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Davao City multi-cab drivers, operators protest government order

Some 300 drivers and operators of multi-cabs hold a rally in Davao City in the southern Philippines on Wednesday, October 13, 2010 as a protest to a government proposal banning the vehicles from the streets.

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 13, 2010) – Some 300 utility drivers and operators staged a rally Wednesday in Davao City in the southern Philippines to protest government proposal to ban passenger mini-jeeps on the streets.

The protest was spearheaded by the transport groups called TRANSMISION-Piston and the Alyansa sa mga Drayber and Opereytor Batuk sa Multi-cab Phase-out.

Edil Gonzaga, Secretary-General of Transmission-Piston in Davao City, who is leading a petition to stop the government proposal to phase out multi-cabs, said the government has already rejected some 700 multi-cabs from operating in Davao City alone.
He said more than 2,300 multi-cab units are facing danger of being phased out before the year ends.

The Department of Transportation and Communication has ordered the implementation of the phase out of all public multi-cab units after 10 years of use.

“Multi-cab operators should be allowed to renew their franchises for as long as their units remain in good condition,” Gonzaga said.

He also criticized the Aquino administration for being deaf over the sentiments of the small drivers and operators.

Benjamine Famoso, Chairperson of United Homeowners Transport Cooperative in Davao City, said: “This kind of government policy will worsen the unemployment in the country as this will mean no income for thousands of drivers nationwide. This policy is totally illogical, anti-driver and anti-people.”

Filipino workers alliance formed, pushes for labor rights and welfare

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 3, 2010) – Labor union leaders and representatives of workers associations have formed an alliance to fight for the rights of contractual workers for higher wages and benefits.

The new group called the Alyansa ng mga Mamumuo sa Davao or ALMADA said it is committed to defend the rights of the workers. It also called for the investigation of human rights violations committed against workers, the creation of workers’ desk in the villages and the passage of a local ordinance seeking the release of delayed salaries and benefits to laborers.

The alliance was spearheaded by the Nonoy Librado Development Foundation in cooperation with the City Council Committee on Labor and Employment Opportunities and Committee on Women, Children and Family relations. (With a report from Geo Solmerano)

Davao Hosts Asia's 1st Regional Bird Conservation Fair

DAVAO CITY, Philippines - Birdwatchers, conservationists and eco-tourism promoters from all over Asia and elsewhere have their eyes on the Philippines, which is hosting Asia's first-ever region-wide bird festival.

The Wild Bird Club of the Philippines said the First Asian Bird Fair will be held in Davao City from September 24 to 26, tandem with the 6th Philippine Bird Festival, the country's premier avian conservation and eco-tourism event. The milestone event is co-hosted by the Philippine Eagle Foundation and the Davao City government.

The First Asian Bird Fair-themed "Nurture Nature, Save our Future"—is a common initiative of the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines, the Bird Conservation Society of Thailand, the Chinese Wild Bird Federation, the Wild Bird Society of Taipei, the Malaysian Nature Society and the Nature Society (Singapore).

The Asian Bird Fair, which highlights the respective bird festivals of the participating countries, seeks to enrich eco-tourism through birdwatching and promote the natural and cultural heritage of host cities.

The Asian Bird Fair and 6th Philippine Bird Festival will be held at the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao on 24-25 September. Entrance to the Asian Bird Fair exhibit area is free of charge, according to organizers.

Highlights of the fair include the Bird Conservation Forum and turn-over ceremony to representatives of the Chinese Wild Bird Federation, host of next year's Asian Bird Fair in Tainan City. International and Philippine delegates will also tour the Philippine Eagle Center and Eden Garden Resorts while in Davao.

WBCP president Michael Lu said the fair will include photo exhibits, presentations and fun activities for all.

Children can also look forward to a guided tour at low tide of the tidal flats fronting the Waterfront Insular Hotel, where children can have a close look at marine species like fiddler crabs and mudskippers as well as spectacular views of herons, egrets and shorebirds.

Lu expects the event to draw bird watchers, conservationists, eco-tourism promoters, sustainable development providers, and nature lovers from around the country, Asia and Europe.

