Mining Firm Rescues Measles-Infected Subanons In South RP

The Medianeros. Lilet, in orange shirt, was among those severely infected in the measles virus outbreak in Canatuan. Her mother, Sisa, a vocal critic of TVIRD, thanked the company for saving her daughter’s life. Above, TVIRD midwife Malou Prestoza (in pink hat), and below, TVIRD nurse Loi Ladera-Esnane administer anti-measles vaccine to Subanon children right where they live in remote hamlet near Canatuan. “We take care of the health of our Subanon hosts as well as we do our employees,” says company doctor Ramil Ignacio.” (Photos by Rene Patangan)

ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 20, 2007) - Sisa Medianero didn’t know what to do when all five of her children, aged 2 to 10, contracted the measles virus.

Lilet, her nine-year old daughter, was among the 30 Subanons, mostly children, who were severely infected during a recent measles outbreak in Canatuan, their ancestral domain in the mountainous eastern portion of Siocon town in Zamboanga del Norte province in southern Philippines.

Sisa, a former small-scale miner and unhappy about the arrival of the large-scale mining operations of TVI Resource Development Philippines, Inc. (TVIRD) in their area, had nowhere to turn.

The nearest hospital is some 30 kilometers away and her sick children, especially Lilet, needed immediate medical attention. She decided to seek the help of TVIRD, which runs a round-the-clock clinic, complete with a medical staff, for its employees and members of its host communities.

It was a decision that Sisa eventually realized was a good one. Lilet’s life was saved, and the Subanon mother said she could never thank the company enough.

“Ako mapasalamaton ug dako sa TVIRD sa pagtabang sa akong anak. Kung wala pa kini mahatagan sa pagtagad sa clinic, hayan adunay dili maayo mahitabo sa akong anak (I am very greatful to TVIRD for helping my child. If she was not given due attention by the clinic staff, something bad could have happened to my daughter),” said Sisa.

Lilet was eventually referred and brought to the Siocon town hospital for further medical care, using TVIRD facilities and financial support.

Elsa Bason Absalon, also a Subanon, had the same dilemma. Her three children, 6 months to 5 years-old, were also afflicted with measles. Her 3 year-old son Robert had high fever and diarrhea.

Fearing for her offspring’s lives, she brought them immediately to the company clinic.

Alarmed and fearing the further spread of the virus in the community and adjacent barangays, TVIRD management assigned its medical team to wage an anti-measles campaign in the area. Children from ages 9 to 48 months were administered with measles vaccine. A total to 507 children, mostly Subanon from Canatuan and surrounding communities received the vaccine. The outbreak was arrested.

“We take care of the health of our Subanon hosts as well as we do our own employees,” Dr. Ramil Ignacio, physician of TVIRD Canatuan, said. “The outbreak, if left unattended, could affect a large number of Subanon children and could even lead to death in some cases, considering that many children here are malnourished and, therefore, have weak immune systems.”

Complications with measles are common especially in remote and isolated areas where medical services are not available. These complications may include severe diarrhea, pneumonia and encephalitis.

During the campaign, Dr. Ignacio’s team found out that, because of the inaccessibility of health services in the area, more than 30 percent of the measles-afflicted children, with an average age of six, never had the required initial dose of the measles vaccine.

For many years before TVIRD began its gold and silver mining operations in Canatuan, indigenous people in the mountain communities of Siocon had to travel several kilometers through rough terrain and across rivers to the town proper to be able to get medical attention.

There were no roads or bridges back then.

As soon as the Canatuan Project commenced in mid-2004 by virtue of a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement between TVIRD and the Philippine government, the company helped pave roads and assisted in the construction of steel bridges along the Ipil-Canatuan route to the west, and the Canatuan-Siocon Proper route to the east.

TVIRD also put up a clinic and schools in and around Canatuan.
The TVIRD clinic serves the community, with a doctor, a nurse, a midwife and nursing aides on-call on a 24/7 basis.

The company has likewise conducted medical and dental outreach programs in far-flung barrios in Siocon and adjacent towns that had never been reached by government and NGO medical services. (Rene Patangan)

Landslide Bury Miners In Southern Philippines

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 19, 2007) – At least three people were killed and several more missing Monday after heavy rains loosed mud and boulders on a village in southern Philippines, military and police reports said.

It said a mining tunnel collapsed due to the landslide in the town of Placer in Surigao del Norte province. Other reports said as many as five people, mostly miners of the Manila Mining Corp., were killed.

The military said it deployed soldiers to help rescuers find those missing.

The exact number of people missing is still unclear, but rescuers were digging through debris inside the collapsed tunnel to find possible survivors.

Many areas in southern Philippines were flooded because of heavy rains the past days. A cyclone also destroyed about two dozen thatched houses on a remote village in Zamboanga City.

Weather experts said an active low area east of northern Mindanao has developed into a tropical depression.

Although its maximum sustained winds is only 55 kilometers per hour, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration warned residents in low lying areas and near mountain slopes of possible flashfloods and landslides.

It also alerted residents living near coastal areas for big waves generated by the tropical cyclone. (Mindanao Examiner)

The Mindanao Examiner Photo: Wahab Akbar

A poster of Representative Wahab Akbar is displayed on a street pole as Muslim students walk outside a school in Basilan province in southern Philippines. Akbar was among four people killed in a bomb attack at the south entrance of the House of Representatives Nov. 13, 2007. Below, his wife, Jum Akbar, now governor of Basilan province, has filed criminal cases Monday Nov. 19, 2007 against three Muslim men, all natives of Basilan, captured by policemen and soldiers after a firefight last week in Quezon City that left three gunmen dead, including an Abu Sayyaf militant.(Mindanao Examiner Photo Service)

Spray Plane Crashes In South RP, Pilot Killed

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 19, 2007) – A small aircraft crashed and exploded Monday on a remote village in southern Philippines, killing its pilot, officials said.

Emmanuel Antonio, of the Air Transportation Office, said the aircraft crashed while spraying pesticide in the village of Magatos in Davao del Norte’s Asuncion town at around 8 a.m.

“The plane exploded on impact and we have received reports that its pilot, Captain Rico Cajucom, was killed in the crash,” Antonio told the MiThe Manila Times.

He said the spray plane crashed near a farm. “We still don’t know why the aircraft crashed,” he said.

It was not immediately known what company the pilot was working with, but Davao del Norte is the leading producer of bananas and many plantations run by multinationals Dole and Del Monte and local producers such as Lapanday, Marsman and TADECO. (Mindanao Examiner)

Mindanao Examiner ARMM Bureau Chief Wins Top Shoot Fest Award

Marconi Navales, Mindanao Examiner bureau chief in the Muslim autonomous region, wins the championship award in the Media Category at the recently concluded 6th Infantry Division Rifle and Pistol Shooting Competition in Shariff Kabunsuan province. Navales, a sharp-shooter, is a recipient of numerous shooting competitions in the southern Philippines. (Photo by Selav Inoc)

All Set For FOSS Seminar In Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 18, 2007) - The E-Learning Center in Zamboanga City would hold a free one-day seminar to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) - ARMM’s directors and staff.

Dubbed as “Introducing Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) to TESDA-ARMM,” the event, which will be held on Thursday is seen as the start of a brighter FOSS life in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The seminar will be held at Veterans Avenue in Zamboanga City where TESDA-ARMM’s Language Skills Institute (LSI) is located.

