The proposed anti-dynasty bill (HB 6771 and SB 35) has once again ignited public debate on political reform. Its objective, which is to prevent a single family or clan from monopolizing public office, is both understandable and well-intentioned. Political dynasties,
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/02 September) — Populist pitsi-pitsi seems to best describe the approaches that had been proposed and tried by the government-civil society alliance with avowed mission to resuscitate the Philippine coconut industry. Ironically, the programs that were implemented both
“The good doth men do is oft interred with their bones” (Shakespeare, in Julius Caesar). PIKIT, North Cotabato (MindaNews/02 September) — Secretary Jesse Robredo was finally laid to rest on August 28 in Naga City in the midst of state
DAKBAYAN SA DIGOS (MindaNews/22 August) — Niining adlaw Martes, Aug 21, sa deadline alang sa DCHerald, natural lamang nga nahisentro gayud sa akong panumduman ang gibalita nga aksidente ug ang gikompirma nga pagkamatay ni Sec. Jesse Robredo, ang usa sa
DIGOS, Davao del Sur (MindaNews/19 July) — Legenda Mines, a subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation, has made its presence felt among the Tagakaulo community in Malita, Davao del Sur, and has made many concerned and fearful. I have been working
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/12 July) — Tony La Viña of the AdMU School of Government said that the long-awaited, oft postponed E.O. on Mining would be a disappointment for everyone. He was incorrect. The miners are applauding. The E.O. is a
GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/28 April) — Troubled mining firm Sagittarius Mines Inc. cannot seem to find ways to reverse a provincial ordinance which virtually shut down its proposed US$5.9 billion copper and gold project in Tampakan, South Cotabato. There is
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/31 March) — It is not yet too late to listen to the prophetic voices of the ecological scientists and environmental advocates. We can no longer afford to ignore them after experiencing the typhoon Sendong tragedy,
GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/25 March) — Two weeks into the turn of embattled Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona to present evidence and witnesses to disprove allegations against him in his own impeachment trial, more questions are arising and popping
(This piece is Dr. Esteban C. Godilano’s reaction to the Fastlanes column of BenCyrus G. Ellorin on December 29, 2011). Everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion, but it is more prudent to verify facts to make the record straight.
GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/11 February) — The admission of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chairman Murad Al Haj Ibrahim that one of its more senior and controversial commanders has resigned following organizational and, as it now appears, ideological disagreements placed the largest Moro rebel group in a position that it forced itself against the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) close to three decades ago.
GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/10 February) — Among graduates of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) there is an unwritten rule of never ratting on a mistah and there is one question they ask to make sure one is not telling a
CAGAYAN DE ORO (MindaNews/3 Feb) – My father is a basketball player, and a deep-sea diver – if we consider five feet of water deep enough. He used to hunt for danggit using a homemade spear gun. At 80, he
GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/01 February) — While browsing the web to get the names of the members of Philippine Military Academy Class 1981, whose most controversial alumnus is retired Philippine Army Lt. Col. George Rabusa, I came across a Thai
MINDAVIEWS PERSONAL ESSAY: Donna Amoroso by Rufa Cagoco-Guiam Do not stand at my grave and weep I am not there; I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on snow, I am
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/25 January) – “Corruption kills,” sabi ni Fr. Albert Alejo. Yesterday, a very good man was gunned down by an assassin in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Dr. Gerry Ortega, who hosted a daily prime time radio program, was a
GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/19 January) — Before somebody else jumps on the gun and blames climate change as the culprit behind the flooding the city has experienced over the last few years, one better look into what happened in the
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/11 Jan) – For several days now, I’ve been fascinated by the rich intellectual activity at the provincial council. Majority of the councilors, who are members of Padayon Pilipino (PDP), has criticized, attacked and slashed Governor
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/10 January) — As the old saying goes: Yes, Virginia, but who’s afraid of a coal-fired power plant in our midst? Before you answer, I strongly propose that there must be – pronto– a prudent, careful and deliberate
QUEZON CITY (MindaNews/01 January) — I hated school as a kid. Many a morning I’d have to be dragged off, kicking and screaming, to the cursed halls of education and sameness/vagueness where another perfectly good day would wilt like an
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (December 29) — After her release from six years of captivity by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Green Party presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt reiterated her call for peace negotiations between the Bogota government and
DAVAO CITY (December 28) — That’s what you should always tell yourself especially when you’re living a life with social networking sites here and there. With privacy, security, and personal information on the line, you should always take extra precautions
MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/24 September) — Something is seriously amiss when a young physician calls on our authorities to act on a preventable disease “in memory” of those who died of it. I can imagine the degree of frustration of Dr.
