LAGALAG

From Hoy Gising to BMPM

2009-11-17T20:46:00.003+08:00

During my growing up years in the early 80’s, news and late-night documentary programs dominated my TV viewing habit. But one of the programs that I also followed was the afternoon public service program Hoy Gising! which was anchored by Ted Failon and Korina Sanchez. I particularly liked their “Horror Roll, Honor Roll” segment where my hometown, Marikina became a staple story.

My childhood has become synonymous to dealing with waist-deep floodwaters during the rainy season and as I grew older, I once thought of reporting to Hoy Gising! by mail about our perennially flooded street in Baranggay Parang. Obviously, I was really frustrated on how our local government was handling the flood problem in our town.

I couldn’t remember the reason why I chickened out, maybe if ever the story got aired on TV, the mayor would order a manhunt and I will become a police statistic, or maybe I just didn’t realize the potential outcome of reporting our sorry condition.

Now that I work as a reporter for ABS-CBN, I realize how powerful mass media has become. During those Hoy Gising! days, the concept of “citizen journalism” was never heard of. But that was exactly what citizen journalism is all about, although back then it was through snail mail or a telephone call.

Now, citizen journalism has taken on a new form - through cellphones or email. In 2007, I started doing stories for Bayan Mo I-Patrol Mo, a campaign ABS-CBN launched as an offshoot of its Citizen Patrol segment on TV Patrol.

I wouldn’t forget the first story I did, perhaps the simplest story I have ever done but definitely one of those stories which made a huge impact on ordinary people’s lives. It was from a simple text message of a friend about the construction of a loading and unloading zone for provincial buses in the middle of Guadalupe Bridge in Edsa. Imagine, passengers from the provinces with their “bayongs” and bags getting off their buses in the middle of Edsa, having to play “patintero” against speeding buses and cars.

A day after we did the story, the almost-finished structure was dismantled. A government official admitted that they didn’t want to push through with the project in the first place since it was obviously crazy, but it was proposed by an influential governor and apparently had the go-signal from Malacanang. Fortunately, it didn’t come to a point that someone had to die in the middle of Edsa for the governor to realize how wrong he was.

This election season, Bayan Mo I-Patrol Mo had to be re-born as Boto Mo I-Patrol Mo Ako Ang Simula and I continued doing stories for TV Patrol. Like the loading and unloading zone story, there were other stories where the power of citizen journalists, whom we now call Boto Patrollers, prevailed.

There was this story submitted by a Boto Patroller about a health officer in Marikina who apparently inserted leaflets detailing her credentials as if it were already campaign season. The health officer claimed it was her friends who inserted those leaflets inside the health booklets. She later said she would ask her friends to stop doing their gimmick which is obviously done in bad taste.

In Tagaytay City, a group of youth volunteers complained about the seeming bias of an election officer who refused to give them registration forms. They sent us a cellphone video showing the election officer apparently making a scene and raising her voice in front of the young registrants. In that same video, a man was seen taking hold of his gun as if readying to make use of it.

A Boto Patroller from Angono, Rizal also helped us raise awareness about the voter’s ID. Prior to our story, most voters think that a voter’s ID is necessary come election day, until the Commission on Elections clarified that any valid ID will do.
But there are also frustrating stories wherein government officials are obviously paying lip service, just giving us the soundbytes we need but deep inside are not planning on doing something to address a particular problem.

We have done countless stories about cheap political gimmicks, like notebooks with covers having the photos of a possible candidate in Mindanao and being distributed in the middle of the school year. But the staff of Mr. Notebook Cover said it was not really intended to promote his boss. Ok then, we still gave them the airtime to say their piece.

Equally frustrating are the tarpaulin stories we did. It seems candidates think it is the best way to market themselves this election season, like Mr. Superman of Quezon City or Ms. Tarpaulin Queen of Manila. Despite our stories, it seems those tarpaulins and banners are there to stay until May 2010.

But I am still keeping my fingers crossed, hoping that citizen journalism and mainstream reporting can work hand-in-hand to achieve an honest and peaceful elections next year.

On the one hand, citizen journalists obviously have the access to stories ordinary reporters like me may not have. On the other hand, mainstream reporters can simply make a phone call to concerned officials, make them talk about, and hopefully act on a specific problem.

Now, if I can only bring back time, will I snail mail to Hoy Gising! that report about the constant flooding in our neighborhood in Marikina? Yes, because who knows, I could have shortened the long and unproductive reign of our mayor back then, something which Boto Patrollers these days can easily do with just a few clicks on their cellphones.

(Edited version appeared on the Philippine Star, November 5 2009)

Demolition Job

2009-06-16T20:17:00.002+08:00

Sa isang sulok ito ng Ugong Sulok sa Valenzuela City.

Kailangan paalisin na sila kasi kailangan na raw para sa road project yung lugar.

Kahit si Sto. Nino, hindi napigilan ang demolition team.

Kape or Kopi?

2009-06-13T10:23:00.005+08:00

Was ordering coffee at Starbucks Marikina with high school classmates when I saw this on the menu blackboard:

"90% of the Aceh province in Sumatra, Indonesia sells coffee to make a living. And by buying about half of the delicious Arabica beans grown there, we’re helping them stay in business.”

I was about to take a picture of their menu but their polite barista told me I just can't do that.

I was thinking at that moment, don’t we have our own coffee industry in Batangas, Cavite, Sulu and other provinces?

There’s nothing wrong with helping our equally-poor Indonesian brothers, but shouldn’t we help our own, struggling coffee growers first?

Starbucks is an American company, but they’re doing business here in the Philippines.

They may have good coffee and they're everywhere, but as consumers and as Filipinos, what do we do?

Happy 111th Independence Day!

After Class Rally

2009-06-02T01:13:00.005+08:00

Mother-daughter tandem Joyce and Cherizze Coyang trooped to the main gate of the House of Representatives after their first day of classes.

They braved the afternoon heat and joined some 200 members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers protesting the impending approval of the Salary Standardization Law 3 before the congressional bicameral conference committee.

They were there to press legislators for a 9,000-peso salary increase, instead of the proposed 6,500-peso wage hike favored by senators and congressmen at the bicam.

When I approached the elder Coyang and asked her why bring along your child in a protest rally, the proud mother said “thrice na siyang sumasama sa rally!”

At least, this early Cherizze is becoming socially aware and feeling for herself the hardships her mother has to undergo just to send her to school.

In the middle of the rally I remembered my mother, a retired public school teacher who was no different from the protesting teachers.

After her classes in school, my mother did tutorials to private school students to make both ends meet.

Other teachers I personally knew had a more difficult time - selling “tocino” to their students.

Some even had to quit teaching and work instead as domestic helpers, cleaning toilets and serving foreign masters despite having a college degree back home.

While there is really nothing wrong with selling “tocino” in public schools (in fact that is even more honorable than what our corrupt politicians are doing in other government offices) or working as a DH, it is about time we change the stereotypical view we have of public school teachers.

But sadly, last thing I heard, the bicam has already passed the 6,500-peso proposal instead of the 9,000-peso one.

Come to think of it, the difference is just 2,500 pesos and yet our senators and congressmen who are earning big bucks from kickbacks can’t give it to our poor public school teachers.

Because of our scrimping senators and congressmen, it seems Joyce and Cherizze will have to prepare for their fourth rally, but hopefully it will be their last.

Hiding Her Identity, But Not Her Story

2009-05-16T17:09:00.015+08:00

“Vanessa” maybe hiding behind her long-sleeved white blouse, lavander veil and huge sunglasses when she appeared in a press conference inside the Gabriela headquarters in Quezon City.

She is 22 years old, a college student and at one point in her life went to a bar in Makati City and met an American. That’s all we know about her personal life so far.

She may be hiding her identity from the prying eyes and the judgmental minds of the public. But she is not hiding her story.

On April 10, “Vanessa” said she met a foreigner who introduced himself as a US Marine in a bar at The Fort in Makati City.

After several days and a few text messages, she went with the American on April 18 to his hotel room also in Makati City.

But upon entering the room, she said she noticed some things apparently belonging to a woman which she thought belonged to his girlfriend. So as not to complicate the situation, “Vanessa” told him she wanted to leave.

“Vanessa” said the American got mad and pushed her. He slapped her on her face. Then he kissed her on her lips and her chest. And then, he was able to rape her.

“Ipinasok po niya ang ari niya sa akin. Pinapalo ko po siya at sinasagga,” said “Vanessa” in her prepared affidavit read before the media.

“Vanessa” is now under the custody of women’s group Gabriela and is being assisted by lawyers including Atty. Evalyn Ursua, the lawyer of “Nicole” in the 2006 Subic rape case also involving an American.

Gabriela and Ursua are convinced that “Vanessa” was raped. But the victim has consitently said that she is not filing a case against the American because of what happened in the Subic rape case where accused Daniel Smith was acquitted by the Court of Appeals for raping “Nicole.”

“Meron kaming affidavit, medico-legal documents, litrato ng suspect, kumpleto sa evidence but since ayaw ng biktima magsampa ng kaso, nire-respeto namin yan,” said Ursua.

For the protection of the victim, Gabriela and Ursua say they will be hiding the identity of the American because he might retaliate and reaveal the identity of "Vanessa." Although they say they have confirmed that the American is with JUSMAG or the Joint United States Military Assistance Group. In the affidavit of “Vanessa,” the American was referred to as “John Jones.”

Gabriela has once again called for the junking of the Visiting Forces Agreement, the primary reason why American soldiers assigned to the Balikatan exercises are perpetually on Philippine soil.

“After their Balikatan exercises, they are having their rest and recreation at the expense of violating Filipina women,” said Emmi De Jesus, Secretary-General of Gabriela.

The United States embassy in Manila released a short statement hours after “Vanessa” surfaced. “The U.S. takes seriously specific allegations regarding activities by visiting U.S. personnel,” said Karen Schinnerer, Deputy Press Officer.

But will the embassy initiate their own investigation? What exactly do they mean by “taking seriously”?

No one knows if “Vanessa” will be another “Nicole”.

Will a “Makati rape case” follow the highly publicized Subic rape case?

But as of now, maybe this should be a wake-up call for American soldiers, or any foreigner for that matter to treat Filipinas with utmost respect. I am not concluding that all American servicemen here in the Philippines are on a prowl for Filipinas inside bars and discos. It’s just that maybe they should be extra careful in dating Filipinas. Well, it is actually a universal rule, whether you are Filipino, American or any other nationality, in any other country.

And on the other hand, maybe Filipinas should also be careful when going out with American servicemen. I have heard comments that “Vanessa” was a willing victim. We all know what is likely to happen when a woman goes to a hotel room with a man she barely knew. Some also say that seeing things apparently belonging to the American’s girlfriend was a lame excuse.

Yes, “Vanessa” may have been thinking of having sex with “John Jones” that night. But that doesn’t give him the license to force her into sex after she realized that it was wrong for her to be there.

Now, in the meantime, we in the media, Gabriela and Atty. Ursua have no choice but to wait for “Vanessa.” If and when she decided to bring her case to court, I just hope we as a nation have not gotten tired of fighting for what is right.

Alias Striker and Aerial Strikes

2008-08-29T22:42:00.011+08:00

“Nakakain na ako ng hita, ikaw gusto mo kumain?”, quipped Alias Striker when I asked him if it was true that they were resorting to cannibalism in their fight against Moro rebels in the 1970’s.

Despite his advanced age, Alias Striker is part of the Reformed Ilaga Movement, an armed group resurrected to fight against Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters in Mindanao. As the tension in the region particularly in North Cotabato, Maguindanao, and Lanao del Norte continues to heat up, first and second generation Ilagas are arming themselves to defend their families.

The group gained notoriety in the 1970’s when they waged war against the Moro National Liberation Front. According to the spokesperson of the Reformed Ilaga Movement who introduced himself as Mike Santiago, they were called “Ilaga” which in Hiligaynon language means rat, because they attacked their enemies just like rats in the middle of the night.

Their name also became an acronym for “Ilonggo Landgrabbers Association” since most Ilagas were settlers from Negros and Panay islands who speak Ilonggo or Hiligaynon. Of course, this name did not sit well for the Ilagas.

The government has already warned the Ilagas against pursuing MILF fighters since it will only fan the flames of animosity between Muslims and Christians. North Cotabato Vice Governor Manny Pinol said he will “stop the Ilagas at all cost.”

Malacanang and the military have also reminded the Ilagas not to complicate the on-going military operations against the group of Commanders Umbra Kato and Bravo.

In its campaign against the two MILF commanders, the government has even circulated “wanted” posters with pictures of Commanders Umbra Kato and Bravo. Charges of murder and arson were filed by the government against the two commanders.

But the MILF leadership has always stood by their two commanders even if they were branded by the government as renegade leaders.

MILF Chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, in a rare press conference inside Camp Darapanan in Maguindanao reiterated that their botched homeland deal with the government is the key to peace in Mindanao. It was the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain that led to the MILF attacks in the region and it is safe to assume that only a final homeland agreement will pacify the MILF commanders.

With the military continuing its offensives against Commanders Umbra Kato and Bravo, there seems to be no peace in sight in Mindanao. Military officials keep on saying that they have specific targets – the camps of the two “renegade” commanders.

But as the days go by since the MILF started their attacks, the number of civilian casualties continue to rise.

Twelve-year-old Ruben Pano lost his grandparents, and an uncle in an attack in Pikit town being blamed on MILF sympathizers of Commander Umbra Kato. Their house was razed into ashes and all that is left are the memories of harassment they got even if they were already staying in an evacuation center days after the attack.

Some children though have become immune of the bombs and bullets that have become part of their daily lives since the military airstrikes began. They all watched in awe as we were shooting OV 10 planes in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town in Maguindanao, not knowing that the bombs they were seeing could have killed innocent civilians nearby.

And true enough, collateral damage knows no boundaries - Muslims or Christians, MILF fighters or soldiers - practically anyone in the way of a bullet or bomb is a natural target.