Alice Real, chairperson of the committee organizing the 1st Asian Bird Festival and 6th Philippine Bird Festival, said the latest initiative is a significant move to draw attention to pressing conservation issues.

"We can make a significant difference to protect the rich bird life and habitats of our islands, whilst promoting responsible enjoyment of nature and encouraging related sustainable businesses in the local communities," Real said in a statement.

International groups participating in the Asian Bird Festival are Chinese Wild Bird Federation, Bird Conservation Society of Thailand, Malaysian Nature Society, Nature Society of Singapore, Wild Bird Society of Taipei, Shanghai Wild Bird Society, Wild Bird Society of Tainan, Hong Kong Birdwatching Society, Asian Raptor Research and Conservation Network, Borneo Bird Club, Hornbill Research Foundation, the Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association, Bird Conservation Nepal and the Oriental Bird Club.

Local organizations joining are Conservation International, Fauna and Flora International, Katala Foundation, WWF-Philippines, Isla Biodiversity Conservation, Birding Adventure Philippines, KAAKBAY, Malagos Garden Resort, Monfort Bat Cave & Conservation Foundation, Philippine Association of Wildlife Veterinarians, Philippine Wild Bird Photographers, My Zoo Foundation, Earth Island Institute, City of Alaminos (Pangasinan), City of Balanga (Bataan) and the Municipality of Candaba (Pampanga).

Kadayawan Festival in The Philippines

Filipinos in colorful costumes join the annual Kadayawan Festival in Davao City in the southern Philippines. The festival is a celebration of life, a thanksgiving for the gifts of nature, the wealth of culture, the bounties of harvest and serenity of living. The festival honors Davao’s artistic, cultural and historical heritage, its past personified by the ancestral “lumads,” its people as they celebrate on the streets, and its floral industry as its representatives parade in full regalia in thanksgiving for the blessings. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Mark Navales and Karlos Manlupig)

Publiko tutol sa pagtaas ng singil sa kuryente sa Davao

Isang protesta ang inilunsad kahapon ng mga mamamayan sa Davao City upang tutulan ang panukalang taasan ang singil sa kuryente ng Davao Light and Power Company. (Mindanao Examiner Photo – Karlos Manlupig)

DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 13, 2010) – Isang protesta ang inilunsad ngayon araw ng mga mamamayan sa Davao City upang tutulan ang panukalang taasan ang singil sa kuryente ng Davao Light and Power Company.

Mismong ang grupong Bagong Alyansang Makabayan sa Southern Mindanao ang nanguna sa protesta na isinagawa sa pamilihan ng Bangkerohan. Malakas ang simpatiya ng publiko sa naturang protesta at katunayan ay maraming mamamayan ang lumagda sa isang manipesto na kumukondena sa nasabing panukala na magpapataw ng karagdagang pahirap sa bawa’t consumer ng kuryente sa Davao City.

Ayon sa Bagong Alyansang Makabayan ay lalong magpapahirap sa ordinaryong mamamayan ang biglaang pagtaas ng singil sa kuryente. Mistulang sampal rin umano ito sa publiko na hindi pa nakakabawi sa pagtaas ng presyo ng gasoline at pangunahing bilihin sa Davao City.

Nanawagan naman ang nasabing grupo na ibasura ang panukala. (May karagdagang ulat nina Karlos Manlupig at Geo Solmerano)

4 soldiers wounded in roadside bombings in South RP

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / July 30, 2010) – Four government soldiers pursuing communist rebels were wounded Friday in two roadside bombings blamed to the Maoist New People’s Army in Davao City in the southern Philippines, officials said.

The explosion occurred in Paquibato district where troops were tracking down the rebels, who had been blamed in the spate of attacks on military and police forces in Davao City.

Major General Carlos Holganza, commander of the Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Division, condemned the attacks. “These terrorists have repeatedly ignored and violated every known tenets of International Humanitarian Law and utterly disregarded the safety of civilians who might be hurt by planting improvised explosive devices on road nets just like the previous incidents,” Holganza said.

