Multi-Awarded Tausug Holds 5th Solo Art Exhibit in Zamboanga City

Multi-awarded Muslim painter Rameer Tawasil gestures as he leads guests to his 5th Solo Art Exhibit at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University’s Gallery of the Peninsula and the Archipelago in Zamboanga City, Wednesday, February 24, 2010. Dubbed as “Tawasil: In retrospect. Celebrating 20 years in Visual arts, Architecture and Design,” the exhibit also coincided with the celebration of the National Arts Month and the 3rd anniversary of the Gallery of the Peninsula and the Archipelago. Tawasil and Fr Antonio Moreno, the president of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University, led the opening of the exhibit. (Jung Francisco - Mindanao Examiner Photo)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 24, 2010) – Muslim Tausug painter Rameer Amilasan Tawasil opened Wednesday his 5th Solo Art Exhibit at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University in the southern Filipino port city of Zamboanga.

Tawasil, who is famous for his many paintings depicting Islam and Peace, displayed his many works, some date back in the 1980s, at the Gallery of the Peninsula and the Archipelago.

Dubbed as “Tawasil: In retrospect. Celebrating 20 years in Visual arts, Architecture and Design,” the exhibit also coincided with the celebration of the National Arts Month and the 3rd anniversary of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University’s Gallery of the Peninsula and the Archipelago.

Tawasil and Fr. Antonio Moreno, the president of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University, led dozens of guests in the opening of the exhibit late Wednesday. It will run until March 27.

“This is an event that every must see. The works of Rameer Tawasil really will inspire us all,” Moreno said.

Tawasil for his part thanked the Ateneo de Zamboanga University for the holding of his art exhibit. “All these works are special to me and I wanted everybody to see the exhibit and I just hope that these works will inspire more people to love arts and spread peace through pieces of arts they make,” he said.

Tawasil was born in the village of Karungdung in the town of Kalinggalan Caluang in Sulu province. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Architecture at the Western Mindanao State University.

According to the website muslimmindanao.ph which is maintained by the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication and initially funded by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the multi-awarded Tawasil is best known for using bright, strong, and bold colors in his paintings.

It said the foundation of his art is "okkil” (in Tausug; “okir” in Maranao), a design form indigenous to the Muslim groups in Mindanao as seen in their woodcarvings, brassware, and textiles, among others.

His masterpieces adorn galleries in London and Kuching, Malaysia and private collections in Germany, Korea, the United States and the Philippines.

Tawasil has been involved in more than 30 art group shows in abroad and the Philippines and his local exhibitions have been held at the main gallery of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Vargas Museum in the University of the Philippines, National Commission for Culture and the Arts Gallery, Metropolitan Museum of Manila, and various private galleries, it said.

He has had three past solo exhibits since 2003 in Zamboanga City and the fourth was in Davao City which was sponsored by the Canadian International Development Agency.

A recipient of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Award, Tawasil also received the Zamboanga Hermosa Recognition Award, Culture and the Arts Category in 2003. In 2006 he was given the Peace Citation Award by the Peace Advocates Zamboanga for his rendition of the "peace dove" logo which has become a peace campaign symbol locally and globally and has been included in the international collection of peace doves.

Tawasil also organizes art shows and directs musical concerts on his advocacy on peace and the environment. He also conducts art workshops on recycled and environmental art.

He sits as a member of the Zamboanga City Government's Committee on Visual Arts, Council for the Culture and Arts and History. (Jung Francisco contributed to this report.)

Ateneo de Zamboanga Fireworks

Fireworks resembling a nebula lit up the night sky in Zamboanga City on Sunday, January 31, 2010 during the Ateneo de Zamboanga High School Family Day. Ateneo de Zamboanga University President, Father Antonio Moreno, led the family day attended by hundreds of students and parents. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

Zamboanga reports first Influenza A (H1N1) case

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / July 2, 2009) – Philippine health authorities on Thursday confirmed another case of Influenza A (H1N1) in Zamboanga City in Mindanao.

Authorities said a nine-year old student from Ateneo de Zamboanga was positively tested for the virus. The boy, a Grade 3 student, was infected with the deadly virus after contacts with a woman who came to Zamboanga from Manila on June 12.

