills and why the killings.

I hate counting how many people had been slaughtered in Davao's killing fields. But I think there is a need to! I usually frown at newspapers bannering violence, especially discovery of bodies in Davao's remoted places, but they better put it that way than choose to accept it as the norm. Even if Davao has become a killing field, death of any person via summary killing or any means is still news!

If celebrations should go despite that, OK. Life must go on. But the wheels of justice should be moving too! We should be updated about investigations on these deaths. Yes, I like to see celebrations, but if you see these deaths alongside, makes you asked what's the celebrations for?
I heard reports that those killed where criminals anyway. So an erring human being becomes a cheap piece of meat just because he is in conflict with the law?

How's that for a celebration?

Updates: What is up in Guimaras?

2006-08-19T01:32:00.000+08:00

kitoy01
Originally uploaded by waltzib.

Since it is far-far away from Mindanao, I almost did not feel the effects of the oil spill in Guimaras Island between Negros and Panay Islands. That is until a schoolmate from UP Miag-ao in Iloilo blogged about it yesterday.

I used to live in Iloilo as a student and as a very young worker. Most of the time during weekends, friends and I cross the Guimaras Straight to enjoy the beach and the sun in the island. The distance between Jordan or Buenvista towns in Guimaras and the wharf near Gomez St in downtown Iloilo City is just a little farther than that of Sasa Onse and Babak in Samal Island.

I really love the countryside, especially the shoreline. In fact I remembered a good friend of mine and I went biking along a stretch of road along the beach in Nueva Valencia town, Guimaras during sun down. I also went to Taclong Island marine reserve where UP runs a research center.

What will happen to beautiful Guimaras with the oil spill? What lessons could be learned by us in Mindanao from this experience? (Photo taken not in Guimaras; but in Mati, Davao Oriental courtesy of Keith Bacongco)

Updates: Davao journalists' solemn mass

2006-08-18T18:26:00.000+08:00

Davao’s journalists and other media practitioners heard a mass today, celebrated by Fr. Swamy Balashowry.

As I entered St. Paul’s church in Juna Subdivision, I suddenly felt so sad. It made me say a silent prayer I have never prayed so deeply.

“Gather your flock Oh Lord, equip, protect and bless them with your goodness,” I said. Those were not the exact words but my act of prayer was spontaneous.

There were only less than 15 people in that mass offered for all reporters who died of natural, accidental, and purposive causes. It was also for the protection of all living journalists, including the sick and dying.

It was a solemn mass, yes. Personally, I felt so powerless. Only very few sought to pray for this important concern and this sector. I thought, it seems that journalists were left so unprotected, in high-risk, vulnerable, and alone.

At the end of the mass, I decided to embrace God’s peace. After all, a journalist’s security is not just in guns, laws, lousy investigations of journalists killungs, a flawed justice system, and a violence-tolerant government.

I resolved that prayer is my weapon as a journalist. God’s protection is my real protection. Journalism is God’s work in the first place so I will rely on how He equips me to do His work.

Updates: Madayaw Davao! Happy Kadayawan 2006!

2006-08-17T16:03:00.000+08:00

Am I redundant in that title? Well, well, despite all the hassles of preparation - still welcome to Davao and to the festival of festivals! (I sound like as if I am a city tourism official! hehe)

Brace for posts on the celebration here. Let me share this blog by Yvette of Bisaya Bloggers for a start:

<<<>>

Best steak -- Claude's
Best hopia -- Davao Star Bakery
Best Fried Chicken -- Papa Ching's and Royale House
Best Durian -- The native kind
Best Place to buy durian -- Magsaysay Park, take your pick from the stalls
Best way to eat durian -- with the hands, then wash it down with cold cold water or icy coke
Best way to take away the smell of durian -- wash your hands in the shell
Best Pancit Canton -- Ah Fat (yes, the seafood noodles)
Best Bijon Tostado -- Dencia's
Best Hot and Sour Soup -- the recipe of my barkada Jona (Johnna). You should taste it.
Best buffet spread (breakfast lunch and dinner) -- Marco Polo
Best Japanese food -- Tsuru
Best Chocolate Cake -- Humberto's
Best place top get stuffed -- Penong's
Best inihaw na pusit -- Harana
Best cheese pizza -- Picobello's, too bad I am lactose intolerant!
Best Coffee -- TUMP, NCCC Mall, under the escalators, Try the coffee!!!
Best Pan de sal -- Davao Best, but you can get them only in the mornings.
Best kinilaw -- too many to mention.
Best paksiw na tuna -- Petron Bajada
Best place to view city -- Jack's Ridge
Best place to meditate -- The Shrine just across Jack's Ridge by the way!
Best Eight Treasure Soup -- Sea Urchin
Best cheesecake -- Marco Polo
Best pancit malabon -- Tita Mira's
Best place to drink -- buy a case, then go to one of the beaches
Best halo halo -- Aling Foping's at MTS
Best Sans Rival -- Lachi's Tokwa and Lugaw- Dencia's
Best Chinese empanada -- Rose Cua
Best Pancit Luglug -- Azon's at the Bangkerohan Market
Best mini-siopao -- Kuilan's
Best overstuffed siopao -- Mandarin Tea Garden and ask for the brown sauce.
Best Fresh Lumpia -- Cecil's
Best Grilled Pork Ribs -- Lachi's
Best crispy buntot ng tuna -- Suka't Sili
Best mangosteen jam -- Lorenzo's
Best Hungarian Sausage and other deli items -- Swiss Deli/Swiss Gourmet
Best Durian Candy -- Linda's
Best Cinnamon Rolls -- Annipie Bakeshop
Best Local Burger -- Space Burger
Best Durian Cheesecake -- Bo's Coffee shop
Best Shrimp Dumplings -- Mandarin Tea Garden
Best Garlic Tuyo -- Tiny Kitchen
Best Salad -- Eden Nature Park
Best place to hang out -- that really depends kung ano ang trip mo.
Best Dimsum -- Marco Polo
Best Blog --this one! (hahaha)

Have fun everyone!

Talk about saving face in the international community ...

2006-08-16T19:27:00.000+08:00

gma
Originally uploaded by waltzib.

...about the Nursing Board Examinations leakage?

Our nurses are considered among the most sought after in the world, so what does the leakage make of this reputation?

So cheating is here, there, and everywhere in the country? And do you suppose to rectify it just by asking the nursing board passers to retake? I don't think it is as easy as ABC.

Talk about cheating ..and you'll never miss it ...that our country's Head of State and Head of Government is accused of cheating her way to victory! I couldn't help but connect that to the nursing board leakage ---maybe the PRC people involved or whoever was really involved just took the pitch from Her Excellency, the Queen of Malacanang?

Argue yourself out with my question (that's a question your honor!), but c'mon help get the impeachment trial on the roll well, not because you are on the side of the opposition, but because you want an end to this once and for all, don't you?

I aspire to be objective as a journalist, so I shouldn't be leaning on any wall. I dont do that in writing this blog. Precisely that same quest for objectivity and truth has driven me to bat for an impeachment trial so evidence could be weighed once and for all to liberate us from this darkness!

My only fear is, and mirroring one of the CBCP's primary premises, that the opposition (as they call themselves so) could use it to sow confusion and turn the process into a mockery of justice that could result in mass disorder, if not civil violence or war!

I'll just pray in my little corner that the forces of nature and God's power will reign all over, including in my restive, curious mind.

Updates: Grrrrrr ...

2006-08-16T09:34:00.000+08:00

It is always a long (5 hours) and stressful trip from Malaybalay to Davao. Traveling the route today was no different. But there was a twist: when we passed by Marilog district right at the Task Force Davao checkpoint, the bus was stopped and all male passengers were asked to step down.

Apparently, the bus was left almost empty for there were only seven female passengers in that trip, including two cuddling infants. I just did not like the act o f going down the bus just because I’m male (and the usual suspects in terrorist acts? C’mon!) Then we were made to fall in line to go back to our seats as an officer inspected our pockets and bags.

Yeah I know, the days of the Kadayawan festival is here and we need to secure the safety of the public and to show to the world that Davao is safe. Ok ok ok.

But woe to the country’s most gender sensitive city! C’mon! What if the terrorist in the bus is a woman? So that act (of making passengers disembark) all in all falls immaterial and could be seen as totally just a mockery of public safety measures! That did not make the city a safer place to visit! Are they afraid to enrage women’s groups with the inspection? Nope, don't get me wrong, I don't want them to inspect the women either! But my point is, it surely was the most blatant manifestation of insecurity! Don't ask me to give my alternative, that's the job of the national security adviser!

Updates: Alarming

2006-08-14T01:28:00.000+08:00

No, I did not mean the blog "Disastrous" I posted yesterday (which I thought I could update but I havent.) I actually meant the bomb that reportedly exploded in Valencia City on Friday. My story was written from Davao and updated with interviews in Bukidnon. It was alarming because, Bukidnon, being a big WWII battlefield or at least hideout, could have more of those vintage bombs. I wish the police and local governments could be more proactive on this matter, esp. that two people died and six others were injured.

At least there are good news on the other hand. The Ombudsman already launched its whistleblowing primer, promising to help curb or fight corruption in Mindanao and the rest of the country via citizen participation. I just hope it could convince people to "sing" against corrupt public officials. The rate of reported cases of corrupt officials is also another alarming angle. Wew.

Updates: Disastrous

2006-08-12T13:58:00.000+08:00

The first text message of the day on Aug. 11 was from writer Don Pagusara forwarded by MindaNews editor Carol Arguillas. "The waves have eaten up most of the houses in Bago Aplaya. If you know media people, please send to cover it," that was the gist. In less than an hour, Skippy Lumawag, our photographer and I were there up and about. The turbulent waves have receeded . But people were still terrified. Many of them busy putting down their houses to save wood for a possible relocation. Still many just stood there gaping. But the community is organized: the men helping do the heavy stuff, while some women started cooking for the hungry. The bayanihan spirit is alive, said Brgy. chair Danilo Andoy.

I was told it happened in at least 17 coastal barangays in Davao City. So I went to the Davao City Disaster Coordinating Council in Almendras Gym to appraise the real situation for my story. The people there were accomodating. But I got more updated data on the affected families in Bago Aplaya. Mine (from the Barangay Disaster Coordinating Council): 55 families; theirs: less than 20.

(To be updated)

Updates: Talking peace

2006-08-11T22:39:00.000+08:00

August 10 was a day to remember. I have had good reflections that day as I gave a peace writing workshop on behalf of MindaNews.

It was organized by the Mindanao Economic Development Council (Medco) with the Department of Education and Act for Peace for around 158 public high school students from around Southeastern Mindanao. The participants were all members of school publications.

MindaNews has been known for its "bias" for peace, which is also the bias of any responsible and any sane, right-minded individual or organization in Mindanao. So, an exposure to a crowd that looks up to peace advocates should not surprise me. But I was amazed at how the youth today are given opportunities to really voice out their thoughts of the future that is, after all, theirs.

The participants of last summer's youth peace camp were there to testimony for their own experiences on youth peace-building. The speakers from the tri-people communities of Mindanao were inspiring. Above all, the participants were also inspiring.

I saw in them the future leaders of Mindanao. They listened with interest, assuming so from what I have seen from their eyes. And I'm sure they all can become peace-builders. My report on the workshop could give you more details.

Updates: Goin' loco over coco

2006-08-10T21:49:00.000+08:00

It was a revealing press conference on Wednesday at the Ugnayan sa Mandaya Hotel. At one point, you'll see many amazing coconut products put in front of you that make you think why people are still poor in coconut-growing communities? Is it because of lack of education on entreprenuerial skills? Are farmers left in the rural areas to make do with their eternal conditions as poor and "just" producers of raw materials?

The other image that emerged after talking to the Philippine Coconut Authority's officials in the Davao region is that farmers are actually leaving the coconut industry to cultivate other high-yielding crops! Read my report here for more details.

Updates: Legislating an environmental 'litmus paper'

2006-08-09T23:06:00.000+08:00

It was a busy session day, it was a boring session day.

But there were more people on Aug. 8, than it has been in the session hall of Davao's city council. It was the day Councilor Leo Avila presented his committee's report on the proposed ordinance banning aerial spraying in all agricultural plantations in Davao City.

The city councilors appeared in their any-session day garb --all looked in their best. I walked in opposite direction with three elderly councilors in their "best suit"and I though I was not properly dressed in my "around Mindanao" get up.

But the gallery was a study in contrast. Around 100 farmers and villagers were seated in the audience. Wearing a pair of shorts and slippers, Manong Tado, from Sirib in Calinan glued his look to the people in the hall. At one point, his underarm smell escaped. Then in another, he dozed off in the air-conditioned room, with mouth open.

At the end of the day, Manong Tado walked out with other pro-ban people after the councilors decided to defer decision on the matter.

Read my report.

Updates: Davao goes global?

2006-08-08T23:44:00.000+08:00

Of course, this is nothing new. That Davao can compete is beyond question. It is just a matter of getting what Malcolm Gladwell calls the "Tipping Point". The thing is, we are not yet in that point and there are still a lot of things to do and get all done. I hope organizers of the 2006 Davao Trade Expo (DATE) hit their targets for both direct and book sales.

[NEWS] DOH eyes ban on formula milk ads by 2007

2006-08-07T21:38:00.000+08:00

(Crossing my fingers on this!)

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/07 August) -- Breastfeeding is still the best.

The government will start banning promotions and advertisements of formula milk by January 2007, according to the revised implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Milk Code, Vicenta Borja, coordinator of DOH's National Infant and Young Child feeding Center, said.

But the Pharmaceutical and Health Care Association of the Philippines (PHCAP), which opposed the ban, asked the Supreme Court on July 13 to nullify the revised IRR, claiming it endangers the lives of infants by inadvertently misinforming mothers on their children's health. The Supreme Court issued a restraining order and asked the Department of Health to comment on the petition filed by PHCAP.

The banning of advertisements and promotions is intended to advance breastfeeding as an
economical and nutritional means for infant and child health, Borja, told reporters after the launching of a local mall's breastfeeding stations Monday. Borja said the move is directed to revert a decreasing trend in breastfeeding in the Philippines.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Childrens’ Fund, (Unicef) recommend at least six months of exclusive breastfeeding for optimal infant growth, development, and health. This means that the infant is fed breast milk alone.

According to the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), the average duration of exclusive breastfeeding in the Philippines went down from 1.4 months in 1998 to 24 days in 2003.

The NDHS said only 1.4% of babies 6 to 7 months old in 2003 were exclusively breastfed.

The UNICEF estimates that in the Philippines, the minimum monthly cost of feeding an infant using formula milk is P2,000 while mother's breast milk costs nothing.

An infant fed with formula milk, UNICEF added, is 25 times more likely to die of diarrhea than a breastfed infant.

In the Philippines, the WHO estimated around P430 million spent yearly on hospitalization, health consultations and medicines for illnesses due to formula-feeding.

The revised guidelines are intended to remove hindrances to promote breastfeeding, Borja said, citing that infant formula milk ads have provided mothers with an option to breast milk.

But formula milk is a very costly substitute to breast milk, she said. Filipinos spend around P21.5 billion per year on formula milk. Promotions and advertisement expenses account for around half the price of milk.

The National Code for the Marketing of breast milk substitutes, breast milk supplements and other related products (Executive Order 51 of 1986 signed by President Corazon Aquino) or the Milk Code, safeguards breasfeeding, Borja said.

The Code bans the use of any picture or text in information and educational materials, which may idealize the use of breast milk substitutes; prohibits giving away samples and supplies to public hospitals and health institutions and personnel of health care institutions; prohibits the point-of-sale advertising, giving of samples or any promotion devices to induce sales directly to consumers at retail level and the use of health care system to promote breast milk substitutes.

The Code also mandates health workers to encourage and promote breastfeeding.
But records from the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) showed that milk companies violate the Code. From July 2001 to December 2004, a total of 63 violations were recorded, with 27 cases on distribution of print ads without approval by an inter-agency committee.

Last year, Dr. Nicholas Alipui, the UNICEF's representative in the Philippines asked the Philippine government to fast track the amendment of the Milk Code, to tighten its provisions. He sought for the covering not only of infant formula but all milk products for infants and young children up to the age of two or three. Also, he sought to ban the advertisement and promotion of milk products for the “0 to 2 or 3 years old children.”

He also sought to ban ties between public health and nutrition sectors at all levels, and the milk manufacturers and distributors covered by the Code, among other mechanisms.

The DOH issued a revised IIR on May 16, banning advertisements, among others.

The PHCAP in its petition to the Supreme Court, argued that the DOH went overboard in its issuance of the IRR by prohibiting the free flow of information regarding the nutritional content of infant formula vis-à-vis breast milk and the other traditional milk substitutes. They said this will only result in preventing much needed knowledge on proper infant feeding.

The petitioners contested the DOH regulation for its "flawed premise" that "breastfeeding substitutes are hazardous to health and that breastfeeding is the exclusive means to nourish infants." They said the impetus of the code was to regulate the proper use of breast milk substitutes in certain cases where breastfeeding is not appropriate or possible. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)

[NEWS] Islamic values, Arabic now taught in public schools in Mindanao

2006-08-06T08:38:00.000+08:00

(I see a lot of avenues for dialogue in this development. I got the news hint first from the press conferen ce organized by BEAM last week. I went to DepEd for more clarifications. This reminded me so much of Dali, a Maranao and Abdul Jasser, a Tausug classmate in elementary who went to a madrasah in Malaybalay. Dali was having great difficulty in English but was good in Math. Abdul was the Huck Finn type, who goes in and out of the class room and is culprit of many pranks reserved by the girls in the classroom. Dali, reserved and more composed, was a seatmate and was a good friend. Both were friends of mine back then because we lived in the same area near the public market.

After 1990 I did not see him or Abdul anymore. I went to a state college high school in Malaybalay where I could not remember any Muslim student was enrolled. But I met Dali again in 2003, thirteen years later; he tended a shop in Valencia City selling ready to wear goods as well as a SIM-card outlet. His wife told me they owned the shop. But there was Dali, still reserved although I could see in his face the sincerity and enthusiasm of meeting once again a friend way back then.

His retail business did not surprise me. I know he was like that long before and I’m sure as a Maranao, he would live up to his business acumen. Dali told me later he did not finish high school. He said he regretted it but there was nothing he could do now to turn back time. Abdul Jasser has since returned to Marawi, Dali said, and never heard of him since 1992. Abdul did not finish elementary education.

I looked back to those two friends when I was younger in writing this story. Along the way, I realized that it wasn’t easy to be a Muslim student who has to go to two schools, a madrasah and a public school.

Right now I still look back to wonderful childhood days in the public market, where in the 1990s there was still a very high wall that divides the majority settler populace from the minority of Maranao’s and Tausugs.

When I vacationed in Malaybalay in 1996 (I went to university in Iloilo) , I saw a better looking mosque in the public market very near stores owned by Christian traders. In the mosque’s minaret I am always reminded of my young Moro friends. I hope with the teaching of ALIVE, more bridges of dialogue are built.)

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/3 Aug) -- Islamic values and Arabic language
Education are now in the mainstream of Philippine education.

The two subjects are now taught in public schools that each have at
least 30 Muslim enrollees around Mindanao and in some parts of the country as
mandated by the Department of Education’s Order No. 51.

According to the Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao (BEAM), which
partnered with DepEd in three Mindanao regions to implement a Muslim
education roadmap, there is a plan to institutionalize madrasah education,
contextualize aspects of DepEd's Revised Basic Education Curriculum (RBEC), provide
alternative learning system for Muslim out-of-school youth, to create a
special fund for the madaris (Islamic schools, plural for madrasah),
among others.

Islamic values and Arabic, taught only in the madaris before, is now
offered as the Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education (or ALIVE
curriculum) in public schools, said Noor Saada, BEAM Muslim education coordinator.

Classes started in school year 2005-2006 in pilot schools in select
areas, according to Wallina Tambuang Motiva, DepEd Muslim education and
madaris coordinator in Southeastern Mindanao.

BEAM announced that ALIVE is now taught in at least 1,010 classes in
Southeastern Mindanao, Southwestern Mindanao and the Autonomous Region
in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Saada could not provide figures for other parts of Mindanao and the
Philippines, but said the classes are now held nationwide in public
schools that have at least 30 Muslim pupils.

ALIVE, part of an integration of the Islamic values and Arabic language
in the basic education curriculum for Muslim students studying in public
schools in the country, is among the key actions provided in DepEd's Muslim
education roadmap.

DepEd Order No. 51 series of 2004 provided for a "Standard or unified
Madrasah Curriculum" for private madaris seeking government recognition. It also
provided for the ALIVE curriculum in public schools, which was
developed by a group of Ulama representing Muslim communities, Saada said.

In the ALIVE curriculum, Saada said, Muslim students in public schools
still take RBEC subjects such as English, Math, Science, Filipino, and
Makabayan. In addition, he said, they will also take four Islamic studies subjects:
the Qur'an; Seerah (Life story of the Prophet) and Hadith (Sayings of the
Prophet); Aqueeda (Conduct) and Fiqh (Jurisprudence) and Arabic.

Saada clarified that the extent of the subjects covered varies from one
grade level to another. He said Islamic studies focus on values education for
the Muslim children. Non-Muslim students could take the ALIVE curriculum as
an elective, but only with their parents' consent.

This development will reportedly help Muslim children studying in
public schools because they do not have to go to school seven days a week. He
said at present, Muslim students attend Monday to Friday classes in public
schools and Saturday to Sunday classes in madaris.

An ustadz (or a Muslim mentor), who shall become a regular teacher of
the public schools, will handle the Islamic and Arabic subjects.

Around 1,000 asatidz (plural of ustadz), Saada said, are expected to
finish the accelerated teacher education program in six Mindanao universities
in 2008 so DepEd could hire them as regular teachers.
The non-Muslim teachers will handle the RBEC subjects but asatidz could
also be tapped. The asatidz attended a 23-day Language Enhancement Program
before teaching. The program serves as their orientation to the Philippine
educational system.

Muslim education in public schools has gained headway in Southeastern
Mindanao, Motiva said. From 36 public schools that offered ALIVE in
2005, the number has now almost doubled at 70. She said with 210 asatidz, they
have an enrolment of approximately 15,000 in Davao City, Davao Oriental, Davao
del Norte, Tagum City, Compostela Valley, Panabo City, Samal Island, Digos
City, and Davao del Sur.

Saada said the integration of the subjects in the RBEC curriculum
promises to help build "bridges of dialogue" between Muslims and non-Muslim
students.

But among the big concerns facing the teaching of Islamic and Arabic in
public schools is budget for salaries of the asatidz. Saada said local
government school boards shoulder salary expenses.

"Not much in big local government units, but the problem is in smaller
LGUs that do not have funds for an ustadz. Hopefully, DepEd could release
funds for salaries starting school year 2007-2006," Motiva said

Government recognition of private madrasah is also another strategy to
increase the access of Muslim students to education in Mindanao, Saada
said.

He said work is ongoing for the standardization of a madrasah
curriculum and in processing recognition of private madaris that could operate like
the private schools in the country. Together with this, Saada said, are the
contextualization and indigenization of instructional materials.

The roadmap, Saada said, is based on the Philippines Medium Term
Development Plan, the 1996 GRP-Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) peace
agreement, Republic Act 9054 or the Expanded ARMM Organic Act, and the salient
advocacies of the GRP -- Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace process.
(Walter I. Balane / MindaNews)

[NEWS] Mindanao super region needs P215 billion

2006-08-04T21:53:00.000+08:00

(The projects proposed here are impressive in quantity. But it is obvious that the planners could not announce which of these projects are already backed with funds.)

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 4 August) - Mindanao's six regional
development councils has come up with around P215 billion worth of
projects for Mindanao, according to a presentation Friday by Misamis
Occidental Gov. Loreto Leo Ocampo to governors, city and municipal
mayors on the 'Mindanao super region'.

The P214.690 billion worth of projects will become the government's
investment program for Mindanao from 2007-2010, Ocampo told MindaNews.

Ocampo, who chairs the council of the heads of Mindanao's six regional
development councils (RDCs), told reporters in a press conference here
that the budget is drawn from a "wish list" of projects from
Mindanao's local government units coordinated by their respective
regional development councils.

Ocampo spoke at the reorganization meeting of the Confederation of
Provincial Governors, City Mayors, and Municipal Mayors League
Presidents of Mindanao (CONFED) on Friday at the Grand Regal Hotel
here.

Secretary Jesus Dureza, the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
and who announced he was picked by President Arroyo as the "point man"
for the Mindanao super region, said the list of projects is the road
map of the super region. Dureza said the super region concept is not
new to Mindanao and that they have already "jumpstarted" the
consolidation.

In the list, Dureza said, the government has funded the bigger
counterpart of the project. Ocampos clarified that "the government
already has funds for some portions of the public investment plan"
while the rest will be sourced through time and the rest from other
schemes like build-operate-transfer (BOT).

Ocampo said some funds would be drawn from proceeds of the value added
tax collections, savings from the re-enacted budget, grants and
donations, loans, and counterparts from the local government units and
government-owned corporations.

There was no estimate however, as to how much tax collections and
savings would contribute to form the fund. There was also no mention
on how to realize big-funding schemes like the BOT in the middle of
the government difficulty to sell its major assets.

Around 42.27% of the investment requirement or P90.74 billion is
earmarked for "realizing Mindanao's agribusiness and acquaculture, and
mariculture potentials". Around 36.24% or P77.8 billion is eyed for
projects to attract more investors.

About 11.1%, or P23.8 billion, of the investment requirement goes to
projects to establish an efficient food logistics and system linking
Mindanao to Manila. Proposed projects for the Autonomous Region in
Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) also account for P12 billion.
Only 3.9%, or P8.2 billion, of the proposed projects are directed at
improving education and other social development conditions.

Around P2 billion projects are proposed for capability, peace building
and in information and communications technology. A total of P234
million projects are proposed on projects to pursue responsible
mining.

Of the P90.74 billion proposed projects for realizing Mindanao's
agribusiness, acquaculture, and mariculture potentials, 68.12% or
P61.8 billion is for road network improvement. Around P17 billion for
irrigation development, P7.7 billion for agrarian reform projects, P3
billion for environment protection, P612 million for agri- processing
and business center, P401 million for fishery development, and P119
million for agriculture development.

Of the P23.8 billion proposed projects for establishing efficient food
logistics system linking Mindanao to Manila, P20.7 billion is for
support infrastructure and utilities while P3.104 billion are for food
processing and consolidation.

The plan also presented around P43 billion worth of projects for
power projects mostly generation and transmission. Around P25.3
billion are for support infrastructure network while around P9.4
billion worth of projects are proposed for tourism development.

The investment plan also singled out a total of P12 billion projects
for the ARMM "catch-up plan" to realize the ARMM's agribusiness and
aquaculture potentials ( P3.17 billion), improving accessibility to
production (P5 billion), enticing investments in ARMM Area (
P1.45 billion), improvement of ports and airports (P1.24 billion),
Uplifting Social Concerns (P1.21 billion) and other peace and
development (P30 million).

Around P1.95 billion worth of projects are proposed "to build strong
partnerships" in Mindanao such as resolving boundary conflict for
peace and development in Mindanao, among others. Around P8.3 billion
are proposed to uplift social development conditions such as
education, with P1.19 billion worth of proposed projects, flood
control to protect life and property ( P4.53 billion), expanded
medical and health care, ( P2.29 billion), child and maternal care
(P126 million ), and other welfare projects (P75 million).

For projects to be selected as priority subjects in the Mindanao super
region, Ocampo said, it has to be within the framework of the Arroyo
administration's 10-point agenda and must be recommended by the
regional development councils.

Dureza said Mindanao has an advantage as a super region because of the
set up of coordination facilitated by the Mindanao Economic
Development Council (MEDCo), unlike other regions that has no
experience in consolidating regional plans.

"It is just a matter of getting the agencies to go together," he said.
(Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)

[NEWS] Davao City firmer on sale of high powered guns

2006-08-03T21:35:00.000+08:00

Waltzib photo
Originally uploaded by waltzib.

(I don't really like talking about guns because of a childhood trauma. But writing this story took me to a brief detour. I counted myself out from those who believe that peace can be achieved "through the barrel of the gun." I beg to disagree with that concept of peace. That's too narrow or "kitid". I am a peace advocate - but definitely, not one for arming journalists or anyone except those whose job is to sport that lethal machine. This time though, I took a breather and tried to discover the other side of the coin. I work as a journalist, and part of the job is to do my homework about rifles and pistols just so I could make sense of this executive order. I went around three (3) gun dealers in the city to see what is more or less powerful than a .22 caliber gun. Also, I discovered that these machines are named after the size of the bullet they use, not the size of the pistol or rifle. I made a lot of discoveries. Also, I went to a gunsmith to search for more experiences. I talked to three prospect gun buyers about the reasons why they buy guns just to make a feel of their mind.

And I tried all the demo pistols in one of the gun stores! I mean i did something like that in the photo facing the mirror to see if I could style myself as a shooter. That's when I regained my sanity. I did not feel good seeing the image in the mirror. Although, my narcisstic tendency entertained the thought that the gun looked cool in my hands. The firearms dealer also told me I had a good grip so I could qualify to hold one (tell it to the marines Mr. Salesman!) I was supposed to see the truth about guns, including what blessess and ails them. Then I realized: that damn machine stinks! I returned it, washed my hands in the lavatory, and resumed taking down notes.

As what Walon Green said: "We got to start thinking beyond our guns. These days are closing fast". . )

THE ARTICLE
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/3 Aug) -- Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte
ordered stricter rules on buying and selling high-powered guns to
"reasonably limit" ownership and bring within "acceptable level" the
number of gun holders in the city.