Salampunay Umbay is just one of the widows of war in Maguindanao. She says she lost her husband after an OV-10 fighter plane dropped bombs on their village in Mamasapano town.

One of the bombs that the children in Datu Saudi Ampatuan were watching could have been the deadly bomb that found its way in Mamasapano, killing the husband of
Salampunay.

The body of her husband was to be found five days later. Worse, Salampunay does not know where to find her eight children after they were separated from each other as they panicked after the military attacks on their town.
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The non-government organization Mindanao Emergency Response Network says the number of deaths will increase as there seems to be no stopping the firefight even during the holy period of Ramadhan.

“Wala namang pinipili ang bala,” says Rose Ebus, MERN convenor.

With this grim scenario ahead of us here in Mindanao, can’t we just go on with the peace process, continue deliberating on the MOA by consulting all sectors concerned and let’s all move forward without firing a single bullet, without launching a single howitzer and without dropping a single bomb?

Princess of the Stars No More

2008-07-11T20:44:00.018+08:00

A few hundred bodies are presumed still trapped inside the ill-fated MV Princess of the Stars, lying upside down more than a kilometer from the shores of San Fernando, Romblon.

The relatives of the victims are asking, when will they be able to claim the bodies of their loved ones? The longer the bodies stay inside the ship, the higher the chances of retrieving them badly dismembered.

Residents of San Fernando are likewise asking, when will the ship be finally evacuated out of their waters? But aside from San Fernando, two other towns in Sibuyan Island are also badly hurt - Cajidiocan and Magdiwang which are also highly dependent on the abundant marine life of Sibuyan Sea.

As of now, there’s no stopping the provincial government of Romblon from filing a class suit against Sulpicio Lines. The Municipality of San Fernando may have accepted 180 boxes of assorted canned goods from the shipping company for the affected fishermen in coastal villages, but it does not calm down their anger for lost opportunities.

Good thing Sulpicio Lines did not ask the recipients of their goods to sign a waiver.

Since Day 1, fishermen and fish vendors were affected by the sinking of the MV Princess of the Stars. Nobody dared to buy fish in Sibuyan Island fearing seafood caught there fed on dead bodies waiting to be retrieved.

And the pesticide Endosulfan also made matter worse, not only for the divers who swam into waters possibly contaminated with the toxic chemical, but for residents of San Fernando and nearby towns who consume seafood caught in the waters of Sibuyan Sea.

Accroding to San Fernando Mayor Nanette Tansingco, in her town alone, some 1 000 families are affected because of the fishing ban being implemented as a counter-measure to the possibility of the pesticide leaking out of the sunken ship.

The class suit against Sulpicio has yet to be filed. But on top of the endosulfan scare, the threat of an oil spill occuring in Sibuyan Sea should not be overlooked. According to the Philippine Coast Guard, the ship carried 230,000 liters of bunker fuel oil when it left Manila.

Nevertheless, locals are still preparing for the possibility of bunker fuel oil leaking out of the ship and cauing destruction to lives and nature just like what happened to Guimaras in Western Visayas.

As it is, there is a whole range of problems caused by the ship - the still to be completed retrieval operations, the endosulfan scare, the threat of an oil spill, the effects of the fishing ban on the livelihood of residents.

And yet, just like the sunken ship, everything remains on a standstill.

I would like to believe that the real culprit here to begin with was the erratic weather on June 21 which the MV Princess of the Stars challenged. Of course, nature won. Contrary to claims made by Sulpicio Lines officials and some lawmakers that Pag-asa made erratic forecasts, it was really the unpredictable nature of weather that came into play. Although of course, we really cannot rule out the possibility of the captain of the ship committing disastrous miscalculations.

It could be that the ship entered the eye of the strorm as stated by MV Princess of the Stars crewmen who testified before the Board of Marine Inquiry that after experiencing rough weather conditions, the winds dropped, only to find themselves sailing through fierce winds again.

Or, it could be the fault of the captain that despite the bad weather, he still went on with his voyage despite the option of anchoring on a nearby island.

But again, while doing the inevitable fault-finding, officials should race against time in retrieving bodies rapidly decomposing inside the ship.

Days after the sinking, some relatives of the passengers traveled all the way to Sibuyan Island, hoping to personally identify and claim the bodies of their relatives. It is already difficult as it is to accept that your loved one died, struggling inside the vessel on that fateful day.

Hoping against hope, they never found their relatives among the dead bodies recovered near Sibuyan Island. But at least, it was a cathartic experience for them especially after a mass was held for the victims at the site of the shipwreck.

After the mass, one by one, the relatives blurted out their pent-up emotions – asking for forgiveness for simply not being there when the ship sank. They also threw flowers to the sea hoping that the souls who perished may soon find peace.

At the end of the mass, one of the relatives of the missing passengers, Mark Anthony Barrozo was in tears saying sorry to his partner Michelle. She was pregnant with their first child and was on her way to Cebu for a family reunion. Whatever it was that Mark Anthony was asking forgiveness for, I never asked.

After hoping against hope of finding Michelle in Sibuyan, Mark Anthony and the sister and brothers of Michelle headed to Cebu where the identification process through DNA testing is being held.

But before leaving Sibuyan, I gave them my contact number and told them to inform me about the good news of finally finding Michelle. But I have never heard from them since then.

Lessons Learned

2008-06-19T23:28:00.016+08:00

Finally, they are freed - unharmed, but maybe, scarred for life.

Ces looked dead tired when she appeared before the media in Zamboanga City. With all those mosquito bites on her face and bruises practically on her whole body, I could not imagine what kind of hell she went through in the hands of their young kidnappers.

“At one time when I was talking to Loren, they slapped me,” Ces told journalists who waited for her first press conference after their release.

A young bandit slapping the always aggressive Ces Drilon. That would have been unthinkable.

We all know Ces as a feisty woman who yelled at police generals during the Peninsula Manila siege. But it’s a lot different when you’re dealing with young bandits, holding bolos which can be used on you anytime.

But then, the journalist in her, Ces put this incident in perspective. What these kids are doing may be legally and morally wrong. But we should also ask, why are they doing this? They are holding guns and bolos when they should be studying and enjoying their teeanage years.

Ces said, “I’ve been in and out of Mindanao, in all my years as a journalist, ang gusto ko lang maintindihan yung sitwasyon dito, gumawa ng storya tungkol dito.”

Maybe there are not enough schools in Sulu. Or maybe there are some schools and universities, but there aren’t enough job opportunities. I know of a promising graduate of the Sulu State College who was a student leader in his college days but ended up working as a hostel employee doing utility work.

What happened to the ABS-CBN news team has jolted practically everyone – mediamen, the police and the military, local and national government officials. But lessons were definitely learned from this experience, especially for us in the media industry.

Sometimes I’d like to think there could be stories worth my life. But then being in the TV news industry, I’m closely working with two more people, my cameraman and assistant cameraman. They also have families, and maybe, the stories that I think are worth my life may not be so for them. This is the reason why Ces felt responsible if her crew, Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama, were beheaded by their abductors. God forbid, if something like that happens to my team and I survived the ordeal, I wouldn’t know how to face their families.

Now Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan is questioning journalists going to his province to cover and interview “criminals.” I hope the governor will be enlightened that journalists covering his province are not there to shame him and other local officials by showing on television how impoverished Sulu is. We may have pictured Sulu as a breeding ground for terrorists and inept public officials. But what can we do if that is the real picture of the province?

The GMA 7 crew who covered this hostage crisis in Sulu were issued bullet-proof vests and helmets. I think they were first ones in the local media to use those kinds of vests. Honestly, I commend their bosses for taking care of their men covering in dangerous situations. Maybe what happened to Ces’ team should be a wake-up call for other media companies. GMA 7 has learned their lesson well after their reporter Jun Veneracion and his team were caught in a crossfire at the height of efforts in finding kidnapped priest Giancarlo Bossi in Basilan.

For some people, Ces may have committed a mistake in pursuing the story she was working on before they were kidnapped. She may have stepped on a landmine but I believe she weighed all the consequences of pursuing the story. Maybe, she just got unlucky.

There are what we call calculated risks. Journalists know this which is basically based on instincts and past experiences. I am not a veteran journalist but I do calculate the risks involved in a coverage. Fear, I guess, is the best weapon for a reporter.

I remember when I was doing the graveyard shift, I had a brief talk with our former reporter Aladin Bacolodan at the lobby of ABS-CBN while I was waiting for my crew. Being a newbie then, he asked if I am enjoying my job so far. I told him that every night, I always get paranoid that competition will outscoop me and surprise me with a lot of exclusives in their morning news. But he said something like, “ok nga yang kinakabahan, at least mas lalo kang nagsisipag.”

In dangerous coverages, fear can actually save journalists. If the risks involved are too high, then why pursue the story if you’ll only end up dead and not being able to air the story? What’s the point of rushing to an encounter site when you can’t live to tell the whole drama of it?

The situation has indeed gone worse in Sulu. Even a peace advocate was kidnapped in his home province, Mindanao State University Professor Octavio Dinampo who, despite being a Muslim,was not spared by the kidnappers.

In a way, it was double whammy for Prof. Octa. He was kidnapped and yet he was suspected of having been behind the abduction.

Dinampo admitted that it is not easy to please everyone in Sulu. “For us tausugs, it is very difficult, because the government suspects us to be a sympathizer of the abu sayyaf and here we are being suspected as government spies,” he says.

Despite his old age, he was still subjected to torture, not the physical kind that Ces and her crew got.

“I was not tied I’m going to admit that, I was not tied, that special treatment maybe because I was praying with them because I am performing my obligation to God. They did not harm me, but treated me by pointing a gun at me, mocked, how can a Christian pray,” said the professor.

I have interviewed Prof. Octa a few times before. Being a former Moro National Liberation Front member, he is a good resource person on everything about Sulu, past and present. Despite his abduction, Prof. Octa says he will be going back to Sulu after a brief vacation in Davao City, despite the bitter experience in his very own province.

So now, what do we expect? Well, until the next coverage in Mindanao.

But before embarking on my next coverage out-of-town coverage, I have promised myself to text my mother first. A lot of us journalists who covered Ces’ press conference in Zamboanga City were struck when she said “I feel really bad for putting my mom through this ordeal. Sinikreto ko sa mommy ko yung coverage.”

Maybe it’s true, no story is worth my life.

Prayers, not Pessimism

2008-06-11T21:04:00.003+08:00

She may have made the wrong choice in going to Sulu, but Ces Drilon, and her cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion, assistant cameraman Angelo Valderama and Professor Octavio Dinampo need our prayers.

Ces was born to be a journalist and we cannot fault her for pursuing exclusives which may put her and her team’s life at risk. I have worked with her for a few times in Mindanao and I have seen how dedicated she is to her work. Maybe the only mistake she did was to pursue stories that would matter.

Different folks, different strokes. For some journalists like me, I would not have done what Ces did. But that thinking does not make Ces’ decisions wrong. We are all guided by the same basic goals as journalists and one of them is to work on stories that are worth-telling. Maybe Ces and Prof. Dinampo thought that the story they are working on would create a positive impact on the long-delayed peace process in Mindanao.

I am not justifying what Ces did. I myself doubt that I would have pursued whatever she is pursuing in Sulu given the risks at stake. But then again, for now let us just pray that the abductors would soon release Ces, Jimmy, Angel and Professor Dinampo unharmed.

(Photo by Neil Arambala taken in Iligan City during the Fr. Bossi coverage.)

Welcome to Paradise

2008-05-04T18:37:00.013+08:00

Not too many people can experience being greeted by the sign “Welcome to Kalayaan Beach Resort” – except some soldiers, a few civilians and mediamen occasionally brought to the island via military planes and sea vessels.

It was approximately one hour and thirty minutes via C130 from Villamor Airbase to Pag-asa Island where Kalayaan Beach Resort is located. The island is just one of the nine islands in the Spratly Islands (or Kalayaan Islands) which is being claimed by the Philippines. Right now, there are no commercial flights going to the disputed Spratlys. It’s either you are a soldier, a media man, or a relative of a soldier stationed in the island for you to be able to hop into a C130 plane.

It was a rare opportunity for families of Army, Air Force and Navy soldiers to be included in the manifesto of C130 planes. Wives and children of lonely soldiers there would always grab the opportunity to fly to Pag-asa Island courtesy of the military. Even it it were just a day trip, still families would take that grueling flight aboard an ageing C130 plane.

Definitely, the beach can rival that of Amanpulo or Boracay. It just needs a little cleaning to remove some seagrass along the shore. The Kalayaan Island Group is rich in marine life and of course, oil reserves. Maybe someday we will be able to take advantage of these islands - for tourists to enjoy and for our energy requirements. As of now, we have a standing agreement with other claimant countries not to build structures there to avoid possible military confrontations.

We still need some more political muscle from the government to aggressively claim the islands. After all, common sense dictates that the islands should be included in our territory as they are closer to Palawan than any other claimant country. Maybe we should tell our Southeast Asian neighbors to just take a quick look at a world map. But then of course, diplomacy is more than just that.

All's Well That Ends Well

2008-04-21T22:09:00.010+08:00

I’d like to remain optimistic - all’s well that ends well in Sumilao.

Yoyong Merida, one of the younger leaders among the Sumilao farmers is back to his normal life in Bukidnon, grinding coffee when he’s not seen in their farm.

On March 29, the historic settlement agreement between the Sumilao farmers and San Miguel Corporation was announced by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales. After enduring that grueling three-month walk from Bukidnon to Manila late last year, the Sumilao farmers are finally rewarded their long-deserved land.

At least, Yoyong and his fellow Sumilao farmers have 50 of the 144 hectares in Bgy. San Vicente. San Miguel is still looking for the additional 94 hectares since obviously the company cannot give back the main bulk of the contested property where concrete structures for their hog farm have been erected.

They may have their land now, but there’s still more work to do for the farmers.

Atty. Arlene Bag-ao, or Kaka to the Sumilao farmers told our The Correspondents team that they are planning to do communal farming in the 50 hectares while the remaining 94 hectares will be distributed to the farmers.