Officials did not say whether the woman was the boy’s relative or not.

They said the woman was apparently unaware that she was infected with the virus and learned about it when she returned to Manila and has been tested positive from Influenza A (H1N1).

She phoned the boy’s family in Zamboanga and told them to bring the child to the hospital for medical test. The boy is the first confirmed case of Influenza A (H1N1) in Zamboanga.

Fr Antonio Moreno, president of the Ateneo de Zamboanga, has confirmed the case and said they are assessing the situation and would be meeting with health officials whether to suspend the class where the boy belongs.

“We will be meeting also with all the parents of the students in that particular class to determine if there is a need to temporarily suspend the whole class or not. There are some cases of flu and colds in that class, but we still don’t know whether it is Influenza A or not and we have already sent swab samples to Manila to determine if they are Influenza A,” he said.

Several suspected infections were also reported in other government elementary schools in Zamboanga, but laboratory tests are still on going. It was not immediately known how many suspected cases were reported in those schools. But health officials said there are at least 12 suspected cases of the virus in Zamboanga City; 2 in Isabela City in nearby Basilan province and two in Zamboanga del Norte and 2 more in Zamboanga del Sur provinces.

The Influenza A (H1N1) virus is spread from person-to-person. It is transmitted as easily as the normal seasonal flu and can be passed to other people by exposure to infected droplets expelled by coughing or sneezing that can be inhaled, or that can contaminate hands or surfaces.

The signs of influenza A (H1N1) are flu-like, including fever, cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, sore throat and runny nose, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea.

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III reported that the Department of Health (DOH) is further bolstering its mitigation efforts against Influenza A (H1N1) in light of the anticipated rise of cases in the country.

“As we anticipate more cases in the coming months, we must institute effective mitigation measures to save lives and prevent deaths and to reduce the impact of the pandemic to our nation and the economy,” Duque said.

Duque said that 1,709 confirmed A (H1N1) cases have been reported to the DOH from the May to June. He said 1,485 of these cases have already recovered, while the rest are still under treatment.

“All cases exhibited mild symptoms with the most common as fever (86%), cough (81%), and nasal congestion (49%),” Duque said, noting however, that there was one reported death in Manila – a 49-year old woman who was an employee of the House of Representatives.

Duque disclosed that of the 1,709 reported cases, 1,568 were Filipinos; the rest were American (17), Japanese (8), Chine (4), Korean (3), German (2), and one each from Australia, Canada, India, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Sweden, Thailand, and Turkey. (Mindanao Examiner)

Ateneo de Zamboanga University celebrates the Sesquicentennial Jubilee of the Return of the Jesuits in Philippines

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 19, 2009) - The Ateneo de Zamboanga University is celebrating the Sesquicentennial Jubilee of the Return of the Jesuits (1859-2009)-

the 150th anniversary of the return of the Jesuits to the Philippines; the 150th anniversary of Jesuit educational apostolate in the Philippines and the 150th anniversary of Jesuit presence in Mindanao.

It will also launch on July 3 the Centennial Jubilee of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University (1912-2012).

Fr Antonio F. Moreno, President of the Ateneo de Zamboanga, is expected to give the welcome remarks on July 3 on the launching of the Centennial Jubilee of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University at The Gallery of the Peninsula and the Archipelago in Zamboanga City. (Mindanao Examiner)

Award-winning film director holds seminar, workshop in Zamboanga

Award-winning film and television director William Mayo gestures as he explains the intricacies involved in filmmaking during a seminar in Zamboanga City. The seminar was sponsored by the National Commission on Culture and the Arts and partnership with Zamboanga City Representative Maria Isabelle Salazar and City Councilor Gerky Valesco and Ateneo de Zamboanga University President Fr Antonio Moreno.

(Mindanao Examiner Photo / Jung Francisco)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Apr. 26, 2009) – Some 30 participants finished a seminar and workshop on filmmaking in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines.

William Mayo, an award-winning film and television director, conducted the three-day workshop held at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University. Mayo, whose films included the epic Lapu-Lapu, discussed the various stages involved in producing a 35-mm movie and digital filmmaking.