He said at least 11 people, mostly soldiers, were killed and 30 others wounded last year in Davao region alone.

The twin attacks came a month after new Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said he would forge a cease-fire and resume peace talks with communist rebels. Peace talks collapsed in 2004 after rebel leaders accused President Gloria Arroyo of reneging on several agreements, among them the release of all political prisoners languishing in jails and to put a stop to extrajudicial killings of political activists.

But the Communist Party of the Philippines warned the Aquino government against using the "immediate ceasefire" line as the premise for the resumption of formal peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.

The Communist Party of the Philippines said it is ready to immediately resume formal peace negotiations based on previously agreed principles and agenda and without any preconditions. “If Aquino insists on having peace talks premised on an immediate ceasefire, he will be reducing his peace declarations to empty rhetoric,” the CPP said.

“The CPP challenged Aquino to immediately commence negotiations and abide by previous agreements, including The Hague Joint Declaration of 1992 which sets the framework, principles, agenda and sequence of the peace negotiations,” it said.

“For the armed revolutionary forces, engaging in peace talks while their weapons are tied up violates the revolutionary principles and virtually holds us hostage. It would be foolish for us to expect to talk on fair and equal terms regarding life-and-death questions with the other side, when we have our arms dropped while the forces on other side have the barrels of their guns pointed at our heads.”

The rebels are fighting for decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)

Turtles for sale, anyone?

An illegally caught South Asian Box Turtles (Cuora amboinensis)from marshy villages of Midsayap town in Mindanao's North Cotabato province sell for 50 pesos each in Davao City. The turtles are commonly found in Ligusan Marsh. The Protected Areas and Wildlife Division says trading of this specie is strictly regulated. (AKP Images - Keith Bacongco)

Grade School Kids In Philippines Unite for Good Nutrition

The Department of Education in partnership with Kraft Cheez Whiz has come up with Palamantasan, the first interschool competition among grade school students nationwide in a quest for nutrition education in Buhangin Elementary School in Davao City. (Mindanao Examiner Photo – Geo Solmerano)

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / July 18, 2010) - A not-so-fit Future? It has often been said that our future lies in the children of our country.

But what kind of future is in store for us when Philippine Statistics show that approximately 8 million Filipino children are malnourished?

Various nutrition education programs during Nutrition Month have been implemented to underscore the importance of proper nutrition among schoolchildren. To teach schoolchildren about nutrition is already something. But to revolutionize it into a nationwide interschool competition for them to learn is something else.

That is why Kraft Cheez Whiz with the Department of Education has come up with Palamantasan–the first interschool competition among grade school students nationwide in a quest for nutrition education.

In line with the Department of Education’s thrust to enhance nutrition education in schools, Kraft Cheez Whiz chose to do a school-based program to further raise public consciousness. “School is second to home where children learn basic lessons and values,” Alex Dan Tacderas, Category Manager for Cheese and Spoonables, Kraft Foods
Philippines said.

“That is why we wanted to direct our cause and execute our program in schools–in both an enjoyable and educational way,” Tacderas added.

Spearheaded to spread the significance of eating well, Palamantasan will not only last for the whole month of July. This nationwide nutrition advocacy will be conducted until the month of September. “In fighting malnutrition, we vie for sustainability and deep impact on schoolchildren,” Tacderas said.

Students can be Teachers Apart from Palamantasan being an enduring learning experience; it is a transformative way of teaching those in the elementary levels. “These
schoolchildren are at the stage of developing a sense of responsibility,” Paolo Serrano, Senior Brand Manager of Cheez Whiz, Kraft Foods Philippines, said. “This is why we want them to realize the significance of proper nutrition themselves–through a series of
fun, creative and learning activities.”

With the desire to make this competition-based campaign both feasible and fit for the participating schools, different forms of contests were prepared by the well-loved cheese brand. “These are children and we all know they prefer learning in a fun yet challenging way,” Serrano said. “We wanted to relay our cause to the schoolchildren through competitions.”