Duterte issued Executive Order No. 12 directing the Davao City Police
Office to regulate by mandating the issuance of police clearance first
before any sale or purchase of rifle higher than .22 caliber,
including accessories, and ammunition within the city.

"It is observed that there is a continuing and unabated increase in
the indiscriminate buying and selling of rifles higher than .22
caliber …beyond the limits of law, resulting to widespread and
uncontrolled proliferation thereof within the city thereby
compromising local public safety and order to the prejudice of the
approved peace and order plan of the city government," Duterte said in
EO 12 he signed on Aug. 1. The order stated that effectivity is "upon
signing."

Duterte ordered the police to issue the clearance, required in buying
any gun, to ascertain strictly the identity and monitor the activity
of all persons or groups who deal, acquire and dispose high powered
rifles. Also, the order stated, the clearance should ensure the
legality or validity of the purpose for which the rifle and
accessories, shotgun, or ammunition and cartridges.

He also ordered the police to deny the issuance of the clearance to
any person or group on account of "dubious identity, qualification, or
purpose."

Owners of local gun stores and dealers were also asked to refuse the
sale of any rifle, accessories, ammunition specified in the order to
any person or group who could not present the police clearance.

Duterte also asked them to submit to the DCPO a sworn monthly sales
report, including pending orders, identity of the purchaser, the
quality and quantity of the items bought, the date and purpose of
purchase. The mayor asked the gun dealers to submit a monthly report
of inventory of stocks to the police.

Gunsmiths and shops, shooting ranges and other establishments were
also asked to submit a report on repairs, modifications, installation
of accessories, and reloading services of the specified high-powered
guns.

Gun dealers and gunsmiths interviewed by MindaNews received a copy of
the executive order Thursday. They said an earlier order already
regulated the sales of ammunitions to 50 rounds. Davao City Police
Superintendent Catalino Cuy called a meeting with the dealers on
August 8.

The police clearance requirement is a standard in buying any gun, a
local gun dealer who used to worked with the Philippine National
Police's Firearms and Explosives Division told MindaNews.

"Maybe this order refers to the cases that elude police scrutiny
because of connections," he said.

A security guard who asked not to be named said the order could
discourage citizens from buying guns for dubious purposes. "Even those
who want to buy a gun for protection might be discouraged," he said.
The order did not specify pistols higher than .22 calibers.

The order, however, is not a ban on the high powered rifles, Cuy told
MindaNews Thursday. "This is only to monitor and regulate the sales
and distribution in the city," he said.

Duterte cited Section 16, the general welfare clause of the Local
Government Code -- which "authorizes every local government unit to
enact measures that will enhance the public health, safety,
convenience, maintain of peace and order, and promote the general
prosperity of its inhabitants" -- as basis for his order. (Walter I.
Balane / MindaNews)

[NEWS] 20 public schools pilot lumad curriculum in S. Mindanao

2006-08-03T08:06:00.000+08:00

(Indigenization of a curriculum is at least a bright prospect in the Philippine educational system. What I was not able to ask is how they will indigenize in a culturally diverse setting like the Philippines, in a regionalized system? The Madrasah education in Mindanao is moving in the same way to standardization and government recognition. Although, long delayed kudos to the Department of Education (DepEd) and all programs supporting it.)

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/2 Aug) -- Sixteen elementary schools and four
high schools in Southeastern Mindanao are piloting a first of a kind
curriculum specially developed for indigenous peoples, said Norma
Gonos, executive director of the Institute for Indigenous Peoples
Education (IIPE).

The curriculum, based on the Department of Education's basic
elementary and high school curricula, is offered in areas where at
least 70 percent of the student population are from Mindanao 's
indigenous peoples.

IIPE coordinated with the DepEd in developing and implementing the
indigenized curriculum to provide culturally relevant content and
strategies, Gonos told MindaNews Wednesday.

"This will liberate the students in indigenous communities from
cultural discrimination brought about by the largely Western
educational system and help maximize their participation in society,"
she said

Gonos said the piloting is on its second phase this year covering
Grades 2-4 and second year high school classes. The initial stage
started in school year 2005-2006. They planned to finish piloting for
the rest of the grade and year levels in school year 2007-2008.

Gonos said they went through stages in revising DepEd's Basic
Education Curriculum (BEC) to come up with an IP curriculum, which
shall be taught by either IP or non-IP teachers.

They held workshops with community and tribal leaders together with
teachers. From the workshops they drew out core values as basis for
the content of the curriculum. They also drew out mentors' training
needs to teach using the curriculum.

They then held IP curriculum "writeshops" to identify general and
specific lessons from both BEC's core competencies and that of the IP
core values.

Teachers and indigenous peoples' representatives then developed a
final curriculum that would be presented to the IP community for free
and prior informed consent, then to DepEd for endorsement and
implementation.

After the piloting stage, Gonos said, they are working with DepEd in
the proposed implementation of the IP curricula in all communities
where indigenous people are the majority.

"But this IP curricula could also be used in non-IP communities
because it promotes understanding between the lumads and the other
members of the community," Gonos said.

"There is nothing here that non-IP students shouldn't know; these are
the same with the regular curriculum only that it promises to
mainstream the IP children into formal education while preserving
their indigenous culture," she added.

Gonos said the curriculum just localized the general education
curricula with the use of culturally sensitive teaching aids,
illustrations, examples and context.

The predominant groups in the pilot schools are from the Mandaya, Ata
Manobo, Matigsalog, Tagakaolo, Manguangan, Bagobo, Mansaka, Isama, and
B'laan communities. The schools are from 13 towns or districts in
Compostela Valley, Davao City, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao
del Sur, Digos City and the Island Garden City of Samal.

Gonos said they also launched three IP learning centers in the
premises of the pilot schools in Atan-Owe Elementary School in Davao
City highlighting Bagobo customs and traditions; Caraga National High
School in Davao Oriental featuring the Mandaya tribe; and Tibi-Tibi
Elementary School in Davao del Norte highlighting the Ata-Manobo.

Before they started the curriculum indigenization program, Gonos said
they toured tribal learning centers around the country.

She cited some private schools being run by religious groups in the IP
communities that use IP curricula, but they do not use DepEd's public
education curriculum.

Gonos said they are holding the Kasamongan Festival on Aug. 17 to
gather different IP tribes for a medley of arts and cuisine. There
will be lumad rituals, craft exhibits, literary and cultural
presentations. Students from the pilot areas of the IP curriculum will
present indigenous poetry, short stories, dances, songs and chants
during the festival.

Gonos said the primary goal of the festival is to showcase the IP's
knowledge systems as it is passed in pilot schools. She said they
scheduled it during Davao's Kadayawan Festival so merrymakers could
also see the children's showcase of lumad culture.

IIPE is a project of a consortium of the DepEd in Southeastern
Mindanao, Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao (BEAM), the National
Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and other government and
non-government organizations working on education in Mindanao.

Strengthening indigenous peoples' education is among the government's
goals based on the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan from
2004-2010.

Aside from the IP curriculum, DepEd and the NCIP and other related
institutions also planned to include IP materials and documents in
public libraries to permit information sharing and exchange between
cultures and to accommodate IP students in all programs for children
and students such as health and nutrition, arts and school sports and
their teachers in in-service training programs. (Walter I.
Balane/MindaNews)

[NEWS] Talaandigs send two students to law school

2006-08-02T07:33:00.000+08:00

(This is an alternative and pro-active move for the IP community to do. Most of the lawyers in Bukidnon really are not familiar with IP customary laws and practices.Also, they are not particular of the issues and concerns of the IPs especially in engaging with implications of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997 and other laws that closely deal with their territories like the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act. NIPAS goes head on with IPRA, especially on ancestral domains claims because most of these areas are covered by NIPAS under the DENR facilitation of the multi-sectoral Protected Area Management Board (PAMP).

DAVAO CITY (Courtesy of MindaNews/31 July) -- Soon, they can fight for their
ancestral domain with lawyers from their own tribe.

The Talaandig tribe in Lantapan, Bukidnon has sent two of its sons to
Law school at Xavier University in neighboring Cagayan de Oro City. They are the first Talaandig law students.

Datu Migketay Saway, Talaandig chieftain said Sagyawan Tumimanwa, 21
and Mutikas Lleses, 20 started their study of law this semester.

Sagyawan told MindaNews in a telephone interview said they need to
study law because many lawyers turn down their tribe's request for counsel on matters like ancestral domain issues. Most of the lawyers, he said, are not familiar with the indigenous peoples' customary laws and their issues.

Both students finished Sociology at the Bukidnon State College in
Malaybalay City.

Sending the two young men to law school is an investment for the
future, Saway said, adding the tribe's struggle for recognition, self-determination and management of natural resources as well as that of the rest of indigenous peoples in Mindanao, still has a long way to go.

Saway said the tribe had difficulties attending to requirements imposed
by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in processing their ancestral domain claim due to technical and financial constraints.

Saway said indigenous peoples have to invest in educating the youth
both in formal and indigenous means to help empower them.

Saway also cited the need to engage the tribe's "young blood" to
re-learn their history. Saway said much of the problems of Lumads in Mindanao are rooted in forgetting its history and culture.

"The solutions could be just in the indigenous community's backyard
with its own customary practices and laws, and not outside," he said. (Walter I.
Balane/MindaNews)

Updates: Welcome August 2006!

2006-08-01T07:48:00.000+08:00

Wow! A brand new month is here! Brand new start for unfulfilled goals in the past month! Pasaka sa Agosto!

I pray this is a better time to grow, to live, to have fun, to work, to eat, to exercise (to hike, bike, do the lotus dance regiment, and play sports!), to enjoy, to travel, to do business, to report on Mindanao, to meet new friends, to sleep (much needed..hehe), to rest, to pray, to praise and worship, to be with community, to help, to give, to know, to love, to be loved ... and above all ...to BLOG! hehe (as if it is the world's most important thing to do). Nah just having fun.

I wish all is well with everyone! Good tidings!

[NEWS] Deadline for UP admission exam extended to August 4

2006-08-01T00:19:00.000+08:00

(I hope Mindanao's students take this opportunity to study in the country's best university*. This will surely, I mean partly level the playing field between the rich and the poor --quality education for all!)
* In some colleges and select course

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/31 July) -- Students who want to take the exam for admission into the University of the Philippines (UP) but did not meet the July 15 deadline, have up to Friday, August 4, to submit requirements.

The regional examiners for Davao City will process applications up to Friday, the UP Mindanao Information Office said in a statement. No reason was given for the extension.

Applicants have to go to the UP in Mindanao campus, Mintal, Davao City to submit the following:
- correctly and completely accomplished UPCAT Forms 1 and 2; _
- four 2" x 2" identical recent photographs taken within the last 6 months;
- non-refundable application fee of P450 and
- self-addressed stamped envelope

Exempted from paying the application fee are "UPCAT applicants whose parents have an annual gross income of Pl00,000 and/or are one of the top ten prospective graduates of public high schools as of the end of SY 2005-2006."

The press statement said applicants who have not received their testing permits by August 3 must secure it from the regional examiners on August 4 and must bring two pieces of identical photos, proof of payment or certification of prospective top 10 in the graduating class and/or proof of mailing.

The first deadline was set on June 28 and was moved to July 15.

The UP College Admission Test will be conducted nationwide on August 5 to 6 in different testing centers throughout the country.

In Mindanao, there are 20 testing centers in six regions.

These are:
Agusan del Norte: Urios College, Butuan City
Agusan del Sur: Agusan del Sur School of Arts and Trades, Prosperidad
Bukidnon: Bukidnon State College in Malaybalay City
Cagayan de Oro City: Capitol University
Camiguin: Camiguin Polytechnic College in Mambajao
Cotabato City: Notre Dame University
Davao City: UP Mindanao in Mintal
Digos City: Davao del Sur National High School
Dipolog City: Zamboanga Del Norte National High School
General Santos City: MSU College of Education Training-HS Department
Iligan: Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology
Kabacan: University of Southern Mindanao
Koronadal City: Notre Dame of Marbel University
Oroquieta City: Misamis Occidental National High School
Pagadian City:Southern Mindanao Colleges
Surigao City: Surigao State College of Technology
Surigao del Sur: Jacinto P. Elpa National High School, Tandag
Tacurong City: Sultan Kudarat Polytechnic State College
Tagum: Tagum National High School
Zamboanga City: Western Mindanao State University (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)

[NEWS] Indigenous peoples to gov’t: Don’t include us in Bangsamoro homeland

2006-07-30T22:25:00.000+08:00

(What went wrong with the distribution of ancestral domain titles? Is the issue only about ancestral domain distribution? Why did the IP groups raise this only now? These questions remained unanswered.But hail to the IP communities for coming up with a "unified position" on this.I hope this move will not be a divisive act that could deter peace in Mindanao.)

DAVAO CITY (Courtesy of MindaNews/30 July) – The government should grant indigenous
peoples their ancestral domains instead of including them in the
Bangsamoro homeland, Datu Migketay Saway, secretary general of Panagtagbo Mindanao told MindaNews Sunday.

“We also want peace in Mindanao, but the government, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and third parties to the Mindanao peace process should be reminded that respective homelands have already been identified before by traditional peace agreements between Moro and non-Moro indigenous peoples in Mindanao,” Saway said

"There is a need for the parties talking about ancestral domain in the GRP–MILF peace process to go back and respect those agreements," he said.

He said they are confident that the Bangsamoro and the non-Moro indigenous peoples in Mindanao can live together peacefully once they reaffirm past agreements on territories.

Panagtagbo convened the Mindanao Indigenous Peoples' Summit in Sungko, Lantapan, Bukidnon on July 22-24, during which the lumad came up with a position paper opposing the inclusion of their territories in the Bangsamoro homeland.

Saway said the position paper, signed by 107 leaders of indigenous peoples, serves as a "reminder" to the parties of their "unified position" so that they could consider it in the final peace agreement.

Datu Al Saliling, the lumad's representative to the government panel's technical working group, said in an interview by MindaNews Saturday that the signatories represented 18 tribes and eight sub-tribes in Mindanao.

The position paper asked the parties in the peace talks to give attention and consider their "unified position" in order to truly achieve lasting peace and development in the island of Mindanao.

Saway said Mindanao's indigenous peoples issued a similar position paper in 2004 but that it was not given enough attention.

He urged the government to focus on fully implementing the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997 by granting them their ancestral domains.

Saway, however, said that the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples requires ancestral domain claimants to submit to a “burdensome” process which has crippled their claims.

Among the requirements are perimeter survey, documentation of genealogy and history, and gathering and validation of anthropological data.

"It has become too costly for us. It will take us beyond life to accomplish this," Saway said.

He also asked the government to look into the plight of the indigenous peoples who do not even get a share of the wealth from the use of resources within their ancestral lands. (Walter I. Balane/ MindaNews)

[NEWS] Mindanao traders invited to Hawaii expo

2006-07-29T18:29:00.000+08:00

(Six takers so far, and more are coming from Mindanao, according to organizers. Isn't this a good sign for business in Mindanao? Give peace a chance!)

DAVAO CITY (Courtesy of MindaNews/29 July) -- Showcase Mindanao in Hawaii.

The Philippines-USA Business Club (PUBC) and the Filipino Chamber of Commerce in Hawaii (FCCH) have invited Mindanao’s business sector to participate in the Philippine International Trade Exposition and Business Summit in Honolulu, Hawaii on December 12 to 16.

Ramon Escueta, PUBC chair, told MindaNews Thursday that they came over to meet with the business sector in Mindanao and invite them to the event organized as culmination of the centennial celebration of the arrival of the first Filipino migrants in Hawaii.

"We believe that the PhilTrade Expo and Business Summit will provide you with many benefits and a great opportunity to promote your products or services, expand your markets, and meet potential buyers from the United States during trade days," the invitation read.

Expo organizers went to the Ilocos region before coming to Mindanao. They will also invite exhibitors in Cebu and Manila.

As exhibitor, the Mindanao business sector could also promote and sell products there.

Escueta said they met with the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry and leaders of the chambers of commerce and industry around Mindanao, the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Mindanao and leaders of industries like the furniture association, on July 25 and 26.

The organizers expect to have around 200 booths of domestic and Philippine exhibitors as well as buyers and professionals. The summit will also feature workshops and seminars on how to export and import to and from the United States, he said.

Participation in the expo is a vital step towards firming up mutual ties with the Hawaii business community through trade and commerce, Senator Manuel Roxas said in a statement attached to the invitation.

Vergel Adonis, who co-chairs the expo organizing committee, said six exhibitors from Mindanao have already signed a contract with them. He did not name the groups but said they were into furniture and fruit distribution.

"But the expo is open to all types of trade exhibitors," Adonis said. He said interested exhibitors could visit the expo's official website at www.philtradeexpo.com for more information. Hawaii could be a good market for Davao's exotic fruits, Adonis said. Prospective buyers in Hawaii could market products from Mindanao and eventually invest in it, he said. The Philippines exports around $20 million of goods per year to Hawaii. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)

[NEWS] USEP yet to probe student's death, ready to face charges

2006-07-28T22:06:00.000+08:00

(I'm sure this is not only an eye opener but also a test case for administrators of state colleges and universities. How good are schools in balancing the act between campus freedom and regulation. They'll have to juggle between this two ideals. Honestly, it isn't pleasant to see university officials being "grilled" with questions and cynicism by the public. I for one did not want, if only it wasn't my job, to ask Dr. Julieta Ortiz any question during the press conference. If I am not a journalist, I would let it pass for the wheels of juctice to move. But a life of a student was wasted here, and possibly many more, if issues like this do not surface for public discussion. In one way, this could serve as an eye opener not only for USEP, but also for other colleges, universities and other institutions of learning. This is also a case for study in a month when we were supposed to be "prepared for emergencies and disasters". I pray for the soul of Cheryl, the welfare of her family. Also, prayers for the officials, teachers and students of USEP who are in the limelight of public scrutiny over this tragedy.)

USEP yet to probe student's death, ready to face charges

DAVAO CITY (Courtesy of MindaNews / July 28) -- The University of Southeastern
Philippines (USEP) could not yet establish liability over the tragic
pageant night eight days ago that scorched to death a campus beauty
contestant, university president Julieta I. Ortiz told a press
conference Friday.

But Ortiz said the university, southeastern Mindanao's largest
state-owned higher educational institution, has assumed full
responsibility and was ready to face charges that might be filed
against them.

"The administration is taking care of the incident and assumes its
moral duty to the Sarate family," Ortiz read USEP's official
statement.

She said a fact-finding committee created on July 25 would be the one
to investigate the incident and identify those who should be liable.
USEP could not yet say what would be its next move because it will be
based on the findings of the committee, she added.

Sarate, 16, was a first year Bachelor of Arts major in English student
from Calinan district. She told family members she wanted to graduate
from college so she could work abroad. On June 20, according to the
statement, she joined the search for the Lady and Lord of Utopia, an
annual beauty pageant organized by the Guild of English Students. At
around 7:15 that evening, her costume caught fire from a candle used
as props along the catwalk. She was rushed to the Mindanao Burn Center
of the Davao Medical Center (DMC) and was admitted with third degree
burns. She died on July 23.

Ortiz said she did not want to preempt the results of the fact-finding
body and referred all queries regarding the details of the incident to
them. Ortiz said the investigation was due to submit a report on
August 31.

Dr. Daniel Ungay, who chaired the fact-finding committee, told
MindaNews they were yet to meet Friday afternoon to start the
investigation. The rest of the members of the committee included the
university's chief administrative officer, the faculty club president,
secretary of the university's board of regents, the president of the
campus' student council and an assistant.

Ortiz said their main concern for now was to extend whatever help to
the Sarate family. She denied they were remiss of their duties and
allegedly depended on assistance from the city government.

She said they gave around P30,000 for the victim's hospitalization,
through Cheryl's mother. The amount included donations from the
faculty and students. She also showed photocopies of checks worth
P67,134.37 issued by the university for funeral and burial expenses of
the victim.

But the family said the school was too slow in probing the incident.
Antonio Sarate, the victim's father, said the investigation was
started only Friday, eight days after incident, and considered as "too
long" the time, 38 days, given to the committee to finish its work.
"The administration should not delay its investigation," he said.

Ungay said the timetable was meant to gather enough information "given
the circumstances of students who have classes". "But we will try to
submit the report before August 31," he said.

Alfie Keith Apalit, USEP's Obrero Campus Student Council (OCSC)
president, said the administration should already have a stand on
liability at this time.

"The OCSC stands firm in addressing the issue on the lack of safety
measures, facilities, and the available help (first aid) that could
have prevented and or saved the life of Cheryl Sarate from that
terrible incident," the student council's press statement on July 27
said.

That the university did not report the incident to the fire station
accounts for some liability, Orencio B. Grado, senior fire officer of
the Bureau of Fire Protection told MindaNews Friday.

Grado, member of a BFP team investigating the incident, said they only
knew of the incident from television news. "That's a standard
operating procedure," he said.

"It would be most prudent for the school administration to assume
responsibility, said lawyer Ranuelo Leonar who was interviewed by
ABS-CBN radio on August 27.

He said the university could be liable for reckless imprudence
resulting to homicide because the incident happened within school
premises.

"What happened? Wasn't there a program coordinator overseeing the
event?" he asked.

USEP's public information office said if the committee finds anyone
liable, the university would impose appropriate administrative
penalties. "Everything now depends on the findings of the committee,
Melanie C. Pagkaliwagan," USEP's public information officer told
MindaNews.

"It's an eye opener for us to fully implement our school policies,"
Ortiz told reporters, including more than a hundred students who
attended the press conference held at the social hall, where the
incident that killed Sarate was held eight days ago. (Walter I.
Balane/MindaNews)

[NEWS] Davao City vows quicker renewal of business permits

2006-07-27T20:36:00.000+08:00

(Busines, business, business for Mindanao! I hope the improvements in doing business in any Mindanao city will go down to the level of providing more employment opportunities for the poor and improve their purchasing power and participation in the social realm. I hope this brings better living conditions too!)

Davao City vows quicker renewal of business permits

DAVAO CITY (Courtesy of MindaNews/27 July) – Renewing business permits here will be much easier by January 2007 as permits will be processed even without clearances from the Social Security System (SSS), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and PhilHealth, Atty. Jhopee A. Agustin, bureau chief, told reporters Thursday.

But it could be to the detriment of employees, said officials of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) regional office in Davao City.

At present, Agustin said, applicants for renewal have to submit clearances for payment of taxes from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), remittances for Social Security System (SSS) and PhilHealth. They also have to go through local government offices such as the City Zoning Office, the City Treasurer's Office, Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) and the Bureau of Fire Protection. Depending on the nature of business, some applicants have to go to the City Health, Tourism and Veterinary offices.

Agustin’s proposal is not to require clearance from regulatory agencies in the approval of business permit "since all of the regulatory offices are obligated to conduct yearly inspections."

"I recommend that the SSS, BIR, and PhilHealth clearances be no longer required and that only the barangay clearance be presented for new and renewal application as provided in the Local Government Code," Agustin wrote in a March 23 letter to Atty. Melchor Quitain, chief, Davao City legal office, asking for legal opinion.

She said they will approve the applications for business permit renewal even without the clearances, but these will be marked with "Submission of (SSS, BIR, PhilHealth) clearances to follow.”

The business bureau, Agustin said, will not be "strict" with the clearances once the proposal is approved. “But we would still coordinate with those offices,” she said.

Agustin said they learned the scheme from the City Government of Manila. "This will cut the delay in the approval of the business permit renewal," she said.

Christopher Silagan, marketing specialist of PhilHealth, said if the proposal is approved, it would be very difficult to track down delinquent-paying employers and this could put many employees at a disadvantage.

Silagan said among their biggest problems in ensuring coverage of employees are fraudulent employers who use deceptive payment schemes such as covering only 35% of their employees while collecting payment counterparts from all of them.

He said these employers also manipulate payrolls to show their alleged compliance.

Jonas Joseph Angala, another PhilHealth executive, told MindaNews the responsibility to pursue delinquent paying employers is theirs but admitted it is “very difficult” to pursue violators.

Angala said they seek help from the local governments through the clearing process in the renewal of business permits which is done every January. He said they understand the city government's discretion on the matter "but there must be a way to balance between business and the coverage of employees to public health insurance".

According to figures given by Silagan, employees of private firms account for 34% of the total of 663,780 individuals covered by PhilHealth in Southeastern Mindanao as of June 30. Individually paying members account for 38%, 11% government employees and around 2% are non-paying members, including senior citizens. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)

[NEWS] Halal board expected to start working in August

2006-07-26T21:42:00.000+08:00

(I really hope this pushes through. If so, it will spur the economy in the ARMM region.
Although, how I really wish the initial Halal players for the poultry industry will not be
limited to the usual families that dominate the ARMM. I also wish the peace process
moves on and no more distractions, like the one that happened in four Maguindanao
towns last month. Right now, progress might still be unimaginable. But I'm sure that
once the field is readied and mechanisms or wheels of commerce are set, development
in Mindanao's poorest region would be unstoppable. I look at the Halal board and the
Halal industry potentials as one of these mechanisms. Ins'allah!)

DAVAO CITY (Courtesy of MindaNews/26 July) -- A private sector-led Halal
Certification Board (HCB) is expected to be activated by August this year, to fast track development of the halal industry in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the Local Government Support Program in the ARMM (LGSPA) said.

The HCB, it said, will be led by the ARMM Business Council and the Dar'ul Ifta, a council of senior religious leaders serving as final arbiter on matters relating to Islam, the LGSPA said in a statement.

The HCB is tasked to verify that what is declared halal is in accordance with Islamic rules of consuming only permissible food and non-food products as prescribed by the Holy Qur'an.

The Mindanao Business Council announced last week that around 15 tons of poultry products from Maguindanao are targeted as pilot shipment for halal export before the year ends. It will be shipped to the Middle East where there is a multi-billion poultry market.

The creation of the Halal board is overdue and fundamental in Halal certification in the ARMM, where majority of the country's Muslims live, the LGSPA quoted ARMM's trade and industry secretary, IshakMastura.

The LGSPA teamed up with the ARMM's Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the formation of the HCB in developing the board's guidelines and manual of operations.

The crafting of the Halal guidelines and manual will involve consultations with the Dar'ul Ifta and provincial Mufti in the ARMM to ensure consensus that these are all in accord with Islamic
injunctions.

On May 18 in Cotabato City, ten Muftis from the ARMM provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur signed a commitment to support the creation and operation of the board after studying the Koranic imperatives of halal certification and its organizational framework.

The ARMM is eyed by the Philippine government in its medium term development plan as center for the Halal industry. The region's development is expected to benefit from the international Halal food industry with estimated value of $80 billion per year. (Walter I.
Balane /MindaNews)

[NEWS] UP eyes task force on health disasters in Mindanao

2006-07-25T21:16:00.000+08:00

(This is a welcome move by the University of the Philippines in Mindanao. It goes beyond, and makes use of its academic mandate and influence to help Mindanao prepare for disasters. Its all around us: in Albay, Southern Luzon, Indonesia everywhere. This should parallel and dovetail with the efforts of the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) and the Regional Disaster Coordinating Councils (RDCCs), especially in capability-building for LGUs to do hazard scanning and planning in their communities. The organizers however admitted to me that they were not able to invite LGUs from the Caraga region.Also, I hope that disaster-preparedness efforts do not precipitate after the disaster-preparedness month! UP's effort should not skim only by exploring but really push for this task force to be formed and activated.)

DAVAO CITY (Courtesy of MindaNews/25 July) -- The University of the Philippines in
Mindanao is holding roundtable discussions to explore the creation of
a multi-agency task force or network to focus on health disasters and
emergencies in Mindanao.

The discussions, scheduled on July 31 at the Royal Mandaya Hotel here,
would gather local government and non-government officials from the
cities of Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato and General Santos.

The forum aims to "facilitate exchange of views and share experiences
on health disasters and emergencies and its impact on human
populations and the environment," the UP-Min information office said.

It is organized to impart some methods to forecast health disasters
based on historical data using new research tools, said Rene Estremera
of the UP-Min information office. But Estremera said they are looking
at exploring the possibility of collaboration and integration of
efforts by various government agencies and other stakeholders. He said
they will assess at the end of the forum if the creation of a
multi-agency task force or network in Mindanao is viable.

Estremera said they are looking at a body which will study, monitor,
coordinate and focus actions on forecasting health disasters and
emergencies.

The key to dealing with disasters -- whether natural or man-made -- is
not to sound the alarm bell but to equip the people with appropriate
knowledge to help foster a culture of preparedness among the public,
said Allan Villanueva, project assistant.

Based on the tentative program as of July 12, Dr. Ma. Lourdes
Barrameda, emergency and humanitarian action officer of the World
Health Organization (WHO), will present a paper on "Global Health
Emergencies with Local Implications."

Prof. Sean Fitzgerald, a UP -Min visiting lecturer from the University
of Massachusetts, will discuss "Nature and Impact of Geohazards in
Mindanao. Prof. Vicente Calag, who chairs UP-Min's Mathematics,
Physics and Computer Science department, will present "GIS tool:
Forecasting and Monitoring Disasters and Health Emergencies."

Expected to give reactions to the presentations are Dr. Paulyn Ubial,
Department of Health regional director in Southeastern Mindanao; Davao
City Councilor Rene Lopez, a physician; and Engr. Luis Jacinto, Davao
City director for planning.

There will be an open forum and drafting of resolutions towards the
end of the forum.