“If you have the passion, just do it. Don’t be afraid, be imaginative and pursue your goal and produce a movie. Zamboanga is a beautiful place and it is rich in culture and history and these are very good materials for your film,” said Mayo, who is also the president of the Kapisanan ng mga Direktor ng Pelikulang Pilipino and the Philippine Motion Picture Directors Association, Inc.
Many of the participants were film students and digital filmmakers.

The National Commission on Culture and the Arts and the Film Academy of the Philippines sponsored the workshop in partnership with Zamboanga City Rep. Maria Isabelle Salazar and City Councilor Gerky Valesco and the Ateneo de Zamboanga University.

Fr Antonio Moreno, president of the Ateneo de Zamboanga, also took a brief time and visited the seminar and inspired the participants.

Valesco, himself a television director, who was responsible for organizing the workshop, said a second seminar on advance filmmaking and cinematography is now being planned, including the possible holding of the first Chavacano Film Festival in Zamboanga City later this year.

“We are opening the door to opportunities for our local talents to be known in the field of filmmaking and hopefully to include Zamboanga City among the many cities in the Philippines where filmmaking is striving,” Valesco said.

Salazar, a television documentarist, urged those who finished the workshop to pursue filmmaking here and promote not only Zamboanga, but show that local talents can also be world class. (Jung Francisco)

Empty police outpost in Zamboanga City

Two telephone linemen work as motorists drive past Wednesday, March 25, 2009 an empty police detachment near Ateneo de Zamboanga University in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines, where several improvised explosives had been recovered and detonated in recent months. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

Ateneo de Zamboanga Presents "El Legiendo del Carne"

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 25, 2009) - Can you ever think of yourself as nothing more than just flesh to be fed on when time comes? When all hope is gone, will you be ready feed on your own flesh and blood to survive? Can you imagine yourself never knowing what love means?

These are but some of the many questions asked in Layeta Bucoy’s apocalyptic play “El Legiendo del Carne.” Set in the future, the play deals with the most complex human emotions in the most unnerving situations possible.

People are brought face to face with the consequences of their deeds in the past and are made to choose between surviving and living.

El Legiendo del Carne is a production of the Theater Production Class of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University Mass Communications Department and will be directed by instructor and celebrated director Marko Alfino “Kiko” Miranda.

The play, which is also part of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts’ celebration of the Arts Month, will run from February 26, 27 and 28 at 6 p.m. at the ADZU Brebeuf Gym at Ateneo de Zamboanga University in Zamboanga City in Mindanao.

Tickets are sold at the ADZU MassComm Office at the 3rd floor LRC Building at P30 each. For inquiries, please call 0905-3174689. (Amilbahar S. Mawallil & Sheri Gay P. Catague)

Anti-kidnapping awareness launched in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 23, 2009) – With the spate of kidnappings-for-ransom in western Mindanao, the Social Awareness Community Service Involvement (SACSI) office of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University has launched a public awareness campaign for its students in Zamboanga City.

Brian Bango, Human Rights and Gender Task Force Program Officer, said the campaign is aimed at the safety of the students. “The importance of information dissemination must be stressed,” he said.

The campaign started off with posters pasted in several corners of the campus. The posters included information on kidnap-for-ransom and some safety tips. Along with the posters were brochures on “Making Sense of Kidnap for Ransom,” he said.

The brochure included the definition and history of kidnapping in the country that may be basic but truly helpful to clarify things better. The probable “why’s” or the probable reasons for having kidnapping rampant nowadays were mentioned.

More to it are the “Kidnapping Modus Operandi” or how the kidnappers take their targets and some measures to deter abduction.The tips also discouraged students from displaying cash or wearing expensive jewelries in public places.

A student forum on how to prevent abduction was also held recently in Zamboanga City.

“The campaign does not only make the students more vigilant as they are the most plausible targets of kidnap-for-ransom, but also makes them realize in what manner they have helped sustain a non kidnapping-free climate. It helps them not only to protect themselves but to also make them think of how they can best help even in their own simple ways how they can put kidnapping in the city to a stop,” Bango said.

He said, however, that the campaign is not a sure tool for preventing kidnapping-for-ransom. SACSI’s campaign is a follow-up of the previously released safety guidelines by the Office of Student Affairs of the university.