Initially, the problem that I saw in the settlement agreement was the use of the term “donation.” There’s the connotation that the land was just “donated” to the Sumilao farmers, which could mean that San Miguel is still the owner of the land, and as owners, they can get the land back anytime they want. But Kaka said this possibility is very remote. The farmers got their land through the framework of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law and even if the term “donation” was used, everything was legitimate.

The primary thing that worries the farmers as of now are the support services they need for their farm. Baka iwanan daw sila sa ere ng DAR. Actually, the farmers should not be asking for support services. They should be demanding these services since this is mandated by CARL.

But then again, we have to be optimistic. As optimistic as Nanay Hilda who can still manage to smile in this photo-op. :)

And of course, Nanay Sion won't allow herself to be left behind in another photo-op, while I enjoy that perfect cup of coffee - Sumilao blend. :)

By the way, taking their cue from the Sumilao farmers, the Calatagan farmers are also marching to Malacanang to demand the land which they also believe is theirs. I hope it is also an all’s-well-that-ends-well story.

They're Back

2008-03-03T23:00:00.016+08:00

The Sumilao farmers of Bukidnon are back in Manila and they are bent on pressuring the government to finally give them the 144-hectare land presently owned by San Miguel Corporation. But this time, in an apparent show of force, there are 144 farmers, more than double their number when they marched from Bukidnon to Manila last year.

The farmers are maintaining a camp at Caritas Manila and are planning to march around Malacanang to remind President Arroyo of her promise. According to Atty. Arlene Bag-ao, lawyer for the famers, Malacanang should once and for all issue the notice of coverage, the next step after the revocation order issued December last year. Just before Christmas, the president revoked the conversion order given by the Ramos administration which then essentially paved the way for the exemption of the contested land from agrarian reform.

I was told 300 hogs are now being raised inside the state-of-the-art hog farm of San Miguel, through its subsidiary, San Miguel Foods Incorporated. While farmers are camping here in Manila, lucky pigs are comfortably staying in air-conditioned facilities in Bukidnon.

Through San Miguel’s Jane Francisco, my team toured the hog farm early this year. It was indeed a different kind of hog farm in the country. Before entering the premises, we were asked to take a bath and wear their own farm clothing, basically to “disinfect” us. It is that hi-tech that they were very careful we might bring in bacteria and virii which could harm the hogs, which at the time were only about to be delivered.

I understand that in a way, San Miguel will be providing jobs not only for the protesting Sumilao farmers, but other residents of the town as well. They have done this in the construction of their facilities, although not all workers came from Sumilao.

But then, most residents of Sumilao were born to be farmers and barely knew anything about raising hogs commercially. They fear, if and when San Miguel hires workers for the hog farm, they might not qualify and the company might instead outsource people from neighboring provinces.

And again, isn’t land meant to be tilled?

San Miguel is bent on keeping whatever structure they have built in the area. But I learned a “win-win” solution is being brokered by the Catholic church. San Miguel may give up 50 hectares of the contested property which remains untouched, add some 44 more hectares reportedly bought from the town mayor, and another 50 hectares owned by a private corporation. These parcels of land are contiguous and arable and may look appealing to the farmers.

I’d like to think the church will be fair to both parties, at the very least. Well, we can somehow expect that from the church since they have been supporting the cause of the Sumilao farmers and Cardinal Rosales once served as bishop of Bukidnon.

Now let’s see what happens next, will the Sumilao farmers come home satisfied?

Or will they go back to their families left behind in Sumilao, empty-handed?

Sumilao and San Miguel

2008-01-03T13:05:00.000+08:00

144 hectares of land. 55 farmers. 1 700 kilometer-walk. 75 days.

The farmers of Sumilao, Bukidnon fighting for their ancestral land have gone a long way. They may be back in Bukidnon but their fight isn’t over yet.

When I marched with them in Agusan del Sur, I honestly thought it was a hopeless case. I mean, how can you win against a corporate giant under a presidency which is undoubtedly indebted not only to the military but to big businesses?

But the farmers’ sheer determination spelled the difference. The farmers started their march in October 10 last year with a few churches and non-government organizations supporting them. But throughout their march, they have gathered enough strength, from ordinary people in the countryside wishing them well to the Roman Catholic hierarchy with no less than Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales joining their cause.

The Cardinal said it all: “Kung mga tunay na Kristiyano ang mga taga-San Miguel, ibibigay na nila ang lupa. Yan ay kung tunay silang mga Kristiyano.” Maybe they should also be reminded that their company was named after a saint. But this is not to say that their fight doesn’t have any chance in court, it’s just that the legal processes may take years and it would have been better if the company gave up their claim to the land.

Well, it still remains to be seen if San Miguel people are true Christians. Or to be politically correct, even if they were Muslims, Jews, or simply put, if they believe in God and social justice, it wouldn’t be too tough a decision for them.

(Photo taken at the College of the Holy Spirit Chapel where the farmers stayed for two nights while they were in Manila)

Cries for Cris

2007-09-01T22:00:00.000+08:00

The Quezon City Police District has already determined that 20-year old UP Public Administration student Cris Anthony Mendez died due to hazing. But with the prevailing culture of silence at the University of the Philippines Diliman, will we ever know which group is behind the killing?

Everyone is talking about the possible involvement of Sigma Rho Fraternity, except the police. And not even the UP Administration is talking about the fraternity. At least for now.

Some students at the National College of Public Administration and Governance or NCPAG knew that Cris was a neophyte of Sigma Rho. Reportedly, NCPAG Student Council President Ariel Paulo Ante was the one who recruited Cris who is also an officer of the council.

There are also other indications that the fraternity may have been involved. Since the death of Cris, Sigma Rhoans are nowhere to be found in their usual tambayans at the College of Law and in Palma Hall. The fraternity also refused to sign a statement condemning the death of Cris – a statement which was signed by practically all College of Law-based organizations.

But the main missing link in this case is a certain Dr. Francisco Cruz who could shed more light into the Cris' death.

Cruz was the one who brought the lifeless body of Cris to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center early Monday morning. The security guard of the hospital was able to write in his logbook even the vehicle used by the doctor, a Toyota Innova with plate number ZAB-393.

A quick check at the Land Transportation Office a day after the incident, I learned that the vehicle is registered under the name Francisco C. Cruz. We then checked the registered address in Congressional Village in Quezon City and from there we were able to confirm from the village guard that a certain Dr. Francisco Cruz is one of the homeowners.

Poor guard, he could have lost his job. Sorry sir, but I just really wanted to get in touch with Dr. Cruz.

But there is one more thing that could have made matters worse for the guard. While I was talking with him, I “accidentally” saw the home phone number of Dr. Cruz in their directory.

So when I got back to the office, I called up the number but I was told the doctor was not home yet. A day after, I called them up again but to no avail. But because of that second phone call, I was able to confirm from their househelp that the doctor has a son named Mico.

Again, sorry to the househelp, I just wanted to confirm if Mico is the son of your boss.

Before calling up the Francisco household the second time around, sources had tipped me off that the doctor’s son named Mico is a law student and a member of Sigma Rho. After I asked the househelp about Dr. Cruz, I tried my luck asking where Mico was at that time. Take note, I was not yet sure if Dr. Cruz indeed has a son named Mico. But the househelp replied that like the doctor, Mico was not home too.

Dr. Cruz has already established communication with the police and clarified he was not hiding. He said he was unavailable days after he brought Cris to the hospital because he reportedly said he was already condemned by the media.

For the sake of Cris’ grieving family, Dr. Cruz should surface soon. He has to answer these questions:

Why was he the one who brought Cris to the hospital?

Was his act related to the fact that his son Mico is a member of Sigma Rho?

Why did he just leave Cris there?

Is it not ironic that he is a doctor and yet it seemed as if he did not care if Cris was already dead?

Why did he not report the incident to the police?

Why do hospital records show that the body he brought was named “Mark Anthony” Mendez? Did they try to conceal the real identity of Cris?

I am not judging Dr. Mendez. I just want to know the whole truth from him.

In fact, I tried contacting him since Day 2 of this story after I learned that he is a second-degree uncle of one of my co-reporters at ABS-CBN. I respect his decision to keep mum on the issue. But I hope he will clarify things soon.

This culture of violence has to stop and it could only happen if Dr. Cruz starts talking.

Happiness in Batanes

2007-08-26T10:01:00.000+08:00

Meet Nanay Trinidad and her son – Ivatans from the town of Mahatao in Batanes.

It may be hard to believe but Nanay Trinidad and her family just lost their five cattle worth 150 thousand pesos because of the prolonged dry spell that hit Northern Luzon. Not to mention the additional losses from their rice and rootcrop farming also because of the drought.

Yet she and her family can still smile in front of our cameras. Talk about happiness in Batanes. Perhaps we should credit the Ivatans for helping put the Philippines in the middle of the “happiness index” at number 84 out of 177 countries surveyed by the World Database on Happiness.

But the crisis in Batanes is not something to be taken lightly.

According to Batanes Gov. Telesforo Castillejos, the drought caused an estimated 100-million peso damage to agriculture in his province – 40 million for crops and 60 million for their livestock.

Worse, the governor says they only have around 6 million pesos as calamity fund and obviously, this is not enough to save the province from further damage.

He says they will be needing additional funds from the national government but ultimately, only rains can save them from the drought.

Continuous rains is important for Ivatans who practice upland farming since the province is mostly hilly and mountainous. It may be too late for their rice farming, but the planting season for onions and and garlic is just about to start next month.

Rainfall can also save their surviving cows, goats and carabaos that are actually getting dehydrated because of the drought. If the rain gods won’t listen, more families like Nanay Trinidad will have no recourse but to bury their dead livestock.

But then again, Nanay Trinidad and the rest of the Ivatans of Batanes remain optimistic. Just like any fierce typhoon, they are thinking, this drought too, shall pass.

Bigas or Palay?

2007-08-14T22:22:00.000+08:00

As Filipinos, we should be very familiar with the different variations of “rice” – our staple diet. For Americans, it’s just “rice.” But it’s not as simple as that for us Filipinos who obviously can’t live without rice, even for those who are already residing in America or elsewhere in the world.

It took me a trip to a ricefield in the village of Mapanike in Candaba, Pampanga to recall these Filipino words for “rice”:

Bigas – raw, milled rice

Palay – raw, unmilled rice

Kanin – boiled rice

Malagkit – sticky rice

Tutong – boiled and burnt rice

Bahaw – left-over rice

Kaning-lamig – “cold” rice or rice stored in ref

Note the first two ones: “bigas” and “palay”. Yeah, I know that there is a difference between the two, one is milled and the other is unmilled. But for some reason, it slipped my mind when I was doing a standupper (that shot showing a reporter talking or demonstrating something in front of the camera) in Mapanike.

I was in the middle of the ricefield and in front of a group of farmers in the village when I said this out loud:

“Dahil sa pagpasok ng lupa, buhangin, at tubig-ulan, sa halip na dalawang-daang kaban ng BIGAS ay limampu na lang ang aanihin sa palayang ito.”

Naturally, after my standupper, someone from the crowd caught my attention and said that it should have been “palay” and not “bigas”. Only then did I realize na mali nga pala yung sinabi ko. This man is a farmer and obviously, he knows better than me when it comes to rice farming.

Pahiya tuloy ako hehehe. Oo nga naman, they harvest "palay" and not "bigas." Of course, I did a take two and said the right thing.

This mistake immediately brought to my mind something I think I came across in my English 100 class – that language is culture-bound. Since we are a rice-consuming country, naturally we have a thousand and one words for rice. Parallel to that, in Alaska, we should not be surprised that Eskimos have a thousand and one words too for “ice”. Of course, for us, it’s just “yelo”.

Right now, I’m also thinking, which country has the most number of variant words for “love”? Maybe they’re the most romantic people on earth hehehe.

Anyway, language is really tricky, especially for us journalists who are somehow, and sometimes, considered as the authority when it comes to pronunciation. So we better be careful on how we use and pronounce words.

Recently, there was a debate in our newsroom on how to correctly pronounce the word “tinataya”, meaning “estimated”. As in “Tinatayang dalawampung milyong piso ang napinsala ng bagyong Dodong sa buong bansa.”

Is it “ti-na-TA-ya” or “ti-na-ta-YA”? For a time, almost everyone was using “ti-na-TA-ya” because it’s what’s written in our pronunciation alert (our newsroom’s list of words and their correct pronunciation.) I was told reporters from the other station are also using “ti-na-TA-ya”.

I really thought it is, and it should be, “ti-na-ta-YA”. So to avoid joining the bandwagon, I just used “humigit-kumulang” or “more or less.” But “humigit-kumulang” is longer and more complicated than “tinataya” and in TV news, the simpler the better.

Fortunately, an opportunity to ask the experts came when I was in UP Diliman and did a story on the proposal to use Filipino as the primary medium of instruction in schools. As expected, no less than National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario and Filipino Prof. Jovy Peregrino simply told me it really is, and it really should be, “ti-na-ta-YA”.

So now, "tinataYA kong alam na ninyo ang pagkakaiba ng palay sa bigas."

B for Burning Fossil Fuels

2007-08-03T20:47:00.001+08:00

My Lakbayan grade is B!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out atLakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.

While looking at the map above generated by my travels within the country, I could only imagine the amount of fossil fuels I’ve burned. Baka magalit tuloy ang mga kaibigan natin sa Greenpeace! Hehe.

But having said that, for me there are still more destinations to explore, more people to meet, and more photos to take. And hopefully I’d be able to see these places not as a reporter in the middle of a disaster, but simply as a tourist who just wants to enjoy and relax.

I just came from Baguio with friends Jove and RG. Didn’t have enough time to go around the city or we were just too lazy to go out. So we just ate a lot hehe. But too bad for Jove, nakasama ata sa kanya yung crispy pata at kare-kare. Though we ate heathy food din naman like this stuffed tofu of Café by the Ruins.