Last of 2 parts Defined, renewable energy is: “n. any naturally occurring, theoretically inexhaustible source of energy, as biomass, solar, wind, tidal, wave, and hydroelectric power, that is not derived from fossil or nuclear fuel.” At the height of the
For us, Filipinos, 23 August 2010, now known all over the world as the “Philippine hostage crisis” will forever stand as a very dark day in our people’s history. On this fateful day, a former police officer hijacked a tour bus in Rizal Park, Manila, carrying 25 tourists from Hong Kong, including 5 Canadian nationals and 1 British. At the end of a ten hour negotiation and siege, 8 hostages and the hijacker lay dead. Finger pointing, investigations, damage control, continue to take place even now.
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/12 Aug) — I was browsing the official Kadayawan sa Davao website on Wednesday morning to check for upcoming events when I noticed a familiar photograph of then Vice Mayor (now Mayor) Sara Duterte hailed by her supporters outside
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/06 August) – The Aquino Administration is undoubtedly committed to starting clean and upright. Seeking improvement rather than mere change is also what Mindanaoans commit to achieve, especially for the island. With this impending appointment of a new
Let me begin by offering my profoundest congratulations to the Chairman and the members on their recent appointments to the government negotiating panel for talks with the MILF. I assure the panel this is going to be a great challenge and, as I may add, an exciting one! It is an enterprise worth embarking upon as it provides an opportunity to do a whole lot of good – peace, development, justice not just in Mindanao but the whole Philippines as well.
I would love to still call you Noynoy as I still remember with fondness the happy moments we shared in the 11th and 12th Congress. But, I can no longer call you that because you are now, dearest friend, The President of the Republic of the Philippines. Indeed, how time flies…It was like only yesterday that in our first few weeks as first-term members of the House of Representative when we were discussing how we can fast-track our learning about the Rules of Order (you suggested that we buy a book) so that we can more confidently participate in the deliberations in the committees and in the plenary sessions in the hall. It was only like yesterday when we would have those tumultuous hearings of the Committee on Civil, Political and Human Rights of which you were Vice-Chair in the house or in public hearings around the country. It was only like yesterday when you turned your back to your friend, Joseph Estrada, to join us in signing the impeachment resolution.
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/01 July) — In 1986, when the country was bathed in the yellow glow of hope and happiness, I joined Cory Aquino’s government upon the invitation of Marriz Agbon, an old friend from Davao. Marriz was assistant director
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/1 July) — We all woke up yesterday ( Wednesday) not just into a new day but to a new and renewed mandate of our government. Starting 12 noon of June 30, as the 1987 Constitution
MANILA (MindaNews/30 June) — President Noynoy Aquino, in his inaugural speech, hinted at the “right to self-determination” as his peace framework in Mindanao. Consider his words: “My government will be sincere in dealing with all the peoples of Mindanao. We
The West often divides society along three lines namely: government, business and civil society. Whereas Islam divides it under four (4) groups namely: the traditional/political class, the rich, the religious leaders/ulama and the masses. This is where I’m coming from, this is how I view how government’s approach should be to the problems besetting the Philippines today.
It is a shame I would be writing this in English. But then the state of tribal communities in Bukidnon is yet to provide venue for this kind of “intellectualizing” (if ever this can be considered as such). Besides, I’m
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/11 May) — The votes have been cast. And the results are miraculously, but pleasantly, almost complete just a day after the elections. Is this really the Philippines, one may ask? What indeed went wrong and what went
COTABATO CITY (MindaNews/24 April) — What is the implication to us Muslims in Mindanao when U.S. President Barack Obama spoke in Europe in unmistakable language: “We will never be at war with Islam.” America is, of course, not here engaged in a war against Muslims. The White House is disengaging a superpower from a foreign policy that has so divided the world seen through the neo-cons’ perspective of “us-versus-them” filter.