The event is also supported by the International Open Source Network (IOSN), an organization that promotes the adoption of FOSS in the Asia-Pacific Region.(Yolynne Medina)

Zamboanga City : Asia's Latin City?

When Zamboanga City was named Asia's latin city, a lot of people reacted to it. Some negatively and some positively.The primary aim of this new title is to drive in tourism. Some people said that it would be a rip off. But Zamboanga city looks latin as any city in Latin America does. In fact most cities in the Philippines can be branded as a Latin city.

The British historian Arnold J. Toynbee went even as far as saying that "the Philippines is a Latin American country that was transported to the Orient by a gigantic marine wave". Zamboanga City having Chabacano (the only Spanish creole in Asia) as its language makes it even more deserving of the title.

The term Latin or Latino is used to refer to anything or anyone that comes from Latin America. It is also used to describe something which has affinity to Latin America.

The term Hispanic meanwhile refers to anything with affinity to Spain. Remember that Hispania and Espania means the same thing: Spain.

Latin America is the collective term for all countries in the Americas where Romance languages (i.e. languages derived from Latin, and hence the name of Latin America) are spoken: Spanish, Portuguese, French, and their creoles.

Different words mean different things to different people. In Anglo-America, these terms have various meanings. However those meanings do not apply to the people outside of Anglo-America.
I remember a radio announcer saying that the more accurate title is 'Asia's Hispanic city' and not 'Asia's Latin city'. However, let us not forget that from 1565 to 1821 or 256 years, the Viceroy of Mexico directly governed the Philippines from Mexico city. In fact, most Spaniards who migrated to the Philippines came from Mexico and not Spain.

Migrating from Spain to the Philippines would not have been practical because travel would have taken a long time. The Suez canal which cut travel time opened in 1869, only a couple of years before Spain sold the Philippines to the USA. For this, both Hispanic and Latin are correct. I am talking from a historical standpoint though and not political.

In this article, Abu Anis , a spokesman of an organization in Zamboanga City and Basilan province, said Resolution No.760 which branded Zamboanga City as "Latin City" has no justification culturally and historically. He went on to say that Zamboanga City was never part of the Philippine territories. But how can one say that Zamboanga city was never part of the Philippine territories when the Spanish Fort of Pilar was built to protect the city from pirates. This obviously means that Zamboanga was part of the Philippine territories.

This Anis person is nothing but a guy whose knowledge in history is obsolete. He even accused (Mayor) Lobregat of acting arrogantly for never consulting the historians and intellectuals, adding that he is acting in sheer “ignorance” or “pride” as half-baked descendants of the Spaniards.

This prejudice and hatred against the Spanish people is one exhibited by most ignorant Filipinos. It is most commonly an emotion planted in Filipinos by movies like 'Rizal' which depicts Spaniards as arrogant, stiff, and cruel, and by history books which has nothing but bad words for the Spaniards.

Anis even said that: to foreigners Latin is not in Latin American countries but in Rome where the spoken language was once Latin, although Latin is now a dead language. How ignorant can you get? What a statement! It makes my heart ache to see such under researched statements.

A corrupt Spanish, that is what Anis calls Chabacano. This is totally an erroneous statement. For one, Chabacano is not Spanish. It is a well known fact that Chabacano is a Spanish creole.
Mr. Anis' ignorance is cemented by this statement: visitors are sometimes frustrated when they cannot find Romans but Badjaos and Samals, who are begging from these newcomers or urging them throw coins into the sea.

A very good example of proof that Zamboanga City and even the Philippines qualifies as '"Latin" is the fact that this country belongs to the Latin union. The Latin union is an organization of all countries which speaks a language derived from latin such as French and Spanish (Romance languages). The Philippines, even though not having Spanish as an official language, enjoys membership in this union because of its cultural affinity to Spain.

It is a fact that when you are in America, the Filipino would typically be mistaken as a Latino. It is a fact that you would feel more comfortable around Latinos than any other kinds of peoples. It is a fact that the Spanish which we spoke in the Philippines years before was Mexican Spanish.

It is a fact that there are words in our language which comes from Nahuatl (a group of related languages and dialects of the Aztecan branch of the Uto-Aztecan language family which is indigenous to Mesoamericaorigin (e.g. tatay (tatle), nanay (nantl), abokado (avocado), bayabas [from guayaba(s)])
Zamboanga is qualified to be called as Asia's Latin city. However preposterous it might sound to the typical ignorant Filipino, it is the truth.

Zamboanga: Asia's Latin City? Definitely!(Courtesy of Jerome Herrera from http://allicanhandle.blogspot.com)

Soldiers disarm IED in Southern Philippines

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 17, 2007) – Philippines soldiers disarmed Saturday a powerful bomb planted in downtown Cotabato City in the southern Muslim region of Mindanao, officials said.

Lt. Col. Julieto Ando, a regional army spokesman, said the bomb, assembled from an 81mm mortar shell, was discovered by civilians at around 6 a.m. and reported it to authorities.

The bomb, he said, was hidden in a cigarette box when it was discovered. No group or individual claimed ownership of the bomb.

But Filipino authorities blamed previous bombings in the city to the Abu Sayyaf and local militants with ties to the Indonesian Jemaah Islamiya terror network and rogue members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

“Our soldiers disarmed the IED and we still don’t know who was behind this, but we have alerted our forces to stay vigilant,” Ando told the Mindanao Examiner.

The discovery of the bomb came ahead of a state of the region speech Monday by Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan in Cotabato City. It was unknown if the bomb was intended to disrupt Ampatuan’s address.

His father, Andal Ampatuan, governor of Maguindanao, also escaped a grenade attack in July in one of his bungalows in Cotabato City.

Ampatuan also escaped an assassination attempt in June when a bomb exploded near his convoy in Shariff Aguak town, but 5 people were killed in the attack, including the politician's nephew.

In 2002, one of his sons, Saudi Ampatuan, a town mayor, was killed in a bombing in Datu Piang town in Maguindanao province and his family blamed the attack to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels.

On Friday, policemen and soldiers also mounted a massive search for two men who tried to kill an agriculture official in Cotabato City.

One of the men lobbed a grenade on a car carrying Osmeña Montanier, finance chief of the Department of Agriculture in Mindanao. The grenade failed to explode, police and military said.

Police said Montanier was on his way to office in Cotabato City at around 1.30 p.m. when one of two men on motorcycle tossed the grenade into the car, but it hit a tire and rolled to the pavement.

No group claimed responsibility for the failed assassination. Cotabato City is one of the most dangerous places in Mindanao where extra-judicial killings were not uncommon.

Cotabato City has been previously attacked and police and military authorities blamed Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiya terrorists and rebels for the spate of bombings that left dozens of people dead over the past years.

Aside from terrorists and rebels, extortion syndicates also operate in Cotabato City, once tagged by the United States as a “doormat” of terrorists in the southern Philippines.

The tag caused the suspension of a P54-million road project funded by the US Agency for International Development, saying, terrorist and rebel groups might use the project for their illegal activities.

Several foreigners with alleged links to al-Qaeda and Jemaah islamiya had been arrested in Cotabato City in the past. (Mindanao Examiner)

Language Skills Institute To Open In Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 17, 2007) - The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao on Saturday said it will inaugurate its first Language Skills Institute and a liaison office in Zamboanga City.

It will offer free English language training for job-ready workers. The training, it said, is funded by President Gloria Arroyo-Training for Work Scholarship Project (PGMA-TWSP).