Last year, a nursing student of Ateneo de Zamboanga University was kidnapped and another last month. (Michelle Angela Araneta)

Mamahalin Mo Ba Ako?

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 15, 2009) “40 ang waist line ko. Mamahalin mo ba ako? Babae ako. Bakla ka. Mamahalin mo ba ako? Lalake ka. Lalake rin ako. May pag-asa bang mahalin mo ako?”

These were the words that opened the Valentines Special of the Gender Café held last February 13 at Gallery of the Peninsula and Archipelago in Ateneo de Zamboanga University.

The Gender Café is an annual event facilitated by the Gender and Development Program and the Gender Task Force under the Social Awareness and Community Service Involvement (SACSI) office of the university. It is an affair that engages faculty and students to understanding and to the promotion of gender sensitivity and gender equality.

Normally, the Gender Café is held on September or on the Women’s month. Brian Bango, program officer for Gender and Development and the student volunteers of the Gender Task Force, however, felt that moving the Café to February as a Valentines special would best soothe the goals of the program.

The theme of the café was “Mamahalin mo ba ako?” This made the café focus on the different feelings of love from the different genders.

Poetry reading was the main attraction of the show accompanied with a several love songs all given by the students. After each poem, the reader asked questions about the extremes of love that obviously struck the audience.

Some realizations on how women, men, gays, lesbians, metrosexuals, bisexuals and transgendered felt and thought about love were also given through the poems, songs and speeches.

In the end, the audience, faculty, program officers and volunteers agreed to the words of Bango in his speech, “babae, lalake, bakla, tomboy, bisexual, transgendered ka man, may karapatan kang magmahal.”

The Gender Café then did not only make everyone present feel the love three hours before Valentines Day itself but also made everybody else realize that Valentines is not only for girls and boys in a relationship but for every human person no matter what their gender choice and sexual preference is.(Michelle Angela Araneta)

Ateneo de Zamboanga University Job Fair kicks off in Mindanao

Fr Antonio Moreno, president of the Atendeo de Zamboanga University, addresses a crowd during the opening Thursday, February 12, 2009 of the Job Fair 2009 in Zamboanga City in Mindanao. (Mindanao Examiner Photo / Jung Francisco)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 11, 2009) - More than 50 Filipino companies and government agencies participated in the Ateneo de Zamboanga University Job Fair 2009 which began Thursday in Zamboanga City.

Among the companies participating in the two-day event were Globe Telecom, TESDA, Phil Health, DOLE, SSS, Commission on Human Rights, Shopper’s Central, San Miguel Brewery, National Statistics Office, Water District, Metro bank, Band of the Philippine Islands and the Mindanao Examiner.

Fr Antonio Moreno, president of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University, led the opening ceremony. He gave “words of wisdom” to graduating students and urged them to prepare for the future and work hard.

Moreno also stressed that potential employers should also give feedback to the university so that Ateneo can work on their students’ strengths and weaknesses.

Pedro Rufo Soliven, alumni president of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University, who was a keynote speaker, encouraged those seeking for jobs to also venture into entrepreneurship, saying, it promises a lot of opportunities to young individuals.

Soliven also said that being an Ateneo graduate plays an advantage in landing a job. Soliven together with Moreno led the ribbon cutting.

Estesa Xaris Legaspi, director of the College Guidance and Counseling Office, expressed optimism about the outcome of the event. She said that with the job fair, students will learn the basics of how to apply for a job, how to go about the interviews, among others. (Amilbahar S. Mawallil)

Presence of suspicious men scare traders, parents in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 04, 2009) – Suspicious persons have been spotted near a Catholic university and commercial buildings in downtown Zamboanga City, where a wave of kidnappings and failed abductions had been reported in recent months.

The men, who spoke in Tausug, a dialect widely used in Sulu province, had been noticed acting suspiciously the past weeks along Nunez Road near the back entrance of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University, MP Towers and Filinvest buildings where a row of offices, stores and restaurants are situated.

Witnesses said the men, clad in jacket and wore hats and helmets, were using red and black motorcycles and frequenting the area in the morning and later in the afternoon.

In several occasions, witnesses claimed seeing black and grey vans with suspicious passengers, also speaking in Tausug dialect, near those establishments. Traffic policemen near the area were apparently unaware of the presence of the suspicious men.