The Office of the Civi l Defense in Southeastern Mindanao, in line
with the celebration of disaster-preparedness month, told MindaNews
earlier this month they are organizing local government units in
capability-building so they could evaluate their communities' disaster
hazards. The OCD said they will also aid communities in developing
emergency response action appropriate for the local hazards
identified. (Walter I. Balane / MindaNews)

[NEWS] Envoy eyes more Chinese investors, tourists to Davao

2006-07-24T22:06:00.002+08:00

(I'm back blogging! But I got this busy news day. How I wish I could multiply myself. This one is about the Chinese ambassador: The Chinese are here, there and everywhere! This could be a creeping invasion, too. But well, I think this should mean more investment and employment to Mindanawons? I hope the benefits exceed the costs. This could be a renewal of centuries old of trading relationships between China and Mindanao.)

DAVAO CITY (Courtesy of MindaNews/24 July) -- Impressed by "Davao's safety,
security and cleanliness," visiting Chinese Ambassador Li Jinjun said
he will introduce the city not only to more Chinese investors but also
to tourists.

Li made the pronouncement while meeting Vice Mayor Luis Bonguyan in a
courtesy call Monday at the city mayor's office.

The ambassador, who first passed by Zamboanga in his first visit to
Mindanao, is in town to meet Davao's Filipino-Chinese community and to
"see for himself the local economic and security situation in the
city."

Speaking through an interpreter, Li said many Chinese businessmen
wanted to invest in Mindanao but are worried by the negative reports
they have heard.

But he said his visit will change the wrong impression his countrymen
harbor. "I am impressed with this beautiful city," Li told Bonguyan.

"Davao is safer and more secure than Manila," Li said.

He said many businessmen from mainland China are waiting for results
of his visit so they could start exploring the possibility of
investing in Davao.

He cited Davao's role in the future of economic development in
Mindanao and the country. He said they are willing to cooperate in the
BIMP-East Asia Growth Area "where Davao plays a big role."

Li said a group of businessmen are eyeing to put up an industrial park
in Davao City.

He also cited a plan to encourage more Chinese airlines to establish
direct routes to Davao as his country has a lot of tourists wanting to
come.

Bonguyan said even if Davao gets only a small percentage of the
Chinese tourists, it would already be good enough, considering that
Chinese tourists reach millions.

The vice mayor said Davao is exerting efforts to establish sisterhood
ties with Naning, China. The Naning mayor visited Davao last April. It
was in Naning where the Asean China Expo 2004 was held where
a Mindanao delegation was sent.

Bonguyan told Li the Filipino-Chinese community in Davao plays a big
part in the city's economy, with many of them in control of many
industries.

He also announced the approval of the city ordinance detailing the
creation the city's Chinatown district to "give more importance to the
culture and the role of the Filipino-Chinese community" in Davao.
(Walter I. Balane / MindaNews)

[NEWS] Envoy eyes more Chinese investors, tourists to Davao

2006-07-24T22:06:00.001+08:00

[NEWS] Envoy eyes more Chinese investors, tourists to Davao

2006-07-24T22:06:00.000+08:00

(I'm back blogging! But I got this busy news day. How I wish I could multiply myself. This one is about the Chinese ambassador: The Chinese are here, there and everywhere! This could be a creeping invasion, too. But well, I think this should mean more investment and employment to Mindanawons? I hope the benefits exceed the costs. This could be a renewal of centuries old of trading relationships between China and Mindanao.)

DAVAO C ITY (Courtesy of MindaNews/24 July) -- Impressed by "Davao's safety,
security and cleanliness," visiting Chinese Ambassador Li Jinjun said
he will introduce the city not only to more Chinese investors but also
to tourists.

Li made the pronouncement while meeting Vice Mayor Luis Bonguyan in a
courtesy call Monday at the city mayor's office.

The ambassador, who first passed by Zamboanga in his first visit to
Mindanao, is in town to meet Davao's Filipino-Chinese community and to
"see for himself the local economic and security situation in the
city."

Speaking through an interpreter, Li said many Chinese businessmen
wanted to invest in Mindanao but are worried by the negative reports
they have heard.

But he said his visit will change the wrong impression his countrymen
harbor. "I am impressed with this beautiful city," Li told Bonguyan.

"Davao is safer and more secure than Manila," Li said.

He said many businessmen from mainland China are waiting for results
of his visit so they could start exploring the possibility of
investing in Davao.

He cited Davao's role in the future of economic development in
Mindanao and the country. He said they are willing to cooperate in the
BIMP-East Asia Growth Area "where Davao plays a big role."

Li said a group of businessmen are eyeing to put up an industrial park
in Davao City.

He also cited a plan to encourage more Chinese airlines to establish
direct routes to Davao as his country has a lot of tourists wanting to
come.

Bonguyan said even if Davao gets only a small percentage of the
Chinese tourists, it would already be good enough, considering that
Chinese tourists reach millions.

The vice mayor said Davao is exerting efforts to establish sisterhood
ties with Naning, China. The Naning mayor visited Davao last April. It
was in Naning where the Asean China Expo 2004 was held where
a Mindanao delegation was sent.

Bonguyan told Li the Filipino-Chinese community in Davao plays a big
part in the city's economy, with many of them in control of many
industries.

He also announced the approval of the city ordinance detailing the
creation the city's Chinatown district to "give more importance to the
culture and the role of the Filipino-Chinese community" in Davao.
(Walter I. Balane / MindaNews)

On leave from Blogosphere

2006-07-22T00:10:00.000+08:00

..Thank you for dropping by. Be back blogging on Monday, July 24.

- WIB

[NEWS] ARMM poultry bound for the Middle East

2006-07-20T23:17:00.000+08:00

(Of course there is good news from the ARMM. With fingers crossed, I am optimistic this will help put the region back on the business map.)

DAVAO CITY (Courtesy of MindaNews/20 July) -- Around 15 tons of poultry products
from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are being eyed as
the pilot shipment to the Middle East starting in December.

Romeo Serra, president of the Mindanao Business Council (MinBC), told
reporters Thursday that once the Philippines gets a halal
certification from a Brunei accreditation body through an agreement
with the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia Philippines East Asia Growth Area
cooperation, it will be an all systems go for the delivery of chicken
from a farm in the 123-hectare economic zone in Parang, Maguindanao to
Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

Halal, which is a way of slaughtering farm animals in accordance with
Islamic practices, involves hygienic and disease-free preparation of
foods "from farm to plate."

Those that pass halal quality control will have labels marked with a
halal seal so Muslim consumers will be guided accordingly.

Serra said the initial volume, which is only two percent of the market
demand in the Middle East, will be a pilot export of the local halal
industry. More volume and other halal products will be exported if the
pilot shipment will be successful and once the halal accreditation
firms up.

He said that the ARMM poultry's export to the Middle East will be the
result of cooperation among member countries in the BIMP-EAGA -- using
feeds from Indonesia's corn industry, utilizing the marketing
expertise of Malaysia and the "trusted and widely-accepted" Brunei
halal accreditation.

Serra said the ARMM's halal certification body, including government
officials from the ARMM's Department of Trade and Industry and the
private sector, will go to Brunei in August to work on the
accreditation.

The government's 2004-2010 Medium Term Development Plan has envisioned
ARMM to be the halal-based food production center of the country.
(Walter I. Balane / MindaNews)

[NEWS] RP's first: Davao prepares to implement water code

2006-07-19T22:16:00.000+08:00

(I wasn't really very happy with "the way" I worked on this article. I know I could have done better. But this news simply made me happy anyway. It gives a much needed relief to a growing problem of water in the provinces.

When I covered the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bukidnon and the city councils of Malaybalay and Valencia, I met several issues concerning the issuance of water permits by NWRB using endorsements from some local adhoc representatives. The local legislators have since complained that the set up did not work very well in the interests of the province and the communities.

I'm proud Davao is poised to implement its own water code, to localize regulation, management and protection of our water resources. Just another proof that the rest of the country have a lot of things to learn from Mindanao (of course vice versa).

The news article:

DAVAO CITY (Courtesy of MindaNews/18 July) -- This city will soon implement its
water ordinance, signed in 2005, with the submission of the proposed implementing rules and regulations (IRR) to Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Councilor Pilar Braga co-chair of the joint committee that prepared the rules told reporters Tuesday.

Once implemented, Davao City will be the first in the country to
localize the National Water Code to ensure protection and management of its water resources, Braga said.

Braga said it took the city around 10 years to approve the water
ordinance because it is a controversial legislation that could affect interests of big businesses that are dependent on water like softdrink companies, bottled water firms and agricultural plantations.

She said the IRR has gone through a series of deliberations involving
peoples' organizations, non-government organizations and other stakeholders.

Braga told MindaNews it is too risky to leave to the National Water
Resources Board (NWRB) the regulation and management of local water resources. The NWRB, which is based in Metro Manila, issues the water permits nationwide.

"How could they take care of our water resources when we can't even see
their shadows here?" Braga asked.

Braga, proponent of the ordinance, submitted the IRR through City
Administrator Wendel Avisado on June 30. Braga said they expect no big hindrance to its signing.

The IRR was prepared by a joint executive-legislative committee earlier
formed by Mayor Duterte composed of city executives, legislators, and NGO representatives.

The IRR provides for the creation of the Davao City Water Resource
Management and Protection Council which will administer and implement the water code. The council, which will have an initial fund of P3 million, will be the lead agency in coordinating, implementing and monitoring the city's management, conservation, use, and development of its water resources.

The council will be composed of the city mayor as chair, the city administrator and other top city government officials and legislators representing committees on
environment and energy, the general manager of the Davao City Water District, the City Environment and Natural Resources Officer, City Health Officer, City Engineer, Chief of the Business Bureau, City Legal Officer and the executive director of the council.

The water council, according to the IRR, should prepare, develop, and
formulate a "comprehensive water resource management and development plan" to "ensure that sufficient and potable water will be available at a reasonable cost to the present and future generations of the city while furthering
the economic development of the city.”

Among the prohibited and regulated acts declared in the proposed IRR is
the drilling of a free-flowing or artesian well within identified protected water resource
areas from Calinan to Dacudao, Calinan to Malagos and Sirawan areas. A water resource area, defined by he proposed IRR, is the location of principal source aquifer or water sources containing huge volume of water.

Existing wells, with permits issued by the NWRB, will be secured,
capped and placed with a metering device to regulate water flow and water wastage.

No person will also be allowed to drill and operate a water well within
a water resource area or extract water from there without a clearance from the council. They will be required to install an approved measuring device.

The IRR also prohibits the putting up of solid waste disposal systems,
sanitary landfill or incinerator or garbage dump within the water resource areas. It also prohibits the construction of underground oil storage tanks within the water resource areas.

The water council, as provided by the IRR, has to consult and hold public hearings for any program, project, development structures, or any other massive land activities
that might affect the appropriation, use, exploitation, development, control and conservation or protection of water resources.

The IRR also prohibits or regulates the application of fertilizers and
pesticides or other chemicals within water resource areas.

Braga said they have proposed a meeting between the members of the
joint committee who drafted the IRR and the NWRB to agree on deputization of the city government to impose water tariff as provided in the ordinance and the IRR. The NWRB considers agriculture as the biggest user of water with 86 percent of the total use, followed by industrial firms with 8 percent and domestic use at only 6 percent.

A 1991 study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, showed
Davao was among nine cities in the Philippines considered as "water-critical areas" together with Manila, Cebu , Baguio, Angeles, Bacolod, Iloilo , Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)

[NEWS] "For official use" vehicles used privately in Davao, CDO

2006-07-18T21:19:00.000+08:00

DAVAO CITY (Courtesy of MindaNews/18 July) -- For private use also?

Around a hundred government vehicles in the cities of Davao and Cagayan de Oro have been monitored to be used for private purposes, the Office of the Ombudsman reported.

Lawyer Rodolfo Elman, officer in charge of the Office of the Ombudsman in Mindanao said their "Operation Red Plate" monitored the government vehicles used during weekends and parked at beaches, churches, entertainment joints and other establishments.

"Operation Red Plate,” created on May 15 throughout the country, monitored 34 vehicles used on June 10 to 12 in Cagayan de Oro and a total of 60 vehicles on July 7 to 9 and July 14 to 16 in Davao City.

The Ombudsman has since subpoenaed the suspected violators in Cagayan de Oro, Elman said, and are working with the Land Transportation Office for the registration papers of those monitored in Davao City.

But the Ombudsman will have to verify, Elman said, if the vehicles were, indeed, out on official use as indicated in the trip ticket. Government vehicles on official business have corresponding trip tickets indicating the names of passengers, time of departure and arrival, destination or routes taken.

Private use of government vehicles is considered a crime as provided in Section 3-E of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-graft and corrupt practices law. It is also an administrative offense that could result, at the maximum, to dismissal in violation of Section 4 B of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Elman noted that violators are also made to reimburse the government for fuel, wear and tear and other costs.

Elman said violations of these laws include simple acts as delivering and fetching a child to and from school to grave offenses such as using the car for a date in a motel.

He said a patient once complained that an ambulance was not available but as it turned out, it was used by hospital personnel to transport personal belongings.

The average and most common violation, he said, is a detour from an approved destination, like going from Davao City to Tagum City and proceeding to the user's residence in Sto. Tomas town.

Elman said many government personnel take a detour while on official business to attend to their farms and other personal purposes.

Operation Red Plate monitoring teams, Elman said, will also be sent to the cities of Tagum and General Santos and neighboring areas.

Elman, however, acknowledged that the Ombudsman cannot be in many places at the same time. He said they also rely on their partner non-government organizations (NGOs).

Before May 15, Elman said, they monitored abuses of government vehicles from reports passed by their local partners in Mindanao provinces. He also said they used to have an agreement with the Commission on Audi to report on these violations. He cited, for example, violations monitored in Surigao, and Zamboanga cities starting in the late 1990s through NGOs they have accredited as Corruption Prevention Units (CPUs).

Elman said they have partners in all Mindanao regions except in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), where they revoked the accreditation of a CPU for abuses and misrepresentation.

“But we are counting on help from the public,” Elman said, “to track the violators in their areas.” He said the mere presence of a vehicle with red plate in any area beyond office hours and during weekend is already suspicious. All government vehicles should be marked with "For official use only,” Elman said, except for vehicles used by undercover investigators.

Elman said the public could help report violations by sending text messages to mobile phone numbers 09175496241 and photos or videos to 09189156279. He said the messages should at least have information on location, time and description of the vehicle including type and color of vehicle and plate number. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)

Updates: I'll start my lifestyle check with this

2006-07-17T21:47:00.000+08:00

[From this coverage I have resolved at least two things 1) Cut on bad cholesterol by 50 percent (made a list of food in which I execute this) and 2) Exercise for at least 20 minutes (Dr. Roy Ferrer of DMC says at least 30 minutes but I want this to be realistic and solemn. So I made an action plan.) I hope the stress part and lifestyle check is adressed initially.]

'Do you have Diabetes or the ants know better?'
By Walter I. Balane/ MindaNews (First draft)

DAVAO CITY – More people are suffering diabetes without them knowing it, diabetes expert Dr. Roy Ferrer of the government-run Davao Medical Center said in a press conference Monday announcing a forum on diabetes to mark the Diabetes Awareness Week on July 16-22.

"Mabuti pa ang Langgam, alam …DIABETES: Laban natin to" (The ants are better for they know, Diabetes: This is our fight.) is the theme of the forum on July 22 organized by DMC's Diabetes Education and Treatment Clinic.

Ferrer, a diabetologist, said most patients only notice and take the disease seriously when they already experience complications. At that stage, he said, it won't be easy and would be more expensive for them.

Diabetes, considered as a "silent killer disease" is the seventh highest cause of death in the country, Ferrer said, and is also among the top five causes of morbidity.

Ferrer cited a 4.2 percent prevalence rate of Diabetes and is affecting around 3.3 million of the 80 million Filipinos. He said among those at high risk are those who come from families with history of diabetes, hypertension and cardio-vascular diseases.

A person who has diabetes, Ferrer said, is like someone who just had a heart attack. He said the disease could being about more complications to a person's health like heart and kidney diseases for it brings damage to nerves.

Mrs. Elena Zapanta, a nurse at the DMC said swollen feet and eye problems are among the common symptoms they have observed at the Diabetes Education and Treatment Clinic where they have an average of 60 patients per week and are attending to at least 2,000 walk-in patients.

He said those are only the micro-nerve symptoms, as the person takes longer to address it, the disease brings about the macro-nerve symptoms which ills the heart and kidneys.

The disease afflicts all kinds of people, Zapanta said, with patients from the rich and poor, men and women, professionals and unemployed, and young and old.

"We even have a four-year old patient recently," she said as she stressed that the diseases chooses no one.

Ferrer cited that being in the Asia Pacific region which is a catch basin for diabetes, being a Filipino itself already puts people at risk to the disease.

With the high cost of maintenance medicine and medical attention, Ferrer said the cure to diabetes is prevention. People should live a healthy lifestyle, Ferrer said, lessen stress, exercise regularly and eat a balanced diet avoiding bad cholesterol.

"Have your blood sugar tested so you won't come to the doctor in a stage when the symptoms are already prevailing. That would be too late," he stressed.

Ferrer also warned the public to be careful on altering prescribed medicines on diabetes with herbal supplements advertised as if they could treat the disease. There is no assurance that they are effective, he said. With no intensive research on its effect to the body, Ferrer said, the supplements, could worsen the disease and may cause the patient more instead of saving. He advised the public to consult a physician on diabetes.

Zapanta said their weekly consultation every Tuesday would cost only P50 for first-timers and P30 for succeeding sessions, the cheapest in Davao City and a blood sugar test at only P75. Consultations for senior citizens are free of charge while indigents could avail of social welfare subsidy.

The DMC-organized forum on diabetes this Saturday, with a registration fee of P150 for food, is expected to give more information on diabetes to the public. The topics include the explanation of the disease, its complications and management. The public could also have a chance to ask questions from diabetes experts during an open forum. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)

Updates: ‘It is a national policy to keep the poor poor' – rural banker

2006-07-16T21:38:00.000+08:00

jeepney ride
Originally uploaded by waltzib.

(Photo courtesy of MindaNews) This Mindanawon rural banker looks more of a refined, meek and well-mannered person. Quitely placed in a corner seat, he was glued to the speaker through out the session.

He exchanged friendly chats with his seatmates and offered his seat to a lady participant who came late.

His statement caught me off-guard. It made me look closer. It was cold in that conference room in Davao’s Waterfront Insular Hotel on July 15.

Apparently, his way of announcing the judgment did not show in his mild manners. Here is a dissenter who freely expressed his mind and heart. I wanted to know the story behind that pronouncement.

I'll call him Freddie. He was one of the participants of the “consultative workshop” among micro finance institutions (MFIs) in Mindanao convened by the Mindanao Micro finance Council (MMC). They gathered to talk about a partnership between the MFIs, the wholesale lenders and the communities targeted to deliver micro finance services in “hard to reach” areas in Mindanao.

At first he sounded pathetic and plainly cynical. (Maybe one of those disillusioned by hopelessness) Or was he just testing my capacity to snoop for news knowing I was there to cover the event?

Over coffee break, Freddie told me his 15 years of working in rural communities as a small banker has made him critical of new programs of the government to lure the poor.

“Talk about the face of poverty in the depressed communities, I know that!” he said.
I handled hundreds of accounts who couldn’t pay their weekly amortization for their micro enterprise loan,” he said.

Freddie said the poorest of the poor in Mindanao, especially in agriculture-rich areas, shouldn't be poor. Productivity is high in those areas, he said. “But why are people still poor after how many years of projects?” he asked.

He said a farmer borrows money to buy farm inputs at a price much higher than how much the market wants to buy his products.

“So he always ends up speaking English,” he said. He clarified that when they collect payment for debts incurred with their bank, farmers who loaned money on a service they piloted in an area told them, “Failure man sir!”.

For him, micro financing makes lousy businessmen out of farmers. Yes, farmers have to be entrepreneurial in attending to their farms but they cannot do so because there is a lack of support services in their areas.

“Now you have a loan, but where are the farm to market roads and the mechanisms that protect them from losses?” Freddie asked.

For him, there is a big reason why the government could not solve the woes of the poor once and for all.

It is a national policy to keep the poor always poor, Freddie said, because our politicians who run the government want the poor to eternally need them!

He said studies, projects and programs to “supposedly help” the poor are just spins of those pretentious government leaders to manipulate a higher budget so they could get a higher cut.

“And the all-out war--- do you think that is really to solve insurgency?” Freddie asked. “No, that is to validate a bigger budget, well just the sum of P1 billion more,” he said.

Also, when there is war, the ammunitions are used, that’s for more budget. And look at the civilians affected by the war, when the government comes as if to their rescue, those politicians masquerading as public servants actually earn “popularity” points.

I asked him : “Do you have bases for these statements?”

He said the best proof are the poor in the communities who are prone to exploitation by politicians. Some people in government should be sincere in their effort to fight poverty and should be steadfast in their commitment to serve the public, he said.

“Really, there is so much poverty in the country. If you don’t believe me, you must be blind or dumb,” He said.

After a cup of coffee, I breathed fresh air in the hotel's lobby and pondered on those points. I know Freddie is right. I agree with him in most things. I shifted my vantage point and looked at the direction of the Davao Gulf for open spaces to think.

Maybe its unfair to call it a "national policy" because I don 't fault our good policies. Only the execution maybe. But I know what Freddie also meant. The government's failure to curb poverty has made poverty a "status quo" and eradicating it has become an illusion of mythical extent.

I wonder what “ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country” would mean in this situation?

[NEWS] Micro financiers asked to invest in Mindanao's poorest

2006-07-15T21:56:00.000+08:00

(Courtesy of MindaNews news service. Not yet available at www.mindanews.com as of posting time.)

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/15 July) -- The Mindanao Micro-finance Council (MMC) has appealed to the micro finance institutions in Mindanao to extend loans to the poorest in Mindanao's remotest areas to help fight poverty there.

The appeal was made during a consultative workshop on delivering micro finance services in hard-to-reach areas on July 14-15.

According to the MMC, as of 2006, Mindanao's micro finance industry has reached only around 400,000 clients. The MMC, composed of MFIs, rural banks, non-government organizations, cooperatives and cooperative banks, aims to reach a million clients by 2010.

Most of the 'poorest of the poor' clients reached by micro financial institutions (MFIs) in Mindanao come from highway towns and barangays, according to Erwin M. Idong, assistant vice president of the People's Credit and Finance Corporation (PCFC), a government-owned corporation which lends capital to the MFIs.

According to data from the PCFC, between July 2004 and March 2006, only around 448, 531 poor households or 31.6 percent of the total 1,419,516 poor households in Mindanao have accessed micro finance loans. As of 2006, only 92 percent of towns have access to micro-finance and around 67 percent of barangays are reached by small enterprise loans.

Jeffrey R. Ordoñez, MMC executive director, said there is a need to saturate the areas where the MFIs are already operating, at the same time expand their reach to the lower market segments such as upland communities and areas in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Ordoñez said the MMC has encouraged its members to expand the markets and flow in investments in the hard-to-reach areas.

"We are also asking big MFIs to go to the ARMM areas where there is an insignificant number of clientele availing micro-finance services. Only 15,005 or only 3.34 percent poor clients were served in the ARMM out of the total 448,531 poor households served in Mindanao, he said.

Iluminada Cabigas, president of the Landbank Countryside Development (LCD) Foundation, said the MFIs should go beyond lending to poor households.

"We should be able to expand our service to them not just to give access to any small loan. We should work with MFIs for an integrated community development scheme where we build up partnership to make them stakeholders in their own community's development," she said.

LCD launched at the workshop today (July 15) a partnership with the MFIs in integrated community development.

Cabigas asked the MFIs to “go deeper and wider” and give small farmers and fisherfolk
more access to microfinance.

MFIs should also provide livelihood training development and help communities in job generation and should also extend more products that improve access to potable water, electricity, toilet, waste disposal and management facilities, she said.

MFIs, she added, should also help the poor in gaining access to decent housing programs,
scholarship programs, ecological and environmental protection especially to indigenous peoples and should network with local government units among other areas.

Cabigas said they expect that all towns in Mindanao and the Philippines will have access to microfinance after two years in partnership with MFIs.

Erlow Talatala, head of microfinance unit of the Asian Hills Bank based in Bukidnon, noted that micro-finance alone could not solve poverty in Mindanao.

"It is not enough to provide micro-finance to the poorest of the poor in Mindanao's communities. The government should also provide support services," Talatala told MindaNews.

Support services, he said, should be provided especially in depressed areas where there is poor access to health care services, electrification, infrastructure like farm to market roads, education and other social services.

"Its not also just a matter of achieving quantitative goals, but also qualitative standards like if those who have accessed microfinance have since been out of poverty," he said.
Talatala, however, agrees there is a need to push MFIs to do their part in countryside development.

But expecting them to expand to “hard-to-reach” areas and channel their investments there, he added, requires of government to prepare the needed infrastructure as well as the peace and order situation in the area . (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)

Reflections: On this youthful idealism

2006-07-14T21:36:00.000+08:00

(Agence France-Presse Photo by Romeo Gacad)

sanjuan
Originally uploaded by waltzib.

When Lt. Lawrence San Juan, one of the Magdalo mutineers, was in the limelight for escaping from detention - I was amazed at his courage and his defiance of military authority, which they collectively accused of incompetence, corruption among other things.

A lot of things remained to be probed on their allegations, but if indeed the junior officers saw their leaders in the depth of dirt in the military then it is logical why young people like Lt. San Juan would do what they have done.

Idealism is not dead in this country even if there are a lot of cynism milling around.

When reports that he "repented" today came out, I was also not surprised. The young military officer is an intelligent person he knows what he has to do for the time being. But indeed, this young person is a "reflection" of the many problems around us ---one of which is lack of real heroes who walk the talk and lead by example.

At least, even if the idealist in Lt. San Juan probably waived with the present circumstances he is into, at least he looks like someone whose ideals are still intact --and is poised to rebound sooner carryi ng the lessons of youth.

I hope the likes of Lt. San Juan will inspire young people to stand by their ideals, in a time when minds are easily swayed by what money can buy and whereever their comfort processing zones lie.

Of course the youth, including myself, should also listen to the wisdom of old taking more caution and foresight.

(From "Joannah", who sends me daily inspiring messages via SMS: "Not one of us can bring back yesterday or shape tomorrow. Only today is ours and won't be hours for long. Once gone, it will never be ours again. So make the best of everyday!" Of course God owns time, He knows us best being our Creator and He has a plan for all of us, so turning to God-Allah-Mambabaya can still change the picture, I'm sure. Right?)

Musings: The media, government, and the public (according to me)

2006-07-14T19:59:00.000+08:00

Goodness gracious.

I’m thankful for a lot things. My being a practicing journalist in a full time job is one thing. (Of course that’s only ideal, our news cooperative actually expects us members to perform multi-tasks.)

This job is a personal passion. I have always wanted doing this for various reasons. Once, I confessed this passion to a friend who was with me at the UP Visayas college student council back in 1996. I told her that being a UP student, whose tuition fee was paid by the people, I will really return to the people and do whatever is accessible.

Of course that’s not the only reason why I’m here toiling a daily routine to write about public issues. To me, this is really service, not even looking at a nationalist point of view. Even just by looking at the needs of people in my neighborhood imprisoned by poverty, that‘s my kind of point of view. Besides, I come from this kind of people. In fact, I still am one of these people.

Call this a selfish endeavor. But this is actually how I try to connect myself to a myriad of realities that my eyes could see and my ears could hear.

In short, as a passion, writing is my own way of trying to matter. Others call it their contribution. But that might b e to o assuming. For all you know, that contribution actually did not really matter.

I don’t really pose myself as a hero for the public’s need and right to know. I am only trying to do my little share of the big task to help people understand, including myself and my family. I am aware that what I’m doing is not enough, and there is a need to connect it to a larger collective of efforts, not necessarily synchronized, but going towards a common direction.

You who is reading this might agree or disagree, but at this point of time we all are doing
something for society in different forms and using different means or vehicles. There are those who work with the government—the bureaucrats, the politicians, the academe, the private and business sector, the military, the rebel groups, the religious, the activists, and all the other groups.

You belong to where you belong I belong to the media. And despite the many faces of the media: some are corrupt, some heroic, others dead, lucky, and the others quick; the media has a role to play.

The media serves as a representative of the peoples’ right to know! That is not a self-imposed duty but one that is constitutionally mandated.

What did Article 3 Section 4 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution tell us? (Unless “some” peoples initiative have already changed this constitution):

“No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press , or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress or grievances.”

Yes, it did not say so in that section, but the right of the people to a freedom of the press, guarantees the role of the media in pursuing other freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution to every citizen!

Especially, government officials, they must know the importance of addressing the media (and the public in general) properly.

Lest they forget that the real boss in government are the people, for whom the media reports.

Musings: Rain, rain go away ...

2006-07-13T22:44:00.000+08:00

...and go to where you are needed most!

Talk about rainy season and its really here.

This noon, I was complaining about the Davao heat to Manang Magda, the waitress at my "suki" food stop in Matina. While some people are suffering landslide in northern Philippines and heavy rains in most parts of the country, we are in this heat!

She did not serve me my frebbie hot soup, instead, offered If I want more ice for my water. Then she reminded me that Davao is typhoon-free, so I shouldn't worry about typhoons but I have to bear the heat as well. Well, well. I know we won't get everything right all at once. Right?

And, well, you've guessed it. Rain fell heavily tonight! For one of Murphy's laws: "It is fundamental law of nature, nothing ever quite works out".

