PANTUKAN, Compostela Valley (MindaNews/03 May) — In some towns of Mindanao, the sight of motorcycles is a sure sign that some of its remote areas are barely inaccessible by four-wheeled vehicles. Although there are villages that can be reached using
BISLIG, Surigao del Sur (MindaNews/23 April) – Ever since we joined the Wild Bird Club over five years ago, we have always been advised to visit Bislig forests before they finally disappear from the face of the earth and soon. There were gory tales of trees capriciously cut down by settlers and loggers, of kids as old as 10 wielding chainsaws, of murders and killings of those who got in the way of these malefactors.
There is always something very appealing about an art work which is a labor of love! This is especially so, if it happens to be the artist’s first major production. One can tell that such artists invest their soul into their first creative production. Consequently, the appreciative viewer responds favorably to the artists’ assertion of a soul seeking to express deep longings and aspirations even as they take the risk to be vilified and damned for over-estimating their gifts.
MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/05 March) – Sounds of wooden and bamboo drums and gongs pervaded the air even before daybreak today with the sound of Pinikpikan’s Kaamulan in the background.
MALAYBALAY CITY — As the bus approached a village in Salay, a town in the eastern side of Misamis Oriental, it slowed down to a stop beside a military checkpoint that leaned against a craggy slope. A soldier clambered aboard and shouted, “Tanang lalaki naug” (All males go down). He then inspected the passengers’ baggage presumably in search of firearms. Below the other soldiers frisked the males and randomly asked for cedula (residence certificate) and other identification documents.
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/23 February) — I was released from prison in March 1985 after 22 months of detention. But long before I regained my freedom, I had made a decision on how I would proceed in my engagement with human
PAQUIBATO DISTRICT, Davao City (MindaNews/22 February) – It’s a sunny day and Ka Ruben, a New People’s Army guerrilla, turned the dial of his portable radio to scan for FM stations. He stopped turning the dial upon hearing “Carrie,” a hit song of Swedish band Europe, and started to sharpen his bolo beside his hammock underneath the young ipil-ipil trees.
MOUNT KITANGLAD, BUKIDNON – A peso coin drenched in chicken blood is the welcome offered to visitors to this mountain, which soars 2,899 meters over the city of Malaybalay, and the towns of Lantapan, Libona, Impasug-ong, Sumilao, Manolo Fortich, Baungon and Talakag. “This will serve as your identification,” says Bae Inatlawan as she hands over the bloody coin, “so that the spirits will allow you to enter.”
An hour more before midday, but the Pacific sun was already prickly hot, maybe because Mindanao had entered the peak of its chronic climatic curse, the El Nino phenomenon. In front of us, beyond the steel gate of the wharf
Davaoenos can’t help but appreciate what the city turns to during Christmas. Malls come up with unique themes to go with the spirit. Restaurants offer Christmas discounts on their meals to give foodies an excuse to indulge this time of the year. Establishments such as hotels and offices shine with Christmas lights and decors. And of course, stores are filled with what could be possible gifts – for others or for the shoppers themselves. These treats (and more) make Christmas in Davao wonderful.
The tribe’s art is everywhere in the Talaandig village in Songco. It is in their music, paintings, inside their houses and even on their doors. Children learn to beat the drums as soon as their hands can reach thecowhide canvases and Talaandig grandmothers see to it that this tradition is passed on by teaching the children how to dance to the beat of the drums.
In terms of numerology, the three tens placed side by side look quite impressive. 10 October 2010. That is what these three tens are all about: the second Sunday of October this year. For the Catholic Church in the Philippines, this is the celebration of the Indigenous Peoples or IP Sunday. On this day, priests are expected to give homilies and invited IPs provide commentaries on the sad plight of the IPs as well as encourage Christian lowlanders to express their solidarity with the IPs’ struggle for self-determination.
DATU SALIBO, Maguindanao (MindaNews/8 Sept) – At eight years old, Sandra Tahir, whose family once evacuated because of clashes between Moro rebels and the military in Barangay Madiya, has already mastered the art of weaving sleeping mats, or what is
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/20 Aug) – While water hyacinths are being blamed for clogging and flooding some areas near the Liguasan Marsh, a women’s group based in Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun (GSKP) town of Maguindanao is making money out of this
Roel Panuga is so excited that he wished the red bus he was riding to Barangay Kuya, Maramag town, has a pair of wings and can fly. The 36-year-old leader of the Danggawan Landless Farmers Association had just come from a meeting in nearby Malaybalay City and wanted to tell his fellow farmers the good news. At the meeting, officials of the Department of Agrarian Reform told Panuga that they have rejected the final legal impediment over the 100-hectare Ocaya ranch owned by the late Bukidnon Governor Timoteo Ocaya in Barangay Kuya, Maramag town.
