COTABATO CITY (MindaNews / 27 January) – NurRedha Ibrahim Misuari is no stranger to the Bangsamoro struggle. But unlike her father Nur Misuari, founding chair of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) who led a bloody armed revolution in the
COTABATO CITY (MindaNews / 06 January) – The sound of gunfire was the music of his jihad until Ahmed (not his real name), a former radical combatant, embraced the kulintang and other instruments in his journey to a life of peace
BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi (MindaNews / 25 December) – In less than five minutes, Ignohassan Mustajid disappeared in the maze of stilt houses in a community of Bajau in coastal Barangay Nalil where his family has been living in a dilapidated single-room
ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews / 26 Dec) – It’s been two years since our clan had a Christmas tapoktapok. While most people talk about COVID-19 pandemic in the past tense, we continued to observe safety precautions. We chose an open air
GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews / 22 December) – Three days to Christmas Day, Guia, my 20-year old daughter made another trip to the hospital for her regular laboratory tests and a scheduled follow up check-up with her doctors. “Magpapasko na pala,
GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews / 03 December) – General Santos City, the “Tuna Capital of the Philippines,” is proving to be a suitable site for grape production, with a woman leading the way in showcasing that it can be grown
LA PAZ, Agusan del Sur (MindaNews / 3 December) — The day Mariel Havana has long been waiting for is finally here. After years of struggle, her village, Kasapa II in this Agusan del Sur town now has its own
Heavy machinery has begun operating at a coal mining site on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. The concession is held by three subsidiaries of Philippine conglomerate San Miguel Corp. , which estimates the mine will produce 180 million metric
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 11 October) – In today’s age of untruth, lies, disinformation and total breakdown of sanity, especially among those who are supposedly responsible and accountable to the people to uphold human decency and dignity, a single dissenting
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 4 October) – Fostering a culture of peace through coffee. This is what Felicitas Pantoja has been doing since returning with her husband, Luis Daniel Pantoja, from 20 years of staying in Canada, where she worked
(This piece written by H. Marcos C. Mordeno was first published in the book, “Transfiguring Mindanao: A Mindanao Reader,” edited by Jose Jowel Canuday and Joselito Sescon, published by the Ateneo de Manila University Press and launched on June 22,
(This piece written by H. Marcos C. Mordeno was first published in the book, “Transfiguring Mindanao: A Mindanao Reader,” edited by Jose Jowel Canuday and Joselito Sescon, published by the Ateneo de Manila University Press and launched on June 22,
MARAWI CITY (MindaNews / 10 Sep) – When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, only one hospital catered to patients infected with the virus in Marawi City and the 39 municipalities of Lanao del Sur. Named after Maranao hero Amai
(This piece written by H. Marcos C. Mordeno was first published in the book, “Transfiguring Mindanao: A Mindanao Reader,” edited by Jose Jowel Canuday and Joselito Sescon, published by the Ateneo de Manila University Press and launched on June 22,
ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews / 04 Sept) — Dr. Rasmila Macarambon Cosain may not have children of her own but she has so many surrogate children, especially those from poor families in remote areas whom she has been helping get proper
ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews / 28 August) — Jenny Sanguila was on her third year in Nursing, her second course, when she realized it was not for her. She had no idea then that her next stop would be in an office
Last of 5 parts [This piece was first published in the book, “Transfiguring Mindanao: A Mindanao Reader” edited by Jose Jowel Canuday and Joselito Sescon (Ateneo de Manila University Press, 2022). The article opens Part V on “Mediating Truths, Contested
4th of 5 parts [This piece was first published in the book, “Transfiguring Mindanao: A Mindanao Reader” edited by Jose Jowel Canuday and Joselito Sescon (Ateneo de Manila University Press, 2022). The article opens Part V on “Mediating Truths, Contested
2nd of 5 parts [This piece was first published in the book, “Transfiguring Mindanao: A Mindanao Reader” edited by Jose Jowel Canuday and Joselito Sescon (Ateneo de Manila University Press, 2022). The article opens Part V on “Mediating Truths, Contested Communities,
1st of 5 parts [This piece was first published in the book, “Transfiguring Mindanao: A Mindanao Reader” edited by Jose Jowel Canuday and Joselito Sescon (Ateneo de Manila University Press, 2022). The article opens Part V on “Mediating Truths, Contested
SIBUTU, Tawi-Tawi (MindaNews / 07 August) – Surrounded by high seas that serve as their playground, villagers in this remote coastal town have mastered the art of boat building, a craft they inherited from their forebears that allowed them to
ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews / 30 April) – When I posted on social media a photo of my family standing in front of our diminutive Wigo taken somewhere deep in the forest of Rogongon along the Iligan- Bukidnon road on Easter
2nd of a series [Read the first part] DAPA, Siargao Island (MindaNews / 09 January) – As we raised our arms in victory amid the destruction around us at the Siargao Sports Complex caused by the Category 5 Typhoon “Odette” on December 16,