The institute, which will be inaugurated Nov. 21, is expected to address current demand for workplace language proficiency in the labor market. It will mostly cater to training needs of those living in the autonomous region, especially from the provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

It said a second Language Skills Institute would also be opened at the TESDA-ARMM's Regional Manpower Development Center in Sultan Kudarat town in Shariff Kabunsuan province.

The liaison office, on the other hand, will manage all activities of TESDA-ARMM in Zamboanga City, such as scholarship concerns and other inter-agency activities.

The Language Skills Institute and the liaison office are located at the 2nd Floor of LHB II Building at Veterans Avenue. They can also be reached through email address zamoffice@tesda-armm.ph or by telephone and facsimile 062-990-2959.

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Konspirasi, Propaganda At Iba Pa Sa Batasan Bombing: Editoryal

Matindi ang mga ebidensyang nakuha ng pulisya at militar sa bahay sa Payatas, Quezon City na ginamit bilang hideout ng mga umano’y miyembro ng Abu Sayyaf na posibleng may kinalaman sa pambobomba sa Batasan Pambansa na ikinamatay ni Basilan Representative Wahab Akbar at driver nito, gayun rin ang dalawang iba pang congressional aides.

Isa sa napatay ay dating driver umano ni ex-Basilan Rep. Abdulgani Salapuddin na kilalang katungali ni Akbar sa pulitika sa kanilang lalawigan. Mariing itinanggi naman ni Salapuddin ang mga alegsasyong may kinalaman ito sa pagsabog o pagpatay kay Ustadz Akbar na dating commander ng Moro National Liberation Front, katulad rin ni Salapuddin.

Inaasahang magiging madugo ang halalan sa 2010 dahil sa naganap na pagpatay kay Akbar. Nagpahayag na rin ang Commission on Election na magpapatawag ito ng special elections sa Basilan dahil sa pagkawala ni Akbar.

Si Jum Akbar, na isa sa apat na asawa ng napatay na mambabatas ay siyang gobernador ng Basilan. Ang isa pang asawa na si Cherry Lyn Akbar ay alkalde naman ng Isabela City sa naturang lalawigan.

Mataas ang tensyon ngayon sa Basilan dahil maiinit pa ang mga tagasunod ni Akbar at inaasahang magkakaroon ng gantihan, partikular sa pamilya ng mga napatay na tatlong Muslim at tatlo pang iba na nadakip sa Payatas.

Sinabi na rin ng pulisya na si Akbar ang target ng pambobomba.

Isang motorsiklo na ipinarada sa south entrance ng Batasan Pambansa ang kinabitan ng bomba at saka ito pinasabog ng makalapit si Akbar sa kanyang sasakyan.

Talaga umanong may konspirasi sa pambobomba dahil ang CCTV ng south entrance ay ibinaling sa lugar mula sa orihinal nitong posisyon ng sa gayon ay hindi makita ang nag-iwan ng motorsiklo. Nakapagtataka rin na walang guwardiya sa lugar ng pinagsabugan.

Ilang saksi naman ang nagsabing nakita nila ang dalawang lalaking may suot ng itim na jacket at may marking House of Representatives na papalayo sa south entrance sakay ng isang motorsiklo at isa sa kanila ay nakasuot pa ng crash helmet. Ganito rin ang nasamsam ng mga pulis at sundalo sa hideout ng Abu Sayyaf sa Payatas.

Subalit sa kabila ng lahat ay pilit pa rin na iginigiit ng militanteng Gabriela party-list na target ng pagsabog ay si Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan, isa sa mga sugatan sa pambobomba. Nasawi rin ang driver nito sa pagsabog.

Paniwala ni Ilagan na siya nga ang tunay na target at hindi si Akbar. Ito rin ang isinisigaw ng Gabriela. Hindi lamang Gabriela dahil maging si House Speaker Jose de Venecia ay sinisabing target ang mga mambabatas sa pagsabog upang takutin ang mga ito sa anumang isinasalang na batas at imbestigasyon na posibleng may kinalaman kay President Arroyo.

Malinaw na propaganda ang habol ng Gabriela at ni De Venecia at gayun rin ang ibang nagsasabing sila ang target o pananakot sa mambabatas ang terorismong naganap sa Batasan Pambansa.

Agri Finance Chief Escapes Death In South RP

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 16, 2007) - Police mounted a massive search Friday for two men who tried to kill an agriculture official in the southern Philippines, police and government media said.

One of the men lobbed a grenade on a car carrying Osmeña Montanier, finance chief of the Department of Agriculture in Mindanao. The grenade failed to explode, police said.

Police said Montanier was on his way to office in Cotabato City at around 1.30 p.m. when one of two men on motorcycle tossed the grenade into the car, but it hit the tire and rolled to the pavement.

No group claimed responsibility for the failed assassination. Cotabato City is one of the most dangerous places in Mindanao where extra-judicial killings were not uncommon.

Cotabato City has been previously attacked and police and military authorities blamed Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiya terrorists and rebels for the spate of bombings that left dozens of people dead over the past years. Aside from terrorists and rebels, extortion syndicates also operate in Cotabato City, once tagged by the United States as a "doormat" of terrorists in the southern Philippines.

The tag caused the suspension of a P54-million road project funded by the US Agency for International Development, saying, terrorist and rebel groups might use the project for their illegal activities.

Several foreigners with alleged links to al-Qaeda terror network had been arrested in Cotabato City in the past. (Mindanao Examiner)

3 Muslims Killed In Zamboanga Restaurant Attack

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 16, 2007) – Three Muslim men were killed in an attack Friday inside a restaurant in the southern Filipino port city of Zamboanga, police said.

Police said two gunmen opened fire on the trio at around 8 a.m. near downtown Zamboanga. “The perpetrators escaped after the shooting. We still don’t know the motive of the attack,” a police telephone operator said.

He said the gunmen fled on two motorcycles along with three other companions who waited outside the diner.

Police said the victims were natives of Basilan province. Local television reports, quoting an unidentified police official, claimed the three men were followers of a politician in Basilan.

It was unknown whether the killings were connected with the assassination of Basilan Rep. Wahab Akbar.

Akbar and his driver were killed in Tuesday bombing of the south entrance of the Philippine House of Representatives. Two other congressional aides were killed and 14 more injured, including two lawmakers.

A parked motorcycle rigged with explosives was detonated as Akbar was about to board his car. Security forces also killed three men linked to the bombing in a firefight Thursday in the village of Payatas near the House of Representatives.

Officials said three other accomplices and a police commando were wounded in the fighting after government forces raided a hideout of suspected bombers.

Police said one of those captured was a Muslim man who was a driver of former Basilan Rep. Abdulgani Salapuddin, Akbar’s political opponent. Salapuddin has denied any links to Akbar’s killing.

Soldiers and policemen recovered documents linked to the motorcycle used in the bombing. Police said the bombing targeted Akbar, but no group or individual claimed responsibility for the attack, although supporters of the slain lawmaker blamed his enemies and a faction in the military as behind the blast.

Soldiers had linked Akbar to the beheading of 14 marines early this year in Basilan’s Al-Barka town after a firefight with rebels. He was also branded as one of the founder of the militant group called Abu Sayyaf, but he had previously denied all allegations.

One of Akbar’s four wives, Basilan Gov. Jum Akbar, has appealed to President Gloria Arroyo to help them get justice. “Governor Jum Akbar is appealing to the President for the speedy solution to the murder. Those responsible must pay,” Chris Puno, the provincial spokesman, told the regional newspaper, the Mindanao Examiner.