As usual, the roads of Matina are flooded and GSIS Village, where I live is isolated from the rest of Davao! That's an exaggeration, but this is really the meaning of rain to me here--flood!

I hope our flood control and water disposal systems in the city would be better. That 's why I was really thankful it did not rain so hard during the ASEAN Tourism Forum in January. Hopefully rain should go away too come Kadawayan sa Dabaw 2006!

I pray it would rain more in the farmlands where much rainwater is needed for natural irrigation (although, hopefully, not much water in plantations where too much water could spoil the crops as well.)

I hope rain could make Mindanao produce more fruits, vegetables and food to feed the hungry. And also, so we have more produce to display to local and foreign tourists especially during festivals like Kadawayan!

[NEWS] Pinoys among lowest consumers of vegetables in Asia

2006-07-12T17:43:00.000+08:00

(Here is a big slap for people in an agricultural country like ours. But I think this is true, indeed. People cook more meat (and processed at that in an increasing rate) and plant less vegetables in their backyards. We ar e becoming syntheti c eaters . Great dependents of processed foods mixed with tons of preservatives . Is this why we are getting more sickly by t he hour and that our life expectancy rate is just above half that of China and Japan? wew!)

DAVAO CITY (Courtesy of MindaNews/11 July) -- With an annual per capita vegetable
consumption of only 40 kilograms as of 2003, Filipinos are among the lowest consumers of vegetables in Asia, according to an official of the National Nutrition Council (NNC). Consumption rate has reportedly been going down since 1978.

Maria Lourdes A. Vega, chief of the NNC's nutrition information and education division, told MindaNews Tuesday the declining vegetable consumption has pushed them to create a national strategic plan to increase vegetable consumption to at least 50 percent in 2010 as domestic production of vegetable also went down.

Vega led an NNC team to present and draw local actions in response to Davao stakeholders from July 10-11 at the Grand Men Seng Hotel.

Vega used data from the 2003 Food and Nutrition Institute (FNRI) Survey, which recommended that the Philippines should have at least 69 kg per capita annual vegetable table consumption.

In contrast, China has a per capita vegetable consumption of 250 kg per year, the highest in the world. Vietnamese, on the other hand, consumed 54 kg per capita in 2000.

The declining vegetable consumption, Vega said, is among the major factors in the increase of incidence of illnesses in the country. In 2002, the World Health Organization (WHO) said low vegetable intake is estimated to cause some 2.7 million deaths each year, and was among
the top 10 risk factors contributing to mortality.

WHO reported there is strong and growing evidence that sufficient consumption of fruits and vegetables helps prevent many diseases and promotes good health, but large parts of the world's population consume too little of these.

Vega cited that the top reasons for the declining vegetable consumption include the low importance given to vegetables, the perception of time-consuming preparation of vegetables, and that vegetables are not acceptable to some. Among the reasons for the "non-acceptability" of vegetables is the low knowledge of its nutritional values, people are not accustomed to eat vegetables and the perception that some vegetables are not palatable.

Vega showed, using an NNC presentation, that Filipinos are not generally health conscious and that educational campaigns about vegetable consumption are not sustained. That is why, she said, there is low knowledge about the nutritional value of vegetables.

The factors that affect "palatability" of vegetables also include the freshness of vegetables available in the market and the lack of skill to prepare varied and appetizing recipes, Vega pointed out.

She cited the skills of the Chinese and the Thai in cooking and presenting their vegetable recipes. She encouraged Filipinos to develop more vegetable recipes.

There is also a stigma against eating vegetables in the Philippines, Vega said, citing that vegetables are linked to "incompetence," as in the use of terms like "nangamote" (sweet potato, for "not getting anything"), "mukhang lantang gulay" (vegetable for "ugliness") and
"kalabasa" award (squash for shameful acts).

"The stigma that vegetables are only for the poor and the incompetent should be taken away," she said.

There is a close relationship between the decreasing vegetable consumption and the decreasing vegetable production in the country, Vega said, but stressed there is more problem than production.

The other reasons why Filipino adults have low consumption of vegetables is preference for meat. Since 1978, Filipinos have also increasingly become meat-eaters with an increasing trend of the share of food from animal sources from 20.3 percent in 1978 to 28 percent in
2003, according to a report in the FNRI website.

Many Filipinos, according to a problem tree developed by the Davao stakeholders, also feared that vegetables have chemicals and pesticides. They also cited peculiar cultural beliefs against eating vegetables and the perception that vegetables, especially in the urbanized areas, are "expensive."

The group cited the increasing preference for fast-food and instant foods as a reason for the decreasing vegetable consumption.

Nerissa Babaran, an NNC nutrition officer, said they aim to increase the per capita vegetable consumption from 40 to 60 kg by 2010 and to focus first on key vegetables dishes like pinakbet, chopsuey and green leafy and yellow vegetables in key areas, namely, Metro Davao, Metro Cebu and Metro Manila and in select nutritionally depressed towns in Camarines Sur, Albay, Samar, Lanao del Norte and Cotabato.

The NNC plans to work with the vegetable industry for a stable supply of the key vegetables. It also intends to work to enhance acceptability vegetables, reduce importation to boost local
production, improve the quality and availability of locally produced vegetables in the market, expand existing export markets for asparagus, shallots, yellow granex and "okra" and open new and alternative markets for other vegetables. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)

Reaction: For the greater benefit of the public

2006-07-11T19:25:00.000+08:00

I find joy in reporting. One reason is I look at how my reports help the public in general. In return, my exposure to public issues also help me understand my surroundings. This will also guide me in how I could properly interact with others.

Everytime I face a public official or a private citizen representing an entity, I look at them as people who strive to make the public understand the world better. Either they talk to the media to inform, to convince, to guide or to encourage, I respond to them with due respect.

There are instances however when they make me lose my respect. Like when they are not telling the truth as shown by the choice of words they use , their gestures that lacked sincerity and also by the sheer sound of their voice. Among them are some politicians whose goal is to gain the "pogi" points for himself and to throw mud to his opponents.

I also do not like public relations (PR) practitioners who only want to "execute" a complan and face the media with transparent desires to just get the message across never mind if they are not understood at all. With a recent experience, a PR practitioner for a new petrol product, thanked the media for coming and said, "though I have expected that the major media networks were present." I cringed at the sight of her smile after uttering those words.

That's when she announced that the petrol executives talking to the media were leaving right away, cutting off an "ambush" interview with the reporters. Then she said "anyway, snacks is served outside". mailto:#@$^*&!

That was really one place to walk out from, and I did. I remembered a decision I made after a retreat: If I know that there is nothing else I could say or do but bad things, I would have to say or do nothing and walk out.

Obviously, she was either a neophyte or just plainly rude.

But they don't have to be politicians who lie and serve only their own interests or output-oriented PR people. What I really do not like most is when public officials or private citizens face the media with just "slogan" statements and qoutable words without backing it up with facts and figures.

I feel insulted when these people call for a meeting with the press to present an idea, event or plan; and yet could not provide data or at least assure reporters the same could be provided right away.

I know the media has the duty to verify and clarify statements and to balance the story by asking many sources. I advocate for the media to research more and prepare for the stories at hand. But many of these media-attention hungry people actually look down on reporters. They think the media would just believe them for their words' worth.

I believe the others, yes. But I still think officials talking to reporters should prepare too. The media won't bite and are friendly, but it really takes two to tango.

I really do hope people who call for press conferences should equip themselves with the facts and figures to back their claims.

If their intention is really to seek the media's help in increasing knowledge and understanding about a public matter, they must also commit to help the media report about it intelligently.

If they have minimum respect to the media, they should at least look at respecting the public, for whom the media works.

Well, if peoples' goal is only to impress the public about their rhetorics and their motherhood
statements and bait the media to sensationalise for them, or to sow confusion if not conflicts, then they can choose to spin shunning a factual presentation.

I'm sure I'll be one of the many journalists who will pick their pitch --and drop it in the garbage bin.

Updates: I'm back blogging ....

2006-07-10T14:09:00.000+08:00

...after three days of silence.

There are so many things to blog about but mean time allow me to post this for those who have relatives anywhere in the country who are graduating from high school this year! Ask them to try taking advantage of UP education ...but let them take the UPCAT first.

Deadline for UP admission exam on July 15 (Courtesy of www.mindanews.com)

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/08 July) – Want to be an “Iskolar ng Bayan?”Graduating high school students have until July 15 to file their applicationto take the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT) onAugust 5 and 6 at the UP Mindanao campus in Mintal.

According to a press statement from the UP-Min’s Information Office, thefive-hour examination covers Language Proficiency, Reading Comprehension, Mathand Science. The morning session starts at 6:30 a.m. while the afternoonsession starts at 12:30. Applicants are required to be at the testing centerat least 30 minutes before the exam.

The press statement said graduating high school students are “advised todirectly mail” to the Office of Admissions, University of the Philippines,Diliman, Quezon City the following requirements:- correctly and completely accomplished UPCAT Forms 1 and 2; - four 2" x 2" identical recent photographs taken within the last 6 months; - non-refundable application fee of P450 and - self-addressed stamped envelope Exempted from paying the application fee are “UPCAT applicants whose parentshave an annual gross income of Pl00,000 and/or are one of the top tenprospective graduates of public high schools as of the end of SY 2005-2006.”For more information, call Prof. Karen Joyce G. Cayamanda, UniversityRegistrar of UP in Mindanao at 082- 2930201. (MindaNews)

[NEWS] Cheap, practical trainings open for new, small entrepreneurs

2006-07-08T01:09:00.000+08:00

(Courtesy of MindaNews news service. One good news for micro-small enterprises ---!}

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 7 July) – What can your P150 buy?

Lunch for two at a fastfood chain or watch a movie with a friend? With
P150 you can also attend a training on cinnamon and ensaymada-baking,
and maybe start your own business.

This and 11 other practical trainings for micro- and small enterprises
are open to the public at affordable registration fees, local business
leader, Sofronio Jucutan has announced here Friday. Jucutan, past
president of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCCI),
is the over-all head of the committee preparing for the Small and
Medium Enterprise Week, to be held here July 17-21.

Jucutan heads the public-private sector council for Davao City's Small
and Medium Enterprise Development (SMED), with the DCCCI, city
government, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and other
organizations.

The trainings this year have basic courses on community and
self-managed enterprise, on preparing a business plan, and on
intellectual property rights for SMEs, as well as knowing the basic of
industrial and human relations.

There are also specialization trainings on packaging and marketing of
ethnic commodities, energy audit forum for SMEs, business prospects of
medical transcription, business registration forum, designing an
accounting system and filing, and income tax return, seminar on
emerging food safety issues, and the forum on information and
technology (IT) solutions for SMEs.
.

The one-session courses would be held in the function rooms of the
DTI, University of the Philippines in Mindanao, Ateneo de Davao
University, and in other venues.

SMED also offers monthly courses on other fields, Jucutan told
MindaNews, such as the 10-session "How to Start a Business"
entrepreneurial development course. The course is P1,500 per session.

The registration fees for the SME week trainings range from P100 to
P750 only per course.

The course offering would be expected to encounter some problems,
mainly attitudinal. Jucutan said many micro- and small entrepreneurs
"want it [a course] always free, but they really have to invest on
it".

"We have to train so that there will be more business and more
employment too," he said.

Since 2000, SMED has organized trainings during the annual Small and
Medium Enterprise Week, said Jacky Flores, SMED's aide for training
and consultancy. Flores said around 1,500 home and community-based
micro and small entrepreneurs have attended different courses.

Jucutan said that the trainings are intended to help SMEs which "have
difficulty competing with branded products". But the bigger problem
among these enterprises was access to capitalization, he added.

Meanwhile, Jucutan said that "there are already mechanisms taken to
aid SMEs gain more access to capital and lessen barriers, like
offering tax holidays" although they still have to face constraints in
access like "track record" in obtaining loans.

According to the National Statistics Office, of the 35,886
micro-small-medium enterprises in Southern Mindanao as of 2001, about
91.4 percent were micro enterprises, or those whose capital are below
P3 million. Small enterprises, with P3 million to P50 million
capitalization, made up 7.8 percent. Both the medium scale
enterprises, with P50 million to P100 million capitalization, and the
large companies barely made up one percent of the number of
enterprises in Southern Mindanao. (Walter I. Balane / MindaNews)

[NEWS] Maguindanao standoff ends with 3-day "no movement" agreement

2006-07-07T09:32:00.000+08:00

(Note: Alas, this should give us a breather, both space and time for our peaceworkers from all sides to help solve this problem and buy time to prevent another long and big war from erupting, which could possibly undermine all efforts and gains to peace in Mindanao. )

By Carolyn O. Arguillas / MindaNews (Courtesy of MindaNews news service)
SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao (MindaNews/06 July) – Armed skirmishes in
Maguindanao towns have temporarily stopped as government and the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) agreed to a three-day "no movement on
all sides" policy requiring the CVOs (Civilian Volunteers
Organization), CAFGUs (Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit
(CAFGUs), the military and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)
not to launch "offensive movements" to allow for the Joint Ceasefire
Committees to verify the actual situation on the ground and "isolate"
those who are disturbing the peace.

At the same time, Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan also ordered the
pull-out of his armed CVOs from the contested area, Jesus Dureza,
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and the President's emissary
to the Ampatuans, said.

Retired general Ramon Santos, head of the government's Coordinating
Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) and undersecretary of
the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, explained
that it will not just be the Joint CCCH that will do the verification
on the ground and determine the area where they can assure civilians
no armed element can enter there without the permission of the Joint
CCCH and the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team (IMT) but the
expanded team – the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring and Assistance team –
to include the grassroots-based Bantay Ceasefire (Ceasefire Watch) and
humanitarian agencies.

Dureza said a buffer zone will be set up to ensure the CVOs and MILF
troops are "not within shouting match or sniffing match."

He announced the agreement before the province's 15 town mayors,
immediately after a 40-minute closed door conference with Maguindanao
Governor Ampatuan and his son, Datu Zaldy, the governor of the
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The briefing was held at
the "sub-office" of the province located inside the residential
compound of the Maguindanao governor.

Dureza said the President gave him two missions – to extend her
gratitude to both the government and MILF forces for exerting efforts
to prevent the escalation of the conflict and to express her
condolences to the governor who lost his security escorts to a bombing
on June 23 here; and to "find means to ensure the conflict ends."

Dureza said that after three days, the two sides will again meet to
assess "how to complete the arrangement to stop skirmishes."

He declined to call the three-day "no movement" agreement a ceasefire.
"We have an existing ceasefire (with the MILF)," he said.

Dureza also said a warrant of arrest had been issued against the
suspects of the June 23 bombing.

The warrant lists "Ameril Umbra Kato, Wahid Tundok, Sahid Pakiladatu,
Abu Nabrie Benito, Baguindali Abdullah, Kagui Macmod, et al" as
suspects.

"Under the law… they are just suspects. … they are still presumed
innocent," Dureza said.

The Ampatuan camp says the suspects are MILF members.

Earlier reports noted that the armed clashes started on June 28 when
the CVOs and police of the Maguindanao governor reportedly set out to
serve the warrant of arrest on the suspects.

The government and MILF, however, had signed a Joint Communiqué on May
6, 2002, allowing for the creation of a Joint Action Group to allow
the MILF to help in pursuing after criminal elements in the so-called
MILF areas.

"We have handed over the warrant of arrest to the Joint Ceasefire
Committee because we already have that mechanism in an agreement with
the MILF," Dureza said, explaining the May 6, 2002 Joint Communiqué.

"Let us give the committee the chance to do its work," Dureza said.

Dureza, who told the mayors that he knows they "mobilized their CVOs,"
appealed to the mayors "to toe the line. Let's allow the ceasefire
committee work it out. Later on, we will meet and assess, where are
we, what were the problems, where do we go from here?"

Dureza noted the formula "will not give miracles" and will not mean
the problem is immediately solved.

"Let's take it one step at a time," he said, adding "in the meantime,
we appeal to everyone not to launch offensive actions. Keep your boys
in your respective areas."

Dureza also said displaced villagers will be attended to. At least
4,000 families have been displaced by the clashes. (Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews)

[NEWS] Standoff in 4 Maguindanao towns continues; Dureza off to Aguak

2006-07-06T08:39:00.000+08:00

By Carolyn O. Arguillas / MindaNews
(Courtesy of MindaNews news service)

COTABATO CITY (MindaNews/05 July) -- The Presidential Adviser on the
Peace Process will meet with Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan tomorrow
(Thursday) "to work out how to stop the skirmishes" in four
Maguindanao towns from escalating and threatening the peace process
between government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Attempts by the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team (IMT),
Joint Ceasefire Committee and civil society groups to end the standoff
have failed and Ampatuan's spokesperson, Engr. Norie Unas, warned
today that "this can escalate beyond Maguindanao."

"Armed encounters are still going on. And the evacuees, there are a
lot of evacuees. We are attending to the sufferings of both armed
elements and the civilians," Unas told MindaNews.

Asked how many persons had been killed in the clashes, Unas replied,
"no idea yet."

"What is alarming now," he said, "is the demonstrated sympathy of
mayors who sent their troops to fight side by side against the
terrorists."

He said 16 of 28 Maguindanao mayors had "sent their troops," referring
to CVOs (civilian volunteer organizations).

CVOs are supposed to be unarmed. The armed militia, known as the
Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU), are territorial and
are supposed to be confined only within their specified area of
jurisdiction, e.g. their barangay.

The armed clashes started on June 28, five days after a bombing in
Shariff Aguak town, Gov. Ampatuan's hometown. The governor was
unharmed but five of his aides were killed. The Autonomous Region in
Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), however, says in its press statements that
seven were killed.

Unas said "many are saying the target was the governor and his family."

The governor's camp named the suspects as Ameril Ombra, allegedly of
the MILF's Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces' 105th Base Command and
Said Pakiladatu, allegedly also of the same command.

Unas said Pakiladatu was also among the suspects in the December 2002
bombing which killed Datu Saudi, mayor-son of the governor.

Pakiladatu's wife was gunned down in Cotabato City at noon today.

The police personnel, CAFGUs and CVOs were reportedly going to arrest
the two suspects on June 28, triggering the clashes.

Unas said "to a larger extent, the bombing was attributed to some
members of the MILF, not the organization but some members who are
linked to terrorists."

If the two suspects are served their warrants of arrest, he said, they
would be given due process.

"But we should look at the broader spectrum," he said, asking, "are
they (MILF) really sincere or are they blackmailing the government?"

Unas noted that the Ampatuans are "the last bastion of pro-government"
yet they are "being sidelined."

"Time and again," he said, "the regional and provincial governments
are in support of the peace process. Had we not been supporting the
peace process, things would have been worse."

The MILF, Unas added, imagines itself as an organization undertaking
reforms "pero ginagawa na ng leadership dito sa province (but the
leadership of the province is already doing that) in a very civil and
non-violent way."

Unas said they will agree to a ceasefire only if the suspects are
turned over to them, "justice is served" and the MILF elements "move
out of our territory."

The ARMM's Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) in a special
meeting on July 3, urged President Arroyo to "direct the Philippine
National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to
take an active and fast action against the perpetrators of the June
23, 2006 bombing in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao."

The resolution also called on the government peace panel "to implore the MILF to make good
their commitment to help bring criminals/terrorists to answer for
their acts." The government and MILF peace panels, in a Joint
Communique on May 6, 2002, set up a Joint Action Group that would go
after kidnap-for-ransom groups and other criminal elements in the
so-called MILF areas. (Carolyn O. Arguillas / MindaNews)

[NEWS] BFAD urges public to help in drive vs. fake medicines

2006-07-06T00:50:00.000+08:00

(Thanks to MindaNews news service.)

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/5 July) -- The Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD)
has called on the public to assist in the drive against fake medicines
by reporting "suspicious" drugs in the market as a city councilor here
raised on Wednesday an alarm against the proliferation of counterfeit
drugs.
Arnold Alendada, food and drugs regulation officer of BFAD-Southern
Mindanao, urged the public "to be vigilant against fake drugs and
report such incidents to BFAD for investigation."

He advised customers to keep the official receipt of the transaction
because it is useful in the complaint against fake drugs.

BFAD is encouraging the consumers to help, Alendada said, as they only
have six field inspectors to monitor at least 800 drug stores and
distributors around the region. He said BFAD organized its personnel
around the region into teams to inspect the drug stores per locality
instead of asking them to go alone.

Alendada said despite the manpower constraint, the inspectors
discovered recently that there are drug stores in Davao City that sell
products suspected to be fake. He added that a number of drugstores in
Davao City have already been closed for selling fake drugs.

He said that the regional office of BFAD could only monitor, collect
samples and report "suspicious drugs" to their central office in
Alabang (Muntinlupa City), which would then conduct tests to verify if
the medicines are fake.

Davao City Councilor Pilar Braga briefed reporters Wednesday about a
resolution she passed to the city council on July 4 asking health
authorities and the police to "look into the reported proliferation of
fake drugs in the city."

Braga cited a report from the World Health Organization (WHO) that
most of the fake medicines are fast-selling multivitamins and
antibiotics. The WHO report estimated that between 6 to 10 percent of
medicines in the world market are fake and is also most serious in
developing countries like the Philippines.

Braga's resolution expressed the need to check supply of counterfeit
drugs in the local market citing reports that such medicines continue
to be widely available at "bargain basement prices." The lady
councilor cited the need to educate consumers on the dangers of buying
fake drugs and encouraged them to buy only from reliable drug stores.

Braga told reporters that fake medicines pose a serious threat to the
health of people. Her privilege speech during the July 4 regular
session of the city council was entitled "Fake medicine, fake health."

Internet postings on fake drugs reveal their dangers, including loss of lives.

Braga said fake medicines either have correct ingredients yet packaged
by unregistered firms, wrong ingredients, inactive ingredients and
insufficient active ingredients.

Alendada said it is difficult to equip fully the public on identifying
fake medicines but if they suspect the medicine to be different from
the usual stock they bought, they have to report it.

He said that oftentimes the appearance of the packaging of fake
medicines are different from the registered one. Another sign is the
poor quality of printing of the packaging. He also advised consumers
to watch closely if there is absence or distortion of the expiration
date, lot or batch numbers. (Walter I. Balane / MindaNews)

[NEWS] Disaster preparedness: Kibawe residents asked to vacate landslide-prone areas

2006-07-05T01:26:00.000+08:00

diwalwal pic
Originally uploaded by waltzib.

(DAVAO CITY) – Residents in four villages in Kibawe, Bukidnon have been asked to vacate their houses after environment officials declared their area across the Pulangi River risky and prone to landslide, the municipal public information officer said.

A total of 74 families or 346 persons from Puroks 1, 2, 3 and Sitio Lumbayan in Brgy. Magsaysay were advised to vacate the area by the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Northern Mindanao, Baldomero E. Baldomero, municipal PIO told MindaNews in a telephone interview Tuesday.

Apparently because there is no relocation area as yet, the residents in the danger zone have not moved out.

Baldomero said the local government of Kibawe and the province of Bukidnon have already prepared a contingency plan. “We are finalizing a relocation area and we plan to move people soon,” he said.

Since June 18, Baldomero said, residents and school personnel from the barangay reported cracks on the ground. Baldomero said government geologists also noted that in some areas, the ground collapsed to as deep as 300 centimeters to a meter.

Already, seven houses made of light materials had been destroyed in the danger zone due to these cracks.

Baldomero said geologists cited as a factor the area’s soil type – sandy loam – which dried up in summer, causing cracks. With the onset of the rainy season, rainwater seeped into the cracks and softened the base. An earthquake, Baldomero said, was counted out as a cause.

The cracks have damaged houses, barangay buildings, basketball court and classrooms.

Baldomero said classes were suspended in Magsaysay Elementary School on June 18, when teachers decided that the cracks on the walls of the classroom and deformities in door frames posed danger to the students. Classes were resumed in a makeshift classroom in another village a few days later.

"If rains will continue, we are afraid that this might have tragic results just like that in Leyte," Baldomero said.

He said the ground cracks were observed in a six hectare-area in Kibawe and that cracks as long as a kilometer extending up to Kitaotao, an adjacent town, have been found.

Baldomero said the local government has been trained to respond and prepare for disasters. But he stressed the need to have more trainings and preparations. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)

Photo by Skippy Lumawag: Rural scene in a rainy day.

Updates: No one wins; everybody loses in war

2006-07-04T01:32:00.000+08:00

Any mouth-watering "war journalist" would find experiences around many parts of the country these days as "news worthy" spectacles. For them, this could be a season of "war stories". It's a pity we still have people like them, who has the tendency to focus only on the "acts of war" and its dynamics, and not to its effect to civilians, for example.

Especially if you look closer at the Mindanao situation were peace is challenged in many corners, with continuing and emerging fronts in relationships with the leftists rebels, the Moro rebels, the terrorist threat, among others and should I also include the degree of un-peacefullness that the American soldiers' presence have caused?

Newsworthy indeed, but for any journalist from Mindanao who is in Mindanao, whose family and friends are in Mindanao, many of them in those conflict areas, its horrible. If one could hear the appeal of people against un-peace, against evacuations, against trauma and against physical, economic, and socio-cultural displacement; there is nothing spectacular in this.

This is a challenging time to go extra mile in making sure the stories that matter get through to save lives and relationships. This is sharply a painful experience, what with the gains of peace talks and other efforts to bridge divides. What with the aspirations of the people for better lives.

If the parties to the conflict would use only the lens of military advances, enemy under control, and conquered camps, then it is possible for a victor to rise.

Unfortunately, military action has never been the cure to the problems of un-peacefulness (including the fact that it is also not a solution to the causes of un-peace), especially in Mindanao. It only breeds more conflicts, deep penetrating wounds and long standing divisions.

I believe, at the end of the day, NO ONE WINS, EVERYBODY LOSES in war. Fr. Robert Layson, who was parish priest of Pikit, North Cotabato, a town caught in the midst of wars in Mindanao, puts it aptly in his book's title: "In war, the real enemy is war itself."

[From MindaNews news service. Not yet available in www.mindanews.com as of 1:44 a.m. July 4].

Blog monitoring the ceasefire
Originally uploaded by waltzib.

“Stop the war, save the evacuees!”

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/03 July) – Local and international NGOs and humanitarian agencies in Mindanao have called on President Arroyo to “listen to the raging cries of our people for peace, justice and respect for human dignity and order all government forces to still their guns,” as they appealed to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to “exercise restraint, continue to observe the ceasefire and allow the Joint Ceasefire Committee to help normalize
the situation.”

The groups made the frantic call “stop the war, save the civilians, save the evacuees,” to allow for relief goods to reach an estimated 2,000 families displaced by war and in some towns, also by floods.

“We are especially concerned with the situation of some 2,000 evacuee-families who have yet to receive any relief assistance. Relief organizations, including even government agencies, have not been allowed to get near the affected communities, where the refugees are stuck even as they try to be mobile. Both the government and the MILF could not assure the securit y of relief workers. Not even the usually effective Joint MILF and Government Ceasefire Committee nor the International Monitoring Team is able to penetrate the actual zones of fighting,” the statement dated July 2, read.

The statement noted that while the country was focusing on the Pacquiao-Larios boxing fight last Sunday, “over a thousand evacuee-families—women, children and elderly have meanwhile been uprooted in five of the nine barangays that have been partly submerged in water with the flood from the downpours the past
days.”

“The ensuing flood is the least of the evacuees’ worries. What they really dread is the rain of mortars, bullets and bombs that have been the bane of this land almost all their lives,” the statement read.

Fighting in the area began evening of June 28 between armed civilian volunteers (CVOs) of Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan and armed men believed to be members of the MILF, purportedly in retaliation for the June 23 ambush on the governor in Shariff Aguak, their hometown. The governor was unharmed but five of his companions were killed. The governor’s camp blamed the bombing on the MILF; the MILF denied the allegation.

Mohagher Iqbal, chair of the MILF peace panel, told MindaNews Monday evening that the MILF is “still on the defensive,” as he also expressed “hope the fighting stops.” The MILF Central Committee, he said, has come out with a four-point formula they had presented to the government side, as follows: “as soon as the Army-backed CAFGUs stop their attacks, MILF will agree to a ceasefire immediately; to return the evacuees immediately (to their villages);
to cooperate through the ceasefire committees to investigate the (June 23) bombing; and MILF does not consider Andal as an enemy.”

The usual mechanisms created by the two peace panels – the Joint
Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities and the International Monitoring Team – tried but failed to stop the hostilities.

“From only two barangays affected on the first day of the encounters to a total of nine villages in only a span of some 36 hours, local folk and civil society organizations are fearful that the ongoing battle indeed, has the potential ingredients of escalating to a full-blown war making it more difficult to control the forces involved if they do not immediately disengage,” the joint statement noted.

Among the 24 statement signatories are the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society, Bantay Ceasefire, Mindanao PeaceWeavers, Oxfam GB, Peace Advocates Zamboanga, Mindanao Peoples’ Caucus. (MindaNews)

[NEWS] LGUs have most number of graft cases in Mindanao

2006-07-03T01:58:00.000+08:00

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/02 July) -- Personnel from local government units (LGUs) topped the list of government workers with the most number of cases filed before the Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao, lawyer Gay Maggie Violan told some 30 mayors who attended the 1st Conference on Integrity and Good Governance.

Violan, senior graft investigator and chief, Public Assistance Unit of the Office of the Ombudsman in Mindanao, told participants in Thursday's conference that from 1988 to June 17, 2004, a total of 19,146 administrative and criminal cases were filed against LGU personnel around Mindanao's 25 provinces and 27 cities. About 75% of these cases, however, were dismissed.