MALUNGON, Sarangani (MindaNews / 3 Nov) – After years of jet-setting the Asia Pacific region as a senior official of a global semiconductor company, Edmundo Cejar retired to a lowkey, unhurried lifestyle in this landlocked town with vast rolling hills
MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews / 27 August) – Datu Dumapal, christened as Benecio Docenos, a leader of the Bukidnon-Daraghuyan tribe inhabiting Mount Kitanglad Range passed away last year. In his honor, I’d like to share my fond memories of him as
GLAN, Sarangani (MindaNews /22 August) — Over the years, tens of thousands of local tourists have been flocking annually to this idyllic, century-old town largely due to its fine white sand beaches in Barangay Gumasa, which is being hyped as
POLOMOLOK, South Cotabato (MindaNews / 31 July) – As the tourism industry continued to suffer from the debilitating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, a Lumad (Indigenous Peoples) family in a remote village here slaughtered a pig weighing over 100 kilos
PALIMBANG, Sultan Kudarat (MindaNews / 27 April) – This Moro-dominated town is starting to rise from notoriety and obscurity, luring visitors with the slogan “Manisan ka Palimbang.” The Maguindanawon phrase is conspicuously engraved at the newly constructed 259-meter baywalk beside
MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews / 26 April) — It started with incantations by Bae Inatlawan Adelina Tarino, chieftain of the Bukidnon-Daraghuyan tribe, and other elders in Sitio Olanguhon, Barangay Dalwangan here. They then slaughtered the sacrificial hog and around 30 chickens,
ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews / 17 April) – I have to confess that, despite my numerous hashtag-lutongbahay posts of yummy food on Instagram, I didn’t know how to cook; hadn’t actually cooked, save those reheating of canned goods during Boy Scout
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 11 April) — When visual artist and graphic designer Paul Corpus migrated to Toronto with his family in 2000, he carried that longing to reconnect with his home city of Davao. There was Facebook at first.
(Author’s note: “With our schools cancelled due to Covid-19, homeschooling has become a trend and a solution so that our students’ education may go on. As one of the pioneers of homeschooling in Dipolog, I wish to share our homeschooling
DIPOLOG CITY (MindaNews / 02 April) — Tucked in a college dorm islands away from home, I hankered for food that could only be gratified by taking an hour-and-a-half plane ride home to my southern province of Zamboanga del Norte
(“There are no known sources for a biography of Noralyn Mustafa, except perhaps for what she shared here,” poet Ricardo M. de Ungria wrote in his intro to the interview with the Tausug writer on October 24 and 25, 2017
MARAWI CITY (MindaNews / 22 March) – Nobody knew that Mohmina Ontiling is 105 years old — or that she exists at all. Her name wasn’t on any official civil registry, until her existence was endorsed by a humanitarian organization
WOMEN’S MONTH FEATURE MAITUM, Sarangani (MindaNews / 9 March) – A group of widows, some in their twilight years, is helping build better lives, spreading happiness and inspiration to poor women in this bucolic coastal town. Since October, the Merry
1936. Heavy footsteps were running here and there in the royal house of the Sultan of Ramain. The five-year-old princess was dying. Her face was crimson red with escalating fever. Her eyes were half-open as if trying to take a
MARANTAO, Lanao del Sur (MindaNews / 17 Feb) – Rakimah Casidar, 43, sat cross-legged in front of the iroan (Meranaw loom) in her home in Ranaranao in this municipality. It was not a well-lit place ideal for intricate tasks such
ILIGAN CITY ( MindaNews / 3 February) – While the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic ravaged the global economy forcing many businesses to shutdown, Babu Kwan restaurant managed to find opportunities that kept it afloat amidst these trying times. The
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 19 January) – The Philippine Eagle Foundation’s (PEF) carbon forest restoration team wrapped up 2020 with over 20,000 seedlings at its nursery and over 6,000 wildlings planted at the Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) Davao Carbon Forest
SURIGAO CITY (MindaNews / 09 January) – As the world got scared with the pandemic and everyone tried to distance themselves from other people to avoid catching the virus, I was safely secluded in Siargao, an island paradise in Surigao
ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews / 17 Oct) – I have long enjoyed watching photographs of small things – the smallest flowers, insects, spiders, and other almost microscopic items. Although I’ve been taking pictures for a few decades, for work and leisure,
DATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao (MindaNews / 16 Sep) – Gently, the imam cuts the thin hair of the new born, thanking Allah for the gift of life to baby Noore Yhahir Andik, 7 days old. For Muslims in the Philippines
ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews / 06 Sept) – I didn’t expect our local camera club (The Umbrella: Joint Photographic Society of Iligan City) to continue with the monthly quarantine photo contests since the start of the lockdowns. But last week we
LA JANUZA, General Luna, Siargao Island (MindaNews / 16 July) – Master Sergeant Hermes J. Arguillas Jr., of the General Luna Police Station, was assigned by his boss to organize farmers and help them with their livelihood as part of
GENERAL LUNA, Siargao Island (MindaNews / 26 June) – Most children dream about becoming professionals like doctors and lawyers. In this town facing the western side of the Pacific, many others see themselves as professional surfers or seafarers. But not