Gunmen had kidnapped in Zamboanga City a bakery owner Eliseo Hablo and three government teachers– all kidnapped in Zamboanga City by armed men were also taken to Basilan.

Three government teachers, Freires Quizon, Janette de los Reyes and Rafael Mayorada and a bakery owner, Eliseo Hablo, were kidnapped recently in Zamboanga City.

A string of kidnapping and failed abductions of students were also reported in the local media in recent weeks. The wave of kidnappings has worried many traders and residents. (Mindanao Examiner)

Ateneo de Zamboanga University to launch Center for Leadership and Governance

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 3, 2009) – The Ateneo de Zamboanga University will launch its Center for Leadership and Governance in Zamboanga City in Mindanao.

It said the center would be formally launched on February 6. It will be followed by a press conference at the Ateneo’s LRC Conference Room.

Fr Antonio Moreno, AdZU president, is expected to give his welcome remarks while Regina Junio, the coordinator for the Center for Leadership and Governance, will present the center’s program.

Edward Lim, the regional coordinator for Western Mindanao of the Philippine Environmental Governance Project 2; and Ginagene Uy, of the Local Governance Resource Center of the Department of Interior and Local Government, are also expected to give their solidarity messages.

Thousands Get Free Bags, Books In Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 30, 2009) – Zamboanga City Representative Maria Isabelle Climaco distributed thousands of school bags, ID slings and books to students here.

The distribution was held at the Capisan National High School. Some 7,000 bags were distributed to students and 5,000 pieces of ID slings to teachers and students. The distribution of the books was also made possible through the efforts of Ateneo de Zamboanga University.

She said the donation was an effort to promote youth development and education. (Charlotte Yola Mira)

Ateneo de Zamboanga to hold job fair

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 30, 2009) - In the midst of the global economic meltdown and massive layoffs of workers all around the world, the College of Guidance and Counseling Office (CGCO) of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University will hold a two-day annual job fair on February 12-13 at the Carlos Dominguez Conference Hall, Ateneo Campus.

The Job Fair 2009, with the theme “Oh, The Places You Will Go!,” aims to provide the university’s graduating college students with a range of job opportunities.

CGCO is inviting government agencies and private companies around the city and the region to join and hold job recruitment procedures such as filing applications, testing for employment and job interviews.

CGCO Director Estesa Xaris C. Que-Legaspi believes that over the years Job Fair has been proven to be helpful and beneficial in preparing graduating students for job searching and placement.

She also added that the event itself gives the students a chance to feel and see the complicated world of employment. (Amilbahar Mawallil and Sheri Gay Catague)

Zamboanga villages benefit from love drive

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 22, 2008) – At least eight villages in Zamboanaga City in the southern Philippines benefited from a love drive initiated by the Ateneo Campus Ministry and participated by the student volunteers of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University.

Packs of goodies, including old clothes and shoes, noodles, sugar, canned goods, rice, toiletries and school supplies were distributed in the villages of Lumbangan, Tugbungan, Tulungatung, Mampang, Sinunuc, Kanukutan, Dulian, Lapaz and also at the Malagutay Elementary School.

Jericho Panganiban, of the Ateneo Campus Ministry, said the love drive was an annual activity and part of the traditional practice of giving during Christmas season in the university.

Tugbungan village chieftain Jun Graciano praised the love drive, saying, many families benefited from the activity. (Sheri Gay P. Catague)

Ateneo de Zamboanga to document culture of Lumads

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (CBCP / Dec. 11) - Ateneo de Zamboanga University, a Jesuit school in western Mindanao, is envisioning to come up with documentation of materials about the history, culture and the present situation of the indigenous peoples of Western Mindanao, according to the university sources.

The initiative is done under the aegis of Institute of Cultural Studies for Western Mindanao (ICSWM).

It plans to produce visuals portraying the major ethnic tribes in the region, showing their costumes and habitat.

Other plans also include compilation of comprehensive biographies of prominent personalities in the history of Zamboanga City and the region and collection of artifacts such as ethnic costumes, crafts, cooking utensils, tools and equipment used in handicraft making, agriculture and weaponry.