And since bitin yung Baguio trip, I’m thinking sana mapuntahan ko na tong mga lugar na to na matagal ko nang iniisip puntahan:

Siquijor – Most people think Siquijor is just the land of aswangs and a province which you should never visit especially during holy week. But with the picturesque beaches of Siquijor that I’ve seen so far, I think the province deserves a second chance. I’ve already told my boss I’d want to feature this province next holy week.

Batanes – I almost got there last year for The Correspondents but due to unavoidable circumstances, the story went to another reporter. Masarap sigurong langhapin ang hangin dun at saka tahimik, walang ingay ng newsroom.

Turtle Islands - It must be a lonely place for soldiers patrolling the area but definitely a paradise for beach-lovers (at least for a week only). Me mga turtles pa kaya dun?

Cebu – I’ve already had two missed opportunities to go to Cebu, but I know I’m going there soon. Maybe I should try Lechon Cebu there (kahit natikman ko na at mejo maalat siya hehe).

Of course, I’d want to go to other countries as well. The two occasions when I had the chance of going abroad were presidential trips at kahit me mga sidetrips din naman, iba pa rin yung bakasyong bakasyon lang talaga, lalo na sa mga lugar na to:

Bangkok - With pals Jove and RG, though I still have to have my passport renewed. Teka, tuloy ba kami? Parang Maynila lang naman ang Bangkok e. Hehe.

Hongkong – I’m still thinking if I should go with my parents as a chaperone or kaya naman siguro nilang silang dalawa lang.

North Korea – Yes, Pyongyang and Nokor’s countryside. I just want to personally see the reasons why it is called the hermit kingdom.

Nepal - Just the thought of staying in Kathmandu excites me, daming pictures na pwedeng kunan dun like yung mga kalbong monks. Speaking of which, eto na itsura ko ngayon after having my head shaved because of what happened in Basilan.

Joke! Of course, I’m not bald. The pic was taken when I was still with IBC 13. Baka mawalan ng trabaho sa dos pag nagpa-kalbo e hehe. In the meantime, san kaya ako next na maa-assign after hibernating for one week inside our house?

Shaving My Head

2007-07-26T14:34:00.000+08:00

Just like some marine soldiers here in Basilan, I’m thinking of having my head shaved. Kalbong reporter? Why not? I’ve done the same thing in the past when I was with IBC 13.

This conflict in Basilan is taking too long for the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to fix. The military and the MILF have signed a joint resolution to exercise maximum restraint as the incident is being resolved peacefully. So far, so good.

A group composed of government and MILF representatives are set to arrive here in Basilan for a thorough and supposedly impartial investigation into the July 10 encounter in Albarka town. They will attempt to investigate on what really happened there, was it a pure ambush of marines who were just searching for Fr. Giancarlo Bossi? Or in a way, was it provoked by the military?

We all know by now that Fr. Bossi has been released. The parishioners of the Italian priest in Zamboanga Sibugay have already heaved a sigh of relief. The Bossi family back in Italy are just waiting for the homecoming of the “gentle giant.” Everybody is happy. Or so it seems.

Here in Basilan, everything is still uncertain. Fourteen marines and five from the MILF have already died in that bloody encounter. Now do we want more casualties?

Nobody wants war. As they say, in war there are no victors, only victims. Though maybe there are actually winners in war - private contractors who provide arsenal for the military, especially those who provided the marines with dud bombs used by poor soldiers in the July 10 encounter.

Government spokespersons are saying they have no plans of staging an all-out war against the MILF. But their words are different from their actions. Or nananakot lang kaya sila?

Malacanang has announced that the arrest of the perpetrators of the killing and beheading of the marines will be purely a police matter. And that if military operations will be needed, it will be selective, meaning they will be zeroing in on their targets to avoid any collateral damage. But really, is that possible?

In the meantime, fear sets in among residents as the soldiers and the MILF position themselves, and their ammunition, in certain areas in Basilan. And we in the media who are covering this conflict are kept in the hanging.

Can’t we just have peace here and let the police do their jobs of arresting the MILF and at the same time, appeal to the group to bring the accused to the bars of justice?

If war breaks out here in Basilan, chances are, this may spill over to other provinces as well. There are talks that the MILF may stage diversionary attacks, probably in Central Mindanao where leaders of the separatist group are based.

Do we actually want President Arroyo having that guilt-trip on Fr. Bossi once more? Do we want her telling the priest “more people were killed after your release?”

I understand there are grieving families of the slain marines in Luzon. But there are also weeping families of MILF fighters here in Mindanao. Add to this the sorrow of the family of the imam who was also killed during the firefight.

Some marine soldiers, including officers in Manila who are facing rebellion charges, have shaved their heads. Either they protest the way the government handles the Basilan conflict or sympathize with the families of the 14 marines.

I’m thinking, I might just shave my head too to sympathize not only with the marines, but also with the MILF. It may also be my own way of protesting against a possible extended coverage of a war based on a wrong premise – that Fr. Bossi was held captive on the island.

Of all stories, I hate covering wars and conflicts. It tortures me mentally and physically. Unlike natural disasters, wars are created by men, not by God. Typhoons and earthquakes are inevitable, wars and conflicts are not.

Painting Another Picture of Zamboanga Sibugay

2007-07-01T12:43:00.000+08:00

The calm waters of Sibugay Bay and the quaint living of Sibugaynons were rudely awakened by the abduction of Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi in the coastal town of Payao.

Suddenly, the province of Zamboanga Sibugay made it to the headlines on June 10 as a dangerous place for foreign missionaries.

But in the middle of the rescue operations and strong military presence in the province, a 56-year old world-class Sibugaynon painter quietly inches his way to becoming a National Artist.

The provincial government of Zamboanga Sibugay has been pushing for the conferment of a national artist award for Ibn Saud Salipyasin Ahmad, a native of Kabasalan town.

A closer look at Saud’s paintings shows fine lines from his meticulous process of layering at least two colors. To create his watercolor masterpieces, Saud first paints on white paper two layers of different colors using a fine brush. Then using the same brush dipped and rinsed in water, he gently erases the second layer of paint to create lines which reveal the first layer. This process results to alternating colors of thin lines and subdued shades of colors.

All forms and figures in his works undergo the painstaking process of layering different colors. No wonder it usually takes him months or even years to finish a masterpiece, some of which were worth millions of pesos sold to rich art patrons in Manila.

Saud says he started his affair with art at the age of five when he would spend time watching movies in the 1950’s at the clubhouse of the Americans in his hometown. This was during the colonial period when Americans controlled the rubber plantations in the Kabasalan. “I used to watch The Three Musketeers, Tarzan and Durango Kid there, then I would go home and draw the images from these films that I have in my mind,” Saud recalls.

Saud started to perfect his distinctive style of intricate watercolor painting in the 1980’s. He may not have had formal training in painting but he took a drafting course at the Zamboanga School of Arts and Trade in Zamboanga City. From then on, his unique designs have brought him to different countries such as the United States, Germany, Italy, Austria, Singapore.

Saud’s style is perhaps an amalgamation of the diverse cultures that revolve around his life in Kabasalan. He is actually a Kalibugan – a mix of local Subanen tribe and traditional Maguindanao Muslim. He thus draws inspiration from local customs and native rituals creating works of art that reflect Zamboanga Sibugay’s multi-faceted character.

His family however are no ordinary Muslims. He says he comes from the Royal House of Salipyasin and he was recently conferred the title of Sharif Datu Manukur.

Islam is one of the major influences in Saud’s art. One of his paintings is entitled “Thanksgiving” – wherein men are seated on the floor, feasting on a lavish banquet on a long table. He says, “lalaki lang kasi hindi pwedeng makasama ang ibang babae,” reflecting a typical Muslim custom where men and women do not normally mingle with each other.

Women however also figure prominently in Saud’s paintings. He usually depicts women with long black hair, wearing traditional clothing, and suggesting a mysterious look. He says he is very particular when it comes to painting women’s eyes which speak of different emotions.

Aside from his exhibitions in various art galleries around the world, Saud also takes pride in having his watercolor entitled “Soulmates” exhibited at the National Museum.

The pride of Zambaonga Sibugay unfortunately is at the crossroads of his career as a painter. He has been thinking of quitting his elaborate painting style which has taken its toll on his vision as he now wears eyeglasses with a grade of 350. He admits, “sometimes I just feel like retiring.”

But Saud has to continue his art, at least for the moment. He is currently preparing for a scheduled exhibit this year where he is expected to come up with more of his artworks, thus bringing honor not only for himself but for his home province of Zamboanga Sibugay as well.

Perhaps as Saud becomes more and more popular in the international art scene, he would provide a better meaning to the word "Sibugay" which originated from the local phrase meaning “come closer my friend.”

Sibugaynons are fervently hoping that with people like Saud, friendly tourists and investors - and not kidnappers - will come closer to their land.

(Note: This article appeared on ABS-CBN Interactive a week after the kidnapping of Fr. Giancarlo Bossi. To date, the military says there are strong indications the Italian priest remains in the hands of his kidnappers somewhere in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay.

Out-Of-School, Out-Of-Clothes Youth

2007-06-02T02:00:00.000+08:00

The naked truth – 88 private colleges and universities and 91 primary and secondary schools increased their tuition for the coming school year 2007 – 2008.

This is primarily the reason why some 35 nude out-of-school youth took to the streets. They were with the militant youth organization Alyansa ng Nagkakaisang Lakas ng Kabataan, which claims an estimated 14.6 million youth were not able to enroll last year because of the prohibitive costs of education these days.

Jehhan Silva, the spokesperson for the group says, “lahat na ng protesta gagawin namin para mapansin lang ang mga kabataan ng gobyerno at iba pang mga institusyon.” She also says most schools did not even consult their students before implementing tuition hikes which ranged from 5 to 8 percent.

“Show proof,” Commission on Higher Education Chairman Dr. Carlito Puno tells the protesters. He even adds “ang mahirap sa mga estudyante may mga alegasyon pero hindi naman nila mapatunayan.”

The CHED and the Department of Education both say the tuition hikes in primary, secondary and tertiary schools they approved were all justified. Puno adds some schools did not have a choice but raise their matriculation fees than be forced to close their businesses. Makes sense for students who have enough money to spare. But what about those who have started their education in private schools but have become a little hard on cash?

Spicy Satti of Sulu

2007-05-08T00:33:00.000+08:00

Satti, anyone?

It’s bits of barbecued beef on sticks, served with steamed rice rolled into balls, then topped with curry-like sauce. For twenty pesos, ok na ‘tong almusal. Carinderias and restaurants usually serve this for breakfast in Sulu and in Zamboanga City. Around twenty pesos lang.

If there’s one thing I’m looking forward to in our Sulu coverage this coming elections, it must be satti. The dish is actually an acquired taste. I have been to Sulu countless times already and I have never tried eating satti until my last coverage there this month. And when I tried it, I thought it has a weird taste. Then after several tries, I realized it’s no different from any curry dish. Only that it is hotter.

And of course, I’m also looking forward to going to Mobo beach in Patikul where you can bask under the sun with locals and occasionally, with a few soldiers on R and R (not on an operation against the Abu Sayyaf). It’s actually safe there, it’s near a military detachment and an oil depot which has tight security, and as long as we go there while the sun is still up. (Sana lang this beach would soon be open to other sun-worshippers. Kelan kaya yon?)

Well, I’m actually hoping for a boring coverage there in Sulu this week. Why? Because that would mean the elections there would be peaceful and honest. But then, that could be wishful thinking, I must admit.

Reality tells us that the province still has a long way to go, as poverty, dirty politics, clan wars, militarization and the Abu Sayyaf are still part of the game. And sadly, satti and Mobo beach would have to be sidelined for now.

The Abu Sayyaf Did This

2007-04-22T17:13:00.000+08:00

“Baboy…baboy ang ginawa nila sa mga pinsan ko,” says a teary-eyed Felix Basilio who had two cousins among the seven men beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf last Thursday, April 19. Basilio and other relatives of the hostages could not hold back their emotions as they saw the flat-bed truck carrying the bodies of the victims enter the Camp Asturias Hospital in Jolo, Sulu.

The victims were hogtied when their decapitated bodies were found scattered in the town of Parang where they were abducted. Their heads were recovered on Army detachments in the towns of Parang and Indanan a day before.

Before the news of the beheadings broke out, families of the kidnapped men in Zamboanga City aired their disgust over the seeming inaction of the government on the incident. Three days after the kidnapping, the families said there were no government officials coordinating with them nor updating them on the status of the negotiations. At this time, the families in Zamboanga City had no idea that in Sulu, news of the beheadings had already circulated.

My team and Jun Veneracion’s of GMA 7 decided to coordinate with the Indanan police to see if there are efforts to recover the decapitated bodies. From the Indanan police station, we motored to the boundary of Indanan and Parang where the Abu Sayyaf reportedly executed their victims. After around 15 minutes, we were flagged down by Army soldiers and I thought we had to start our long trek on foot. Then we saw the grisly images of the seven decapitated bodies lying at the back of the flat-bed truck which was also flagged down at the checkpoint. The bodies were collected by authorities and civilians in Parang and were ordered by the town mayor transported to the capital town of Jolo.

A five million peso ransom was demanded by the group of Abu Sayyaf leader Albader Parad. It was not really clear if the ransom was being asked from Sulu Gov. Ben Loong who hired six of the victims from Zamboanga City in his construction firm in Sulu, or if the ransom was demanded from the families of the victims. Some say the ransom demand was obviously directed to the governor.

But of course, the policy of the government is clear – no ransom should be paid. The families of the victims cannot afford to pay 5 million pesos either, especially since Loong admitted he is paying his six workers around 150 pesos a day each. The last resort was for the governor to issue a public appeal in behalf of the families, but to no avail.