Akbar, a rebel leader-turned-preacher, was buried Wednesday just outside their house in the village of Sumagdang in Basilan’s Isabela City. Akbar’s backyard is filled with placards from supporters asking for justice for the murder of the man many looked up as a great leader.

“He was truly a great leader. The sentiments of the people are very strong. The people are still mourning the loss of such a good man. It is now up to the government to find the perpetrators of this killing,” Puno said.

But some said Akbar was not a hero as what others portrayed him to be.

“You’re making him out as though the guy is some kind of ethereal hero…something which he most definitely is not! A lot of people may have loved him - profited from his rule - but a whole lot more are mighty pleased this all came about.”

“He is not a hero and most of all he was idolized by many in Basilan. The guy is dead. Leave him alone. The more you portray him as a martyr, the more that you shall hear the truth about him from people who actually lived in the Province he considered to be his own personal playpen,” an e-mail sent to the regional newspaper, Mindanao Examiner, said. (Mindanao Examiner)

Philippine Police Killed 3 Men Linked To Bombing

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 15, 2007) – Security forces killed three men in a firefight near the Philippine capital on Thursday, police and military said.

Officials said three other accomplices and a police commando were wounded in the fighting after government forces raided a hideout of a suspected bomber, linked to the attack at the House of Representatives Tuesday night, in the village of Payatas in Quezon City.

Police said one of those captured was a Muslim man who had an identification card of the House of Representatives.

Soldiers and policemen recovered documents linked to a motorcycle used in the bombing that killed Basilan Rep. Wahab Akbar and three other congressional aides.

Police said the bombing targeted Akbar, but no group or individual claimed responsibility for the attack, although supporters of the slain lawmaker blamed his political opponents and the military in the blast.

Rightist soldiers had linked Akbar to the beheading of 14 marines early this year in Basilan’s Al-Barka town after a firefight with rebels. He was also branded as one of the founder of the militant group called Abu Sayyaf, but he had previously denied all allegations. (Mindanao Examiner)

A Letter From Dayang-Dayang!

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 15, 2007) - I would like to share this beautiful letter containing a speech of a young Muslim woman sent to us by Tes S. Baliola, her aunt.

It's about how Filipino Muslims are discriminated in their own country, they call the Philippines. This is common everywhere, even in Zamboanga City where you could hardly find a single Muslim working in department stores.

Are Filipino Muslims different from Filipino Christians? Why? I always asked myself that question. I am an atheist, but religions tell you to love each other...help each other, but why should innocent people have to suffer?

Tes started her letter with this - My niece, Dayang-Dayang Jehan S. Kiram, is a second year nursing student scholar of the University of Makati. In their English 4B-Rhetorics subject, they were required to make a speech on any topic they want. I was deeply moved by the sentiment conveyed in the speech she made in class when I read it, and I would like to share it with you.

This is her piece: "Allow me to begin by saying that I am a typical teenager. A teenager who loves to hang-out with friends, to chat on the internet, to watch movies, and to text friends whenever chance permits me. Surely, I am like most of my classmates.

My major stressor would be my concerns in the University like homeworks, projects, how to pass in Pathophysiology, how to make a good book review in Philosophy, how to have a high grades in Microbiology and Parasitology, and of course, how to pass my 4B Rhetorics. I am, most of the time, assumed to be no different from anyone even by some of my friends.

However, there is one thing that sets me apart from all of you here. It's my religion. I am a Muslim, ladies and gentlemen. And I grew up with the cruel and undeniable fact that we Muslims are highly discriminated among any other ethnic or religious communities in our society.

When I was a Freshman, my classmate in Literacy Training Program enjoyed lambasting the Muslims for their so-called bad behavior, for killing people after people and being the root-cause of the never-ending war in Mindanao. Obviously, my classmate did not realize that I am from that background.

She did not realize that I grew up witnessing the death of my fellow Muslims in the hands of the military, most of which claim to be followers of Christ.

She did not realize that I grew up wondering why everyone sees us as the antagonists, and why can't there be peace between us, Muslims, and you, Christians, when the fact remains that we have one God and that we both believe in Jesus Christ?

That I grew up wishing that the authorities would address the problems accordingly and that all of us will agree with one another so that there will be no more divisions and that we may be united in mind and soul like what the Holy Book says.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are Muslims, we are FILIPINOS, WE are not TERRORISTS! Believe it or not, WE are lovers of PEACE!

Now, if it seems like I'm putting all the blame on other people or other religious groups, then I believe you're not getting my point of view! We are just like you. We have a heart that bleeds whenever other people discriminate us, a mind that has a knowledge we would like to impart, and a voice that begs to be heard by the whole world.

It is my greatest dream to wake up one day and find that the long war is over. That discrimination against us doesn't exist anymore. That we, after centuries, are finally accepted and loved completely for who we are. I hope to wake up one day in a country where it would make sense to be happy of the fact that I am a Muslim, and here with me is my friend, a Christian, and we are proud BECAUSE and not INSPITE of the fact.

We must work hand in hand, Muslims and Christians, in building a better community. We must help each other to ensure progress in our society and we must trust one another to achieve our goal of living in a peaceful country.

Hear me everyone, my voice may be small and weak but that won't stop me from telling the whole world that I am and will forever be proud to be a MUSLIM.

Was Salamu Alaikum Warah Matullahi Taala Wa Barakatu. May the peace, mercy and blessing of God be upon us. A pleasant evening, everyone. Thank you."

Tes said Dayang-Dayang Jehan Sacapanio Kiram is a product of a Muslim and Christian marriage. She is the eldest among four siblings and the only daughter of Datu Yldon Tan Kiram and nurse Myrla Barroga Sacapanio, the granddaughter of Sultan Mahakuttah Kiram, and great granddaughter of Sultan Ismael Kiram I of the Sultanate of Sulu. (Ed.)

Governor's House Attacked In Southern Philippines

MARAWI CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 15, 2007) – Unidentified gunmen attacked Thursday the house of a provincial governor in the troubled Muslim autonomous region in Mindanao, police said.

Police said the attackers fired a rocket grenade at the house of Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. in Marawi City.

No one was reported killed or injured in the attack that occurred at around 3 in the morning. Police said it recovered fragments of the grenade, believed fired from an M203 rifle.

No group or individual claimed responsibility for the attack, but Adiong belongs to a powerful Muslim clan in the region.

Adiong’s father was also a former governor of the province and his younger brother is currently the vice governor of the Muslim autonomous region.

The region, composed of five provinces, including Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Maguindanao, is a hotbed of insurgency, torn by political clan war and had been in the past one of the most corrupt in the Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner)

Basilan, Nakaluksa Pa Rin Sa Pagkawala Ni Wahab Akbar!

Mga larawan ng naging kaganapan sa lalawigan ng Basilan sa pagdating ng labi ni Rep. Wahab Akbar nuong Miyerkoles, Nob. 15, 2007. (Mindanao Examiner Photo Service)

BASILAN (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 15, 2007) – Nakaluksa pa rin maraming Muslim at Kristiyano sa lalawigan ng Basilan, isang dalawang araw matapos na mapatay si Rep. Wahab Akbar.

Napatay ito matapos na sumabog ang isang bomba sa labas lamang ng south entrance ng House of Representatives habang kausap si Sandra Cam, isang kaibigan, ukol sa pondong hinihingi kay Sen. Jingoy Estrada.

“Malungkot pa ang lahat sa naganap at hindi pa rin makapaniwala sa naganap kay Congressman Akbar,” ani Chris Puno, ang provincial spokesman at dating tagapagsalita ni Akbar.