With contests such as “Jarchitecture” or Jar Art, Speech Choir, Sandwich Making, Essay-writing and more, the overall wit and skill of the participating children will be challenged. “This is not only to find out how much they know about the importance of good nutrition – it’s about them having the opportunity to learn more, apply it and share it with others,” Serrano said.

Over the years, educating children about proper nutrition has been one of the primary advocacies of many institutions. Palamantasan revolutionizes the learning experience of school children in corporate-sponsored nutrition education.

With Palamantasan as a promising project to help children become healthier in more ways than one, the country is continuously given the hope of a better and brighter future. (With a report from Geo Solmerano)

Abducted German tourist freed in the Philippines

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / July 10, 2010) – A German tourist who was reported abducted in the southern Philippines had allegedly contacted his family to say that he was released by his captors, an army spokesman said Sunday.

Authorities have reported that Fier Medricat, whose father is living with a Filipino woman in Davao City, was taken by two armed on June 20 in Davao City’s Toril district.

Captain Emmanuel Garcia, of the 10th Infantry Division, said the German went to the village to visit his Filipino girlfriend, but got lost on his way and stayed in a house of a local villager.

Medricat’s girlfriend later told police that the foreigner sent her an SMS to say that he was taken by two men who said they were members of the communist New People’s Army rebels, who also took his money worth over P400,000.

Government troops also launched an operation to help the police in their investigation into the reported abduction. But Garcia said the foreigner’s family reported that Medricat was released and that he is now in Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur province.

“Police is investigating this case – whether Medricat was really freed or if he was really abducted or not, and if this has to do with family matters,” Garcia said without further elaborating.

Garcia would not say if rebels were involved in the abduction, although the New People’s Army is not known to target foreigners for ransom, but had warned it would attack US troops deployed in the restive region to help local soldiers defeat communist insurgents.

Gangsters and criminals had in the past posed as communist rebels to extort money from traders in the southern Philippines. The NPA is the armed wing of the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines which is waging a secessionist war the past four decades. (Mindanao Examiner)

Activists protest continued stay of US troops in the Philippines

Members of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan stage a torch march Friday, July 2, 2010 in Davao City in Mindanao Island in the southern Philippines to demand justice for Gregan Cardeno, a Filipino translator who was found dead February 2 inside his room at the US Joint Special Operation Task Force - Philippines military headquarters in Marawi City in Lanao del Sur province.(Photos by Karlos Manlupig)

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / July 3, 2010) - Members of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan stage a torch march Friday in Davao City in Mindanao Island in the southern Philippines to demand justice for Gregan Cardeno, a Filipino translator who was found dead February 2 inside his room at the US Joint Special Operation Task Force - Philippines military headquarters in Marawi City in Lanao del Sur province.

The group also demanded for the immediate pull-out of the US troops in the country. Cardeno allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself, but his family believes the 30-year translator for American soldiers deployed to help fight terrorism in the South was murdered.

Political activists and various civil society organizations are calling for the pull out of US troops in the Philippines.

US troops have been in Mindanao since 2001 and helping local military defeat terrorism and insurgents. (With a report from Karlos Manlupig)

Two soldiers wounded in NPA fighting in Davao City

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / July 2, 2010) – Two government soldiers were wounded in a firefight Friday with communist rebels in Davao City in the southern Philippines, officials said.

Officials said the fighting broke out after troops stormed a rebel encampment ran by the New People’s Army in the village of Sibulan in Toril District.

Army Captain Emmanuel Garcia, a spokesman for the 10th Infantry Division, quoting reports from the 84th Infantry Battalion, said the fighting lasted more than 30 minutes, but there were no reports of rebel casualties.

“A major encampment was discovered due to the presence of wooden bunkers and running trenches which made the entry of troops even harder. Government troops suffered two slightly wounded during the exchange of fire,” he said.