Municipal and city councilors topped the list of LGU personnel with nearly 2,500 facing charges before the Ombudsman from 1989 to 2003, based on a bar graph Violan showed to MindaNews.

Closely following the councilors are mayors, barangay captains, teachers, and school principals.

The list also ranked from fifth to tenth places barangay councilors, treasurers, police officers, regional directors, accountants, and vice mayors.

Of the top ten cases filed before the Ombudsman's Office in Mindanao, violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act topped, at 6,052 cases; followed by malversation (1,709 cases) and falsification (1,352 cases). This was followed by misconduct and grave misconduct (1,067 cases), violations against Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards (914 cases), dishonesty (508 cases), estafa (498 cases), abuse of authority and grave abuse (459 cases), negligence and neglect of duty (264 cases) and physical injuries (261).

Among the acts that constitute graft and corrupt practices are “persuading another public officer to perform an act constituting an offense or violation of rules and regulations, allowing himself to be persuaded, requesting or receiving gift, present, share, percentage or benefits in connection with any contract or transaction, and requesting or receiving any gift, present, or any benefit for any help given or to be given in securing or obtaining any government permit or license.”

Violan told MindaNews on June 30 that one of the factors why the LGUs top the list is because it has the most number of personnel compared with other sectors.

Following the LGUs are the Department of Education with 3,659 cases involving its personnel and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) with 2,309 cases.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) ranked fourth with 1,494 cases; Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) with 1,221 cases; the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) with 753 and Department of Agriculture with 465.

The DepEd cases involve not only administrative staff but also teachers, Violan said.
Violan said that from 2004 to May 2006, LGUs and DepEd continued to top the list of agencies with the most number of personnel with graft cases.

But Violan said 77 percent or 12,118 of the 16,212 criminal cases filed before the Ombudsman from 1988 to May 2006 were dismissed. Only 23 percent or 3,687 were heard in either Sandiganbayan or the regular courts.

In the same period, 86 percent of the total 5,556 administrative cases were dismissed and only 774 of the cases led to punishment. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)

Sunday Reflections: In the middle of the world

2006-07-02T15:00:00.000+08:00

CLP
Originally uploaded by waltzib.

Meeting acquaintances from the past could make you reflect, and reflect deeply.

This Sunday, I went to the third installment of the talk series for Lingkod’s Christian Life Program (CLP). Since I arrived late, and there were around 40 new faces in the crowd, I decided to renew my ties with the “silent committee”. I stayed in the far corner, sipped a cup of black coffee while listening and had my peace. Or so I thought.

Tony, a Lingkod brother who works at the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) gave a hearty and meaty talk on the “Mission of Jesus Christ”.

As the session ended and people greeted each other, I managed to say hellos to my friends, until a guy from among the participants blurted out: “You look familiar! I think I know you from Iloilo!”.

Oh boy, occasions like this, make me shiver. Did this guy see me when I arrived late for my boat to Iloilo from Cagayan de Oro in June 1996? The coast guard, now it can be told, made me jump to the tow boat just so I could catch the trip. As I landed on the starboard side, people in the Negros Navigation vessel clapped their hands in jeers! Was he among them?

Did he seat beside me in one of those trips when I was snoring loud in the jeep when I attended classes in UP's two campuses in Iloilo between 1994 and 1999? Was he among my students when I taught economics there?

I wondered if I have "amnesia" but I managed a smile. Alas, Dex introduced himself as a schoolmate in Miagao, Iloilo. He sensed that I forgot (that was almost 10 years ago!) so he reminded me that we were classmates in Political Science 11 under Prof. Teddy Ledesma. Classes under Ted, as we called him, were relatively smaller, because, he was among Miag-ao’s known “terror”- mentors.

His reputation included the supposed teacher of the only subject where now Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago failed in UP Visayas. Mindanawons who studied in UP Visayas, in a time when there was still no UP Mindanao; would know what I’m talking about.

I connected with that reference right away. But I was worried how he could have remembered me. I felt so sorry I couldn't remember his name and face.

“You were among Ted’s favorite students,” he said. I know he was kidding. Ted gave us hell every meeting. He liked to “terrorize” students and I was one of them. But I was lucky I passed my two subjects with him, Pol Sci 11 and also Science, Technology, and Society (STS). His "assault" method in teaching contributed in my formation to think critically and also not to fear my mentors. But that doesn't mean to be also cynical, of course.

Anyway, Dex left right away for his Bar exams review class. As he was leaving, he asked: “What are you doing here? Are you a member of this group? Why?

I could have answered his questions, but he has left.

Why not? Why shouldn’t I be in a Charismatic community praising God, especially on a Sunday? Why did he sound so surprised to see his political science classmate in a Christian Life Program?

I don't want to prejudge Dex. I know the meeting was a surprise in the first place. Imagine he was from Iloilo. He also did not know, perhaps, that I am from Mindanao.

But he could be among those people who think that Church service should be left only to those who have nothing else to do in their lives, those who were not able to go to school, and those retiring amd tired senior citizens.

I walked home with that thought. I think we all were called to make God’s love real in our society, specifically in the communities where we live and work. Some of us were called to preach, just like the priests and the pastors. But all of us were called to make use of our work to show God’s love to his peoples. There is "s" in that word. That's because, especially in the Mindanao context, the approach should be open and inter-faith, both to non-Catholics and non-Christians like our Muslim brothers and sisters.

I have reflected that loving God and doing our work should go hand in hand. How we act as spiritual people should be visible also in how we act as economic and social animals.

Also, seeing myself worried about how Dex would remember me, as we met almost 10 years ago, made me think about what kind of life I was living 10 years ago? Did I do good?

On the other hand, it also made me think of who I will become 10 years from now. Will I still be here? Will people remember me for any good deed? Will I be a help or a menace?

Looking behind 10 years ago and looking forward 10 years from now, I asked: Lord, did I serve my purpose? Am I on the right path? What are my good deeds? Bad deeds? What things do I need to improve? How can I serve better?

“Lord, Thank you for everything. If you will, you can make me clean. Make me a worthy instrument, Lord. A work in progress. I know you equip, as you call.”

Let this be my prayer. Amen.

Updates: Corruption in Mindanao

2006-07-01T21:22:00.000+08:00

(Note: These are some notable facts and figures I am using in an upcoming article on Corruption in Mindanao. Most of the figures were those reported as of June 2004. Updates are under request at the Office of the Ombudsman in Mindanao, Davao City.)

Graft and corruption defined
Graft is the acquisition of gain or advantage by dishonest, unfair or sordid means; the Office of the Ombudsman defines, especially through the abuse of one’s position or influence.

Corruption, on the other hand, is any act done with an intent to give some advantage inconsistent with official duty and the rights of others.

“To corrupt a person is to influence him or her by improper means.”

Anti-graft laws in the country include Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic 3019), Law on Forfeiture of Unlawfully Acquired Properties (R.A. 1379), and Republic Act 7080 or the Plunder Law.

Total number of Cases in Mindanao
(From 1988 to May 2006)

CRIMINAL CASES (16, 212)
Dismissed - 12, 118
With Indictment - 3, 687

ADMINISTRATIVE CASES (5,556)
Dismissed - 4,525
With Sanction - 774

[Note from Istambay sa Mindanao: According to Atty. Gay Maggie Violan, chief of the Public Assistance section of OMB - Min, those indicted will be filed cases at the criminal courts. The Ombudsman does not convict or acquit respondents. Like fiscals, they just investigate if criminal cases filed against public employees and officials have what legalese call "probably cause". But they can impose sanctions to administrative cases.]

10 Most common offenses in Mindanao
(As of June 2004)

Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act* (6,052 cases)
Malversation (1,709 cases)
Falsification (1,352 cases)
Misconduct and grave misconduct (1,067 cases)
Violations against Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards** (914 cases)
Dishonesty (508 cases)
Estafa (498 cases)
Abuse of authority and grave abuse (459 cases)
Negligence and neglect of duty (264 cases)
Physical injuries (261 cases).

*Among the acts that constitute graft and corrupt practices include persuading another public officer to perform an act constituting an offense or violation of rules and regulations, allowing himself to be persuaded, requesting or receiving gift, present, share, percentage or benefits in connection with any contract or transaction, and requesting or receiving any gift, present, or any benefit for any help given or to be given in securing or obtaining any government permit or license.

**Norms include Simple living, commitment to public interest, professionalism, justness and sincerity, political neutrality, responsiveness to the public, nationalism and patriotism, commitment to democracy

Top Seven Government Agencies where employees filed with cases at the Ombudsman work
(As of June 2004)

1. LGUs – 19, 146
2. DepEd- 3659
3. DENR – 2309
4. PNP – 1494
5. DPWH – 1,221
6. DAR – 753
7. DA – 465

[Note from Atty. Gay Maggie Violan, chief public assistance section, Office of the Ombudsman in Mindanao: One factor why LGUs and DEpEd are on top of the list is because compared with others they have more employees than other agencies. LGUs include barangay captains and councilors, municipal officials and employees, city officials and employees and provincial officials and employees. DepEd includes administrative employees, teachers and officials.]

Distribution of Graft cases by Mindanao Region
(As of June 2004)

Region 11 – Southern Mindanao – 8, 844
Region 9 – Western Mindanao – 5,717
Region 10 – Northern Mindanao – 5,649
Region 12 – Southwestern Mindanao – 4,795
Caraga Region – 2, 581
ARMM – 1,461

[Note (from Atty. Violan): One factor considered why there are many cases filed in Southern Mindanao is its proximity to the Ombudsman's office in Davao City. In the same way that there are only few complaints from ARMM because it is relatively far from Davao City. Since 1988, the Ombudsman operated only in one office in Mindanao, that is in Davao City. As of June 20, 2006, they have announced the opening of its Cagayan de Oro extension office.]

[Final note: Atty. Violan stressed that the number of cases filed at the Office of the Ombudsman in Mindanao might be at most 20 percent only of the actual incidence of corruption in Mindanao. "Most of the cases go unreported. It is difficult for violations to be reported by either parties that mutually benefitted from the graft and corrupt practices," she said.]

[NEWS] RP to use new emergency response system

2006-06-30T20:04:00.000+08:00

(Note: From the MindaNews news service. Not yet available as of posting time at www.mindanews.com. Here is one for the National Disaster-Consciousness Month this July.)

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 30 June) -- Disaster coordinating councils will
institutionalize the use of “incident command system” (ICS) around the country to make emergency responses more organized and effective, the chief of the Southern Mindanao regional Office of the Civil Defense said.

OCD Regional Director, Carmelito A. Lupo told MindaNews Friday that the OCD will coordinate with Regional Disaster Coordinating Councils to train representatives from their provincial and city level counterparts “to mainstream ICS from the regional to the barangay level”.

The OCD and its support government agencies briefed representatives of News organizations here to commemorate also the Disaster Consciousness Month.

According to an Internet posting, the ICS is a management system first used in the United States to organize emergency response. It was designed to offer “a scalable response to incidents of any magnitude”. It was developed inthe 1970s, when California was battling significant wildfires.

“Emergency managers learned that the existing management structures-frequently unique to each agency - did not scale to dealing with massive mutual aid responses involving dozens of distinct agencies,” the Internet webpage stated.

ICS was developed by various agencies to “provide a consistent,Integrated framework for the management of large, multi-agency emergencies”.

Lupo said the guiding point to the ICS is the emergence of an “incident commander” who will be the point person for the specific emergency situation.

The point person, Lupo said, will manage the actions to be taken and shall coordinate the efforts done by all agencies involved in responding to the emergency situation.

At present, Lupo said, efforts are often uncoordinated, “thus the emergency response is not smoothly carried out”.

“In this way, we will carry the command center from the head office to the field where emergency responses are carried out,” he said.

But Lupo said the ICS, already used by some emergency response groups like Davao City’s 911, is nothing new. “We just have to enhance the system and make it work,” he said. He said they will mainstream the system in partnership with the local government units, with OCD providing technical support.

The OCD executive said the ICS will make emergency response management more organized and effective in the Philippines. Lupo, who is also the executive officer of the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC), said six Filipino directors of OCD went to Vietnam this year to attend an ICS training organized by a disaster-preparedness unit in the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean). He joined the OCD regional directors in an echo training conducted by the group.

He said the initial plan was to start training representatives from the provincial and city coordinating councils, at least in Region 11, in July. But plans may proceed only in August due to changes made in the training module, which shall be given to representatives from the local police, fire bureau, health office and from the mayor’s and the governor’s office.

The ICS was also among the emergency response measures recommended by the task force investigating the February 2006 Ultra stampede that killed 74 people. (Walter I. Balane / MindaNews)

Reflections: Should we add to the "culture of divisiveness" in this country?

2006-06-29T22:43:00.000+08:00

DAVAO CITY - When the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) posted a blog on June 26 about the second impeachment complaint filed by the opposition against President Arroyo (New Impeachment complaint filed today vs. Arroyo as one-year bar lapses), it generated the highest number of comments in a period of 10 days, at least.

It got 63 comments as of 10 p.m. of June 29. The next post with the highest number of comments in the 10 day period (from June 19 to June 29) was that on the post that NAMFREL was part of the poll fraud cover up with 46 comments (as of 10p.m. of June 29, with the last comment posted on June 23.)

When I read the posts comment by comment, slowly I became aware of the complexities of issues and also the spins of the bloggers in manipulating the discussions. At one point I liked the arguments laid on the table and the skillful exchange of both reasonable and unreasonable responses.

But towards the end I realized that they were leading to no where but more misunderstanding. I got tired of reading it because I didn’t see the end of it at all. I understand I have no luxury of peace of mind, especially in this complex, war-freak and so politically charged country, that’s why I have to back off. But I left my imprints behind. Here are my comments to the comments:

Haay, what lessons are we learning from these exchanges?

Maybe we need to pause and reflect about the meanings of it all. It would also really be of help if those who posted comments (especially those who lodged energies to discuss on the issue above) are more transparent about their identities. Wala lang mang link to their blogs (if any).

Of course I am thankful and also I feel lucky to have read the posts here and the subsequent comments. Salamat sa lahat who posted their opinion, ang sarap pala talaga when there is freedom of speech no?

But maybe we also need to reflect from time to time and not only assert, criticize and argue.

I really tried to grasp the nuances of the discussions and trying (to no avail) to pick up some valuable lessons so that I'll end up not wasting my time.

Tuloy, it made ma ask myself: Ano ba talaga ang patutungohan ng talakayan dito? Meron bang purpose above self interests? Self expression lang ba? Pa bonggahan ng argumentative skills? Pa taasan ng ihi? Or are we here to build divisions, like pro Arroyo and anti-Arroyo?

Sa akin kasi, we have to debate, yes. But let the debates move towards a direction, if possible merong "end in sight" or resolution (napaka idealistic ko siguro). If possible we bridge understanding, compassion and sobriety di ba dapat yaon ang culture na dapat nating ipalaganap lalo na sa panahong divisive masyado ang politics natin?

I have reflected on that personally. Now, I commit to become part of a long process of bridging this country’s divides rather than help widen the gaps! This does not mean complacency and indifference on my end. For sure that won't help too.

Ewan mga Ate at Kuya, nagkakagulo man sa ating bansa, in the end we will find out iisa lang tayo. Di naman naka tatak sa DNA nating mga pinoy na magugulo talaga tayo. Hindi rin yan naka ukit sa ating genome na dapat away na lang tayo ng away. Sa tingin ko, we used to be magnanimous: we were capable of uniting and helping each other in good will for the best of all.

Kaya sa tingin ko, aahon tayo from the mess we situate ourselves now. But its for the long haul. In the meantime, I plan to view the big problem piece by piece. Which I think we all can do, by being the small/little change or help this country can use.

Yes to the debates! Yes to unity amid diversity! (I admit naging preachy ako and also a bit corny, but that's what I have to say. Sorry to those who might find this post a waste of time. Thanks to those who at least gave it a thought. Smile. Indeed there are better things in life. And, besides, we all deserve not just the better, but the best! Cheers!)

[NEWS] Ombudsman Mindanao opens de Oro office

2006-06-29T20:14:00.000+08:00

(Note: For those who dread traveling long distance just to file a complaint against erring public officials and employees in their areas in the northern part of Mindanao, here is a good news. BUT I consider it good news indeed in our collective quest for integrity in public service and good governance. )

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/29 June) -- The Office of the Ombudsman inMindanao (OMB Min) announced the opening of its Cagayan de Oro extension office to offer "frontline services" to the public in theNorthern part of the island.

Teresita Angeles, chief of the Graft Prevention Unit of OMB Min, toldMindaNews that they had a "soft opening" of the new Cagayan de Oro extension office last June 20.

The extension office, with five employees for a start, is located atDoña Emeteria Building, Osmeña St., Ext. . Lawyer Ma. Iluminada Viva,OIC regional director from Davao City, will head the office.

Angeles said this will help provide greater access to the public especially those in, but not limited to, Northern Mindanao. But there are still some transactions that need to be done in Davao City,Angeles said.

The office will serve as a "dulugang bayan" or drop-off point for transactions. It can also provide public assistance, do graft prevention and advocacy campaigns, and receive communication. The graft investigations would still be done in Davao City, Angeles said.

The OMB Min plans to make the regional extension office fully functional with at least 50 employees but provided no date when thatwould happen.

The Cagayan de Oro office will cut travel time for those transactingwith the Ombudsman from cities like Zamboanga, Iligan, and Pagadian.Since 1988, the Office of the Ombudsman served the whole Mindanao areawith only one office in Davao City.(Walter I. Balane / MindaNews)

Pamalandong: Istambay sa Mindanao

2006-06-28T21:37:00.000+08:00

DAKBAYAN SA DABAW - Nakapaskil sa sulod sa suki nako nga barber shop sa Matina mao ang pasidaan nga: "Hoy istambay bawal ka dinhi".

Natingala ang akong barbero nga si Dhods ngano nakangisi ko. "Naunsa ka Sir?", pangutana pa niya. “Wala bay,” tubag pa nako dayon niyoko.

Nakapiyong ko kadali sa pagtupi niya sa akong buhok dapit sa agtang. Wa ko nag pa cute uy, nakapamalandong lang kunuhay.

Dautan baya gyud ang imahe sa mga istambay. Gi bawal gani sila sa mga barber shop, sa mga mall, sa mga kan-anan, sa mga inumanan, sa mga simbahan, ug bisan asa. Siguro, tungod kay dili makit-an diha sa mga istambay ang tumong sa mga negosyante nga makasapi.

Unsaon man gud nga paspas baya kaayo ang dagan sa pagdaghan sa mga tao sa Pilipinas. Unya, sa pikas bahin, nagabaklay ra intawon ang ihap sa mga panginabuhian. Pipila lang ang trabaho, gabaha ang gapangita og trabaho.

Usahay "tambay" ang gitawag sa ila o kaha “bay" nalang gyud, labi na sa inistoryahang kanto. Dili ko sigurado hain na nigikan pulong nga istambay, pero basin sa pulong sa English nga "stand by"?

Ang lain pang haduol nga pulong sa English mao siguro kanang "stay put" o kaha "wait". Gipangutana nako si Kokoy, usa ka tigmaneho og padjak sa GSIS Village. Matud pa niya “paghulat" kuno na. Dili pud siya mosugot nga "ayaw paglihuk" kuno ang Binisaya ana.

Pag muhisgot na gani og "istambay" ang mahuna-hunaan dayon mao ang itsura sa usa ka tawo nga "walay trabaho". Kini katong makit-an nga naga "shotting" o tagay diha sa kanto uban ang iyang barkada bisan sayo pa.

Pero ang kadaghanan aning mga tawhana naay gihulat. Mahimong trabaho ba o kaha amigo nga makauban aron mangita og trabaho. Ang uban naghulat og bisan unsang grasya, sama sa pakals o kumbera, suroy, inom, lingaw o kaha bisag unsang grasya “gikan sa langit”.

Kadaghanan sa akong kailang istambay diri sa Dabaw, sa Bukidnon og sa ubang dapit sa Mindanaw naay tagsa-tagsa ka damgo, tinguha, o tumong sa kinabuhi. Matag usa dunay papel nga gi panindugan sa pagkakaron diha sa ilang panimalay o komunidad.

Nakaila nako si Plik-plik, taga Puan, wala naka eskwela, apan paboritong tawgon sa mga silingan labi na sa mga kulbahinam nga mga bulohaton sama sa pagpagkang sa bitin nga nakit-an sa ilalum sa hagdanan.

Duna'y mga dauta'g mga tinguha niining uban sa ila, labaw na kong "tawag sa kapobrehon". Apan bisan sa mga kadagkuan sa atong pangagamhanan, duna gyud tong dili masaligan.

Matud pa sa trabahador nga si Edroy, istambay sa paradahan sa jeep paingon sa Sungko, Lantapan, Bukidnon: "ang kadaghanan baya bay naghandom gyud og kaayohan. Unta makabalik na sa trabaho. Sama nako, unta naa napuy i-kargang mais."

Lahi pud si Edmund nga classmate nako sa high school. Maestro na siya ron. Niadtong 2004, nagtiketero sa siya sa public toilet sa Malaybalay. Matud pa niya "tambay tambay lang sa ko karon. Pagpangandam ba.”

Si Onfred, nga usa ka bag-ong engineer, nag tinda lang sa og barbecue sa Xavierheights, Cagayan de Oro. "Istambay lang sa ko do kay wa pa man niabot ang akong swerte,” matud pa niya.

Para niya, ang importante nga makatuon siya og daghang mga pamaagi aron maka sapi.
"May nalang, at least naa ko'y nahibaw-an nga lain!" matud pa niya sa dihang nagkita mi sa buhatan sa Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC).

Lain-lain ang hulagway sa mga istambay. Naay wala nakahuman og eskwela apan duna'y mga skills sama sa pagpanday. Naay nagahulat moabot ang trabaho o kaha ang gusto niyang trabaho. Naay naghulat kanus-a makabalik sa trabahong gisaad, naghulat nalang og visa.

Apan tanan dunay gimbuhaton o papel sa kasamtangan. Tinuod wala silay income nga insakto, apan duna puy pulos.

Ang istambay diay dili lang katong naa sa kanto. Dili lang katong naga laroy-laroy hangtud mosalop ang adlaw. Dili lang ang mga tawo nga gibawal sa mga establisamento tungod sa ubos nga pagtan-aw sa ilang mga kapasidad.

Duna puy mga istambay nga propesyunal. Duna puy mga tawo nga gipili nila nga mag istambay sa. Apan, ang kadaghanan sa mga istambay nagahandom pud nga makab-ot ang ilang mga nagkalain-laing damgo sa kinabuhi.

Ang pagkaistambay diay usa ka ang-ang sa kinabuhi aron ang tao makamatngon. Higayon kini aron makatuon sa iyang palibot, sa iyang gigikanan ug sa iyang paingnan. Panahon kini aron makatuon og mga pamaagi para makasugakod.

Tungod niini, matawag pud diay ko nga istambay. Naglaroy-laroy sa kalibutan, nagtuo nga naay tumong, ug mapadayonong gisubay ang piniling dalan.

(Reporter sa MindaNews ug www.mindanews.com dinhi sa Dabaw si Walter I. Balane. Gikan sa Malaybalay City, kanhi siyang editor sa Central Mindanao Newswatch. Mabasa ang iyang ubang mga sinulat sa iyang blog: “Istambay sa Mindanao” sa www.iztambay.blogspot.com.)

Updates: A day in search for Mindanao stories in “national newspapers”

2006-06-28T13:29:00.000+08:00

Mindanews photo by Froilan Gallardo
Originally uploaded by waltzib.

(Mindanews photo by Froilan Gallardo)

I always feel disgusted when the stories I hear and read about Mindanao is only the bad side of the story. Worst, if the stories from Mindanao are not written or are not used at all.

I must confess, I claim part of the errors in the past for writing bad news at times and for not presenting the complete picture. Rest assured, being a part now of a news organization exerting efforts to help improve coverage on Mindanao and help prevent these lapses.

Randomly, if you are from Mindanao and you want to read about what’s going on in Mindanao, don’t expect so much. You’ll never find it in national newspapers.

I took the stories today (June 28) as a sampler. Of the 72 stories or photos featured on the front page of seven of the country’s “national newspapers”, only five are on Mindanao.

The Philippine Star featured a piece on Mindanao entitled: “25 killed in tribal war in Bukidnon". The report situated the supposed tribal war "in a remote village in Bukidnon”. Where in Bukidnon? It did not tell.

It reported about “a fierce gun battle” between “Lumad” and “Muslim” tribes as a result of land disputes between “mountain dwelling Lumad tribe” and a “Muslim farming community.”

The story by Roel Pareño cited the parties of the supposed tribal war as “Ubaan Lumad tribesmen”, “Lumino Lumad tribesmen”, “Lumad Amoran” and "Muslim Diamla tribesmen” in the vicinity nearby “Barangay Lapoc”. The clashes were reported to be "long standing". Does the number (25) of deaths cited in the report include only the recent victims or that of the "long standing" conflict?

The story continued: “Several residents of Barangay Talakag fled their homes to escape the clan war, AFP Southcom chief Maj. General Gabriel Habacon said in a statement”.

Of course there are a lot of loopholes in the story. It did not specify the location of the clashes. The names of the tribe also sound “new” to me (if they are really “tribes” inside Bukidnon). Are they family names or tribal groups? The location of the clashes also is vague. My guess is that it happened along the borders of the Municipality of Talakag (in Bukidnon) and another town in Lanao del Sur. But which barangay? The area is known for clashes on land and natural resources like logging. In 2004, I reported about a clash on logging utilization between two groups of indigenous peoples and upland farmers there with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources earning a tiff with the Provincial Government of Bukidnon and a pro-environment NGO.

I recognize that I don’t know all the tribes in Mindanao, but I really want to know more about the tribal groups cited in the report. How did the ambiguities escape the paper's editors?

This brings to three areas in Bukidnon that are in national newspapers due to peace and order problems: The first two: A barangay in San Fernando (tagged by the National Security Adviser as venue of mass NPA gravesites), Brgy. Zamboanguita/ Brgy St. Peter (now another one, in Brgy. Kulaman as PNA reported on june 28), Malaybalay City (where there are on-going military operations against NPA rebels).

The Star issue also featured a photo of Bukidnon 2nd district Rep. Teofisto Guingona III with his father former Vice President Teofisto Guingona after filing his impeachment petition vs. President Arroyo. That could be a Mindanao photo, the Guingonas being from Bukidnon and Gingoog City. But do people assciate the Guingonas as from Mindanao or as "politicians"?

Business Mirror featured a story of small miners’ groups in Diwalwal urging the government to open the rich gold deposits in the deeper levels in the mine fields of Mt. Diwata in Monkayo, Compostela Valley. The main source of the story, Franco Tito, Diwalwal’s barangay captain, asked the government whether its heart is with small scale miners or the big scale miners now that the Supreme Court declared the 729-hectare area of mountain slopes and valley under full government jurisdiction and voiding all private claims either for exploration or ownership of concession.

Some people are afraid that this mining field would go to foreign mining firms leaving the small miners displaced.

Meanwhile, the Business Mirror used a feature story “Is the tourism boom finally happening?” written by Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo, a contributor in the paper’s Perspective section. The story is about RP hotels gearing up for visitor influx, but only cited hotels in Manila, Luzon and the Visayas, specifically Bohol and Cebu.

It only mentioned “Mindanao” once in the story, as a reference where Cebu is (that is in the group of islands between Luzon and “Mindanao”. Thanks to geography, Mindanao was mentioned.)

The missing Mindanao angle in the tourism report on RP hotels impressed, in my opinion, that Mindanao is not at the receiving end of the tourism boom. Or that there is no tourism to talk about in Mindanao? The story also did not tell that, but well what's not said might say a lot more.

Malaya also featured a story on “2 Indonesian bomb experts on the lose (in Maguindanao). This might be the same story as that of the Manila Standard Today’s page 3 story on “Al Qaeda rebels, allies training in Mindanao”. The story kept on referring to the “training” and the suspects at large to be in the “vast marshlands of Mindanao.”

The Philippine Daily Inquirer, which runs a Mindanao bureau, did not have a story on Mindanao in the front page. But on page A7, they used the story on "2 MILF commanders eyed on bomb attack on (Magundanao) governor". Does this paint a picture that could blur the peace process between the government and the MILF?

Are the reports representing the real situation in Mindanao?

The good thing is that Manila Bulletin used a story entitled “ARMM business forum opens trade opportunities” at the bottom of its front page, which could at least tell that there are also business opportunities in Mindanao today. The ARMM business forum is held in Lamitan, Basilan, which is featured as having an on-going transformation from being the “playground” of the Abu Sayyaf group into a province back “on its feet”.

The report cited that the forum participants issued a Declaration of Policy and Program of Action submitted to the ARMM governor, which calls to push for the creation of an industry development for rubber, seaweeds, among others.

There are many good stories in Mindanao. They go side by side with the bad ones, it is just that they don’t get published. What's even more disgusting is when these few stories on Mindanao gets through editors with all the ambiguities, lack of details and perspectives, thus affecting public understanding on the subject. That adds to the distortions on what’s really happening or not happening around Mindanao.

This reminds me of our one big dream in MindaNews: One day, when we have the resources, we will publish a Mindanao-based, Mindanao-owned and Mindanao-focus, "daily newspaper of national circulation" or at least a magazine.

Well, as one friend reminded me: "Dream and your dreams will fall short."

[NEWS] Can public officials avoid graft and corruption?

2006-06-27T22:05:00.000+08:00

abalos
Originally uploaded by waltzib.