ICSWM aims to enhance unity, understanding and acceptance among peoples and to aid in the formation and transformation of society.

The ICSWM commits itself to provide an avenue for better understanding among the multi-cultural and multi-religious peoples of Western Mindanao through increased awareness and knowledge of each other’s history and culture by: collecting books, photographs, maps and other historical and cultural materials obtained through donation, reproduction or purchase, and cataloguing such as collected materials and making them available to students and researchers.

ICSWM will sponsor seminars and workshops on various topics or issues on history, literature, culture, religion and Muslim and Christian relations in the region for the Ateneo community and other interested groups, undertaking the celebration of ethnic festivals in Western Mindanao in coordination with government and non-government agencies, focusing on cultural presentations (literary, musical, dance, and drama) on the various aspects of the socio-cultural world of the indigenous peoples.

The ICSWM was established on October 16, 1990—a step in the realization of the Ateneo de Zamboanga’s commitment to assist the people of the city and the region in accepting and working within the reality that ours is a multi-cultural and multi-religious society.

As an educational institution, the Ateneo de Zamboanga has the unique opportunity to help overcome the ignorance, prejudices and animosities of the past.

The thrust of the ICSWM is in line with the direction throughout the world of the Society of Jesus, which shows a keen interest in activities that promote inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue.

ICSWM’s collection includes an extensive bibliography, annotated vertical files and materials on the history and culture of Western Mindanao.

The ICSWM gets its financial support from donations of various organizations within the Philippines and abroad. (CBCP - Santosh Digal)

Halloween...Trick or Treat?

Halloween pumpkin.

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 30, 2008) - As All Soul’s Day and All Saint’s day are fast approaching, people normally become busy going to cemeteries, cleaning tombs and preparing flowers and candles for their departed loved ones. These are traditions of many Filipinos and the people of Zamboanga whenever October ends.

However, there is something that is shaking the city now; something new is visibly added to the end-of-October-trend in Zamboanga. As carved pumpkins, monsters’ masks, witches’ hats and robes seem to be everywhere, the Halloween fever must be in the air. Zamboanga City has always been acquainted to many different cultures and traditions over the years.

Through the efforts of its government and its people, the cultures have not been thoroughly blown away by the introduction of new ideas. But this year, the city seemed to have embraced something unpracticed before, the celebration of Halloween.

Through the years, Halloween is evident in other parts of the world and even to some parts of the Philippines. But to Zamboanga City, it is quite unusual that Halloween party materials and Halloween parties both personal and led by institutions have suddenly shown all over the place.

It is true that there have been Halloween decorations over some bazaars in the past when it’s almost November but it is not as how it is now.

Halloween has now become as much as Christmas! But the thing is, is Halloween allowed to be celebrated by the two dominant religions in the city, Christianity and Islam, to which traditions the people follow? Is it natural for Zamboanga City to follow something that is not clearly known to their beliefs?

Halloween is often associated with All Soul’s Day but history shows that it does not trace back its roots to the Christian beliefs but to a Celtic celebration, to pagan beliefs and to Devil worships. In the whole history of Christianity, none has been documented to be having any trace of Halloween.

It is only related to the All Hallow’s Eve which was later changed to All Saint’s Day and was moved to November 1 by Pope Gregory IV in 837. It was only attached to its scary meanings because November 1 was also the date of the Celtic autumn festival where the dead was said to revisit the world.

Though it may not be fully a Christian tradition, Halloween has also been attached with some Christian beliefs like the practice of Trick or Treat where kids wearing costumes of ghosts wander off at the night of October 31st, knock on people’s doors and ask for soul cakes or sweets.

This is like a portrayal of the wandering souls in purgatory, who look for some alms. Wearing of costumes may also be associated to a portrayal of non-fear to the power of Satan as Christ will triumph over evil and that his followers must not be afraid.

On the other hand, Kah Ghazzali Taupan, Muslim Retreat and Recollection Coordinator of the Campus Ministry Office of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University, expresses that the celebration by Muslims of Halloween is just similar on how they deal with Christmas and other non-Muslim activities.

“Celebrating Halloween or not, only depends on the level of obedience to the religion a Muslims follows. But in tradition, there is nothing about Halloween known to the teachings of Islam and so, it is not encouraged to be followed.” he says.