Inamin naman ni Mayor Tahira Ismael, ng bayan ng Lantawan, na tila may abilin na si Akbar bago pa man ito mapaslang. Nuong buhay ay nabanggit ni Akbar na kung sakaling siya ay mapatay ng mga kalaban ay sabihin umano sa mga angkan at tagasunod na huwag gaganti.

“Totoo iyan…sinabi noon ni Congressman Akbar sa akin na kung siya ay mapatay ng tao ay sabihin sa mga kapatid na huwag gaganti,” wika pa ni Ismael na kamag-anakan rin ni Akbar.

Wala pa rin umako sa pambobomba at maging ang pulisya ay nagsabiong patuloy sila sa imbestigasyon. Sinabi ng pulisya na nakalagay sa isang nakaparadang motorsiklo ang bombing sumabog ilang dipa lamang sa kinatatayuan ni Akbar na noon ay pauwi na sana.

Ngunit mabilis naman na umeksena ang military at sinabing trademark ng Abu Sayyaf ang naturang pambobomba. Kasabay naman nito ang biglang pagpapadala ng text mula sa cellphone ang isang nagpakilalang Abu Sayyaf sa ABS-CBN sa Zamboanga upang akuin ang pagpatay.

Lalo lamang nagbigay ito ng malaking duda na posibleng may kinalaman ang militar sa pagpatay kay Akbar. Ito rin ang hinala ng mga kaalyado at malapit kay Akbar sa Basilan dahil isinabit noon ng militar ang dating ustadz sa pagpugot ng ulo sa 14 na sundalo sa bayan ng Al-Barka nitong taon.

Sinasabing isa si Akbar sa mga bumo ng Abu Sayyaf na ang tunay na pangalan ay Al-Harakatul Al-Islamiya na ang ibiog sabihin ay “bearer of the sword.” Itinanggi ito ni Akbar nuong buhay pa. (Mindanao Examiner)

Killed RP Lawmaker Buried In Hometown

A family waits outside their house adored with posters of Rep. Wajhab Akbar and his two wife, Jum Akbar, left, governor of Basilan and Cherry Lyn, right, mayor of Isabela City, for the hearse of slain Filipino Muslim lawmaker Wahab Akbar Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007 in Basilan province in southern Philippines. Akbar, a former rebel Moro National Liberation Front leader, was killed after a powerful bomb exploded at the south entrance of the House of Representatives in the Philippine capital late Tuesday. The bombing also killed a chauffeur and wounded two other lawmakers and six employees, police said.

(Mindanao Examiner Photo Service)

BASILAN ISLAND, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 14, 2007) – A Muslim lawmaker who was killed in a Philippine bombing was buried Wednesday in his hometown in Basilan island, south of Manila.

Thousands of supporters chanted "Allahu Akbar…Allahu Akbar" as Akbar's hearse was paraded around Isabela City. Many who lined up the streets were weeping and crying out his name.

Akbar, a former rebel Moro National Liberation Front leader, was killed after a powerful bomb exploded at the south entrance of the House of Representatives in the Philippine capital late Tuesday.

"We loved him so much. He was such a good man and he helped many poor people here. There is nobody who can take his place. May Allah curse whoever had killed him," said Nasser Amdam, 43.

The bombing also killed a chauffeur and wounded two other lawmakers Henry Teves and Luzviminda Ilagan.

Akbar died at the Far Eastern University hospital where doctors tried to save his life - his skull was fractured from the blast that his supporters and families believed was an assassination.

"It was an assassination. We have lost a great leader, who unified Christians and Muslims in Basilan," his spokesman Chris Puno told reporters without elaborating.

Puno said the Akbar's families wanted a thorough investigation into the blast.
"We condemned in the strongest possible term this criminal and dastardly act," said House Speaker Jose de Venecia.

Gov. Sakur Tan, of Sulu province, rushed to Basilan with his wife, Nurunisah Tan, after learning about Akbar's death. "We condemned this senseless killing of Rep. Wahab Akbar," he said.

At least 8 people were wounded in the bombing that destroyed the south-wing ceiling of the building. It was unclear how the explosion occurred, but witnesses said they smelled gunpowder in the area.

Reports were conflicting and others said the explosion emanated from a car parked at the House of Representatives while some claimed the blast was from a bomb planted inside the building.

Forensic experts and post-blast investigators said they found a wrecked motorcycle probably rigged with explosives and detonated remotely.

Akbar joined the MNLF at the age of 14 in 1974. His father, Mutammad Salajin, was also a rebel commander. In 1994, Akbar went to Syria where he studied Islamic theology and jurisprudence and stayed in the Middle East for about six years.

He returned to Basilan island in 1997 where he preached Islam and was eventually persuaded by his students to run for governor on the island. Akbar won in the elections in 1998 and had served for nine years.

Akbar supported then Vice President Gloria Arroyo after President Joseph Estrada was deposed in 2001 after a bloodless coup. He was also responsible in Arroyo's landslide victory in Basilan in 2004 and so were senators under her.

He also helped a former town mayor Zaldy Ampatuan win in Basilan in elections in the Muslim autonomous region.

The slain lawmaker had four wives, Jum Akbar, now governor of Basilan island and Cherry Lyn, the mayor of Isabela and Marieta Zamoranos and Nur-in. Akbar had 7 children from three if wives. Others said he had as many as 13 wives.

Akbar was repeatedly linked by the military and his opponents to the Abu Sayyaf, which is tied to al-Qaeda terror network. He was said to have organized the Abu Sayyaf, but broke away after Abubakar Abdurajak Janjalani, a militant preacher, was chosen to lead the Al-Harakatul Al-Islamiya.

Abu Sayyaf was originally called Al-Harakatul Al-Islamiya, Arabic name which means "bearer of the sword." Janjalani was killed in 1989 after a firefight with policemen in Basilan island.

His younger brother, Khadaffy Janjalani, took over, but was also slain in Sulu island in 2006 after a clash with army special forces.

Akbar had repeatedly denied his links with the Abu Sayyaf. He was also implicated in the beheading of 14 soldiers in Basilan early this year.

There was no truth to all those things. Wahab Akbar was never an Abu Sayyaf, not even its founder. Those were all lies. Wahab Akbar destroyed the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan," Puno said.

Akbar seized Janjalani's and son and several relatives after the Abu Sayyaf kidnapped more than 50 people in Basilan to force the group to free the hostages.

He was also instrumental in the release of two Belgian citizens – a journalist and an agrarian expert – after they were kidnapped in Zamboanga City and brought to Basilan in the 1990s.

During his stint as governor, Akbar had aggressively pursued agrarian reform in Basilan and the putting up of farmers' and fishermen's cooperatives in different towns and provided thousands of villagers with sustainable livelihood.

"Now that he is dead, the Abu Sayyaf may be back soon in Basilan. We are now like a house with all doors and windows open and waiting for wolves to attack us," Puno said.

Akbar's wives did not give any statement. (Mindanao Examiner)

Muslim Lawmaker, Driver Killed In Philippine Bombing

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 12, 20070 – A Muslim lawmaker who was among those injured in a bombing at the Philippine House of Representative late Tuesday died from his wounds.

Rep. Wahab Akbar, of Basilan province, died at the Far Eastern University hospital in Manila, television reports, quoting the politician’s family friend, Sandra Cam, said.

“Sandra Cam told reporters that Rep. Wahab Akbar is dead,” ANC News Channel reported.