Garcia said: “The NPA, under the absolute control of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been fighting the government for the last 41 years, but no significant gain was established due to its lack of people’s support and terrorist activities.” (Mindanao Examiner)

My Davao City

A woman prepares her pancakes at a public square in Davao City in Mindanao as a taxi man plays chess with a friend. Pancakes are a favorite breakfast among locals. (Mindanao Examiner Photo – Geo Solmerano). (Mindanao Examiner Photo – Geo Solmerano)

Sweet Child Of Mine

A girl smiles after his father bought her a balloon outside the San Pedro Church in Davao City in the southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner Photo – Geo Solmerano)

2 rebels killed in new military campaign in Mindanao

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 1, 2010) – Filipino soldiers clashed with communist rebels on Tuesday, killing at least two gunmen, in Davao City in the restive region of Mindanao, officials said.

Officials said the fighting broke out in the village called Manuel Guianga in Tugbok District after troops launched offensives against the New People’s Army. One soldier was also wounded in the fighting.

“At least two NPA rebels are dead and one of our soldiers is wounded in the fighting this afternoon in Tugbok District. We also recovered an M16 automatic rifle, night vision goggle, a pair of binoculars and an improvised explosive device left behind by dissident terrorists,” said Army Captain Emmanuel Garcia, a spokesman for the 10th Infantry Division.

He said the fighting erupted at around 1 p.m. and sporadic clashes continued later in the day. “Sporadic clashes are ongoing,” he said.

There was no immediate statement from the NPA, the armed wing of the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines which has been waging a secessionist war for decades now.

Security forces launched offensives against the rebels n several provinces in Mindanao as part of a new campaign aimed at weakening communist insurgency in the mineral-rich, but troubled southern region. (Mindanao Examiner)

Filipinos demand Congress to ratify Freedom of Information Bill

Members of Right to Know Right Now! Mindanao stage a picket at Freedom Park in Davao City in the southern Philippines on Monday, May 24, 2010 demanding the 14th Congress to ratify the Freedom of Information Bill. (Photo by Erwin Quinones)

3 Soldiers Killed In NPA Ambush In Davao City

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / May 22, 2010) – Communist rebels ambushed Saturday a group of government soldiers, killing three infantrymen and wounding another in Davao City in the southern Philippines, officials said.

The attack occurred in the village of Barakatan in Toril District where New People’s Army opened fire on soldiers and government militias, said Captain Emmanuel Garcia, a spokesman for the 10th Infantry Division.

He said there were no reports of civilian casualties. “The ambush showed the treachery and utter disregard of the New People’s Army to human lives, particularly civilians, who might have been hit by bullets as there are houses a few hundred meters away from the soldiers,” Garcia said.

He said troops fought back and forcing the rebels to retreat. It was unknown whether there were casualties on the rebel side.

Garcia said rebel forces also killed 7 people and wounded at least a dozen other in separate attacks the past 6 months in Maragusan town in Compostela Valley and Boston town in Davao Oriental provinces.

There was no immediate statement from the rebel group about the attack, but it is still holding three soldiers and a government militia in Compostela Valley’s Mawab town.

The prisoners, Army Corporals Marcial Bawagan, Ariel Asumo, Eduardo Alcala and militiaman Victor Pitogo, were seized by rebels on May 12 while at a birthday party in the village of Sawangan.

The rebel group said the four prisoners are safe and well, but warned that an ongoing military rescue operation could endanger the lives of the hostages.

The New People’s Army is the military wing of the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines which is waging a secessionist war for decades now. (Mindanao Examiner)

NPA rebels seize supporters of Philippines House Speaker

House Speaker Prospero Nograles

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / May 6, 2010) – Communist rebels briefly held 5 people campaigning for the candidacy of Philippines House Speaker Prospero Nograles who is running for mayor in Davao City in the restive region of Mindanao, a military spokesman told the Mindanao Examiner on Thursday.

Captain Emmanuel Garcia, of the 10th Infantry Division, said some 30 New People’s Army rebels seized the 5 men while they were campaigning on a village in Davao City’s Tugbok District late Wednesday.

He said the men were interrogated and freed unharmed several hours later.

“The victims were lectured by the rebels on election rules of the NPA and they want them to follow those rules. The rebels also told them not to vote for Nograles,” Garcia said.