“But, it may be allowed only to the extent of partying...”he added. “Just like Christmas and New Year where some Muslims celebrate with the Christians and when Christians celebrate with the Muslims in the different feasts for the purpose of further understanding of each other’s tradition and beliefs.” Zamboanga City is a place where culture and religion vary.

Halloween may not be a Christian tradition or an Islam tradition, it may not be encouraged to be celebrated by both but, it is visibly well celebrated in the city now. The question if it is allowed to be celebrated by the two religions is subject to debate.

But if the purpose of celebrating is to just have fun or better, as Kah Ghaz says, “to understand other traditions and beliefs”, therefore, there is nothing wrong with it. As long as everyone will keep in mind not to be tricked by turning away from ones own culture and embracing other cultures but to just do it for the treats of fun and friendship, nothing will be wrong in celebrating Halloween. (Michelle Angela Araneta)

Ateneo De Zamboanga University Holds Muses: An All Women Artist Exhibit

The Ateneo De Zamboanga University will hold an all-women artist exhibit dubbed as "Muses," on September 5, 2008 in Zamboanga City in Mindanao. It will be held at the Gallery of the Peninsula and the Archipelago at the Ateneo de Zamboanga.

At least a dozen artists are participating in the exhibit.

Those who are interested to attend the exhibit may call 062-9910871 to 76 local 4301.

Prestigious Ateneo Awards Conferred To PIME, Nagdilaab Foundation And Naga City Mayor

A Catholic organization, a Philippine foundation and a Filipino city mayor are conferred the prestigious Ateneo awards in Zamboanga City in Mindanao. The Pontificio Instituto Missioni Estere is accorded the Archbishop Luis Del Rosario SJ DD Award. Italian missionary Fr. Julio Mariani represented the PIME. The Nagdilaab Foundation in Basilan province, represented by Jessica Flores, is also conferred the Ateneo Peace Award and so is Mayor Jesse Robredo, of Naga City in Camarines Sur, who received the Mayor Cesar Climaco Award. Fr. Antonio Moreno and Rev. Romulo Valles lead the awarding ceremony in Zamboanga City. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / August 24, 2008) – A Catholic organization, a Philippine foundation and a Filipino city mayor had been conferred the prestigious Ateneo awards in Zamboanga City in Mindanao.

The Pontificio Instituto Misioni Estere (PIME) was accorded the Archbishop Luis Del Rosario SJ DD Award. Italian missionary Fr. Julio Mariani represented the PIME.

Ateneo awarded PIME in recognition of its 40 years of committed service to the people in Mindanao through inter-religious and intercultural dialogue and pastoral ministry among others.

PIME has missionaries across Mindanao, mostly in far-flung areas, helping the poor.

The Nagdilaab Foundation in Basilan province was also conferred the Ateneo Peace Award and so was Mayor Jesse Robredo, of Naga City in Camarines Sur, who received the Mayor Cesar Climaco Award.

The Nagdilaab Foundation, represented by Jessica Flores, was awarded because of its dedicated leadership and unwavering involvement in the “Pantabangan Basulta,” a consortium of ten non-government organizations that engage and support local leader and multisectoral constituents in the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi to develop sustainable interventions to promote peace and development in partnership with communities and stake-holders.

The Ateneo de Zamboanga University also recognized Robredo’s outstanding and exemplary achievements in public service. It said Robredo demonstrated peerless brand of leadership, good local governance, and transparency and for giving credence that effective city management is compatible with yielding power to the people.

Fr. Antonio Moreno, president of Ateneo, and Rev. Romulo Valles, the Archbishop of Zamboanga, led the awarding ceremony at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University on Wednesday. (Mindanao Examiner)

Photo: Zamboanga City Hall Vehicle Used As School Bus

This Zamboanga City Hall vehicle picks-up students late Friday afternoon, July 25, 2008 at the back of Ateneo de Zamboanga University. The same vehicle was also photographed (top image) July 17 at the same spot fetching students. Its driver and an unidentified woman, believed employees of the Zamboanga City Government, pick up students almost everyday unmindful of what the public would say despite a strict order from the Civil Service Commission that prohibits government cars to be used in personal or private affairs. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)