Akbar, a former governor of Basilan province, was the second victim killed in the blast. Marcial Talvo, a driver of Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan, also died in the bombing.

Ilagan and another lawmaker, Rep. Henry Teves were also wounded in the powerful explosion that occurred at around 8 p.m.

“We condemned in the strongest possible term this criminal and dastardly act,” said House Speaker Jose de Venecia.

At least 8 people were wounded in the bombing that destroyed the south-wing ceiling of the building. It was unclear how the explosion occurred, but witnesses said they smelled gunpowder in the area.

Reports were conflicting and others said the explosion emanated from a car parked at the House of Representatives while some claimed the blast was from a bomb planted inside the building.

Police and military officials said it was early to say if the blast was a bomb attack or whether it had something to do with reports that rightwing soldiers, disgruntled with President Gloria Arroyo’s rule and corruption in government, could be behind the explosion.

Arroyo’s government has been rocked by corruption allegations and the President is hounded with accusations that she cheated in the elections to keep herself and allies in power against the popular Fernando Poe Jr., a movie actor, who died while campaigning.

Poe’s supporters and opposition politicians and civil groups accused Arroyo of electoral fraud after an alleged military wiretapped conversation between her and an election commissioner that linked them to cheating surfaced. (Mindanao Examiner)

Powerful Blast Hits Philippine Congress; 8 Injured

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 12, 20070 – At least 8 people were wounded in suspected bombing late Tuesday at the House of Representatives in the Philippine capital.

Several lawmakers were among the injured in the powerful blast that destroyed the south-wing ceiling of the building. It was unclear how the explosion occurred, but witnesses said they smelled gunpowder in the area.

The blast occurred at around 8 p.m. Reports were conflicting, others said the explosion emanated from a car parked at the House of Representatives while some claimed the blast was from a bomb planted inside the building.

Police and military officials said it was early to say if the blast was a bomb attack or whether it had something to do with reports that rightwing soldiers, disgruntled with President Gloria Arroyo’s rule and corruption in government, could be behind the explosion.

No group or individual claimed responsibility for the blast.

Arroyo’s government has been rocked by corruption allegations and the President is hounded with accusations that she cheated in the elections to keep herself and allies in power against the popular Fernando Poe Jr., a movie actor, who died while campaigning.

Poe’s supporters and opposition politicians and civil groups accused Arroyo of electoral fraud after an alleged military wiretapped conversation between her and an election commissioner that linked them to cheating surfaced. (Mindanao Examiner)

Boat Capsizes, 6 Rescued Off Sulu Island

SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 12, 2007) – Muslim fishermen have rescued six people after their motorized boat capsized off Siasi Island in the Sulu Archipelago in southern Philippines.

The boat was carrying two representatives of the cellular phone giant Globe Telecom, Willy Bobiar and Roberto Ecaranum; a television reporter, Nickee Butlangan, of the GMA-7 network and a stringer for the regional newspaper, Mindanao Examiner, and their escort, Hair Harijin and the vessel’s operator and his assistant.

Butlangan said strong winds and huge waves battered their boat and capsized at around 1.30 p.m. They were rescued by passing fishermen and brought to Siasi Island, where the group would inspect a site for cellular phone tower.

“We’re just lucky that all of us are still alive. We were only clinging on empty plastic containers when Muslim fishermen spotted us,” Butlangan told the Mindanao Examiner.

He said another boat passed near them, but ignored their pleas for help. “We were drifting for nearly an hour. Really lucky because there were no sharks around,” he said.

Butlangan said members of D’ Alert group, an amateur radio club based in Siasi Island, dispatched a rescue team after learning of the incident. Salip Sarrapudin, head of the group, escorted Butlangan’s group back to Siasi.

Butlangan said he was contacted by Bobiar and Ecaranum and requested him to go with them to Siasi where Globe Telecom is planning to put up the tower.

“I was so eager to go with them because I know that Sulu is really on its way to becoming a productive province and people in that island will soon enjoy the luxury of digital communication. I have no regret…just lending a helping hand for the good of Sulu,” he said. (Mindanao Examiner)

The Mindanao Examiner Photo: Government Car!

A service vehicle of the Zamboanga City Water District (SFM-474) is parked outside the Ateneo de Zamboanga on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007. Its unidentified driver, who is in office uniform, has been spotted inside the university carrying a bag of a grade schooler. Government vehicles are strictly for official use only.(Mindanao Examiner Photo Service)

Japanese Executive Killed In Central Philippines' Cebu Island

CEBU CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 13, 2007) – A Japanese executive was killed in a gun attack Tuesday in the central Filipino province of Cebu, police said.

Police said two unidentified motorcycle gunmen ambushed Hiroshi Kosaka, 49, at a stop light on a highway in Mandaue City while on his way to the airport.

Kosaka, owner of the Hong Kong Travel and Tours in Cebu province, was with his Filipino girlfriend identified only by the police as Bianca, and a driver, Efren Rosales, when ambushed, police said.

Senior Superintendent Rodel Calungsod, city police force, ordered a thorough investigation into the killing of the foreigner.

“His two companions were unhurt in the attack,” a police officer, Gilbert dela Cruz, of the Mandaue City Police Office, told the Mindanao Examiner.“Investigations are going on and we still don’t know the motive of the killing.”

He said Kosaka’s car was heavily tinted and that he was sitting at the rear with his girlfriend, when the gunmen, both wearing a crash helmet, opened fire with a .45-caliber pistol killing the Japanese. Kosaka was to return to Japan when killed.

Extra-judicial killings are rampant in Cebu, a favorite holiday destination by Japanese and Koreans. (Mindanao Examiner)

The Mindanao Examiner Photo: Fishers Of Men

Villagers catch fish near Santa Cruz Island off Zamboanga City in southern Philippines. Zamboanga Mayor Celso Lobregat says the stable peace and order situation in the city is attracting many local and foreign tourists and so are investors to the Zamboanga City Economic and Freeport Zone. (Mindanao Examiner Photo Service)

For Official Use Only...And Family Use Also!

A Zamboanga City Government vehicle (SDK-977) with unidentified passengers is spotted picking up students near the Ateneo de Zamboanga University Monday, Nov. 12, 2007. Many government officials, both local and those working with national agencies, use government cars other than for official business. (Mindanao Examiner Photo Service)

Zamboanga City Holds Basketball Coaches' Licensing

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 12, 2007) - The Basketball Association of the Philippines and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas announce the 1st National Coaches Accreditation and Licensing Program (NCALP) and Basketball Clinic for coaches in Zamboanga City.

The clinic will be held on Nov.17-18 at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University.

The NCALP is a progressive coaching education program that offers courses on coaching and covers several aspects of the game. The NCALP will use a training approach that is competency-based, which emphasizes development of the “ability to do” instead of knowledge transfer.

Its main goal is to make coaches better prepared in solving specific problems in their own context. To achieve this goal, an effort is made to create learning situations that give coaches an opportunity to apply or enhance their competencies such as problem-solving, critical thinking, value appreciation, leadership and interaction.

After completing the training session, participants will need to take a practical and written test to evaluate their comprehension of the course. Those who pass the tests will be issued accreditation and certification for the NCALP by the BAP-SBP Coaches’ Commission.

Chairman Bernardo Garbriel Atienza, of BAP-SBP, and basketball coach Eric Altamerano and his staff are coming to Zamboanga City to grace the affair.Coaches of different schools and universities of the city are expected to participate.