The victims clearly were innocent. Even Muslim religious leaders all over Mindanao condemned the Abu Sayyaf for the killings. The six employees came from Zamboanga City hoping they can find a decent living in Sulu by working in construction projects in the island. Some of them relocated to Sulu with their family members. One of them, sixteen-year-old Louie Teodoro was just on an on-the-job training for the summer vacation. These men knew they were treading on Abu Sayyaf territory but they had no idea they would eventually become the next targets of the bandits pretending to be rebels with a cause.

I was hoping the war with the Abu Sayyaf was about to reach its end after the reported deaths of its high-ranking leaders Khaddafy Janjalani and Abu Sulaiman. I thought government forces would eventually kill or capture the remaining leaders of the group. For a while, the Abu Sayyaf kept quiet after the deaths of their leaders. My team and I did not actually expect that we would be covering this gruesome beheadings. We went to Sulu because of the military offensives against the group of Moro National Liberation Front leader Ustadz Habier Malik who had launched jihad or holy war against the government. Until the Abu Sayyaf once again made their presence felt.

Now that fear has settled once again in most communities in Sulu, the war is definitely far from over. Add to that, the elections is just a few weeks from now in this Southern province always considered to be a political hotspot by the Commission on Elections.

Distorted Thinking of Voters

2007-03-06T00:44:00.000+08:00

(Photo grabbed from TV Patrol Sabado March 3 2007)

“TV has distorted the thinking of a lot of Filipinos,” says former Senate President Jovito Salonga. To my face, he told me the medium that I use in my profession has gone awfully wrong.

Admittedly, television has contributed to the rise of actors and television personalities in Philippine politics. Without any prior experience in an elective position, actors Richard Gomez and Cesar Montano are trying their luck this May 14 polls. And yes, ex-comedian and former senator Tito Sotto is still very much around.

But what if Goma and Cesar won? Salonga says “If they go to the senate, can they enter into a debate with the likes of Joker Arroyo? Can they speak intelligently when they answer questions hurled at them by Kiko Pangilinan? Or will they just look at a script before they answer?

The 86-year old former senator is perhaps the most senior statesman alive. He has survived three administrations – Macapagal, Marcos and Aquino. He can’t help but compare his time to the present political conditions.

He practically says television nowadays is doing nothing to educate the voting public. He says the opposition and the administration bets have nothing to offer. “Ang nakikita mo lang e sa TV, wala namang sinasabing me katuturan na ikabubuti ng bayan.”

The veteran lawmaker also notes lesser known party “Ang Kapatiran” seems to have a clear platform of government. But they are hardly on the news.

As Salonga has observed, TV is to be blamed.

Or, is it the Commission on Elections?

In our newsroom, we were told to be extra careful on being used by candidates for election propaganda. Current Affairs Head Luchi Cruz-Valdes has repeatedly told us to determine first if a story is pure propaganda or legitimate news.

But the problem, there are no hard and fast rules set the by the Comelec. In fact, in the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Fair Election Act, the word “propaganda” was not included in its definition of terms. So how can we tell if a story is propaganda material, if the poll body has not even clearly stated what propaganda means. If we air and elaborate on platforms of candidates, it may be construed as propaganda.

We were told at ABS-CBN that “candidates or their representatives should not be allowed to discuss their qualifications, accomplishments and PROGRAMS OF GOVERNMENT except if the same is a political advertisement, subject to the rules relating to the same.”

So we end up reporting “just the issues”. Like the ASO jingle. Or Kiko Pangilinan being dropped by the opposition in its campaign. Or Joker Arroyo and Ralph Recto going whitewater rafting. But what about their platforms?

I believe this why Jovito Salonga thinks TV has distorted the thinking of the Filipino voter. There is hardly any real news about the candidates – their qualifications, their platforms of government, basically what they have to offer if elected. Because in a way, we fear that the Comelec may retaliate if we air something which they think is propaganda material.

I think there is really nothing wrong with airing platforms of candidates, as long as we do not overdo it. There is a clear difference between an endorsement and a plain and simple news story. I think, and I hope every serious journalist knows this.

Now whatever happened to the constitutionally guaranteed right to free press? The media is supposed to be a self-regulating institution. Ever wondered wny there are no board exams for journalists? Because the constitution says “no law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.”

Yes it can be argued that there are no specific laws clamping down on our right to free press. Basically, we can report what we think is a legit story as long as we have carefully determined and thought twice or thrice about the possibility of being used for propaganda.

In a way, it is also a good thing that we have become more analytical in our stories. At least what the viewers will be watching is a well-thought of and carefully written piece of news about the elections.

But fact is, Big Brother Benjamin Abalos is watching us. There is still this unfounded fear of being unfairly accused of airing propaganda material, resulting to some news stories without the real substance.

In the end, Jovito Salonga is right, TV has distorted the thinking of Filipinos. But worse, the distortion can go further if the system continues.

(Disclaimer: again, this is purely my opinion and not an official ABS-CBN blog.)

A Tragic Year That Was

2007-02-02T22:24:00.000+08:00

(Note: This article appeared in the ABS-CBN Interactive Yearender for 2006, edited by Joel Saracho.)

The fire on Christmas Day that killed 25 people in Ormoc City punctuated a year marked by disasters – natural and man-made.

The images are still clear --- an iron gate at ULTRA, the buried village of Guingsaugon, the stained beaches of Guimaras, the town of Guinobatan --- grim reminders of human weakness, ecological neglect and of our own mortality.

But much like the man in Picasso’s "Guernica," the Filipino remains standing amidst the rubble --- the spirit unbroken.

ULTRA

They were mostly mothers and aging grandmothers who trooped to the ULTRA and held vigil at the Capt. Javier Gate on February 4 for the first anniversary of the popular ABS-CBN noontime show "Wowowee." All they were hoping for was to gain entry and perhaps a chance to win either a jeepney, a house and lot or a few thousands of pesos.

The crowd kept growing hours before the program, and eventually got out of control. Everybody wanted to get in.

Then the unimaginable happened.

Instead of bringing home a prize, 71 people lost their lives in what turned out to be the worst stampede over a television program. Slippers, shoes, bag and other personal belongings were left everywhere. Four-year old Julian Elaine was among those who died. Her mother, Myrna Book, said, “Ligtas na sana siya dahil may nag-akyat sa kanya sa bubong ng waiting shed, pero nung nakita niya ako sa baba, tumalon siya (She was already safe when a man lifted her to the roof. But she jumped from the roof when she saw me below)."

Immediately, accusing fingers pointed in all directions, even as Eugenio Lopez III, president of ABS-CBN, took full responsibility for the incident. A case has been filed at the Pasig City Regional Trial Court against officials and employees of the network. But there is also a pending preliminary investigation by the justice department on Pasig Mayor Vicente Eusebio and Pasig City police officials.

But the relatives of those who died opted not to pursue any legal action against any entity. With the assistance of the 71 Dreams Foundation, a group put up by ABS-CBN Foundation, relatives of those who perished in the stampede have started rebuilding their lives. Their loved ones may have not brought home a jeepney, or a house and lot or a few thousands of pesos, but with adequate amounts of financial assistance from the foundation, they are now living the dreams of those who died at ULTRA.

GUINGSAUGON

It was a sunny morning on February 17. In Guingsaugon village in the town of St. Bernard, Southern Leyte, schoolchildren were already inside their classrooms. Fathers were attending to their coconut fields while mothers tended their homes. There was also a gathering of nurses and health workers in the village gymnasium. Then the residents heard a roar growing louder by the second. The earth seemed to follow the sound, engulfed the village and buried almost everything.

Cristine Jane Pia, a three-year-old girl, was the first human face of the mudslide caught by the lens of ABS-CBN and was later on flashed on television sets the world over. She was supposed to be the symbol of hope for the victims of the tragedy. But a day later, she succumbed to cerebral hemorrhage at the Anahawan District Hospital.

“Takbo tayo! (Let’s run!)" were the only words uttered by Evangeline Arcay that fateful morning. For her, it was like being chased by fast cars running hundreds of kilometers per hour. She was lucky she was at the far edge of the village. It was only later that she would realize that she lost her father and her husband.

The following days were the toughest for those who survived. There was the inexplicable guilt that they were not there when rocks and mud rolled and rumbled. Worse, looking for relatives among the dead was a painful experience.

That killer mudslide was the worst in recent history with an estimated 200 bodies recovered while 1,500 remained missing, including those inside the schoolbuilding and gymnasium within the village.

On February 26, nine days after the tragedy, Southern Leyte Governor Rosette Lerias declared that there were no more signs of life under the mudslide and that rescue operations have shifted to retrieval work. Now a wooden cross stands in Guingsaugon in memory of those who died and to give hope to those they left behind. The village is now considered a sacred sanctuary and those who survived were relocated to safer areas to let their physical and emotional wounds heal.

GUIMARAS

Wearing rubber gloves and using dishwashing liquid and a scouring pad, Remmy Cayanan was busy scrubbing rocks on the beach of Nueva Valencia town in Guimaras. With a bitter smile, she laments the loss of their clean sea “Eto wala na ang malinis na dagat namin (Our unpolluted waters are gone).” For P500 a day, Remmy was among those hired by Petron Corporation to help in cleaning up the black greasy mess on the coastline of the town for two weeks.

On August 11, the M/T Solar 1 owned by Sunshine Maritime Corporation and carrying some 200,000 liters of bunker fuel oil of Petron, sank off the coast of Guimaras. Thousands of liters of bunker fuel oil found its way on the pristine beaches of the island province, also famous for its sweet and succulent golden yellow mangoes.

In a letter to Petron president Khalid Al-Faddagh, the provincial government of Guimaras declared these statistics: 239 kilometers of coastlines affected; 58 hectares of seaweed plantations damaged; 105 hectares of mangrove areas hit; 1,180 fisherfolks who temporarily lost their jobs; and numerous cases of respiratory illnesses and stomach and skin disorders reported. Accordingly, this is the worst oil spill in the country.

Days after local and international uproar, Petron and Sunshine Maritime have owned up to the responsibility for the oil spill. But the bulk of the task of rehabilitating Guimaras now lies on the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund, an international body whose mission is partly to provide financial assistance to residents affected by massive oil spills. Despite claims made by Petron that the physical cleanup of the affected coastlines is 100-percent complete, traces of oil can still be found on the beaches of Guimaras. Complete rehabilitation is another thing and it may take several years.

It is thus painfully difficult for Remmy to erase from her memories the black smudge on the white-sand beaches of her province, especially after toiling under the hot sun just to clean up the mess left by the sunken ship. But she is fervently hoping that in due time, fish will thrive once more in their waters, vulnerable mangroves will soon recover and their simple and quiet lives in Guimaras will be back.

REMING

From July to August this year, Mt. Mayon erupted and spewed ashes. Even Mt. Bulusan in nearby Sorsogon province also showed a series of activities spewing ashes but the Bicolanos were relatively unscathed. Volcanic eruption is the dreaded catastrophe in this province south of Manila.

The Bicolanos could not believe that a typhoon could cause widespread devastation. But supertyphoon Reming did. According to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), Reming claimed the lives of 734 people with 762 more still missing as of this writing. All in all, 14 provinces were affected and 2,360 were injured. The region was heavily pummeled by strong winds but the effect of the mudflow from Mayon was worse. Hardest-hit was the town of Guinobatan in Albay, where hundreds of residents died after getting caught in the middle of raging mudflow from the slopes of the volcano. Almost equally affected are Daraga town and Legazpi City, the capital of the province.

Just like in Guingsaugon in Southern Leyte, some bodies were recovered but others were not. Houses along the path of the mudflows got buried under black sand and huge rocks. Some families were lucky to be able to dig into their houses and salvage what they can. Still, others had to squeeze themselves in damaged schoolbuildings as there was nothing left of what they had before.

“Hindi na makatulog ng maayos ang tatay ko kakaisip kung nasaan ang mga kamag-anak namin (My father could hardly sleep now thinking about what could have happened to our relatives)," says Jun Mapula of Daraga, Albay. Still hoping they would be able to find their missing relatives, Jun posted their pictures at the entrance door of the municipal hall.

The tragedy brought back religiosity among the common folk. “Yung mga kapit-bahay namin narinig namin na nagdadasal, yung iba nangangako nga na hindi na iinom (I heard some of my neighbors praying, some even promising they would quit drinking)," said Azucena Carimpong.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology explained the mudflows were triggered by the heavy amount of rainfall brought by Reming, one of the highest in recent history at 46.6 centimeters. PHIVOLCS said rainwater loosened volcanic deposits from the volcano causing tons of mud and rocks to storm villages around Mt. Mayon.

Other supertyphoons also hit the country this year. Just a few days before Reming came, "Milenyo" ravaged Metro Manila and the surrounding provinces. But rainfall from Reming was presumably the worst this year. This even prompted environmental groups such as Greenpeace to once again raise the alarm on global warming causing extreme weather conditions. It was definitely a bleak Christmas and even a bleaker New Year for the victims of the mudslide in Albay.

But 10-year old Armela Arkero, who lost her three siblings, remains hopeful. With her parents who also survived, Armela is starting a new life in Pangasinan, the hometown of her maternal grandparents. As she leaves the province of Albay, she said, “Milagro po yung pagkakaligtas namin, sana naman po makayanan namin ito (It was a miracle we survived. I hope we can carry on with our lives) ."

Subic Send-Off

2006-11-05T17:40:00.000+08:00

They don’t really care if there’s Nicole, or if there’s still a pending Subic rape case. These two women I chanced upon in Subic just wanted to send their boyfriends off as the USS Essex left for Japan.

The Essex is the same vessel that brought to the country last year the four US marines accused of raping Nicole. For two weeks, the ship stayed in Subic for one of those RP-US military exercises. After the wargames, there was no fancy send-off for the US marines. Just a few tourists and some other women who said they also had boyfriends on-board were there at the pier.

The two women told me they have a different perception of American soldiers. Though some would label them as commercial sex workers, or prostituted women, for them they are just simple girls who traveled to Subic all the way from Bulacan just to find an American friend. And boyfriends they found.

They say the Americans they met are “malambing, masuyuin at mabait.” For one night, they partied in Subic with their boyfriends who were allowed for some R and R by their superiors. They said they just went to bars but beyond that, they won’t tell me any further.