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/27 June) – Yes, they can and Davao City’s 180 Barangay captains and around 40 mayors from Region 12 (Southwestern Mindanao) will find out how when they attend separate gatherings on public accountability and good governance this week.

Teresita Angeles, chief of the Graft Prevention Unit of the Office of the Ombudsman in Mindanao said this is part of their ongoing preventive information drive to stop graft and corruption.

Davao City’s barangay captains will attend the seminar workshop on Integrity development and public accountability on June 28 at the Grand Men Seng Hotel in Davao City.

The workshop will cover discussions on the Office of the Ombudsman, experiencing corruption, public accountability, statutory perspectives and moral values and ethics, according to a statement from the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City.

On June 29, at the Grand Regal Hotel here, some 40 municipal and city mayors from North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur will attend the 1st Conference on Integrity and Governance for municipal mayors.

The conference, according to the statement, “aims to enhance the local officials’ familiarity on possible malpractices and common violations of public ethics and anti-graft laws”.

Angeles said the conference includes a presentation on the Best
Practices on Good Governance by the STARCM or the Support to Agrarian Reform Communities in Central Mindanao, which is one of the conference sponsors.

Fr. Albert Alejo, executive director of Mindanawon Initiatives for Cultural Dialogue, will facilitate the reflections on integrity and good governance.

Atty. Gay Maggie Violan will present “Common Violations of Anti-graft
laws –The Mindanao Experience” and Atty. Joy Arao will discuss “Lifestyle Check and the Plunder Law”.

Ombudsman Ma. Merceditas N. Gutierrez will keynote both gatherings.

Since 1996, Angeles said, the Office of the Ombudsman had been
conducting preventive measures like information dissemination, sharing of lessons learned from graft cases, warnings on penalties and advocacies to help curb graft and corruption in the country.

“There were a lot of violations filed against local officials that stemmed from their lack of information,” she said citing the need to educate government officials and employees in all levels about public accountability and good governance.

She clarified that the workshop with the mayors is the culminating portion of at least 15 batches of seminars with employees and officials in the local governments where the 40 mayors come from.

OMB Mindanao’s anti-corruption seminars used the Ehem! Aha! manual on good governance published by the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus, according to a press statement.

The Office of the Ombudsman in Mindanao, she said, saw the increasing number of cases on graft and corruption as an indicator of increased public awareness on public accountability and good governance. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)

Rewind: Commentary: Trying to revisit Malaybalay's past

2006-06-26T20:27:00.000+08:00

By Walter I. Balane / MindaNews / 16 June 2004

MALAYBALAY CITY — On the 15th of June, 127 years ago, Malaybalay was established by the Spanish conquerors as a town or “pueblo.” After years of resistance, local inhabitants, led by Datu Mampaalong, bowed to the Castillan army led by 1Lt. Don Felipe Martinez.

Mampaalong, now the name of a lonely street in the city’s poblacion, was among the respected leaders of Malaybalay’s earlier residents. Malaybalay’s inhabitants, according to accounts, allegedly came from the “seashores of Northern Mindanao”. According to a copy of the deed of the pueblo’s creation, which MindaNews found at the city library, Mampaalong and 30 other datus “submitted themselves to the sovereignty of the Nation (Spanish crown)” on June 15, 1877.

As recorded, some of the datus named in the deed in Spanish were Datto Manpalon (Mampaalong) who was baptized as Mariano Melendez; Sugola; Mindaguin; Apang; and Bansag. They allegedly took their oath to the Spanish crown on behalf of the estimated population of 453 then. (Malaybalay’s population in 2004 is estimated at 137,579).

For lack of additional records on the oath-taking, one cannot tell if the datus fought first before paying allegiance to the conquerors. Or could they have given their oaths “freely?” If the existing records of Malaybalay’s history are to be the basis, the datus and their ancestors resisted Spanish conquest.

In fact, according to another “brief history” of Malaybalay at the city library, the “last recorded resistance by the inhabitants against the conquering Castillan army” was “sometime in 1850.” The inhabitants resisted foreign aggression, that’s certain. According to a city history reader, at the height of the Spanish conquest of the hinterlands of Mindanao, the Spaniards burned the entire village of what is now known as Kalasungay, now at the northwest part of the city.

All adult male residents in the settlement, it said, were killed while the women and children were taken hostage. At the time, Bukidnon only had five settlements namely, Malaybalay, Sumilao, Linabo (now in Malaybalay), Mailag (now in Valencia) and Silae (Malaybalay). There were no details written about the exploits of the survivors other than the information that those who survived and fled to Silae (a very remote barangay now) slowly returned a few years later and settled near Sacub river (now the site of the Plaza Rizal) under the protection of Datu Mampaalong. Sacub river is now known as Sawaga river.

On the day Mampaalong and the 30 datus took their oath of allegiance to the Spanish, they accordingly embraced Christianity. Since then, June 15, 1877 has been referred to as the foundation day of Malaybalay. But it is interesting to note this entry of Malaybalay’s very limited “written” history. In fact, it was probably taken from pages of Spanish chronicles about their “God, gold and glory” conquest.

The deed I quoted above was from a government document written in Spanish translated by a local government clerk in the 1970s. Now, the document is just a sheet of bond paper fastened together with the “brief history” of Bukidnon’s other localities. If indeed true, the accounts were from the point of view of a conqueror vanquishing his enemies. In fact, so much of 19th century Malaybalay is taken from accounts based on Spanish chronicles.

If there is any written history from other sources, they are not found in Bukidnon’s public libraries and therefore not made available for the public to appreciate. I have yet to see a history of Malaybalay written from the point of view of the Lumads. If today’s generation of Malaybalay residents do not have a clear view of Malaybalay’s history, then it won’t appear significant if June 15 is being celebrated as the town’s foundation day, never mind if it was not a day worth celebrating for their ancestors. But one significant fact remains: unlike in other Spanish settlements around Mindanao, despite the pueblo’s being named as “Oroquieta del Interior,” the name Malaybalay, accordingly a Castillan slip in the pronounciation of “walaybalay,” is still the name of Bukidnon’s capital. The celebration of Malaybalay’s foundation day is actually a celebration of the inhabitants “submission” to the Spanish crown; the creation of the “pueblo” being just a “consuelo de bobo”.

The deed goes: “…His excellency the Governor General, Don Domingo Moriones Y Murillo, who actually represents His Majesty in these Islands; he was accepting the submission tendered by the above named magnates (31 datus) for themselves and in the form and under the conditions offered; promising them [the inhabitants] to the protection and assistance necessary against their enemies, such as the maintenance of peace and order, as long as they remain loyal and faithful to their oath, and to commemorate their oath of allegiance, he is declaring the establishment of the town under the name Oroquita, to which the subject[sic] agrees.

The use of the words “submission” and “subject” indicate the conditions of the datus at that time. . Apparently, the use of June 15 to celebrate Malaybalay’s foundation day is a big mockery of its indigenous ancestry; showing submission rather than courage and zealousness. Although I can imagine the datus celebrating with the Spaniards after the creation of the pueblo, I can guess they would have wanted something better if only they had the choice. Certainly, the day wasn’t really a day of jubilation. I could only guess it was a day of defeat. Marking the foundation day on June 15, 1877 would only give credit to the Spanish conquest more than the resistance. No one can change the past.

But of course, understanding the past could very well be a good guide to understanding the present and charting the future. My argument does not intend to look down on Datu ampaalong and the other tribal leaders for their submission to the Spaniards. Certainly, there were merits in the “submission” owing to the organization of the “pueblo.” But what
I am trying to point out is, which part of their struggle, if any for a concept of “a people,” is being “honored” in the celebration? Is it the part when they stood against aggression or when they surrendered to aggression? Adding salt to injury, the city held a joint celebration of Philippine Independence Day and 127th Foundation Day on June 12 at the city’s Freedom Park.

According to reliable sources at the city government, the coincidence was unintentional for it has been a tradition for Malaybalay to mark its foundation day on the nearest Saturday to June 15. But there lies the irony in this year’s joint “celebration.”

Independence Day celebrated together with the commemoration of the day the local datus “submitted” and subjected themselves to the Spaniards? If Malaybalay’s youth had been taught about their history, they would probably have been confused.

Watching the joint “celebration” at Freedom Park last Saturday, I heard local officials calling on the people to be thankful for not only the big blessings but also for the small ones. In times when the “people are at the mercy of societal problems, we should be thankful that we are free,” Mayor Florencio Flores told the crowd composed mostly of government officials and employees.

For sure, the people of Malaybalay are better off without a foundation day celebration that’s founded on defeat. But, they would never know. Malaybalay’s history is not even well stocked in its libraries.

(MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. Walter I. Balane reports on Bukidnon for MindaNews).

Reflections: Homecoming on a rainy weekend

2006-06-25T21:38:00.000+08:00

I got two plans for my homecoming over that weekend. First, I wanted to go to the field and work. I have received invitation from a barangay official from Zamboanguita, which is in the news for the recent clashes with the government forces and the New People's Army.

I wrote a special report about it off-site, taking advantage of modern technology and some still active connections in the area. It would have been different if I was really there talking to the evacuees, residents, local officials and some observers.

But I just returned from a sick leave so I decided not to proceed. I also considered my present budget constraints. I have to submit that desire to fate and God's plans. I also tried to secure the office's Cannon digital camera before leaving but indeed it wasn't for me. The charger was missing.

So that left me with the second plan (actually the original), which was to hop in on the newest cafes in Malaybalay; at least two of them, which Chiza and I have not yet tried (together). We were suppose to be there early Saturday night but I arrived past 12 midnight.Poor Cinderillo, the stagecoach has become a pumpkin again.
It was disappointing. Ever figured in a similar situation where you wished you could turn back time?

Anyway, we tried to be flexible. We resolved that "our schedules did not allow us to proceed with that plan.So let's have a new one". So, the next day, we went to Valencia City, 34 kilometers away, to renew our license with our favorite pasta hang out, and if a movie entices us, hop in at Bukidnon's only theater.

But before going there and after scouring for cheap buys from Gaisano and on our way to the UK line along the city's growing commercial district; the unfriendly rain poured in heavily. It kept us stranded in a mall. So we strolled the NVM mall with little choices. We peeked at an "all-US imported" shop in the 3rd level I think, to feed our curious minds.

We didn't find much there, except the proof that globalization and cheap Asian labor duped us.Most of the goods, which I believe were truly imported from the US, were made in China! Oh, I know that's not news at all.

It was cold outside and inside too, where the aircom seemed to have done its job.So we decided to take that pasta treat in Greenwhich. Yes, Bukidnon already has branches of these restaurants. Of course, we could have gone to our favorite place, bracing the rain, donning wet look and expectant of colds, again.

But our foolishness has not yet surged to that level.

Honestly, we enjoyed the combo lasagna and carbonara meals, but perhaps more because we had idle time to kill and chat about anything. The misty sight of the world outside added boost to my feel-great sip of a cup of brewed coffee.Hmm. After three hungry fork catch of pasta and a push of lukewarm water, I paused and proposed to Chiza: "Why don't we try cooking for our next tripper?" (Ooops, what kind of proposal was on your mind? Hehe.)

She smiled and agreed. Yes, we both loved to eat, but both of us also have a lot of work to do in the kitchen department.

It is good to be back in Bukidnon. From time to time, being back makes me feel "I belong". Especially during the rainy season, my trips home are memorable.
It reminds me of my wonderful childhood along the streets of Malaybalay and a small highway village in Don Carlos town, in the south.

I used to play along Malaybalay's sidewalk canals, pushing some paper boats and running after them as they disappear in the culvert.

In Don Carlos, I also did the same, only that I did it in the irrigation canals. Our old house used to stand in a lot exactly where the proposed Capitol building for the dreamy Bukidnon del Sur new province would rise. In my grandparents' place, I feel I will lose those memories once the government building will stand there.

I hope the day they will rob us of those precious remembrances won't come soon.

Anyway, enough of reminiscence.

All things end, including the rain that afternoon.

So we paid our bill, took a multi-cab to the bus terminal and from there took a bus back to Malaybalay. We decided to make the "best out of it" and both agreed to call it a nice 'outing' anyway.

That's before we got stranded in Malaybalay's bus terminal. Well, we just got our wet look and shakers, and that's only for a start.

Good thing Papa fetched his church's pastor to the terminal and saw us. We were in our "basang sisiw" state. As we climbed up their L300, and got a taste of fresh paternal sermon (again), we smiled in agreement.

After a cup of instant coffee and some "What exactly are your plans" chatter, each greeted the cold night with a warm smile. It was one fine day despite the bad weather.

Wew, that was a great weekend. "Thank you," I told Chiza (and other words of affection) as I part for home that night. We agreed and planned to have more of those in the next visit.

"Let's call it a night," I said and sealed it with a kiss.

Special Report: Under Siege: Life in Beleaguered Upper Pulangui

2006-06-24T13:54:00.000+08:00

Malaybalay Locator
Originally uploaded by waltzib.

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 24 June) – Juan Paunalong, 54, kept thinking about the future of his family as he led them to safe grounds on the eve of heavy fighting between government forces and the New People's Army (NPA) near their village in Malaybalay City's mountainous Upper Pulangui area.

For him, the children's lives were important; never mind the belongings.

Together with neighbors, members of the Higaonon tribe, they walked across five kilometers of darkness from remote Malilong village to the "sentro" (center) of Brgy. Zamboanguita.

It was only when dinner was served at the evacuation site, courtesy of the barangay government, when he realized that, indeed, he, his wife and four children brought nothing else but the clothes on their back.

The Paunalongs were among at least 600 people from four villages in barangays
Zamboanguita and St. Peter who were displaced by the fighting between the military and the NPA, considered the biggest thus far after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared an all-out offensive against the leftist rebels.

On June 16, in Isabela province in Northern Luzon, the President ordered the release of P1-B additional budget to fund renewed operations against the NPA.

A few hours later, at around 5 that afternoon, residents began evacuating as a result of military operations in this small village in Northern Mindanao.

For retired Col. Francisco Simbajon, spokesperson of the Army's 4th Infantry Division, it was only a coincidence. He denied, in a June 23 phone interview with MindaNews, that the fighting was signaled by the Presidential instruction.

He said the military was continuing its pursuit of the NPA guerrillas that day but chasing them actually earlier began on June 8. The NPAs were reported to have burned at least seven heavy equipment vehicles in Zamboanguita, he said.

The big bulk of the evacuations happened on June 17. Residents heard the gunshots and saw more government forces pour into their villages to engage the NPA on the ground, with aerial support.

As of June 22, the military reported that the heavily armed guerillas reportedly led by Leonardo Pitao, alleged leader of the NPA in eastern Mindanao, had put up a stiff resistance. Based on military reports, seven rebels and two government soldiers were killed while two other soldiers were wounded.

On June 20, the National Democratic Front called the encounter "NPA harassment operations" in an update posted at http://qc.indymedia.org/news
The report was posted by a Cesar Renerio, spokesperson of the National Democratic Front (NDF) in North Central Mindanao area, and credited the June 16 encounter to the NPA's Rexan Perez command in Bindum, Busdi, Malaybalay City.

Renerio reported that on June 16, a squad of “Red fighters” under the Rexan Perez command harassed the government troops "conducting operations" in Bindom at around 4 p.m. Two soldiers were killed and another was wounded. The report said that at 8 a.m. of June 17, another soldier was killed and two others were wounded in continuing encounters.

On June 18, at 9 am, the report continued, government’s Huey helicopters strafed
the mountains of Pantaron range with machine guns, which triggered the evacuation of residents in the villages of Mahayag, Malilong, Biernesa at Baloodo in Zamboanguita and St. Peter.

At least 360 people, from 70 families, were housed in Zamboanguita's elementary school, where classes were suspended since June 19. Around 241 others from 52 families were housed in either makeshift tents or kin's houses in St. Peter, about five kilometers away.

The number of evacuees in St. Peter rose to 125 families as of June 22, as fighting escalated. Zamboanguita and St. Peter belong to a cluster of remote barangays in Malaybalay's Upper Pulangui area, near Bukidnon's boundary with Agusan del Sur and Davao del Norte.

Contacted through her mobile phone on June 23, Denia Tajones, 43, one of Zamboanguita's barangay councilors, relayed the evacuees' stories to MindaNews, noting the discomfort of the sound and sight of a helicopter hovering their village as she spoke.

Tajones chairs the barangay council's committee on health, women and family. She said most of the evacuees fled because they were afraid that they might get caught in the crossfire. She said there had been tensions in the past months but nothing compared with the scale of the ongoing clashes.

"Grabe ang kakurat sa mga tawo sa dihang nadunggan nila ang grabe nga buto-buto, ug nakit-an pud nila ang daghang mga sundalo," she said. (The people were shocked when they heard the intensity of the gunfire and the sight of many soldiers.)

Tajones said the villagers also fled for fear that they might be mistaken as members
of the NPA.

Villagers from Purok 5 and 6, Sitio Malilong rushed to Zamboanguita and those from Purok 9 and Sitio Mahayag to Barangay St. Peter. Some people boarded motorcycles but most of them evacuated either on foot or on carabao-drawn carts. Most of them brought belongings placed in old rice sacks and recycled paper boxes.

Because of the haste, Tajones said, villagers lacked extra clothing, slippers, soap, sleeping mats, kitchenware, among others, in the evacuation center. The local government helped with some food items like rice, canned goods, instant noodles, coffee and milk.

In a text message, Father Bogs Tapiadon, the Catholic priest assigned in the
area, said the evacuees were attended to but he noted the increasing military
activity in the area. "At least, the parishioners are in safe grounds,” he said.

Notwithstanding the gunbattles since June 16 and the informal declaration of a "no man's land" over Zamboanguita's Purok 5 and Purok 6 and St. Peter's Purok 9 and Sitio Mahayag, some evacuees managed to sneak back into their farms to attend to their animals and crops.

But many wanted to return home for good. (Tomorrow: Displaced by the displaced)

Under Siege: Displaced by the displaced
Written by Walter I. Balane/MindaNews
Monday, 26 June 2006
Last of two parts

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 25 June) – As fighting escalated in the Upper Pulangui
in Malaybalay City near Bukidnon's boundary with Davao del Norte and Agusan
del Sur, the number of evacuees rose by the hour.

Already, as of June 23, the count had reached at least 600 persons, from around 120 families from four villages. When the fighting began June 16, there were only 77 families in two evacuation sites in barangay Zamboanguita and St. Peter.

Although continued fighting took place in only a few villages in Barangay Zamboanguita, residents from other villages and even in the barangay center were also affected, according to Barangay Councilor Denia Tajones. She said many residents have farms and relatives in those areas.

Tajones said the military has issued “safe conduct” passes to residents, especially those who move from one village to another. She said this was for the safety of the residents to avoid being mistaken for rebels.

Movement of people was being restricted though residents could still go back to their farms with caution, she said. The military has imposed a curfew beginning at 3 p.m everyday so farmers have to move fast and return to the evacuation center early.

Tajones said the restrictions posed economic difficulties for residents. Most of the evacuees depended on what they could gather from their small farms planted to root crops, fruits and vegetables.

The evacuees also expressed mixed reactions to their life at the centers. Tajones said others were thankful that they did not have to worry to find their meal. But some suffered stomach disorders because they were not used to eating canned goods, like pork and beans, and instant noodles. Canned sardines were an exemption though, as they are used to eating them.

The armed skirmishes were taking their toll on children, who had just returned to school after the summer vacation.

Virginia Flores, of Malaybalay City's social welfare office, said the experience was traumatic to the elders but it was worse to the children who shivered at the sight of soldiers and the sound of gunfire.

Children comprise more than half, or 191, of the 360 evacuees in the Zamboanguita evacuation center, the Malaybalay City's social welfare office reported. The report also estimated the same ratio in the St. Peter site.

The problem is not only limited to children evacuees. Tajones said that around 400 pupils of Zamboanguita Elementary School were also displaced. Since June 19, the Department of Education had suspended classes in Zamboanguita to accommodate the evacuees in the classrooms.

By then, the pupils were just on their fifth day in school since classes opened only on June 13.

Tajones' niece, 11-year old Andrea Mae Demegillo, a Grade 6 pupil, was initially happy when classes were suspended. But she was afraid when she saw the evacuees. Then, she began to worry if they could still hold classes and if ever the evacuees would return to their villages. She saw one of her teachers attending to the evacuees.

On June 24, George Madroñal, Department of Education supervisor for Malaybalay
East district, told MindaNews over the phone that the "small war" in the area has disrupted the children's learning but there is nothing they can do about it.

"We plan to resume classes on June 26. But we are not yet sure about that. We have to listen to the advice of the military and the local school managers," he said.

If classes resumed and the fighting continued, Tajones said, the plan might be to move the evacuees out of the classrooms at daytime and return them there at night for sleep.

Flores said life is different and difficult in an evacuation site “that is why most of the evacuees want to go home, but their need for safety held them.”

She said villagers hoped for the fighting to end so they could return to their normal lives. Tajones, a resident of Zamboanguita, said the evacuees are not only physically taken from their homes. “they are also uprooted from their livelihood, their cultural traditions and their right to peace.”

But the military sees no end in sight as yet.

Ret. Col. Francisco Simbajon, the military's spokesperson in Cagayan de Oro, said the fighting would continue. "There is no timetable set when this would end. We will continue the pursuit operations until the rebels will yield," he said.

Danny Flores, 31, an elementary school teacher from nearby Barangay Busdi told
MindaNews by phone that although the situation was normal there, there were already unconfirmed reports that residents from a far-flung village might evacuate, too.

"We are just waiting for the signal. If they want us to go, we are preparing for it," he said.

Tajones said that while residents and local officials were grateful of assistance from the local government and concerned businessmen from Malaybalay (on June 23, a truckload of rice supply arrived from the provincial government of Bukidnon), Flores also reported that more army vehicles also arrived on that day, carrying with them more combatants. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)

Updates: Application for M.A. in Journalism

2006-06-23T10:52:00.000+08:00

To those who want to pursue further studies
in Journalism here's a good read:

Konrad Adenauer
Asian Center for Journalism
At the Ateneo de Manila University (ACFJ)

Dear friends and colleagues,

Applications for second term admission to the M.A. Journalism are now
being accepted. Deadline is 31 August 2006.

The M. A. Journalism offered by the Ateneo de Manila University is an
interactive program that uses online and conventional learning methods.
The news story in the attachment carries more details. We request you
to
run it in your print or online news outlet, and announce this
opportunity
to your staff, colleagues and friends.

Thank you for helping us announce our programs.

All good wishes.

Yours sincerely,

Violet B. Valdez
Executive Director
Konrad Adenauer Center for Journalism
At the Ateneo de Manila University
Tel Nos. (632) 9263253 / (632) 4266001 local 5215
Fax No. (632) 9263254
E-mail: newsroom@admu.edu.ph
Website: http://acfj.ateneo.edu

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: CJ Ledesma
Email: newsroom@admu.edu.ph
Tel. No.: 0063-2-9263253
Fax. No.: 0063-2-9263254

Applications for MA Journalism due 31 August

MANILA, June 2 --- The Ateneo de Manila University is now accepting
applications for second term admission to the Master of Arts in
Journalism, a distance learning program for working journalists run by
the Konrad Adenauer Asian Center for Journalism at the Ateneo (ACFJ).
Deadline is on Thursday, 31 August; classes begin in November.

The master's program stands out among similar programs in Asia with its
use of online learning methods which makes it convenient for working
journalists and other media professionals to follow the courses from
their own homes and workplaces. Ten of the 13 courses comprising the
program are taught using online learning methods.

Moreover, the online learning platform has given the program an
international character. Since its inception in 2003 the program has
attracted journalists - from reporters to senior editors - from 11
Asian countries as well as those from countries outside the region. The
program's faculty likewise comes from various parts of Asia, North
America, Australia and Europe.

The master's program is the flagship program of ACFJ, a joint project
of
the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) and the Ateneo. ACFJ also offers
non-degree courses including the Diploma in Radio Journalism and a
number
of certificate courses. Jointly with the world-renowned World Press
Photo
Foundation, ACFJ will launch another new program late this year, the
Diploma in Photojournalism designed for working photojournalists.

Application forms to the graduate program may be requested by e-mail at
grad@admu.edu.ph and are also available from the Ateneo's Office of
Graduate Studies (OGS). For its non-degree programs, ACFJ may be
Reached at newsroom@ateneo.edu.ph.

[NEWS] Envoy: "US not directly involved in all-out war vs. NPA"

2006-06-22T21:26:00.000+08:00

NPA
Originally uploaded by waltzib.

By Walter I. Balane / MindaNews

(Note: Story courtesy of MindaNews news service and is not yet available at www.mindanews.com as as of 9:29 p.m. of June 22, 2006.)

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/22 June) -- The new United States ambassador to the Philippines denied that her country is directly involved in the government's all-out war against the New People's Army (NPA).

"We are not involved in specific tactics. Our assistance is focused on
the long range and broad-based campaign against terror," Ambassador
Kristie A. Kenney told reporters today on her first visit here.

Kenney said they leave it to the Philippines to decide on how to
conduct the campaign.

She said assistance given on hardware and the sending of military
advisers is part of a broader campaign not directed to any specific
group.

"Each country has its specific tactics. We are looking at the big
picture," she said.

The ambassador said their role in the Philippine government's
counter-insurgency campaign is just in the training of military and
police personnel. But she said that the same is part of many efforts
like the drive against trafficking of persons and anti-corruption in
government.

"Our over-all concern is the protection of our citizens," she said.

In 2002, the US put the NPA on its list of "foreign terrorist
organizations" for the group, according to the US State Department,
"strongly opposed any US presence in the Philippines and has killed US
citizens there. The group has also killed, injured, or kidnapped
numerous Philippine citizens, including government officials."

On June 16, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the Department
of Budget and Management to release P2 billion additional fund to
equip the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National
Police in an all-out war against the NPA.

Arroyo issued statements to "crash the NPA in two years." But the
National Democratic Front has belittled the two-year "end game" plan
as a "costly and deadly misadventure."

Kenney, who has been top US diplomat to the Philippines since March 6,
replaced Francis Ricciardone, who was ambassador to the Philippines
and Palau.

Kenney is in town to visit US-sponsored programs in Davao City and for
some speaking engagements. She met with local government and business
leaders and members of the Bishops-Ulama Conference. She also signed a
$179,000 grant to the Visayan Forum Foundation to help expand halfway
house operations for victims of human trafficking.

She announced a $21-million grant through the US Agency for
International Development to fight corruption in the Philippines over
the next two years but said they are still deciding on how it will be
implemented. She also announced a $20-million fund for agriculture
assistance.

According to the website www.us-asean.org/Philippines, Kenney is a
senior member of the US Foreign Service. She served as ambassador to
the Republic of Ecuador from September 2002 to July 2005.

Beginning in 1998, she served as executive secretary of the State
Department for three years, the first woman to hold that key position.

Kenney's overseas postings include economic counselor at the United
States Mission to International Organizations in Geneva, economic
officer at the US Embassy in Argentina, and consular officer at the US
Embassy in Jamaica.

She holds a master's degree in Latin American studies from Tulane
University, and a bachelor's degree in political science from Clemson
University. She also attended the National War College. (Walter I.
Balane/MindaNews)

(Photo taken from the webpage: http://www.philippinerevolution.org/gallery/hfoto.shtml)

Opinion: Blogging from Mindanao

2006-06-22T09:23:00.000+08:00

mindanao-101
Originally uploaded by waltzib.

Although I could not speak for the rest of the bloggers in Mindanao, I would like to say my piece about it anyway, at least about why I do this.

I had been asked, probably more than 10 times, why spend my free time on blogging? Another friend asked if I get paid for blogging. Then another one said "make use of your blog to earn money from online advertising schemes".

Why do I blog?

This is a form of free expression. Istambay sa Mindanao is a personal blog.
This allows me to publish in a personal way, what I wanted published. But above all, I want this blog to evolve into something more useful. Ask me what? No idea yet. A while ago, Claire and I were talking about what to do about our blogs. Frankly, I have the slightest idea.

But I'm sure that in blogging, I use the medium to practice writing. It is my passion to write either it is hard or not so hard news, opinion or about anything. Most of the time the articles posted here are "drafts" written in one sitting.

When I make use of this technology to express my thoughts, aspirations, advocacies among other things, I have allowed my own private life to enter a public sphere (the blogoshpere that is).

Whether anyone reads this, is not really as important as my expression of the postings here. But I'm glad there are some visitors. In due time, they will multiply, probably, when this blog has also evolved.

In this blog I also want to use some assertion about my choice of themes in the internet about Mindanao and our province of Bukidnon. In blogging for free, I defy the mainstream media to reach an audience. I’d like to talk about the peace process, about the products of Mindanao among other things. In short, this blog is an effort in leveling the playing field.

Looking around Mindanao, blogging isn't that popular yet. If you go around, you'll see a lot of poverty, although there is hope also that slowly, people are already starting to move from poverty. People around just got so many issues that need to get across! I see this blog as one way to get the message across and communicate to the world what communities want to tell. However, there is still a lot of things to work on this.

I assure you, I am turning this blog into an illustration to friends, especially those in the media, about blogging in general. How can I invite them if I don’t have anything to show them?

At the very least, this blog is a repository of articles, not only a showcase of free expression.

Now do I get paid for this? Of course no, and I refuse to incarcerate myself in that dungeon of commodification and reduce all my actions into monetary terms. Yes I need money to live decently and freely. But no money can buy freedom.

I also refuse to box myself about the style of this blog. It is written in both formal or informal tone/style. Its language is also open. It is in its free form. That's part of the freedom.