Nograles is a staunch military supporter and is running against Davao City vice mayor Sara Duterte, daughter of incumbent mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who is seeking a congressional seat against the solon’s son lawyer Karlo Nograles, in the May 10 general elections.

“The NPA is clearly meddling in the elections. They are intimidating and coercing people thru the barrel of the gun and robbing our people of their freedom to exercise their right to suffrage and free from any threat. This is a total disregard to the right of the people,” Garcia said.

NPA rebels on Wednesday also abducted a town mayor and four of his police and military aides after blocking highway near Agusan del Sur province also in Mindanao.

More than two dozen rebels seized Mayor Roberto Luna Jnr of Lingig town and two soldiers and two policemen escorting him.

The motive of the attack was unknown, but the NPA earlier warned politicians campaigning for the elections should pay so-called “campaign fees” in areas where the rebels are actively operating.

The rebels have so far disarmed politicians and their bodyguards and torched their campaign vehicles the past weeks for their failure to pay the NPA. The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines which is waging a secessionist war for the past four decades now. (Mindanao Examiner)

2 wounded in Davao blast

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / April 16, 2010) – Two people were wounded in a grenade attack Friday in Davao City in the southern Philippines, the military said.

The military said one of two motorcycle men hurled the grenade at the Davao City Special School at around 4.25 p.m.

“Investigation disclosed that the grenade was thrown by two unidentified men riding tandem on a motorcycle. Two people were wounded in the explosion,” said Army Major Randy Cabangbang, a spokesman for the Eastern Mindanao Command.

No individual or group claimed responsibility for the blast and authorities are still investigating the motive of the attack. “The motive of the grenade attack is still being investigated,” Cabangbang said.

Extrajudicial killings continue in Davao City and the murders were being blamed to the so-called Davao Death Squad, a shadowy group of vigilantes, tagged as behind hundreds of unresolved slayings over the years.

Communist rebels are also actively operating in the outskirts of Davao, which was also targeted in the past by Moro rebels. (Geo Solmerano contributed to this report.)

Solder, Rebel Killed In Davao Clashes

A member of the Philippine Army’s Task Force Davao manning a checkpoint reacts on the presence of journalists Saturday, March 13, 2010 in the village of Toril in Davao City in Mindanao. The soldier warned journalists not to take photographs at the checkpoint for a still unknown reason. Communist rebels have killed one army soldier and injured three more in an attack at a village in Paquibato District in Davao City on Friday and another clash Saturday in Davao del Sur’s Santa Cruz town left one insurgent dead, security officials say. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 13, 2010) – A government soldier and communist rebel were killed in separate clashes in the southern Philippines, officials told the Mindanao Examiner on Saturday.

Officials said soldiers clashed with New People’s Army forces in Santa Cruz town in Davao del Sur province on Saturday and killing one rebel. The fighting broke out a day after rebels killed one government soldier and wounded three others in an attack Friday in Paquibato district in Davao City.

“There are operations in Davao area and troops are pursuing the NPA terrorists,” said Captain Emmanuel Garcia, a spokesman for the 10th Infantry Division.

He said soldiers recovered weapons and anti-government propaganda left behind by rebels in Davao del Sur.

Friday’s fighting in Davao City’s Paquibato district erupted after army soldiers pursued a band of rebels who held up political campaigners for House Speaker Prospero Nograles and his son Karlo Nograles. Both are running for elective post in May elections.

A member of the Philippine Army’s Task Force Davao manning a checkpoint Saturday, in the village of Toril in Davao City also warned journalists not to take photographs for a still unknown reason.

Garcia accused the rebels of harassing the political propagandists of Nograles, who is running for mayor in Davao City; and his son as congressman.

The military earlier accused the NPA of extorting money from politicians and their supporters while campaigning in areas where rebels are actively operating. It said the rebels were demanding as much as P5 million from politicians in exchange for safe passage.

The NPA is the armed wing of the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines which broke off peace talks with Manila in 2004 after accusing President Gloria Arroyo of reneging on several humanitarian agreements.

The rebels have been fighting for decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)