They may have a different point of view compared to Nicole’s or my friends’ at Gabriela and other women’s organizations. They don’t see the GI’s as rapists or having any semblance with Daniel, Keith, Dominic or Chad. They even criticized the rally staged by Nicole’s group in Subic protesting the presence of the Americans and the Essex.

For them, the Americans are their friends. Well, there’s really nothing wrong with that. They said they just wanted some clean fun in Subic. But then, they also admit they went there because they have no stable jobs.

If only they had better opportunities in life, probably they wouldn’t have been there in Subic.

Miss Ko Ang Sarah's

2006-09-22T21:20:00.000+08:00

This time I’d like to talk about myself, katuwa kasi tong pic nang assers nang nahila ko sila nung Quezon City day ata ito.

After 6 years or so, nakabalik din kami ng Sarah’s. Kung dati pulutan namin tokwa lang, ngayon tokwa’t baboy na! Meron din kaming cheese sticks at sari-saring barbeque hehehe. Nung college, halos lagi kami dito, wala lang, kwentuhan, palipas oras, bonding ng orgmates, at magtipid sa pulutan. Sabi nga ng iba, mas masaya ang college, kahit nakapako ka sa allowance mo at walang sariling pera.

Pero sympre, these days, our skeds won’t permit us to go back to Sarah’s more often. Tong mga nasa pic, sina Norman, Che, Shine, Sherlyn and Sheila, laging busy. Although syempre ang housemate kong si Shine e lagi kong nakikita sa bahay, pero bihira rin dahil busy rin ang isang to.

Walang ipinagbago ang Sarah’s. Ganun pa din – self-service at kung gusto mo ng beer e pumunta ka sa counter…yung CR sa likod pa din pero maayos na ang pintuan at me tiles na…andun pa rin yung mga pako na sinasabitan mo ng bag mo…andun pa rin yung sala set na dilaw na mas komportable kung dun kayo nakaupo….andun pa rin ang mga magba-balot at magi-isaw.

Why am I writing this? Me kanta kasi sa Pinoy Dream Academy na “Miss Kita Pag Tuesday”. Ok yung kanta na yun. Naisip ko lang, “Miss Ko Ang Sarah’s”. Ang labo. Sana next time mas malaki pang Sarah’s Reunion ang maganap.

Sprouts of Hope

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

After two weeks of suffering from the worst oil spill in the country, the island province of Guimaras shows a glimmer of hope. New leaves have sprouted from this mangrove plant in the village of Tando, as well as in other affected areas. This is proof that there’s still life after the MT Solar 1 oil spill.

Unfortunately though, according to UP Visayas biologist and mangrove expert Dr. Rex Sadaba, new leaves may form from the affected mangroves maybe because simply put, the toxins haven’t seeped in yet into the plant’s system.

Equally disappointing are these facts from the provincial government of Guimaras – 239 kilometers of coastline, 105 hectares of mangrove areas, 58 hectares of seaweed plantations, 4 000 families or 26 thousand individuals, 1 180 fisherfolks, are either directly or indirectly hit by the bunker fuel oil that leaked out of the sunken ship.

The province also reported the occurrence of fishkills in at least 5 villages, and numerous cases of respiratory tract infections, stomach disorders, skin diseases among villagers.

I must say Petron is doing its best to save Guimaras, especially their people in the field who oversee the clean-up operations. We see them at Raymen Resort in Nueva Valencia (which by the way has a beautiful beach and remains oil-free) and in other places where with the help of the residents, they clean up the messy oil slick. But as of now, Petron as well as Sunshine Maritime Development Corporation, the owner of the ill-fated ship, have to do more. They’re almost done with the clean-up, now comes the rehabilitation phase.

I’ve mentioned in one of my reports that “Marahil pinakamasaklap na para sa mga bata ang naganap na oil spill dahil simula ngayon, ang kanilang alaala ng mapuputing buhangin ng Guimaras, may bahid na ng maitim na langis.” Well, we could only hope that things will be better for the mangroves of Guimaras, and for all other marine and human lives hit by the tragedy.

Hopefully, the mangrove plant pictured above will still grow, just like the mangroves of Semirara, another island which was also hit by an oil spill but was able to bounce back. As what Dr. Sadaba had said, we just have to wait and see if the mangroves will survive and at the same time hope for the best for Guimaras.

And by the way, I’m echoing Dr. Sadaba’s call to all those companies trying their anti-pollution products on the oiled mangroves, please, stay away from the plants unless your products are already proven safe for mangroves.

Children of War

2006-08-09T23:05:00.000+08:00

Three year-old Sarah may be too young to understand what's really going on in Lebanon and Israel. But along with other Muslim children of Maharlika Village in Taguig City, they see on television gruesome images of other children caught in the middle of the crossfire in the Middle East. Sarah was with her mother and other Muslims in a rally in front of the Israeli embassy in Makati. They condemned the Israeli attacks in Lebanon and the increasing number of children, women, and other civilians dying there. But then maybe it is also fair to say that in Israel, innocent civilians become victims too, of Lebanese Hezbollah attacks.

Optimist in Singapore

2006-05-08T16:03:00.000+08:00

This photo was taken in Singapore with my high school classmate Mike and his flatmate Ongki last March. I had a great time with these two people, and two chili crabs, even if we had only a few hours to tour the city, and it was at midnight at that.

Anyway, that night I was wearing this yellow shirt with the conspicuously printed word “OPTIMIST”. Back then I was really optimistic that I’ll be getting this job as Philippine correspondent for an Asian television news network. By the way, that yellow shirt is my housemate’s hehehe.

Well, to set the record straight and since many of my colleagues have been perpetually asking me about my Singapore trip, I backed out immediately after getting accepted in that network. After much introspection, I thought I’d be happier here if I stay with my present company. Yes the job opportunity in an international network plus the salary is undoubtedly irresistible. Some of my friends even told me it was the most stupid decision I made in my life.

I must say the people there in Singapore were great, especially Trixia. Thanks to her for making my application a lot easier than I thought! I was really looking forward to working with you guys and getting ready for a new working environment. But I guess the job there was just overwhelming and maybe I’m not yet ready for the challenge.

Yes I decided to stay with my present company despite the low salary. (And you guys thought we earn a lot huh! Kala nyo lang yon.) I guess I still enjoy what I’m doing here especially now that I’m trying to put more effort in contributing documentaries for the program “The Correspondents”. Salamat nga pala sa mga corres people kasi sobrang understanding sila kahit hindi pa ako sanay magsulat sa long-format.

And for those who were persistently asking if I got a better offer from my present company – well I wish I did. Pero nope, I didn’t get a counter-offer. I think it’s not always the money that counts but what matters most is where one will be happy and satisfied. Not that I’m saying I won’t be happy working for that Singapore-based company. Who knows, I could have been a lot happier there. But for now I’d rather not think of the what-ifs. I guess somehow from time to time, we should follow what our hearts dictate us to do. Parang sa lovelife hehehe.

And bottomline is, whatever we do, whatever we decide on, we should always act like an eternal OPTIMIST.

Mangyan ng Mindoro

2006-04-23T15:34:00.000+08:00

This elderly Mangyan from the Alangan tribe in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro may be too old to study. But hundreds of young indigenous peoples all over Mindoro island are aspiring to be educated. They want to preserve their culture passed from generations to generations but at the same time they desire to go beyond the basics of reading and writing.

But there’s little room for them in the past. And they still suffer from discrimination, sometimes from the very people who illegally claimed their ancestral lands.

Theirs is an almost forgotten group of indigenous peoples. 8 tribes in the island. 100 000 people. All of them aspiring to be educated just like any other Filipino in the country.

Sa lunes, sa The Correspondents, kamustahin natin ang mga Mangyan ng Mindoro at ang Tugdaan – ang paaralan ng mga Mangyan, para sa mga Mangyan.

Atis of Boracay

2006-04-20T19:58:00.000+08:00

Boracay for some people is a dream destination during summer. But for this woman and her grandchild, the white sand beach of the island is her worst nightmare.

The indigenous peoples of Boracay island called Atis are still facing threats of being kicked out of their places of birth. Before the lowlanders settled in, they say their ancestors were already there roaming the island, enjoying the pristine beauty of what they knew then as paradise.

They were all living quietly until Boracay was put on the world’s best beach resorts map. Now, they just sit there at the back of the island. Some have jobs in a few resorts as utility and construction workers. But most of them eke out a living as ambulant vendors, some even as beggars.

If only the local government of Malay, Aklan can come up with a program on how Atis can co-exist with resort owners, property developers and beach bums, Boracay may remain relevant to me every summer. These indigenous peoples can become productive residents of the island and can be employed by resort and hotel owners. I just hope they won’t be exploited.

Wow Bulusan

2006-03-30T13:21:00.000+08:00

At first glance, you would think this place is a privately owned one – clean blue waters, powdery white sand and all. But Dangkalan Beach Resort in the town of Bulusan in Sorsogon is managed by the local government. Hard to believe, but the entrance fee is at ten pesos each and a cottage is only worth a hundred bucks. For a very minimal fee, you’ll get the feel of a secluded, pristine beach resort.

The beach is not much of a discovery. It’s already popular among foreign tourists as it is included in the Wow Phiippines program of the Department of Tourism. But according to Bulusan Mayor Juan Guysayco, not too many Filipinos are aware that this resort is just hiding in the southernmost part of mainland Bicol region.

The town sits at the foot of Mt. Bulusan, an active volcano which recently spewed ashes after a minor explosion last March 21. Luckily, winds were blowing to the west during the eruption and the town of Bulusan is on the eastern side of the volcano.

But then, it seemed that tourists got scared despite the fact that only the area four kilometers from the center of the volcano has been declared off-limits. This also added to the negative impact of the mercury scare in Rapu-Rapu Island in Albay which is several kilometers from the beach.

I was lucky my news team and I had the chance to “discover” Dangkalan Beach after our coverage of the minor eruption of Mt. Bulusan. At least, it was a good way to start this year’s summer season hehehe.

Now how to get there? You may take a bus from one of those bus companies along Edsa in Pasay City, but be ready to spend some 14 hours on the road. Or if you have enough money to spare, take a plane to Legazpi City in Albay and rent a van for a two-hour road trip to Sorsogon - though this defeats the purpose of experiencing a “cheap” vacation in an “expensive” resort.

But if the beach doesn’t satisfy you enough, there’s Bulusan Lake also in Bulusan town and countless hot springs in different municipalities around the volcano. And if you want the best vista of Mt. Bulusan, you can have it in the town of Irosin where there are also several resorts you can choose from.

You can also visit the observatory of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology in Sorsogon City and learn a few interesting things about the volcano. One thing I found out, Irosin town is encircled by mountain ridges because actually, the village was one of the ancient craters of the volcano.

So if you haven’t decided on where to reflect this Holy Week, Mt. Bulusan and the towns around it may be a good choice this year. You can have some quiet moments and savor the beauty of nature at the same time.

Who's Next?

2006-03-18T11:54:00.000+08:00

It was supposed to be a quiet, third “Black Friday Protest” of the group of former DSWD secretary Dinky Soliman at Baywalk. Just a stroll along the park, do a “thumbs down sign” protest, and that’s it for the Black and White Movement.

Unfortunately for Soliman and Black and White Movement Lead Convenor Enteng Romano, they both ended up in a police car only to be brought and detained for almost six hours at the Manila Police Department Headquarters along UN Avenue.

The past two protests of the group at Starbucks in Makati and at the MRT Ortigas station were relatively quiet. The police just allowed them to their thumbs down sign. In fifteen minutes or so, it was all over. It was just their way of showing their disgust over the Arroyo administration. They did not force passersby to join their cause. They just wanted to be heard.

Had Police Superintendent Marcelino Pedrozo allowed Dinky and some other thirty Black and White Movement members, things wouldn’t have turned for the worse. But even before the group went out of Aristocrat restaurant where they all met up, Pedrozo said they wouldn’t allow the group to cross Roxas Boulevard.

The police and the justice department say gatherings such Black and White Movement’s must have the necessary permits. But Soliman insists it wasn’t a rally since they didn’t have any banners or placards with them. But the police claim the black shirts they were wearing with the words “Patalsikin na. Now na” were already as good as banners.

Well, in the end, Soliman and Romano who were charged with violation of BP 880 or the Public Assembly Act, were allowed to go home “under the custody of former President Corazon Aquino.”

But then, after Dinky and Enteng, who’s next? Other members of Black and White Movement? I’m pretty sure there will be a fourth Black Friday Protest.

Or maybe even from other groups as well. The media? Some colleagues I’ve talked with are more than willing to join the Black and White Movement. Abangan…

Diliman Commune

2006-03-06T22:48:00.000+08:00

The UP Diliman community has once again condemened the recent acts of President Arroyo with her declaration of Presidential Proclamation 1017. Students and professors walked out of their classes at Palma Hall in protest of PP 1017. Other colleges and even non-teaching personnel from the All UP-Workers Union also joined in.

But the President’s withdrawal of the procalamation today, the UP Diliman community is not expected to stop from pushing for Arroyo’s resignation or ouster. Former UP President Francisco Nemenzo of Laban ng Masa said if they were able to do a Diliman Commune back then in the 70’s, they can very well do it again these days.

When I was in UP, I never joined a single rally. I thought they were all just for show and students would just like to shout “iskolar ng bayan, ngayon ay lumalaban” and see how it feels to be a “militante.” I remember though there was one time when I seriously thought of joining one rally - I think it was an anti-Erap Sona rally. But at the last minute, I changed my mind and just went home since classes were suspended anyway.

And now, the sad thing is that as a reporter, of course, I’m not expected to join rallies and be seen on TV throwing a clenched fist in the air, even if I wanted to. Oh well, we’re expected to be fair and all.

But seeing the students in UP and my former professors as well, the recent warrantless arrests of opposition leaders, and army soldiers camped near ABS-CBN, maybe there’s enough reason now why the President should step down.