Berdan Medes, a “habal-habal” (motorcycle for hire) driver put a cap on his head and tied a raincoat to the rear of his vehicle as he prepared to take passengers rain or shine to any of Valencia’s 20 interior barangays where close to 200 habal habal drivers like him are “king of the road.”
A housewife was once enticed by a neighbor who could sell “Baby’s Breath” flowers grown on her backyard. She was amazed at the earnings that can be had by tending a small flower garden.
MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/18 June) – Merlita and her daughter Joylet Luis have children to rear back home. But in most days of the week, they have to walk the streets of Malaybalay to sell farm wares. In a pre-dominantly agricultural
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/17 May) — Young children sprinkle petals on the isle while walking all the way to the altar not to litter but to honor Mama Mary.
It is the month of flowers once again and children are in the chapels for the traditional Flores de Mayo (Flowers of May), a month-long Catholic festival introduced by the Spaniards as a tribute to the Virgin Mary.
MARAWI CITY (MindaNews/17 April) – Sultans, swords , streamers. Where East meets West, visiting Marawi City in central Mindanao is like having a blast in the past. Women walk the streets in their colorful malongs. Kids singing hiphop converge in karaoke bars.
"I saw in their eyes something I was to see over and over – a burning desire to go, to move, to get under way, anyplace, away from any here."
– John Steinbeck in "The Urge to be Someplace Else"
And so it was that I found myself one cold December morning riding at the back of an open pickup truck, the wind on my face, up through the misty mountain trails of Mae Hong Son at the Thai-Burmese border. There we were all seated on a mat spread across the floor of the truck, shivering at every burst of moist wind that got chillier as we climbed our way up the slopes. To shield my face from the cold, I draped it with a shawl that I kept holding on tightly lest it gets blown about by the wind. Yet, after a while, I decided to let go of it gladly, no matter how biting the cold was, and let myself be swept in by the wind and sunshine, and the stirring beauty of mist and green.
COTABATO CITY (MindaNews/09 February) — It was the brainchild of two great missionaries- Fr. Gerard Mongeau, OMI and Fr. Cuthbert Billman, OMI. Fr. Mongeau fathered it and Fr. Billman named it, "The Mindanao Cross, a little paper with a big cause." This motto has described the paper ever since it emerged from a donated printing press and began to hit the streets 60 years ago on February 6, 1948.
As one enters the City of Tacurong, one can see the simplicity of life in a striving community of about 100,000 souls. Rising from the stereotype portrayed by national and foreign media for many years that it is a very risky place to stay in, visit or do business due to the past reported bombings and other acts of criminality and terrorism, its people are not only resilient but truly resisted the idea of relocating to other “safer” places as an act of defiance to these conscienceless and soulless monsters.
KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews/19 November) — It all started with a simple dream. A young boy many years ago dreamt of becoming a teacher and he did become one.
Today, Agapito “Pete” Lubaton, 47, is more than just a teacher. He is also co-owner and administrator of the Marbel Institute of Technical College (MITC), one of the fastest-growing and most promising technical-vocational institutions in Southwestern Mindanao.
SARANGANI (MindaNews/04 November) — Theirs is a partnership driven not only by expediency but also bonded by familiar background and common passion to serve.
DIPOLOG CITY (MindaNews/25 October) — "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."
Or so the Chinese proverb says.
But for Dipolog Bishop Jose R. Manguiran, 71, "that's obsolete now.” For the Bishop, it should be updated to something like: "Don't just teach him how to fish; teach him how to take care of the seas and the environment."
GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/27 August) – When Mindanao-born Lt. Gen. Alexander B. Yano took over the command of the country’s largest armed forces unit, the Philippine Army, he inherited a military force that has long been viewed as corrupt, inefficient and highly-politicized.
MAITUM, Sarangani (Sarangani Information Office/25 August) – “Kasi mahirap talaga ang pobre” (Because it’s really difficult to be poor).
This sums up what motivated Tom Balatac, 24, to enroll in Grade I this year.
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/05 February) — Travel down Ma-a Road here and you will find a small foundry that time and technology have forgotten.