For further information and preregistration, please contact Bong Casimiro at 0919-4240461. A registration fee of P500 will be solicited to cover expenses of participants’ certificates and license.

Disgruntled RP Opposition Lawmakers Walk Out From House Proceedings

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 12, 2007) – Opposition lawmakers on Monday walked out from a committee proceedings on an impeachment case filed against President Gloria Arroyo.

“Using technicalities and legal hogwash, and manipulating the rules to their sole benefit, there is no denying the real agenda of the Committee on Justice. That is to shield Mrs. Arroyo from all accountability and in the process deny the people of the truth,” said Rep. Liza Maza, of the GABRIELA Women's Party.

Maza said the outcome of deliberations on the complaint initially filed by lawyer Ruel Pulido is without doubt, tainted and without any credibility.

”It is a mockery and we refuse to be part of it,” she said. “The committee has shamelessly and repeatedly refused all attempts to add substance to the Pulido complaint and give this committee the opportunity to deliberate lengthily and thus properly decide on allegations of bribery lodged against Mrs. Arroyo,” Maza said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.

”No different from the Pulido impeachment complaint, the impeachmentproceeding is a sham and the House of Representatives a shame,” she said.

Most members of the proceedings were allies of Arroyo.

The case stemmed from corruption allegations of Jose de Venecia III that resulted in the resignation of Elections chief Benjamin Abalos.

Jose de Venecia III, of the Amsterdam Holdings Incorporated, accused Abalos of offering him $10 million to back out from the broadband deal. Abalos has denied all accusations against him.

De Venecia, the son of House Speaker Jose de Venecia, was ZTE’s rival for the national broadband contract. Romulo Neri, former Director General of the National Economic and Development Authority, also accused Abalos of bribing him.

De Venecia said the broadband deal was probably worth only $130 million, but this suddenly ballooned to $329 million.

He said President Arroyo’s husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, also told him to back off from the deal. Arroyo’s lawyers have denied the allegations.

Maza said Abalos’ resignation should not close down investigations on the national broadband scandal and that all those involved in the deal should be made accountable.

She said Abalos' resignation could be a move to preempt further investigations into the anomalous contract that could implicate the President and her husband.

Arroyo suspended indefinitely the national broadband network project because of the controversy. Government spokesmen also denied all accusations against the President and her husband. (Mindanao Examiner)

RP Police Search For Kidnapped Poll Officer, Wife

ILIGAN CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 12, 2007) – Philippine policemen were searching Monday for an elections officer kidnapped in the southern province of Lanao del Sur.

Police said the 49-year old Cosain Laguindab and his wife, Nadja, were kidnapped by gunmen Friday while driving home along Narciso Ramos Highway in Calanogas town.

Gunmen flagged down Laguindab’s vehicle and seized them. The couple came from a court hearing on an election case against a defeated politician Piksan Benito. Police said the motive of the kidnapping could be political.

Last week, gunmen killed two poll officials in separate attacks.

Alioden Dalaig, the chief of the Commission on Elections’ Legal Department, was shot late Saturday by a lone gunman near his office in downtown Manila, and Joseph del Rosario, also a COMELEC officer in Cavite province, had also been murdered.

Dalaig, who had been serving for thirty years and was about to retire, handled all legal cases in the COMELEC, including those concerning electoral protests. Dalaig also signed the arrest order against a former COMELEC officer Lintang Bedol, who was linked to alleged poll cheating in May that favored President Gloria Arroyo.

Bedol, who is now in hiding, is facing contempt charges after he failed several times to attend a COMELEC hearing.

The motives in the two killings were unknown, but police said it recovered P300,000 from Dalaig’s pocket. (Merlyn Manos)

Zamboanga City's Paseo Del Mar

Construction of a bay walk area called the "Paseo del Mar" is ongoing in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines. City Mayor Celso Lobregat says the bay walk is a perfect place to watch the sun sets, a magnificent view in this part of Mindanao. Promenaders also frequent the Paseo del Mar, one of most beautiful park in Zamboanga, now branded as Asia's Latin City because of its dialect, which is a mixture of Spanish and other Filipino tongues.

(Mindanao Examiner Photo Service)

OPINION

Marianeth’s Fate - A Crude Wake-Up Call By Lala Fanagel

Eleven-year olds used to just play “Chinese garters” or “patintero” on the street, otherwise, they are at home doing their homework, watching TV, or simply doing what a normal 11-year old should be doing.

But Marianeth did not live a normal life. Hers was a life of poverty much too burdensome for her young mind and heart to take. Sadly, millions of children in the country are suffering from the same impoverished life that Marianeth have forsaken.

Many like her are victims of the rotten system made worst by the corrupt and immoral leadership in the country. In the city streets alone, one would find children as young as three begging for alms, while the older kids would be sniffing rugby, and some girls as young as nine are forced into prostitution.

In the countryside, children die every day due to supposedly curable diseases, extreme poverty or by man-made calamities. Though we regret that Marianeth’s case is not isolated at all; acceptance of such reality is a must if we wish to decisively fight the root causes that led to such a pitiful end.

Marianeth’s death is a crude wake- up call; a strong statement about the harsh poverty that the present generation of children are facing, a grim warning that the coming generations are to face a much worst plight.

May Marianeth’s death awaken a social consciousness for the continued advancement of the fight for a free, peaceful and just society for all children. A crucial part of this fight is to accept the truth which the government cowardly shuns.

May Marianeth’s ungranted wishes urge us to determinedly weed out the poverty that is caused because of the institutionalized exploitation of the poor by the moneyed and the powerful. Our grief and sympathies go to the bereaved family and to all the children who are victims of a socio-political system that deprives children of the basic rights to a healthy and peaceful life.

Justice to all children who are made impoverished due to the corrupt and insatiably greedy that monopolizes our country’s wealth.(PASAKA/Confederation of Lumad Organizations in Southern Mindanao)

Banco De Oro Profits Rise To P4.9B

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 12, 2007) - Banco de Oro (BDO) posted a 4% year-on-year gain in consolidated net profits to P4.9 billion in 9M07 from the P4.7 billion pro-forma income registered in 9M06.

The growth in Net Interest Income and Non-Interest Income buttressed the bottom line despite challenging operating conditions and ongoing integration efforts.

Net Interest Income grew 17% to P16.4 billion with net interest margin widening to 4.15% from 3.97%. This was a result of continued strong loan growth and improvements in the funding mix, BDO said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner on Monday.

The Bank rebalanced its earning assets by capitalizing on robust demand for higher-margin consumer loans even as overall industry-wide loan growth remained weak. Net Loans and Other Receivables increased 6% year-on-year to P295.4 billion while underlying loan growth remained robust at 15%.

As a result, Investment Securities contracted 17% to P168 billion.
The Bank likewise improved its funding mix by focusing on low-cost deposits while reducing its reliance on high-cost funding sources. Thus, Total Deposits remained flat at P438.7 billion while Bills Payable declined 14% to P69.1 billion.

Non-Interest Income rose 14% to P12.3 billion as higher fee-based and other income compensated for lower trading and foreign exchange gains. Service Charges and Fees climbed 26% to P6.3 billion given larger contributions from branch banking, remittances, credit cards, cash management and bancassurance.

Miscellaneous Income jumped 127% to P1.8b stemming from investment banking activities and various income sources. Trading and foreign exchange gains dipped 10% to P3.7 billion amid rising emerging market risk premium and a stronger Peso.