For the longest time, my activist housemate would call me apathetic. And yes for the longest time, I believed in GMA. But now that she’s threatening the media, the institution where I belong to, I think it’s now high time to do something. Well, I expect some would say that my going against the President is for selfish reasons.

But then, being objective about it, I’m thinking, is there a better alternative if and when the President resigns or is forcefully ousted from office?

Sacred Sanctuary

2006-02-28T12:00:00.000+08:00

The village of Guinsaugon in St. Bernard town of Southern Leyte has been declared a sacred sanctuary. Let us pray for the souls of the people who perished in the February 17 landslide. The rescue operations have already been called off and it is estimated that around a thousand people perished in the village.

From the very start, rescuers were saying it is highly improbable that survivors will be rescued after days of being trapped under 5 to 30 feet of dried mud, boulders, and other debris. But they still went on with the rescue efforts despite the risks involved. The report of a live chicken being rescued after 6 days of being trapped in a buried house gave hope of finding human survivors. Sadly it turned out to be a false hope.

Maybe this tragedy will serve as a lesson for government authorities or even residents of landslide prone areas to be more cautious, especially now that “La Nina” is now making her presence felt in the country.

Danish Cartoons

2006-02-16T23:09:00.000+08:00

Much has already been said about Muslims all over the world condemning the caricatures that were published in Jyllands-Posten, a newspaper in Denmark. In countries such as Lebanon, Syria, Afghanistan, and even in Denmark, protests have become violent. But the good news is, just last week, Filipino Muslims have also raised their voices against Jyllands-Posten, but in a relatively very peaceful manner.

After friday prayers at the Golden Mosque in Quiapo, Manila, Anak ng Mindanao Party-list Rep. Mujiv Hataman and former Tawi-Tawi governor Al Tillah took turns in publicly condemning the cartoons depicting Prophet Mohammed as a terrorist. There were loud chants of "We are not afraid of Europe, we are ready to die." But fortunately despite the scathing words, no one was physically hurt.

I hope I'm not offending Muslim sensibilities if I describe one of the cartoons - it was the face of Islam's much revered prophet with a lit grenade on top of his head. It was like Jesus Christ holding two bombs while nailed on the cross - very offensive for Christians.

By the way, if our Muslim brothers wonder if my network showed the offending cartoons in full -we decided not to. Even if Tillah showed photocopies of the cartoons at the Golden Mosque, only blurred images were shown at our news program Insider. Even in the picture above, I have practially erased the cartoon. But this is not to blame Tillah for publicly showing the cartoons. I believe he was just overcome by his emotions at that time.

What is bothering though is the statement of Rep. Hataman. He said "kung darating ang panahon na gaganituhin pa rin nila ang ating relihiyon, obligasyon natin ang magpakamatay".

I have covered Rep. Hataman several times and I know him as a fighter for Muslims. Maybe there’s nothing wrong about fighting for one's rights even if it means death. But I just hope this Danish cartoons controversy will be resolved peacefully.

Maybe the government should consider airing the concerns of Filipino Muslims to Jyllands-Posten through our Department of Foreign Affairs. I understand why the Danish government refuses to apologize since the Prime Minister has no control of the press in his country. But what I cannot understand is why the paper stood by its decision to publish the cartoons after publicly apologizing.

Of course there’s freedom of the press in some countries, but certain freedoms do have limitations. I think Jyllands-Posten could have just apologized, period. But then maybe, Danes are like Filipinos, who may easily utter the words "I am sorry" but would refuse to pay an act of contrition.

Julian Elaine

2006-02-06T02:06:00.000+08:00

Mang Eddie can’t afford to lose this mint green bunny backpack. The bag was the one used by his 4-year old daughter Juliane Elaine when she was towed by her mother to Ultra for the first anniversary of Wowowee. It was extremely difficult for Mang Eddie to accept the fact that the backpack could be his last memory of his daughter.

Mang Eddie was still in a state of shock when I met him at Arlington Funeral Homes in Pasig City. He was with his wife Aling Myrna to claim the lifeless and battered body of Julian Elaine.

Aling Myrna told me Julian Elaine could have survived the Ultra tragedy. At the height of the stampede, Julian Elaine was whisked off by a good Samaritan to a nearby roof for safety. But seeing her mother being crushed to the ground, Julian Elaine jumped from the roof just to be with her mother. But along with 74 other people, Julian Elaine died.

Among the victims of the stampede, Julian Elaine is the only child. The rest are adults, mostly female with only one man in the list released by Arlington management.

While the rest of the victims wanted to win cash, or a house and lot, or a tricycle, Juliane Elaine’s wish was way simple – to personally meet the show’s host Willie Revillame. But sadly, the girl got her wish only after she died when Revillame viewed the remains of the stampede victims at the morgue of Arlington Pasig.

He Says, She Says

2006-02-03T00:07:00.000+08:00

The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police say they have neutralized on January 30 at least 18 members of the Kilusang Larangang Gerilya of the New Peoples Army in Sta. Ignacia, Tarlac.

Only 10 bodies were brought down to a church from the forested area where the encounter occurred. Several bodies were badly disfigured and burnt and were left in the area.

AFP Northern Luzon Command Spokesperson Col. Preme Monta says they had to bomb the hideout of the suspected rebels since it is highly forested. He adds they have credible information that the group was planning to attack the police stations of Sta. Ignacia and Mayantoc towns. Civilian residents in the area where the suspected rebels are camping out are the ones who reported to the authorities.

But human rights advocate Emil Paragas of Karapatan Central Luzon branded the operation as an“overkill” saying the bodies were almost beyond recognition even by their families.

Paragas also says it was a misencounter because among the dead are civilians. Apparently the suspected communist troop was embedded in a civilian village.

Based on the story of Jaime Salgado whom I met at a funeral parlor, his brother Dante and cousin Allan Ibasa are not rebels. Jaime says Dante and Allan were invited by the military for questioning while cutting bamboo trees. A day later, Jaime found out that Dante and Allan are among those neutralized by the authorities.

But minutes after talking with Jaime, a man who refused to identify himself approached me said the suspected rebels are indeed NPA members. He said he clearly remembers the faces of the dead and these are the ones who killed his neighbor last November 15 while they were onboard a running vehicle.

Other residents of Sta. Ignacia also quietly confirmed that most of the dead are communists. They are afraid to be interviewed oncam though.

Again, this is a case of a “he says, she says” story. But for whatever its worth, 18 people are dead. And insurgency and counter-insurgency will always be there for as long as the communists and the government refuse to meet half-way.

Lone Fatality

2006-01-29T01:43:00.000+08:00

A wife, a mother, and three children – all before the bag containing the body of Joel Tan, the lone fatality of three days of heavy rains in Dingalan brought by an active low pressure area.

Joel drowned Wednesday January 25 after being swept by a strong river current towards Dingalan Bay. His body was found two days later, along a cove in a nearby barangay.

At the time of the accident, Joel was carrying his nine-year old son Biboy. The kid miraculously survived after clinging onto a tree trunk. It was dark at that time, around seven in the evening.

Father and son and a few other men came from a wedding reception that night. They had second thoughts on whether to cross the river or let the water subside. Joel insisted on crossing the river because he was thinking of his starving pigs at home.

What’s unfortunate, his mother Cristina told me, is that Joel has been living in Dingalan for four years now, trying to move on with his life. Cristina says she sent Joel from their Tanay, Rizal home to their relatives in Dingalan to overcome his drug addiction. He was doing well, keeping himself busy with his pigs, until that fateful night of January 25th.

Touch Me Not

2006-01-24T23:57:00.000+08:00

“Kung nasaan ang panganib, doon ka pumaroon sapagkat doon naroroon ang karangalan” – Ibarra, Noli Me Tangere.

This was written below the picture of 1st Lt. Lawrence San Juan in his PMA Class 1997 yearbook. From his words, he is the type who is not afraid to walk along dangerous paths – just like what he is doing now, risking his life for a cause he strongly believes in.

Just yesterday, Karen Davila had an exclusive interview with Lawrence. He reiterated their position saying the President had five years to institute reforms within the military, but she failed.

Because of their escape from Fort Bonifacio, Lawrence and the other Magdalo soldiers were branded as “dangerous men” by the AFP leadership. The rebel soldiers are now the subject of an intensified manhunt by the military and the police.

But from what I have gathered from the San Juan family, Lawrence is not as dangerous as portrayed by the military. When I interviewed him at their home in Rodriguez, Rizal, Mang Rodolfo talked lengthily about how good his son is. Lawrence’s sister Zel and brother Rommel also had good words for their kuya.

Mang Rodolfo told me, on top of his duties as a soldier, Lawrence is also a thoughtful brother, husband, and son. For one, he did not forget to treat his parents on his mother’s birthday a few weeks ago, despite his detention inside Fort Bonifacio. They were escorted by the military police when they went out for dinner, in case you’re wondering how they did that.

Come to think of it, how many of us would go out of our way, inspite of our busy schedules, to treat our parents on their special days?

The AFP may have enough reasons to brand San Juan and the other Magdalo soldiers as dangerous. They are actually facing serious charges before a Makati court.

Maybe this is what Lawrence really wanted to do – to follow a dangerous path, even if it may cost him his life for as long as it is for the good of the country.

But as of now, it remains to be seen if Lawrence and the other Magdalo soldiers will suffer the same fate as Crisostomo Ibarra's in Noli Me Tangere.

5th Anniv of PGMA

2006-01-23T00:21:00.000+08:00

At the time these members of Akbayan Youth draped the People Power Monument with an Oust Gloria banner, the latest survey from Pulse Asia was released.

Some thirty members of the party-list group flocked to the People Power Mounument to echo their calls against the President for the nth time.

And at the same time, according to a recent survey by Pulse Asia, 58% of Filipinos will support calls for the President’s ouster if it were proven that she cheated in the elections.

I asked Akbayan Youth’s spokesperson, Ivy Diaz, a Social Science student from the Philippine Normal University, about what they can do to get the nod of 58% of Filipinos. She said they are tirelessly campaigning in schools and everywhere else by giving out Hello Garci CD’s to prove that President Arroyo is a bogus leader.

But then, haven’t we had enough of the voices behind those CD’s? It’s in the internet, TV stations have broadcast parts of it, and transcripts were already published in the major dailies. Since the opposition says the CD is a potent tool to pin down the President, then those 58% should have already acted since the issue cropped up.

But how come we haven’t seen those 58% in Edsa just yet?

Well, maybe the opposition has to work harder. Harder than the job being done by the President’s men.

Bird Flu

2006-01-21T03:09:00.000+08:00

In this quiet town of Candaba, Pampanga, fears of contracting the deadly H5N1 strain of avian flu have been set aside by local officials and bird-watching aficionados alike. Candaba town mayor Jerry Pelayo assures migratory birds at the Candaba swamp, mostly egrets or locally known as tagak and brown wild ducks are harmless. The town is actually inviting the public to see for themselves the beauty of bird-watching.

But how come these migratory birds are safe when in fact they came from East Asia and Siberia where cases of bird flu have been reported? Tim Fisher, and Englishman based here in Manila and an avid bird-watcher in Candaba has a simple answer – the Philippines is too far from affected countries and if a bird has the flu, it may be too weak to fly for several days non-stop.

But then, not that I want to spoil the fun in Candaba, but what if a bird is just a carrier of the H5N1 strain and is asymptomatic, meaning it is healthy but has the virus in its system? Would it be possible for a bird to survive traveling for days from say, China to the Philippines, and then infect healthy ones as soon as they land in the country?

I was told by Health Department Spokesperson Dr. Luningning Villa that a person may be a carrier of a certain disease but he may not be symptomatic. Simply put, one may actually be healthy but deadly viri or bacteria may just be sleeping inside his body. This was the answer of Dr. Villa when I asked her on where the 3-year old boy in Quezon City suspected of succumbing to meningococcemia could have gotten the disease from. Apparently, the boy is the only probable case of meningo in the area and there is nobody else sick of meningo from whom he could have contracted the disease. But Dr. Villa says the boy may have possibly been infected by an asymptomatic carrier of the disease.

By the way, speaking of meningo here, if someone is suspected of being infected with meningococcemia, please do not ostracize that person or his family. I pity the family of that boy in Quezon City because they were forced to lock themselves up in their house for five days. Unlike bird flu, meningococcemia is not an airborne disease. Just be sure not to have direct contact with an infected person’s body fluids such as saliva or blood.

Back to bird flu, the good news is so far the Philippines remains unaffected. Thus it is safe to drive all the way to Candaba because local authorities say it is highly unlikely that the avian flu will find its way to their town. The birds which arrived late last year will leave around February to March.

And by the way, don’t forget to bring a telescope to have a clearer picture of the birds.

Catanduanes

2005-12-12T21:36:00.000+08:00

Friday morning, Aling Evelyn rushed her child Nancy, a 16 year old girl with Down’s Syndrome, to the Eastern Bicol Medical Center in Virac, Catanduanes. Nancy is just one of the victims of possible e. coli contamination of Virac’s water system. She suffered from severe stomach pain and diarrhea.

It was a very touching scene - a mother taking care of her child at the hospital. For sure, almost all of us were able to experience that tender loving care only a mother can give when we are sick. The scene may be familiar for all of us – our mothers taking our temperature, putting warm, wet bimpo on our forehead, feeding us with soup, and sleeping by our side.

Almost fifty people, children and adults alike, and mostly residents of Virac experienced diarrhea. Three persons also died of dehydration. Provincial health officials said some of the victims had amoebiasis while it is also possible that the water system was contaminated with fecal e.coli bacteria. Heavy rains that persisted for days could have contaminated the town’s water system.

Residents were told to boil their drinking water coming out from their faucets. Or, they could buy safer purified water. Unfortunately, not too many people in Catanduanes can afford bottled water so they would rather drink boiled tap water. But the problem is, tap water can sometimes be a little murky.