Sure, there are rules to follow in blogging, especially in making use of materials owned by others, but here, when you blog, you don't leave your personality behind and become one with most bloggers.

In blogging, you keep your persona in as much as you keep your advocacies. Here you can talk about music, food, issues, gadgets--anything under the sun or over it like God and eternity. Here you can discuss, debate, invite, propose, react, inform, pray, rant. Anything.

There are rules, there are no rules. You choose.

Teyorya: Habermas sa Mindanao

2006-06-21T23:25:00.000+08:00

habermas-p
Originally uploaded by waltzib.

Sa ako laging sige ka saway nianang mga tao nga laglum kaayo og mga inistoryahan, bisan gud nga ako laglum gihapon manumdum, na matikdan nako ang akong kalayo sa unsa mang butanga basta mahitungod sa akademik. Mabanda gyud dayon ko basta teyorya na ang hisgutan.

Niadtong istudyante palang ko sa U.P. didto sa Miagao, Iloilo; siguro kinaham na nako niadto ang mga hisgut-intelektual. Niadto pud, pila gud to ka libro ang imong dapat basahon aron ka maka apas sa imong mga maestro. Kumbaga, mao kato ang lingwahe sa pag-tuon nako niadto. Apan, unsa na tong tuiga nga naka basa ko mahitungod sa laglum nga mga teyorya.

Kinsa ba to akong nabasahan? Nalimot na gani ko sa mga apilyido nila, apan nakatuon pud baya ko sa akong subject niadto kabahin sa "social thought" o ang gitawag namo sa una og Soc Sci 2.

Sa dihang nag-desisyon nako nga mamahimong mamahayag o journalist sa Mindanao, naga basa pa gihapon ko ug mga libro, apan gikalimtan ko na gyud tong mahitungod sa teorya.

Mao na nga mura ko og estudyante sa high school kung mag hisgut na gani na si Claire ug Jocan (puro mga magtutudlo sa UP Mindanao nga kauban nako sa MindaNews) mahitungod sa mga social thinkers og ang ilang mga teorya. Mamati gyud ko kay murag nanglumot na ning akong utok nianang teorya.

Usahay pud, bation ko og ka ulit ana nga mga teyorya. Una sa tanan, maka taas kilay ng mga apilyedo sa mga langyaw nga mga teyorista (dili terorista ha!) Dunay ilang gitawag nga si "Focow" ug si "Bordu". Ambot! Kapuyan ko ug hiwi-hiwi sa akong ngabil aron lang nako malitok ilang mga apilyedoha!

Ayaw pud ko kataw-i! Kabalo ko sa spelling sa mga ngalan nianang mga tawhana. Duna lang gyud siguro ko pagdumili pag tuon mahitungod sa teyorya.

Sayon ra man ang mga ngalan sa mga teyorista niadtong akong panahon sa kolehiyo. Si Marx, Si Adams Smith, Si Keynes, si Galbraith, si Locke, si Dante Allegherri, Si Machiavelli, Si Nietzhce. Duna pa gani apilyedo nga "kan-anan" iya apilyedo dali ra kaayo litokon: Si Plato ug apil na pud si Socrates.

Ambot, basin siguro kay mga karaang tawo na to sila. Maong mas sayon basahon ila ngalan. Kay 2006 na man lagi, mao na nga nagka-anam pud ka lisud litokon ang mga ngalan sa mga teyorista. Og kani, pagtuo pud nako, labaw na ba kahang mas lisud sabton ang ilang mga teyorya?

Dunay pagila sa mga teyorista basihan ang ilang mga pagtuo sama sa "post-modern" o kaha, "classical" o kaha "modern". Ambot, labaw na ng "post-modern" pila na kaha ka libro ang gipahulam sa ako niadto aron nako basahon kabahin ana, mawad-an man jud ko ug gana.

Siguro kay ni barog na ko nga mag gahin na lang sa akong panahon didto sa mag "lihok" o pagpraktis sa akong natun-an og mo dumili nako sa teyorya. GUsto nako practice, dili teyorya. Nahiluna na unta ko niana nga desisyon.

Apan kay ang ako mang amigo (amigo pud sa uban) nga si Bro. Karl Gaspar ang gipaliktyur sa UP Mindanao ug sa Mindanawon School niadtong Hunyo 21, nitambong gyud ko. Una-una, mi dumili pa ko sa dihang giimbita ko para mamati. Apan sa nabasahan na nako ang balasahon nga gihatag isip "advance reading", nainganyo ko pagtambong.

Ambot kinsa na si Jurgen Habermas. Taga Frankfurt School man daw na siya didto sa Germany. Basta tungod kay marag gi ankla man ang iyang teyorya sa sitwasyun sa Mindanao, na pugos gyud ko ug tambong aron mamati. Maayo pud ang pagkahan-ay ni Karl sa iyang lektyur mahitungod kang Habermas, usa ka Aleman nga social thinker; kabahin sa Communicative Action Theory: Implications for Mindanao.

Matud pa kay Habermas, sa akong pagsabot, wala pa nahuman ang "modernity" og dapat nga patapuson ni siya aron makit-an gyud ang iyang kaayo. Tumutuo siya sa gitawag nga "force of the better argument" nga mao kunoy tumong sa padayon nga pakiglambigit sa duha ka mga pwersa pamaagi sa "communicative action", dala ang gitawag nga "validity claims" sa matag usa. Sa in-ani, matud pa niya, makab-ot kuno ang pag sinabtanay (paagi sa open and free communication) nga mamahimong giya ngadto sa pagpanday sa mga panaglahi (dili kuno conflict, class struglle o unsa ba, kung si Marx pa ang pasultion).

Mouyon ko niya, paagi sa gitawag pud nga "reconstruction". Apan dili man tanan nga gi-tuohan niya ug sa uban pud nga mga teyorista, ako pung tuohan. Basta mopili ra ko kinsang teyorya ang akong kutloon, 'way buotay.

Didto lang ko nakangisi sa gitawag nga "pagbulag" (uncoupling) sa kalibotang "inato" (lifeworld) ug sa kalibutang sinestema (system). Kay haskang hauma gyud sa gakahitabo sa nagkalain-laing lugar sa Mindanao.

Kabalo ko taas ang lektyur apan kay dali lang man lagi litokon ng "Habermas" nagtuo pud ko nga sayon ra pud siguro sabton ang iyang teyorya.

Nakasabot baya ko, pero ayaw nako pa lektyura mahitungod sa iyang teryorya diri sa "blag". Sunod siguro, dapat motambong pud ka aron ka makasabot, kay dili pud baya sayon tong akong kaagi niadtong lektyura. Hapit ko nag hagok. Apan dili ang paghan-ay ni Karl ang problema. Daan pa ko basta lagi teyorya, wa na gyud ko'y amor ni ana.

Apan, duna pud ko'y daghan natun-an didto. Daghan pud akong namatngunan. Dili man gyud kinahanglan nga paantoson nako akong kaugalingon sa pag tuki nianang teyoryaha isip usa ka trabaho (titser or Master's student). Apan panag-sa, mamati ko sa mga lektyur aron usab mabalanse nako ang akong "practice" ug theory.

Dapat lang diay nga magtuon pud bisan panagsa lang nianing mga teyorya, aron madugangan pud ang imong pagsabot sa mga butang sa imong palibot. Apan, pahingusgan ko gyud nga wala gyud puy lami kung puro nalang teyorya ang nasa utok sa matag batan-on sa Mindanao. Sama ra sa gihapon sa puro nalang "practice" apan walay unod.

Aron mamahimong, "learned" nga tambay sa Mindanao, nagtan-aw ko karon sa duha, teyorya ug praktis isip dili nga pilianan nimo kung unsa sa duha ang mas maayo. Gitan-aw nako nga mas maayo pa siguro tan-awon ning duha isip mga rekados nga dungan nimong gamiton sa unsa man galing tong imong maayong tumong sa kalibutan.

Og matud pa sa closing remarks ni Agnes Miclat Gacayan didto sa UP Mindanao pagkahuman gyud sa lektyur ni Karl Gaspar: "May the force of the better argument be with you!"

(Gusto unta nako mo share mahitungod sa akong pagkasabot sa lecture ni Karl mahitungod kang Habermas. Apan, sa sunod nalang nga higayon. Usa pud, kay kinahanglan pa nako to ayohon og hobad. Basin pa diay, noh?)

Advocacies: DON'T KILL JOURNALISTS! DON'T KILL ANYONE!

2006-06-21T21:26:00.000+08:00

No, Jim, even if a journalist was libelous in his practice, that does not give anyone a license to kill him. And do not accuse me of being too silent about the reports here, there and everywhere about the killing of journalists. How dare you float the idea that I am safer just because I am not in the rural areas? How dare you say some journalists deserve to be killed?

No one deserves to be killed! Every body dies, but one has the right to live up to his last breath until his creator takes the loaned life away from him!

I am silent, yes, because I am also human apart from being a journalist.

I feel fear, I feel pain and I feel anger. I also hate, I also rage and I also cry. And as statistics of this merciless fate for my colleagues flash in my eyes, I feel sad.

My silence is there because I tended to blur between my drive as a journalist, one noble profession, and this sadness.

I feel sad because this is not only about my drive and about my fear. What drives me to work as a journalist is the same reason that drives anyone to serve others. It is the same drive that brings a public school teacher to get up early everyday and prepare for a class with little children who have not eaten breakfast and yet have walked kilometers away just to learn.

I feel sad because if they kill journalists, who aspire only to report about the truth so that we rid our freedoms from threats, then they are actually and symbolically killing our freedom of speech, freedom of expression and our other civil liberties.

Do not think that if they kill journalists, they are only trying to scare journalists and silence them in the act. They are also trying to control not only the press, but also our freedom of speech --which is among our core "rights" as a free people. That means your rights too, Jim! And, they are trying to silence not only journalists, but all including you!

It is not just another crime statistics. It is a big statement that could influence people. That is because the fear that I feel at times as I hear about these reports, is also the same fear that we are planting in the minds of our people when they also see these reports on TV!

People would soon just be blindly obedient about despotic authorities because they are afraid to oppose or protest any wrongdoing. People would soon fear anything and would soon limit their actions based on that precept.

Tolerating these killings will never be good for any society. If elements take justice into their hands, we are bound to a dangerous situation: full of fear, uncertainty and disorder. Tolerating this would push us to a state of mind where we are to dig our own grave in every death.

May we be able to conquer fear resulting from this evil. Let us rage against conditioning the minds of people. No one has the right to kill journalists. No one has a right to kill anyone! No one has the right to trample on our God-given freedom!

Today is the 586th day after MindaNews photo editor, my collegue, housemate and friend Gene Boyd R. Lumawag was killed in Jolo, Sulu. Up to now, his killers are still unknown. We are still seeking justice. We have remained steadfast in doing our job. But things will never be the same again.

Let this be both my prayer, and my rant!

("Jim" is my representation of many people whose minds are "dimmed" by circumstances resulting from the killings of journalists. I met many of these people in many public fora, formal and informal, who see journalists only as the self-crusading, self-serving animal whose work is just to expose other peoples "skeleton inthe closet" . Though a big problem of journalists' ethics and professionalism is haunting this country's news rooms, still, these pitfalls are not reasons enough for the killings. I remember "Jim" as killings are reported in our country almost everyday. Truly, this is becoming the most dangerous country for journalists to work; even if it claims to have the "freeist media in Asia. )

[NEWS] Pimentel: P1-B release sans Congress nod makes GMA a dictator

2006-06-20T19:28:00.000+08:00

(Publisher's note: Story taken from the MindaNews daily dispatch of news and views on Mindanao. Not yet available at www.mindanews.com) . Photo from Senator Pimentel's website.)

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/20 June) – If the President wants to augment the budget of the armedforces to boost its fighting capability, she will have to comply with constitutional process by seekingCongress' authorization because “without that, shewill turn herself into a dictator," Senator Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. said in a press statement.

Pimentel said there is no question that more funds are needed to keep government troops in fightingform and a supplemental P1 billion fund for military hardware and other requirements “will go a longway in winning the battle against the armed insurgents but it cannot be denied that they will usepublic funds without the authorization of Congress.”

"In my view, it would be better if we will have a new budget that incorporatesappropriation to upgrade the capability of the armed forces," he said.

On June 16, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo instructed the Department of Budget andManagement to release P1 billion to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the PhilippineNational Police (PNP) to finance their operations against the communist New People's Army (NPA).

Arroyo said the move, apart from the P5 billion per year for modernization, is expected togive the armed forces the “decisive edge” against the NPA.

The President said this is a "fiscal investment that will yield peace dividends to the economy."

Pimentel said several families in Bukidnon who have nothing to do with the insurgency war havealready been evicted from their homesteads because of the President's “ill-advised all out warpolicy.”

He warned that such a move by the President, also the commander in chief of the Armed Forces,"could place the far flung areas of the country in a state of turmoiland could adversely affect the state of law and order in the urban areas also". (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)

Opinion: Are you an accomplice on election fraud?

2006-06-20T01:36:00.000+08:00

elections
Originally uploaded by waltzib.

Comment on "Verzola: Namfrel part of poll fraud coverup; Namfrel: Go after Comelec, not us"
June 19, 2006 at 5:42 pm • Posted by Alecks Pabico at www.pcij.org/blog

Whether Versola’s views are true or not, NAMFREL has the burden of proving it to the people that it is really an election “watchdog”. Why should Lagman pass the buck to the COMELEC? Why don’t he answer the question/points raised by Versola especially the indicators in bullet form?

If indeed NAMFREL was silent about the fraud or at least the indicators of fraud including the discrepancies, then this citizen’s election watchdog is no longer a watchdog!

Pardon, but this really reminds me of our old dog way back in the 90s. Whenever he is full (esp. after lunch) he falls into a deep sleep and wakes up again ONLY when hungry.

No, I am not insinuating that NAMFREL is into something fishy, I’m just at this point trying to ask a couple of questions. Why the silence about the fraud? Maybe there was no fraud at all?

If so, I think NAMFREL has to educate the people, contest Versola’s claim and prove it’s worth, like, once and for all —release the complete precinct breakdowns as asked.

NAMFREL owes it to the people big time to clear its name; Filipinos used to trust NAMFREL, wahhapend? By the way, at this time, what is NAMFREL’s goat, as floated by Lagman in his response?

ON THE COMMENTS:
I have always believed that since the President apologized for the wrongdoing, we deserved someone better. That we really need a leader who is also a model and a good example. Maybe difficult, but we need our leader to be clean and unstained. For failing to prove her innocence, via due process of law and fair presentation of evidence and counter-evidence (defense); the President has failed the people.

BUT I THINK the problems our country face in these trying times is not only due to a leader who have failed to win peoples’ trust and confidence. Not only because likewise she has failed to lead the people to rally behind her because of some levels of distrust.

The problems are also because of other complacent Filipinos who allowed evil things to happen in front of them. My point is, don’t just point to the President. She might have really done some of those things she is accused of. But she could have not done that without hundreds, thousands if not millions of people who allowed her to do that!

The culprit could be Malacañang’s present resident; but anyone could be an accomplice. Maybe me, you or anyone.

Breaking News: Farmers flee Bukidnon fighting

2006-06-19T16:06:00.000+08:00

By Froilan O. Gallardo/MindaNews
(Publisher's note: Taken from the MindaNews daily dispatch of news and views. Not yet available in www.mindanews.com)
Related Post: "A little about the BIG battle"

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/19 June) – At least 300 farmers, their wives and children were forced to evacuate last weekend after government gunships pounded a communist rebel camp in the mountains northeast of Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

Virginia Flores, Malaybalay City social welfare officer, said 77 families or 335 persons living in the mountain village of Busdi, some 50 kilometers northeast from Malaybalay City, were displaced by the fighting.

Many of the displaced villagers are children, she said. “They fled on foot. Sometimes they hid in the forest to avoid being caught in the middle of the fighting,” Flores told MindaNews by phone this morning.Retired Col. Francisco Simbajon, spokesperson of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, said troops sent to flush out the rebels suffered casualties.

An Army corporal, Redan Arit, was killed and two other soldiers – Sgt. Alberto Madolin and Private First Class Adscar Mala – all of the 26th Infantry Battalion, were wounded in a firefight with New People’s Army rebels in Sitio Bendom, Barangay Busdi, 50 kilometers northeast from Malaybalay City last Friday, he said.

There were no reported casualties on the rebels who took advantage of the fog that covered the mountains and thick foliage around Barangay Busdi, he said. The fighting started on the day President Arroyo ordered the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police to crush the communist insurgency in two years. Arroyo pledged an additional P1 billion to the defense and police budgets to boost the efforts to crush the insurgency.

The extra money will be used to buy reconditioned helicopters and fund operations against the communist insurgents. The presidential order, however, came with a price to the people living in the countryside where communist rebels hold considerable influence.Flores said the mass evacuation started Saturday when MG-520 helicopter gunships bombed a suspected rebel camp in Barangay Busdi that day.Flores said the evacuees found their way to nearby Barangay Saint Peter where they sought refuge at the village elementary school. She said local education officials have suspended the classes there.

The city government of Malaybalay gave food and blankets to the evacuees, many of whom, Flores said, brought only a few belongings.Flores said at least one woman fainted when she arrived at the Saint Peter Elementary School due to exhaustion and hunger. “We gave three days of food but we think these are not enough.

We think the fighting will drag on,” Flores said. Flores expressed fears more people will evacuate if the fighting will continue. Army officials in Cagayan de Oro justified as “necessary” the military operations against the NPA rebels who earlier reportedly torched eight vehicles owned by a construction firm. Simbajon said a team from the Army’s 26th Infantry Battalion ran into well-fortified rebel positions in Sitio Bendom, Barangay Busdi last Friday. He said a firefight occurred around 5:45 pm Friday and lasted through the night.

The Army battalion, he added, wasn’t able to immediately extricate the two wounded soldiers and the remains of Arit because of the intense fighting and dense mountain foliage. “The rebels even fired at the gunships with Caliber 50 machineguns when the helicopters strafed at their positions,” Simbajon saidSimbajon said the rebels, numbering around 60, torched the vehicles owned by Concepcion Basic Builders Inc., in Zamboanguita, Malaybalay City last June 8.

He said the rebels were the same one who ambushed soldiers in Zamboanguita. killing an Army officer last week. (Froilan O. Gallardo/MindaNews)

NEWS: Naming "Region 12"

2006-06-19T13:22:00.000+08:00

Region 12? Central Mindanao? Soccsksargen? South-Central? Cotabato? Southwestern Mindanao?

Written by Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews
Monday, 19 June 2006 (Courtesy of www.mindanews.com)

COTABATO CITY (MindaNews/18 June) – What’s in a name? Certainly a lot, especially since regions compete with each other in enticing investors. Region 12, however, has been suffering from an identity crisis. It is the only region out of six in Mindanao that is known by at least six names: Region 12, Central Mindanao, the tongue-twisting Soccsksargen, South-Central Mindanao, Cotabato region and Southwestern Mindanao.

The confusion has affected everybody, including media. In fact, the title of the summit where Hadja Sittie Marian Lim, regional director of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), was asked late Saturday afternoon to clarify how the region should be referred to, is “Central Mindanao Media Summit.” Lim, however, refers to the region simply as “Region XII.”
“Region XII” comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and this city. “Region XII,” Lim explained to the media, is the compromise name even as the new name should have been “Cotabato region,” in deference to other leaders who prefer “Soccsksargen” [South Cotabato, (North) Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City].

But “Region XII” as a “compromise” is problematic because who would know, outside the region, what the number signifies? The creation of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in 1989 and Caraga in 1995 changed the alignments of what were simply known as Western Mindanao (Region 9), Northern Mindanao (Region 10), Southern Mindanao (Region 11) and Central Mindanao (Region 12).

MindaNews columnist Patricio Diaz, former editor of the Cotabato City-based Mindanao Cross and later Mindanao Kris, has written several columns on these realignments and has repeatedly argued that “Central Mindanao” was “abolished geographically, that is, when President Corazon C. Aquino issued Executive Order 429 in 1990 to realign Regions 9 and 12 affecting the other Mindanao regions.” Aquino realigned the regions when Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao, then belonging to “Region 12” or “Central Mindanao,” and Sulu and Tawi-tawi, then belonging to “Region 9” or “Western Mindanao,” voted for inclusion in the ARMM in the November 1989 plebiscite.

In the Organic Act creating the ARMM, Cotabato City was named “temporary” seat of the ARMM, supposedly until its Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA) designates a “permanent seat.” Today, Cotabato City remains the “temporary” seat. EO 429 moved the regional seat of Region 9 to Pagadian City and Region 12 to Koronadal. But the EO met opposition from leaders of Zamboanga City, then seat of Region 9, and Cotabato City, then seat of Region 12.

Another layer of confusion came in the 1990s when “growth areas” were in vogue and the South Cotabato-Sarangani-General Santos City economic grouping became known as SocSarGen. The Mindanao map published by the Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) in August 2000 refers to the area as “SoSKSarGen” to include Sultan Kudarat province. After the August 2001 plebiscite when Marawi City and Basilan joined the ARMM, President Arroyo issued Executive Order 36, to implement the transfer of the seats of regional governments under EO 429 and to make the necessary alignments following the inclusion of Marawi City and Basilan in the ARMM. In his March 3, 2005 column, Diaz asked, “what can we do about Region 12, not only to be consistent but to be correct and truthful?”

Diaz said that looking at the map, if one were to look at the present composition of the region, “Region 12 is in the southwestern part of Mindanao. So, Region 12 is Southwestern Mindanao. That is not arguable.” He noted how “difficult” it is “to make the leaders of Region 12 change their wrong reference out of habit or of bias or of mistakes they believe as correct.” “I mailed Gov. Daisy Fuentes a copy of my January 13 Comment, ‘To RDC XII and Others Concerned’ explaining the point. To no avail!,” he said. “Only in matters of controversial facts should journalists report exactly what their sources say.

But if the sources are wrong according to established and accepted facts - as the map of Mindanao is - journalists must correct their sources or not publish their reports at all,” Diaz said. Since then, MindaNews had been referring to the region as “Region 12 (Southwestern Mindanao)” to guide the reader that the number refers to southwestern Mindanao on the map.

MindaNews will continue referring to the region as such.

Sunday Reflections: Trying to be more faithful, useful

2006-06-18T21:14:00.000+08:00

I'm proud to be a part of a simple community in our church called Ang Lingkod ng Panginoon or Lingkod, a Charismatic group of single men and women, mostly young professionals. I originally came from the group's branch in Malaybalay City where I had been a member since October 2001.

Now based in Davao, I have joined activities here since July 2004 up to present.

My life in Lingkod for the last five years had been an encounter that has helped form me. It was and still is an experience with real people who struggle in their own spirituality and strive to be better persons everyday. Above all, this has been the path that led me to experience God in my life in a more personal way.

It helped me anchor my plans and activities to a grand design greater than mine. It has taught me the way to deal with other people (friends and enemies), God's creations too. Also, in the community I met real people who, like me, experience difficulties in many aspects. Personally, Lingkod helped me realize that God's love is greater than all my sins, shortcomings, failures, mistakes and my other imperfections combined. It has taught me to struggle to Love others also in a more special way, especially to my family, friends and loved ones.

Also, the community life that I have in Lingkod has also helped me embrace a wider community around Mindanao, where there are greater differences between members. The teachings on Love, Faith and Hope helped also in my understanding of love, faith and hope in the context of multi-cultural or diverse communities, inter-religious dynamics and even poly-lingual circumstances.

The teachings on prayer, peace through forgiveness, respect and support; and also about unity helped me understand the need for genuine Peace in Mindanao, amid wide differences: ideological and others.

Above all, my experience of service in Lingkod made me resolve also to make use of my God-given gifts to help others.

The photos above were taken last year during Lingkod's Christian Life Program, a 13-week series of talks on Basic Christian truths. I'm shown with the discussion group assigned to me. Today, June 18, 2006; I was asked to give the first talk on God's Love. The opportunity to share my personal experiences through the talk and also to be a "mouthpiece of the Lord" to the participants, have refreshed me of God's call for me to be an instrument so that others would come to know him and would also live blessed lives themselves.

God's love means he wants everyone to be happy. This also means he wants us not to be poor but rich so we could help more people. But I also learned to struggle to stay in control in the use of my resources.

I pray that in this way, I can help change Mindanao, clearing it from dirt, starting with mine.

At days end, I'm ready for a sound sleep; for you, my God, have put my life back together (Psalm 4:8)

Opinion: A Mindanawon's lamentations on the perils of synthetic food and drugs

2006-06-17T14:27:00.000+08:00

Soda in the remotest of villages
Originally uploaded by waltzib.

NOT everybody would notice it.

But life in Mindanao, with the surging entry of "advance" technology, Western modernity and the allure of “globalization”; had long been crept with foreign and inappropriate interventions.
Ang uban niini dili haum sa mga pamaagi diri sa Mindanao. (Some of these are not fit to conditions here.)

Change is something that people must not be afraid of. In many instances, though, changes bring unlikely effects, that are often hidden and most people are not mindful of them.

So, some ways, even the indigenous, are altered with new ones that stemmed from steamy scientific and technological advances brough from the West.

For example, any one can relate with the threat that formula milk bears to breastfeeding. Everybody knows there is no alternative to it. Even milk makers recognize that in their labels. But the message to counter that breasfeeding is still the best was not given much space. By choosing to blur, this society has tolerated it.

This is true not only on foods for babies! Look at the cereals that they sell in the market for breakfast. They claim it is complete because it is fortified with vitamins and minerals! Who is sure about these fortifications? Even junk food makers claim they fortify "junk food" with vitamins! I'm not sure if any nutrient could go beyond junk!

The threat is actually comprehensive. In Mindanao's farmlands, you’ll see a lot of products and techniques owing productivity to “synthetics”. Some of which had been tested in some areas --but not through time. Examples include hybrid seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and even farming techniques that go with these technologies.

In the Go Organic Mindanao conference in December last year, I met a group who advocates for, among others, the return to a traditional, natural and also productive method of farming: looking at the stars and cosmic locations when to plant, harvest and among other things!

The threat is apart from the problems of the invasion of products from foreign producers, like onion bulbs for kinilaw from China! However, this is not only an issue of nationalist ideals, economic sufficiency or even protectionism and other isms (neo-classical economists would say “efficiency” or optimality). It is about certain limits of interventions that often go against the ways of nature (the way its creator meant it to be) or culture (the distinct ways of peoples).

Food today is basically processed. It is transported from a farm to a factory or a processing plant where the economy uses a lot of energy to convert it into another form (mixed with artificial ingredients, etc) and delivered to the whole economy, even back to the farms where some of these inputs come from! This is altering diet, health and way of life in general!

Another way to see it is through the increasing popularity of instant and fastfood chains that serve Western-originated food like French fries and deep fried chicken (using a lot of oil and spices). Fast food chains, Filipino-owned or American are sprouting around Mindanao in the past 10 years and making a lot of statements! Among them, “food should be from the restaurant, should be expensive, full of spices, should be prepared by someone else.” These foods and set-up of preparing them appeal to kids for their strategic marketing schemes!

Everything is being converted to instant food or “fast food chain” food that already, some kids find it hard to appreciate their mothers’ home cooking!

We don’t even have to look far to see how these interventions creep to us. Our daily softdrinks consumption shows this. Look at Tasing (in photo), 25, in the mountains of Monkayo, Compostela Valley. He carries soft drink bottles from a remote village of people who drink the soft drink for their lunch and snacks! Drank by those who have prefered natural drinks like coconut water or wine?

The problem is, these synthetic food, drinks, drugs and others have proven side effects to people's health. Yet it is not stressed even in rural health centers!

Another, look at Nestle, the European food giant. These days they also bottle water from our springs in the guise of safe, handy, and potable water! They are actually beginning to change the terrain of the economy. This also has bearing healthwise. Ask how do they creep? Go figure!

The other week, environmentalists in Davao lobbied against aerial spraying used by banana plantations because these are raining toxic substances to the open air and the public. In this case, it might be good to the banana growers, and their importers too; but not to public health.

Any corn farmer in Bukidnon, Cotabato, and Agusan; or any hybrid rice farmer in Banay-Banay, Davao Oriental would lament about this modern and more productive means of farming. Yes, they might earn more money and perhaps faster, but these synthetic farm inputs: seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides require big amount of money. Many of these farmers could get this money only from loan sharks disguising as “agricultural suppliers” in the rural and urban areas.

Manong Felipe, 56, one of Banay-banay's rice farmers, held his soiled and torn short pants as he walked to the “square garden” in September 2004. Tagging along his cock fighter, he said he wanted to gamble some chance to get back some lost blessings. In 2005, when I visited him again, he has given up farming and worked as a cook instead. He has lost in the last cropping. His agricultural supplier, who he still owes big time, is driving his four-wheel drive vehicle to Davao City to spend his own share of the harvest.

The point is, the whole idea of synthetic farming, modern technology and other new interventions impact on the way of life of people. For as long as they have no ownership to this technologies and ways, no matter how much promise they have for prosperity, the poor Mindanawon farmer, consumer and producer is enslaved to a global network of businesses.

Their goal is that as they pursue their own interests altogether it might result to the most optimal economic setting. Some capitalists swell their stomachs with fruits of the labor of smaller and clueless victims. I’m talking about the terminator technology proposed. If that would be allowed, farmers have to buy new seeds from suppliers everytime they plant a new cropping!

A well-established social engineering work is another problem. "Synthetic" technologies have advocates in many sectors embedded in society, to what else, perpetuate their interests. For example, farmers hungry of techniques on better farming could only see sales agents of hybrid seed companies going to their villages to sell their products. They are disguised as “expert agricultural technicians” and served as alternates to local agriculturists, who by the way are also advocates of these for “Masaganang Ani”.