Operating expenses expanded 17% to P19.2 billion due to increased business volumes, redeployment of the ex-UOBP branches and ongoing integration efforts. Pre-Provision Profits settled at P9.5 billion, up 13% year-on-year. In line with the Bank's conservative provisioning policy, Allowance for Impairment was higher by 81% at P3.6 billion.

BDO is presently the country's second largest banking group with Assets of P608.1 billion and Capital Funds of P58.8 billion. The Bank is among the market leaders in its core business lines, and has an extensive network of over 680 branches and more than 1,200 ATMs nationwide.

RP Lawmaker Urges Police To Probe Killings Of Poll Officers

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 11, 2007) – A Philippine senator on Sunday called for a though investigation into the recent killings of two elections officials.

Alioden Dalaig, the chief of the Commission on Elections’ Legal Department, was shot late Saturday by a lone gunman near his office in downtown Manila, and Joseph del Rosario, also a COMELEC officer in Cavite province, had also been murdered.

Police said the killings were unrelated.

“Though these two incidents may be unrelated to each other and to the victims’ line of work, it still calls for a thorough investigation and for the killers to be identified and locked up behind bars,” Senator Mar Roxas said in a statement sent Sunday to the Mindanao Examiner.

“I feel very sad for them and their families that their lives had to end this way,” he said.

Dalaig, who had been serving for thirty years and was about to retire, handled all legal cases in the COMELEC, including those concerning electoral protests. Dalaig also signed the arrest order against a former COMELEC officer Lintang Bedol, who was linked to alleged poll cheating in May that favored President Gloria Arroyo.

Bedol, who is now in hiding, is facing contempt charges after he failed several times to attend a COMELEC hearing.

The motives in the two killings were unknown, but police said it recovered P300,000 from Dalaig’s pocket. (Mindanao Examiner)

Sulu, Nagpasalamat Sa Saudi

SULU (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 11, 2007) – Ipinatawag kahapon ni Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan ang mga opisyal nito upang pagusapan ang project proposals na isusumite nito sa Saudi Arabia matapos na mangako itong magbubuhos ng tulong sa lalawigan.

Natuwa naman ang maraming mga alkalde ng Sulu at Provincial Board sa naging matagumpay ng pakikipagusap ni Tan sa mga opisyal ng Saudi Embassy ng ito ay anyayahan doon nuong nakaraang lingo.

Kahapon ay agad naman bumalik si Tan sa Sulu upang paghandaan ang pagpasok ng tulong ng Saudi sa lalawigan.

“Malaki ang pasasalamat naming sa Saudi Arabia dahil sa pangakong tulong para sa Sulu at siguradong maraming mga mamamayan ang makikinabang sa mabuting hangarin ng Saudi,” ani Tan sa Mindanao Examiner.

Magbubuhos umano ng malaking tulong ang Saudi Arabia sa upang suportahan ang peace and development efforts sa lalawigan ng Sulu, ayon pa sa Gobernador.

Mismong si Saudi Ambassador Mohammed Ameen Wali ang nangakong tutulong at balak naman imbitahin. "Saudi is very supportive of our peace and development efforts and we are now preparing several project proposals that will help alleviate the situation of the poor in Sulu."

“The support of Saudi Arabia (to Sulu) will surely bring peace and development and livelihood worthy of human dignity. We are launching our own jihad towards the attainment of peace and unity. Other forms of jihad, particularly violent jihad, is primitive," ani Tan.

Noon ay lumagda rin ang Saudi Arabia ng US$20 million loan agreement para sa development ng Mindanao roads project. Bahagi ito ng US$100 million loan agreement financing was sourced from the US$100 sa ilalim ng Saudi Fund for Development (SDF). (Mindanao Examiner)

An Open Letter To Fellow Filipinos

Dear Fellow Filipinos,

Good day to you!

Last October 13 , Governor Ed Panlilio of Pampanga came out to declare that he was given P 500,000.00 in cash which came from a Palace Staff Member in Malacañang. The money was allegedly given for baranggay projects and to support candidates for the upcoming baranggay elections.

Since Gov.Panlilio's admission, there have been other local officials and congressmen who have admitted to receiving money from Malacañang as well. Up until today we still don't know where this money really came from. But since then, Gov. Panlilio has been under fire because of doing the right thing.

Right now, local officials in Pampanga led by Vice-Gov. Yeng Guiao are ganging up on him and marginalizing him by not respecting his authority as governor.

Media Publications in Pampanga are even being used to destroy his credibility. If one looks at Gov. Panlilio's performance thus far in the less than 6 months that he has been in office, the results would speak for itself.

He was able to raise the same amount of quarry taxes in less than 2 months compared to the former governor who raised the same amount in 1 year.

Due to this, mayors and board members are now demanding part of this collection money and are blackmailing Gov. Panlilio by not passing important policies that will benefit the constituencies of Pampanga.

Isn't this a familiar refrain in our country? Someone does good and yet he is often punished for doing what is right? And worse, while this is happening many of us just turn a blind eye without doing anything.

We just shrug it off and move on with our lives. It is no wonder why majority of our government leaders are becoming bolder and bolder in becoming corrupt since for them no one would dare complaint about it.

In short, we deserve the kind of leaders that we have because we continue to do nothing despite the fact that we see that there is something wrong. And this is why I am writing to appeal to you right now, I'd like to ask for a few minutes of your time to send an email of support to Gov. Ed Panlilio, let us all tell him that we are behind him in his quest for the Truth.

What is at stake here is not only the people of Pampanga but the nation as a whole. Gov. Ed exposed what has long been happening in Malacañang and now he is being punished for it.

Will you do something about it? If yes, then please send an email of support to Gov. Ed Panlilio at wesupportgovpanlilio@gmail.com and please help us by forwarding this email to all your friends. We will print the emails that you send and give it to Gov. Panlilio to show him that he is not alone in his quest for the Truth.

Let us show the world that the Filipino people will not just allow another Good Man to fail and let evil prevail.

Thank you for your time!

May you have a pleasant day!

Sincerely,

Harvey S. Keh
Director for Youth Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship
Ateneo de Manila University-School of Government

Estados Unidos Nagpahayag Ng Suporta Sa Mindanao Peace Process

MAGUINDANAO (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 11, 2007) – Nagpahayag ng suporta ng Estados Unidos sa peace process sa pagitan ng pamahalaang Arroyo at Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Sa katunayan ay mismong si Paul Jones, isa sa mga mataas na opisyal ng embahada ng Estados Unidos, ang nakipagkita kay MILF chieftain Murad Ebrahim kamakalawa sa isang kampo ng mga rebelde sa lalawigan ng Sultan Kudarat.

Inamin naman ito ng MILF at sinabing maganda ang naging paguusap ng dalawa at Sinabi rin ni Jones na patuloy ang suporta ng kanyang bansa sa peace process sa Mindanao.

Isa ang Estados Unidos sa mga bansang nagbubuhos ng malaking pondo sa Mindanao upang maisulong ang kaunlaran ng rehiyon. Karamihan sa mga pondong ito ay naipagpagawa ng mga kalsada at daungan, patubig at kuryente at maraming iba pa.

Naunang nag-alok ang Estados Unidos ng $30-milyon upang pondohan ang iba pang mga proyekto kung magkakaroon ng kasunduan ang pamahalaan at MILF.

Kasalukuyang may peace talks ang dalawang grupo at naniniwala ang pamahalaan na magkakaroon ng resulta ito bago magtapos ng kanyang termino si Pangulong Gloria Arroyo sa 2010. (Mindanao Examiner)