But the Virac Water District claims their water is still potable, if boiled, and they had even increased its chlorine content. But the thing is, during the rainy season which could last up to a few months, there is always a high probability that the water system could be contaminated especially with the defective pipes exposed to flood waters that we saw at Bgy. Constantino.

Now I wonder, whatever happened to the “Patubig ni GMA” project? Isn’t it about providing clean drinking water for everyone, including the people of Virac?

Camp Bagong Diwa

2005-12-06T10:55:00.000+08:00

Former Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano voluntarily locked himself up inside a facility at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig since he arrived there Sunday. The Philippine National Police’s Police Security and Protection Office made it clear that they are not giving the man any “special treatment.”

But wait, even if they do treat him like a VIP, what’s wrong with that? I’m no fan of Garcillano nor does he have my sympathies. But we have to keep an open mind and remember that Garcillano is not a suspect in any criminal case, nor is he a convicted criminal.

Yes the government may be spending thousands of pesos for Garcillano’s security. But as long as the PNP does not overshoot its budget, I think it’s alright for them to spend some money on Garcillano. After all, minority congressmen were the ones who invited Garcillano to Congress.

My point is - Garcillano is not Erap. Erap does not deserve the VIP treatment he is getting, resthouse arrest and all. Erap has pending cases at the Sandiganbayan while Garci is only a resource person on Wednesday’s congressional inquiry on the Hello Garci controversy.

But that is for now. Who knows, Garcillano may end up just like Erap – behind bars. But as of the moment, let the man get VIP treatment if the PNP is willing to give him just that. I think, simple as it may appear, we can still show Garci that justice still works in this country.

Gay Rights

2005-11-29T22:51:00.000+08:00

Last November 18, I was called to early duty to cover the 10 am filing of a criminal case against officials of Miriam College for allegedly discriminating against an openly homosexual named Marlon Lacsamana. Marlon and his partner (who would rather remain anonymous) had a symbolic wedding last May at the Church of the Order of St. Aelred, an organization known for gay and lesbian weddings. According to Marlon, his contract as a librarian at Miriam was not renewed because of that wedding.
Many people may not be aware that there is a local law in Quezon City, Ordinance No. 1309 which “prohibits all acts of discrimination directed against homosexuals in any office in Quezon City.” The ordinance authored by Councilors Janet Malaya, Restituto Malangen, Ramon Medalla, Eric Medina, Jorge Banal, Diorella De Leon, and Jesus Suntay was passed by the council on September 16 2003. However the law may be considered too generic because all it says, among a few other things, is that the “city government must afford to homosexuals equal protection guaranteed by the Bill of Rights enshrined in our Constitution.” But at least, there is a law which Marlon can hold on to.
In his affidavit, Lacsmana says after officials of the conservative Catholic institution got wind of his homosexual union, he was fired. He says he was told by Associate Dean Rosa Paragas that he was “like a square peg trying to fit into a hole.”
He adds Vice President Grace Aguilung also told him “kung nasa UP sana tayo walang ganito, pero since nandito ka na sana inalam mo muna yung pinasukan mo kung kayang tanggapin ang mga katulad mo.”
When my team went to Miriam College to get their reaction, the External Affairs office just gave us a blanket denial. They claimed through a statement that “Miriam College has always been committed to the values of truth, justice, and respect for persons.”
I must admit at one point while I was waiting for the statement of the college, I got pissed off when a staff of the External Affairs office told me that they would rather not comment on the case because “we feel the media is only being used by Marlon for his case.” But with all due respect to that lady, I told her that “I don’t think we are being used here because the case is a legitimate story and the public has the right to know about it.”
The case right now is under preliminary investigation at the Quezon City Prosecutors’ Office. If it prospers, it could be the test case if bigotry still exists in the country.
(Photo courtesy of Atty. Jayson Lamcheck)

Dingalan Bay

2005-11-28T16:19:00.000+08:00

It’s been a year now since the first of the three strong typhoons hit the country. And it is a great relief for me to find out that the town of Dingalan in Aurora Province is slowly getting back to its feet. Just a few weeks ago, my team went back to Dingalan to see how the town has recovered from its worst nightmares named Violeta, Winnie and Yoyong. (Actually, typhoon Yoyong did not bring as much rain but it was a supertyphoon, and the winds were just as scary.)
About a hundred people died in Dingalan when typhoons Violeta and Winnie hit last year. We were there to cover those three typhoons and we stayed in an inn for almost three weeks. The whole town can never forget those days when food were scarce because the market was closed. And even my team and I can never forget that incident when we caught a stray pig swimming in the muddy floodwaters just so we can have something to eat for two days. Thanks to the owner of that pig by the way.
But of course, even if it’s hard to forget a very unfortunate incident, people have to move on. Now the town is back to business. Dingalan Bay may not be as popular as Boracay and one may consider it as just an ordinary beach. But the place has so much potential for tourism. For one, it remains unspoilt. And it’s only about four hours from Manila. There are a few cottages lining the beach, two beachfront resorts and an inn near the municipal hall. Not to mention the freshest catch of tuna and salmon in the afternoon and early morning, around seventy to eighty pesos a kilo, sobrang sulit.
The sad thing though is that the town’s parish priest, Fr. Antonio Evangelio says there are reports from the Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force in Nueva Ecija that freshly cut logs are still being transported from Dingalan to Manila. But Dingalan Mayor Jaime Ylarde counters those logs were probably the same ones brought down by the typhoon from the mountains of Sierra Madre last year. Ylarde says the total log ban is still in effect in his town. I hope so, especially since some of the victims of last year’s typhoons are still housed in an evacuation center.
In any case, from now on I hope people will remember Dingalan not as a VICTIM, but as a SURVIVOR. I hope they’ll get a chance to further boost their tourism industry which can in fact rival the more popular beach resorts in the country. The town has become used to cutting trees as its main source of livelihood, but now that mother nature has proven that it has a way of getting back if she’s abused, then it’s about time that the town focused it efforts on eco-tourism.
But I do hope too that Dingalan won’t get too commercialized, to protect its natural beauty.

MASINLOC

2005-11-10T22:54:00.000+08:00

My team and I went to Masinloc, Zambales to join a protest action by the group Greenpeace International. They recently made news when their ship ran aground Tubattaha Reef off Palawan Island, although they have already apologized for that and paid a hefty fine for it.

Masinloc Coal-Fired Power Plant
This Napocor power plant was the center of action for Greenpeace International’s “No More Coal” project. While on our way to cover the activity, I remembered the Hollywood film “The Day After Tomorrow.” A Greenpeace activist I’ve talked with said the movie may be a bit exaggerated. The entire New York City turning into a virtual North Pole may be highly improbable. But climate change resulting to extreme weather conditions is not impossible. Hurricane Katrina recently struck the United States, and experts say, if we do not act now, things may get worse.

Kiwi and German
The group was bold enough to storm the premises of the power plant. They climbed onto the facility and tried to unfurl banners denouncing coal use. Five Greenpeace members were badly hurt in the incident when Napocor employees tried to stop them. The woman is Deb Collins. She’s 51 years old, a grandmother, and yet she volunteered to do such a strenuous act. The man is Jens Loewe, who for a few minutes was immobile since he was allegedly hit by a Napocor employee using a crowbar. The rest of the thirteen activists said they were stoned and a Filipina was hit on her chest. They may have forcibly entered the power plant, but was it right for Napocor people to hurt them? And at one point, we even heard a warning shot.

Coal Causes Global Warming
At the time of the protest the plant was even emitting black smoke. Simply put, Greenpeace says too much carbon dioxide produced by coal causes global warming which in turn results to extreme weather conditions.

2005-11-07T15:24:00.000+08:00

On Mt. Diwata, Diwalwal

MT. DIWATA, DIWALWAL

2005-11-07T13:06:00.000+08:00

MT. DIWATA, DIWALWAL, MONKAYO, COMPOSTELA VALLEY
A small town of 40 000 people, mostly migrants from Surigao, Agusan and Cebu - all dependent on gold. Small-scale mining has been their major industry since the gold-rush in the area in the 80’s. Diwalwal literally means lawit because old folks say when you reach the place diwawal na ang dila mo or lawit na ang dila mo.
Diwalwal is a relatively quiet town but recently caught the headlines when an estimated 25 miners died on October 25 inside a tunnel allegedly due to toxic gas suffocation.

JB MINING CORPORATION’S SUNSHINE TUNNEL
This is where it all started – a tunnel owned by the family of Monakyo, Compostela Valley Mayor Joel Brillantes. Although their business is qualified as small-scale mining, JB Mining is a major player in the industry. It has an estimated 200 employees. But it lost at least 17 miners (total number of bodies recovered as of November 4 2005) although people in the area believe there are around 50 miners inside the tunnel at the time of the accident.

MT. DIWATA BARANGGAY HALL
Baranggay officials are seeking for an investigation of the incident. Mt. Diwata Bgy. Capt. Franco Tito even wrote the President through Compostela Valley Rep. Manuel “Waykurat” Zamora. Tito believes there was foul-play in the incident. He says there are at least two possibilitites:
- cyanide poisoning done by putting cyanide on top of an old tire set on fire inside the tunnel of JB Mining Corporation.
- blasting inside the tunnel. Tito does not deny that blasting is still practiced inside the tunnels which poses a great danger to miners.“Hindi naman namin tinatanggi dito na nagpapasabog kami, ang sinasabi ng gobyerno ilegal kami, ang hiling namin, sana tulungan kaming maging legal,” he says.

CLEAN-UP TIME
After the incident, the company suspended its operations. But employees were seen cleaning at the entrance of the tunnel. JB Mining Corporation Vice President for Operations Reynaldo Espanola says “kailangan pa ring kumita ng mga minero namin, kaya kahit paano maglilinis na lang muna sila para may kitain sila kahit stop-operations muna kami sa loob.”
JB Mining also says they are willing to undergo investigation. But the company claims the highly probable cause of the accident is a pocket of natural gas which the miners could have encroached upon. Espanola also claims they have given financial assistance to the families of the victims.

RALLY IN THE MOUNTAINS
They may have been up there in the mountains, but they also want their voices to be heard. After our report on TV Patrol that President Arroyo has called for an investigation, the people of Diwalwal became furious. They brought the remains of Victor Condeza in front of the baranggay hall. Condeza is a miner who died in another tunnel where toxic gases allegedly leaked from JB Mining’s Sunshine Tunnel. The residents say they do not want Malacanang’s sympathy. They want concrete action from the President whose policy on mining, they say, will eventually kill them. They add, if the President continues with her policy, they will all end up just like Condeza – but this time, dying out of hunger.

ALVAREZ FORMULA
Named after former Natural Resources Sec. Heherson Alvarez, this is the proposal of Diwalwal residents offering 17.5 per cent of what they will earn from operating inside Victory Tunnel – the largest tunnel in Diwalwal which has remained off-limits to small-scale miners. Unfortunately, the proposal was junked by the government.

VICTORY TUNNEL
This tunnel is under the control of the government through the Natural Resources Mining Development Corporation or the NRMDC. The agency is headed by Art Disini whom I have called up while the residents were protesting in front of the baranggay hall. Disini says the government has plans of putting up a large-scale mining industry at Victory Tunnel He says it can offer jobs to skilled workers in Diwalwal. But the problem is, they can only accommodate 1 500 employees. But what will happen to the other miners who have been dependent on small-scale mining for the last twenty years? Disini says “hindi naman talaga sila taga-Diwalwal, mga migrants na ang karamihan sa kanila.”
The NRMDC says they are still on the exploration stage inside Victory Tunnel. But Mt. Diwata Baranggay Captain Franco Tito is asking, why are there sacks of rocks already piled outside the tunnel? He says “alam na nilang may ginto sa loob, tinitingnan lang nila kung magkano talaga ang halaga ng ginto doon.”

ABANTERO
Most of us think that workers in the industry are all called “miners”. But in Diwalwal, there are two classifications of miners: one group is called abanteros – the ones doing the actual work of mining inside the tunnels. They are actually the highly-skilled ones who may be hired by the government when large-scale mining goes full blast in Diwalwal.

ATRASERO
It’s weird that Abanteros do not want to carry the rocks they have mined inside the tunnels. The atraseros are the ones who transport the sacks of rocks out of the tunnel. It’s hard to imagine they are subjecting themselves to so much danger and yet the government seems to neglect them.

POUND SOME MORE
After the rocks are taken out of the tunnels, they are broken down into smaller pieces using a hammer.

BALL MILL
Scattered all around town are ball mills, these equipment are used to process the rocks into a powdery substance called “waste”. When these “wastes” are mixed with water, dusts of gold will turn up after a process called “panning” is done.

DIWALWAL TEAM
We were all smiles in this photo taken in front of our satellite dish at the baranggay hall. Yes my team and I were happy because at this time we were told by our office that we can go back to Manila on November 4.
But on hindsight, I felt bad having to leave the people of Diwalwal behind. After living with them for eight days, I can’t help but think of their future. My team had a hard time doing this coverage, we had to sleep on old cots inside the conference room of the baranggay hall, take motorcycles that run like hell, take a bath under almost freezing temperatures and at one point, did NOT take a bath for three straight days. But come to think of it, the situation of the people of Diwalwal is actually worse.
It is a fact that gold is running out in Diwalwal and the people are setting their sights on Victory Tunnel, where supposedly 18 billion dollars worth of gold is just waiting to be mined. But after the mining conference in Manila last month, Diwalwal residents expect that government officials and foreign investors are the only ones who will benefit from the wealth of Mt. Diwata.
Baranggay Captain Franco Tito’s words stuck in my mind: “Pag ang tao dito nagutom, hindi malayong sugurin na namin ang Victory Tunnel.” If that happens, that would mean civilians fighting soldiers of the Philippine Army, who are tasked to guard the tunnel. There are reportedly hundreds of lose firearms in Diwalwal.

For now, residents will continue to live dangerously depending on small-scale mining in Diwalwal. Yes they may all be migrants in the area, but is this enough reason for the government to take them for granted when Victory Tunnel finally opens its arms to foreign companies?