Pity also goes to alternative medicines and traditioal health practices that had been altered with prescription and over the counter medicine. Some remained better cure to still a good number of ailments. This could be unfair to the doctors but you know better, some of these physicians recommend drugs that are “lobbied” to them by medical representatives in exchange for some favors! (Without prejudice to those who remained noble and also loyal to the Hippocratic Oath).

This mentality of curative health sucks! Why not advocate preventive practices to minimize incidents of curative cases!

It’s a global situation that gets worse by the minute. The wish is not really to freeze Mindanao in time: opt for primitive and unscientific conditions, and close its door's to the world; but to work for more natural, humane, sustainable, and equitable means of using and sharing Earth for a living.

Yes Virginia, there is a “Santa” of high technology. But at the mainstream, many of these modern techniques of farming and food production; and these food and drugs products and accessory technologies are not among the gifts.

Surely, mankind benefits from these symbols of advancement but, the question remains: Is the extent of the benefits greater than that of its costs?

Advocacies: Support MindaNews! Be a part of the 5th Anniversary Celebration!

2006-06-16T11:04:00.000+08:00

mindanews logo
Originally uploaded by waltzib.

Greetings from the Mindanao News and Information Cooperative Center (MNICC), publisher of the only Mindanao-based, Mindanao-owned and Mindanao-focused daily news service, MindaNews, and its online edition, www.mindanews.com.

We take pride in announcing that we are celebrating our fifth anniversary this year: five years of reporting Mindanao accurately and comprehensively, despite financial limitations and the risks to our lives (we are still seeking justice for our photo editor, Gene Boyd R. Lumawag, who was gunned down in Jolo, Sulu on November 12, 2004).

In our five years, we have pursued our mission of letting the world know there is so much more to Mindanao than just the Abu Sayyaf, bombings and all the violence stuff you regularly read about Mindanao in the national media. We have also helped air the voices of the people in the communities, voices often ignored by the mainstream media.

But there’s more work ahead, there are more stories to write, more voices to be heard. We know there are still many under-reported areas and issues in Mindanao and we hope to bring these out with your help. Help us by journeying with us. Be one of our section sponsors at www.mindanews.com.

For only a minimum sponsorship fee a month (premium spot), you personal or organization’s logo will be posted on the website section of your choice. This will be linked to your corporate website or page. Your logo could also appear at the front page of the website. As an anniversary treat, you can avail of our one year package.

In addition to being advertised as a sponsor, we will also provide space for your announcements and/or press releases in appropriate sections in our new website at www.mindanews.com. Daghang Salamat! E-mail: walter@mindanews.com for inquiries.

In helping MindaNews, you are helping Mindanao.

Be with us in telling the rest of the world this is OUR Mindanao.

Features: Video cinco: A Poor man's R&R

2006-06-15T14:26:00.000+08:00

Video cinco: Poor man's R&R
Originally uploaded by waltzib.

Tonyo’s, (not Tony’s) is a ‘doble-cara’ establishment along McArthur Highway in Davao City. A poor man’s eatery by day, and a “refreshment” house by night --- still of the poor man’s domain. By “refreshment” means, where one can drink beer, sing songs at the “video cinco” and relax the R & R (rest and recreation) way.

It’s a simple and small place. The whole area is about 25 square meters. They have a small food display counter in front, behind it the tables and the cashier box, then the video cinco box at the rear near the kitchen and a common rest room for both men and women customers.

On daytime, drivers, janitors, storehelpers, barbers, vendors and office workers fill Tonyo’s for breakfast, brunch or lunch.

With a little more than P20, one could already have lunch in Tonyo’s. It could be an order of a P15 hot and spicy beef soup for a viand and a P5 per-serve rice.

At night, the place uses a little make over. With dim lights and the music of the video cinco, it turns into a 'masa' music bar. Ice-cold beer is served, even on a rainy June night, together with beermatch food or pulutan, such as chicharon bulak-lak or as simple as fried peanuts.

The place is also free of "guest relations officers" (GRO), which other euphemists liked to call as “companions” and not so friendly ogres call “angels”. The truth is they are victims too, but you can never run away from them if you agreed to a “pay per talk” offer.

Anyway, Tonyo’s is owned by a middle-class family from nearby Ulas district. The whole family tends to the establishment in turns through out the day. Customers there have to deal with the father scolding his son or nephew for breaking a bottle of beer from the fridge. Sometimes, the family’s toddlers break in to a conversation of customers with a question, “unsa diay na siya?” (What is that?).

In short, this is a family-type of music bar, where altogether, when there are no customers yet, they glue themselves to watching soap about Korean love affairs in their economy-size TV set.

The same is the scene when Gigi, Mike, Red and I dropped by for a bottle of beer that night. After a day’s work and a period of beer-fast, I thought I got to taste my favorite beer again; so we decided not to end the night yet and treat ourselves a few bottles and some relaxing chat.

I want to stay awake a little further because I was preparing for a sharing on Sunday in our Church over the weekend. It has been a long time since I faced an audience.
Anyway, we could have gone to Matina Town Square for the beer, but, among constraints, like budget we chose Tonyo’s.

There were only two tables occupied when we arrived. The other group, perhaps friends of Tonyo’s son was wrapping up.

Immediately, we savored our own share of the big bottle of beer we ordered. For all these years, beer always tasted good for me.

That night, I think I drank my best beer so far this year, in the company of some collegues in MindaNews. I really think beer would taste better if you drink it with good friends, in moderation and for a simple celebration.

A lonely young man sits in the other table. He was chosing entries from a songbook and placed some coins in a hole to operate the video cinco music box. He did not get a microphone. He sat himself near the screen and gulped his own tasty bottle of beer.

A few seconds later, the music video box played “Buloy”, a popular song by Parokya ni Edgar. I noticed his face appeared to have relaxed as he sat there listening to the music, watching the band perform (as if live, and exclusively for him) and enjoying his cold beer.

“Hoy hoy, Buloy
Naaalala mo pa ba
noong tayo'y nagsasama?

Hoy hoy, Buloy
Naaalala mo pa ba
ang iyong mga sinabi nung ako'y may problema?

Sabi mo, "lahat ng problema'y kayang lampasan,
basta't tayo'y nagsasama, at nag-iinuman!"

The band members in the video sang the first few lines of “Buloy”, on high volume in the sound box, amid the pouring rain outside.

The others began to pay attention to the song and the music video showing the band performing in a gig. The video is the type you can see over MTV on “Tunog Kanto” if I’m not mistaken. The “lonely table just for one” man, still glued to the video, also got our attention.

His name is JJ, a 19-year old trike (tricycle) driver in GSIS Heights subdivision. He said this is how he treats himself everytime he could earn extra money. JJ said apart from him being not so confident in singing with the music box, he also finds relaxation in watching the music videos of his favorite artists.

It is as if he has done this many times before, because he skillfully keyed in the numbers of around 10 songs in sequence at the video cinco box counter. His playlist included other songs from Parokya, Avril Lavigne’s rock power numbers and Linkin Park’s “In the end”, “Somewhere I belong” and “Numb.”

As the music video played “Numb” I took a closer look at JJ.

“i've
become so numb
i can't feel you there
become so tired
so much more aware
i'm becoming this
all i want to do
is be more like me
and be less like you”

JJ seemed to have chosen this song for a reason.

He wore a pair of old baggy shorts, soiled and torn in one part, and from his looks, its as if he just came from taking his last passenger to an uphill portion of the village. He looked tired, but he looked at home in the place.

I stole sometime to talk to him about his life, while I excused myself shortly from my friends. "Interview," I told them.

JJ said he is really very poor. He studied only up to Grade 2. He belongs to a family of six, attended by his mother alone, left by their father a few years back. He earned an average of P50 a day (net) for pedalling the trike he rents for P30 a day. His mother, who is job-less does some laundry from time to time for some busy residents in GSIS. He eats only two times a day and he helps his mother take care of his siblings.

His family earns an average of P3,500 a month. For a family of six, this is nothing. From a town in Agusan del Sur, JJ’s family has to pay rent for a shack in a slum across the GSIS village.

But JJ was quick to dispel pity on his situation. He said, his family copes with it because they were born poor anyway. “Naanad na mi oi,” (We’ve got used to this) he quipped.

Drinking his bottle of beer and watching his favorite music videos play in Tonyo’s is one way of coping with poverty, he said.

“Whenever I earn extra money, I sneak myself out from our place and spend time here to breath,” he said.

Using the National Statistical Coordinating Board’s figure, you can be called “poor” in the Philippines if your family’s monthly income is below the poverty threshold mark of P5,464 (in 2004!)

According to the NSCB website, poverty estimates show that in 2000, 4.3 million families or 26.5 million Filipinos, more than one-third (34.0 percent) of the country’s population, were living below the poverty line.

For some, this would mean only as statistics changing in a numbers game. But this is reality in numbers! This means some people do not have anything to eat!

JJ’s family could be counted there. Indeed, this is a tiring and biting reality.

Especially that the government repeatedly banners that seven of the country’s 10 poorest provinces are in Mindanao! It makes me sick indeed! What's new with this statistics? Are they not going to do something? (Just thinking out loud.)

But anyway, in Tonyo’s little space for humanity, where me and my friends finished P80 worth of drinks for a night’s R&R and enjoyed positive externalities from someone else's music; I met JJ. Like him, I'm also poor, but I'm amazed at his assertion of his presence, life and daily victories. In his own simple and obscure way, he said he is happy.

JJ pays P3 for every music video he plays at music video box. In that way, its as if he hired the band to sing him a song for measly P3!

JJ stressed that this little happiness is enough to bridge his life's difficulties. He lives a day at a time. He said someday, he'll own his music-video box and he could sing with his family at home.

God really loves his people. In that instant I found his Power working.

“Even if I’m poor, I still have the right to be here,” he said.

Now, that’s the spirit.

(Photo taken in Upi, Maguindanao with a rural singer/cook during a field work.)

Sound Trip: Waway's music: Local tribe's experiences, universal themes

2006-06-14T10:03:00.000+08:00

Waway Saway's 6th Album is out
Originally uploaded by waltzib.

Congratulations to Talaandig artist and international performer Waway Saway in the release of his 6th CD album: PUNLA: Pangarap, Pantasya, Panaginip (Sowing Hopes, Fantasies & Dreams).

He is indeed a real talent that could make any one from Bukidnon proud. Ma. Easterluna S. Canoy reports special to MindaNews about this new album here.

The music and songs of Waway, especially those about his personal and his tribe’s experiences are not only good to hear but are also educational pieces about indigenous peoples and their struggles.

I take note of this song most especially:

“Sinla sinla bayangbang/Bayangbangan ta gabun/Bul-ug di ka suminla/Hadi day imu suhulan budi Dalapakan”

(This song, sung by kids on their way to the river for their morning bath, asks the sun to shine upon all. This moment is memorable to the children as they enjoy bathing in clear rivers no matter if one slips on stones. But now, the rivers are polluted and this has become a lamentation on the ill effects of modernization to their communities.)

I came face to face with the theme of this song when I covered a protest action led by Waway’s kin in Sungko, Lantapan, Bukidnon in 2003. Elder brother Datu Vic Saway led his tribe protesting the use of the water resources within the ancestral domain of the Talaandig at the foot of Mt. Kitanglad.

Datu Vic lamented the abuse of governance by the local government of Lantapan and the disrespect of fruit plantations operating in Lantapan of the free and prior informed consent (FPIC) requirement.

The issue there, though, did not just stop in the breach of the FPIC, which has become a very political concern in Bukidnon since the enactment of the IPRA law or Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997. IPRA supposedly was a landmark legislation on social justice and human rights but that experience put the Talaandigs in a seemingly defenseless situation. At the time the law was never harmonized with existing legislation affecting IPs like NIPAS (National Integrated Protected Areas System) act and even the Local Government Code of 1991!

It was really an environmental, political, economic and socio-cultural issue because the water resources within the ancestral domain of the Talaandig forms a big part of their livelihood, culture, territory, concept of identity, and even indigenous governance.

Waway’s music, which appeals to popular and even principled audiences, has become a very good way to articulate these issues and raise consciousness, among other things, about the same in a world that is fast-changing. From his and his people's experiences, the music weaves through universal themes, beyond their ancestral domain in Mt. Kitanglad.

Canoy reports that the music of the Punla CD "is freshly modern yet anchored on its cultural molding." Let's see how different or the same is this CD from the first five released.

(Watch out: Excerpts from a May 2006 interview with Talaandig leader Datu Migketay Saway for some views on issues and concerns of indigenous peoples and why Bukidnon should not be divided.)

Updates: Intricate decors, intricate talks

2006-06-13T12:40:00.000+08:00

The catchy colors and unique designs in the photo could not escape me.

When I saw those traditional Moro decors last year hanged inside the Office of the MILF Peace Panel in Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, I linked it to the on-going peace process between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines.

Its an intricate negotiations out there. The good thing is, they are talking and are not in two sides of another damaging and retrogressive war.

In 2005, we interviewed Moro leader Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, who by then just assumed the MILF chairmanship. The confident former MILF vice chair for military affairs and peace panel chair expressed optimism with the talks. He was fresh from the MILF general assembly a week before the interview.

Earlier this year, at the on-set of exploratory talks, both panels floated the possiblity of the peace agreement being signed "before the year ends". In fact some insinuated the signing to take place in September for a number of reasons.

The 'peoples' of Mindanao and the rest of the country welcomed this development. Hopefully, it will finally put an end to this age-old and circuitous problem in Mindanao. It takes a calloused, backward and war-freak mind not to be excited about this. This means a wider way to peace in Mindanao, no less.

There were hesitations or uncertainties though with that cue. Lately, reports came out about the difficulties in the negotiations on ancestral domain, which is very important in the definition of Bangsamoro territory. Perhaps, this also make waves in the discussions on the Bangsamoro Juridical entity.

There is also the move to "harmonize" negotiations beyond the MILF, to include the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), that signed a peace agreement with the government 10 years ago. The issue could be focal to the release of detained MNLF leader Nur Misuari, among other concerns. (For an additional discussion on Misuari and related development, read here and here.)

Both panels impressed that the signing would still be possible this year. "We are still working on the timeline". MindaNews' Carol Arguillas reports about this here.

But Mindanawon senator Aquilino Pimentel said its a long overdue peace agreement and without it means a "big headache for the nation".

Hopefully, both parties can pull it off already this year so Mindanao and the rest of the country could already move forward.

We can hope and pray that it will happen, insa'Allah, with God's will. He may grant Mindanao's bright aspirations.

Features: Rebuilding a house in the mountain of gold

2006-06-13T01:10:00.000+08:00

Diwalwal
Originally uploaded by waltzib.

The trip from Davao City to Mt. Diwata was not the best trip. Gigi drove with his usual suave driving. But that did not help as the car trekked the rise and fall of elevation on the road to gold mining haven, Diwalwal.

I have to stay at the rear so I could put weight to that part of the vehicle and give Gigi ease in maneuvering the unfriendly terrain. The MindaNews vehicle, a Crosswind, is quite, steady, but I could almost feel its sighs everytime we settle at a flat portion.

Finally, we arrived in Mt. Diwata and entered the narrow streets of the "gold city". Up to the barangay hall, we passed by several people doing various things.

I couldn't proceed if I could not take this photo of Roger, 35, who lost his house to a fire, together with at least 50 others a day before.

The fogs partly conceal the imagery of Diwalwal-- shaky, crowded and crawling dwellings above tunnels that lead to no-where.

Opinion: A little about the "BIG battle"

2006-06-12T14:12:00.000+08:00

DAVAO CITY - Imagine waking up one morning and be shocked upon reading Mindanao Daily Mirror’s headline, "Big battle erupts in Bukidnon."

What battle?

The headline story goes: "A heavy gun battle between government troops and the New People's Army (NPA) erupted in Bukidnon, Saturday, the military here said. As of noon time yesterday fighting was still raging in Nabunturan area, Barangay Maputi, San Fernando town, Agusan del Sur, some 950 kilometers southeast of Manila."

This is indeed an alarming story. Its title names the whole province of Bukidnon in an "eruption" of a "big battle". I was in a state of shock. I left Bukidnon for Davao City on Saturday afternoon.

Based on the report, the "big battle" happened when government troops encountered a 70-man rebel group believed responsible for the burning of heavy equipment of a construction firm in Agusan del Sur on Friday.

Is Nabunturan a town, barangay, or sitio? Is there a San Fernando town in Agusan del Sur or did the report refer to the San Fernando town in Bukidnon? If so, where is Barangay Maputi? The public information officer of San Fernando insisted, on a phone interview with MindaNews, that there is no such place. If the encounter happened in Agusan then why did the report locate it in Bukidnon?

She said the initial reports of the encounter referred to Brgy. Matupe (not Maputi), which is at Bukidnon’s border with Agusan del Sur and Davao del Norte. From an updated report culled from the PNA website, the "big battle" happened in Sitio Nabunturan, Barangay Maputi, San Fernando, Bukidnon.

The battle could be "big" because the military cited 10 casualties from the NPA side, as cited in the updated PNA report . Still, the story bordered on sensationalism when it named the whole of Bukidnon in the title though it only happened in one area!

The use of "erupt" also calls to mind "volcanic" activity, which makes it really a case of sensationalism.

The encounter occurred on Saturday, the report was written on Sunday, June 11 and came out in PNA’s subscriber-newspapers like Daily Mirror on June 12. Why did PNA rush to release the story amid those inaccuracies?

The news agency, under the Office of the President via the Press Secretary, used only military sources in the report. There is even no mention of the effects of the big battle to the civilians in the area. Why would PNA waste people’s money in an incomplete report like this?

The public information office of the municipality of San Fernando, Bukidnon told MindaNews that they have not yet received reports of any evacuation of civilians in the area. Such evacuation could be one indicator of the "big battle".

Bernabe Manda, San Fernando police station officer-in-charge, told Malaybalay-based Central Mindanao Newswatch reporter Mel B. Madera (via text message) that the military encounter occurred outside of San Fernando’s area of responsibility. Even out of Bukidnon!

Just a few days ago, Bukidnon was dragged by the National Security Adviser who alleged there were mass graves from an alleged NPA purge. What mass graves? Gov. Jose Ma. R. Zubiri, Jr. reacted negatively to that pronouncement. The National Security Adviser was declared persona non-grata by the provincial board.

With that and this "big battle" report, what is the government-owned news agency pitching in this part of Mindanao? The PNA update cited that the rebels allegedly collect revolutionary tax to at least three companies in the area.

Whatever is going on, the report placed Bukidnon in a bad light. I wonder how the governor and the local legislators would react to this. People in Bukidnon now have to deal with that image of big battles, thanks to this report.

Is accuracy sacrificed in the name of finding short words for a story’s title because of limited space? Or is this pitching up a policy of war in a peaceful province? It could happen to any province, I bet. What's the difference between this and the unfair generalization of a "war in Mindanao" where there are only skirmishes in a town in one or two provinces?

As a journalist, I have made my own kind of mistakes, but not this kind.

The greater duty rests in the news agency and the newspaper that used the story.

I find ill not only in the choice of title, which is really a big slap to peacefulness. But also the whole report’s intent and impact.

Updates: Gimuat, A Dibabawon Community Festival in Asuncion

2006-06-12T13:30:00.000+08:00

I came across this invitation to MindaNews to the Gimuat 2006, a Dibabawon community festival in Binancian, Asuncion, Davao del Norte. Gimuat is vernacular for awareness
in Dibabawon.

The festival was scheduled from June 8-10, 2006 which I sourly missed. The theme was "Kinaiyahan ampingan, yutang kabilin panalipdan".

The festival was organized by the Dibabawon communities, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Relief and Children's Alternative Program Foundation, Inc.

According to the programme, they set up the Children's Visual and Theater Arts Workshop and played some indigenous musical instruments on June 8. They also held a Dibabawon food and recipe contest on June 9. On June 10 they held a forum on IP development, Issues and Concerns) and other closing rites.

I am putting this here even if I missed the event because activities like this start to grow from our communities around Mindanao with the initiatives of the indigenous communities and the support of some patrons.

The way I see it, just like what I saw in Sungko, Lantapan, Bukidnon for the Talaandig tribe at the foot of Mt. Kitanglad, people are resilient and exercising agency in asserting their identities amid growing and creeping threats to their culture.

So it must not be sheer pageantry, as in the case of other festivals who claimed to be "cultural and ethnic" in orientation. These "festivals" should be a showcase of the state of the indigenous peoples around Mindanao.

There you will see them dance without the pay and the hakot that subjects them to exploitation with "consent".

Kudos to communities and groups who look at the situation of IPs not only in cultural and artistic appeal, but also to their economic, political and educational and social plight.

Features: A declaration of independence

2006-06-12T10:06:00.000+08:00

After summer: Island relaxation in Samal
MindaNews / 17 June 2005

(1st of two parts)

SAMAL ISLAND --- It’s nice to feel good all the time and there are just too many reasons to feel that way here.The idea is to defy time. Now that summer vacation is over doesn’t mean fun is over too.

In Samal Island, which is just a 15-minute ferry boat ride from Davao City (Barangay Onse, Sasa to Babak pier), you could relax on a 24/7 pace and get a much deservedreward.That means you can slip back and forth for work if in Davao City or nearby.

If you want to relax well after a day’s work or a week’s hurdle then this is for you.Every trip to and from Samal is an experience of amazement: becoming like a child again and again.

At least, that’s my story.I had been here for more than five times by ferry boat directly to a resort. My experiences went from escapades to a resort with friends, to swim and dive to release tension and even to “sharpen the saw” after conferences and training.I like going to the “expensive” destinations in Samal. It makes me think “I can afford.”

Almost always, I have fancied about those trips. Here, you can be king or queen for a day. After all, I got those trips as freebies anyway.I felt that going that way in experiencing Samal Island is the only way for visitors. In a luxurious way, Samal to me is taking water rides, diving in choice spots, swimming in well maintained beaches, dining in classy restaurants and relaxing extraordinarily.

Don’t get me wrong though; my trips were all paid for by friends and relatives or conference organizers. Every time I go home from a Samal trip, I always get a look that could mean: that was an expensive treat, when could you do that again?

Makes me think if I could ever afford to find my way back and have fun.How I look forward to go back to places that amaze me. I wanted to be amazed repeatedly. And Samal does that to me fairly.On a recent escapade there, though, I discovered Samal is as good, if not better, if taken in a simpler way.

I didn’t have to wait to be invited to conferences or by a bonus treat from a friend or a relative.I can just hop in, take my own road on my own time and with my own budget. This is a discovery for me last summer that I can’t exchange for any tour package, if there are offers.

One Sunday, with a backpack, I took the discovery on the road, something I do to unwind.Early in the morning, I took a ferry boat from Onse, Sasa, Davao City to the pier in Babak, Samal Island.

The relaxing ride on a simply clad passenger ferry cost me only P7.50 but of course its worth far more than that.The boat trip itself provides you a different experience, one with a soothing effect.

For me, that was a better trip than the one I took from Cebu to Tagbilaran on a catamaran twin engine Super Cat vessel years ago for a tour with officemates.At a moment: as it took off, I saw the distance expanding between us in the boat and the pier in Davao City.

The ferry glided smoothly with the blue waters of Davao Gulf, the sun above shining in a bright mood.It was a shift of being. From being a reporter and office staff in the city to a young man, gasping freely at nature’s sight. I was in full anticipation of a relaxing day.

I liked the simplicity of this trip. I didn’t have to wait for others, rush for a deadline or be stressed in budgeting my “meager resources for an excursion”. In this trip, I am just basic: on my rubber slippers, with a back pack of extra clothes, packed lunch andsome snacks I bought from a convenience store. I as only rich in gusto to explore.

Earlier, I went with some friends to cover the new Caracoles Festival. There was great partying on that day, hyped up by drumbeats, special guests and the long preparation made by the organizers. Samal is home to a very rich marine life and that’s why, startingthis year, the Caracoles would be a fixture in the country’s tourism industry.

But I have always wanted to go to Samal the simplest way on an ordinary day when I’m free. I think this is also the way any man on the street would want it. Samal is God’s gift: man should be free to enjoy its bounty.Believe me, as soon as I stepped into Babak, my own simple escapade has exceeded my expectations. I went in and out a lot better. And I did not even spend much.

Part 2

SAMAL ISLAND - Aside from swimming in the cool waters of a beach near Babak, the best part of my recent trip here was when I decided to move around the island using public transportation.

Indeed, a trip to Samal is a showcase of mobility. From the ferry boat, I took a multi-cab ride to Peñaplata and from there rode on a single motorcycle to Catagman where I have a better view of the rest of the island.

From Catagman to Peñaplata again, I took a motorela or tricycle. Straight from a terminal in Peñaplata, I went home with a roll on roll off (RORO) bus through a barge.Moving around was easy, despite poor road conditions in some parts of the island.

My P30 trip to Catagman on a motorcycle backride by pakyaw I think got me.Yes, the road was dusty but I didn’t really mind because I was looking for that kind of fun anyway. For me, Samal’s partly unpaved roads lined with fruit trees along beaches added a natural appeal.

In a windy afternoon, that ride could mean adventure.Indeed it was fun: Seeing the blue waters of Davao Gulf shine with the after noon sunlight. It’s not my first time to see that sight of course, but every time I see one, it refreshes me.

The mobility of a motorcycle also, compared to a jeepney, added to mydelight. I felt so free moving around the island and my eyes feasted on new sights and colors.I stopped in a curve where I have a good view of the scenery. The surrounding is fresh and clean.

Recently, the city government here already denied they are dumping garbage to Davao City as alleged by reports. Other islands in the country have a problem withgarbage disposal.

I took a very deep breath of fresh air for a second. I just stayed there defying time.I also took liberty to feel myself standing in that vantage point. I could hear my breath, I could hear the waves, I could hear the wind and I felt the rock where I was standing on.

Also, memories of adventures I‘ve been through elsewhere flashed back.After a whole week of burying myself in stress and pressure, this trip has become my declaration of independence.

I was in a great time reclaiming my connections.But my gratification was disrupted when four bikers approached our direction for a stopover. They were cheering each other for their long distance feat that afternoon.

They stopped for a drink of water. We had a brief chat about, as usual, the weather, and somematter of life and death topics on fitness.Roger, a moneyed biker from Toril, Davao City bragged about biking as the best exercise and the best way to do it is in Samal.

Looking at my historically flat tummy, we laughed and agreed that each person has his own way of staying fit.I was humbled about my motorcycle ride. These young men were doing it better and I think they are freer: they don’t have to deal with a rising fuel price and a haggle with the transportation expenses with the driver.

Above all, as they had fun they also stayedfit, to my envy.I managed to shift back from that state of mind to having fun, my own way. From that point, I went to a beach house owned by a friend’s relative and ate fruits while watching the rest of Samal Island settle in peace.

There are so many things I discovered aboutthe island and myself that afternoon.Along the way home, waiting for our bus’ turn in the barge, I brushed aside those “they are freer” and “I need to exercise like them” thoughts. They’ll have their own space in me.But next time, I will meet those bikers in the same spot with me hiking, which I think is a better exercise and ideal also in Samal’s roads.

To me, a trip to Samal Island is an expression of life choices: you can choose to go high end and frolic at luxurious ways of relaxing or you can hop in like a common man with a back pack and end your day with the same joy as the rich man’s.

Whatever it is that you experience, Samal just gives you options to express yourself.One can expect too high and be disappointed or look low and be overwhelmed.

The need to decide to have fun and be happy is a must.At the end of the day, visitors, rich or poor, men or women, slim or not become equal: that they have their own story to tell about their own different lives.

Opinion: On punishing election cheats vs. automation

2006-06-12T03:09:00.000+08:00

From www.pcij.org :Punishing the cheats, not election automation, is real solution - local IT pioneer

WHILE acknowledging that automation has a role to play in modernizing our elections, which remains a pitiful throwback from the first-ever held local polls in Bulacan more than a century ago, local information technology pioneer Roberto Verzola thinks the real problem does not lie with having an antiquated electoral system but with the fact that the cheats don’t get punished at all. (Read the whole text of the PCIJ blog in this URL: http://www.pcij.org/blog/?p=994)

Start of post
I'm excited how the group of Obet Verzola's Halalang Marangal could fiscalize the much-tainted exercise that is elections in the Philippines.

I agree, computerization will not guarantee clean elections. Machines cannot and should not alter the dignity of people and their right to suffrage. I don't think cheats would be deterred from cheating just because the elections are "automated”.

Maybe, if these cheats are not punished, they will only become more clever and could only upgrade their modus operandi with computers around.

It would be even more dangerous to deal with computers, if crooks are behind the monitors, inside CPUs or are moving from one network to another. I think computers work in wonders for elections too. But the people would not be better-off if the problem of cheaters at large still persist. The way I see it, automation could not stand alone in an elections where the problem is not only slow election process, but integrity of electoral institutions like the COMELEC and NAMFREL, as alleged by other groups.

In my point of view, this automation project -- scarred with budget and other concerns--- would not work in that situation.

The first time I've heard about this election watch "third force" was when Obet spoke at the Go Organic Mindanao conference in Davao City in December 2005. He asked me if I know some people who could help organize “NO CHEATS” (as he called it then) in Mindanao. He was looking for someone who could be the face and the driving force to rally behind in Mindanao.

I’m not sure if he talked to the person I recommended to him.

I really do hope they can pull it off and create a domino effect to the whole electorate and electoral process.
End of post