Pinoy students win again in 2 int’l contests

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino math wizards again won medals and awards in two additional international math competitions held recently in China and Taiwan.

Dr. Simon Chua, president of the Mathematics Trainers Guild-Philippines, said a group of students bagged two bronze medals and four merit awards in the South East Mathematical Olympiad (SEMO) held in Taiwan.

Another batch of Filipino students won 53 honors in the 2010 China Primary Math Olympiad held in Tianjin, China.

In the SEMO, Erik Lance Astillero of Chiang Kai Shek College and Vance Eldric Go of St. Jude Catholic School each garnered a bronze medal. On the other hand, Sean Timothy Cheng, Neil Chua Goy, and Shaun Wesley Que, all students of Grace Christian College, and Geovin Dexter Uy of Chiang Kai Shek College all won merit awards.

According to Chua, nine countries competed in the contest: Philippines, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, South Africa, Taiwan and Thailand.

On the other hand, in the 2010 China Primary Math Olympiad held in Tianjin, student Leander Noel Kiu of Pace Academy won second honors, the only Filipino student who got the award. Kiu is a member of Philippine Team 8, which emerged as the Philippines’ Best Team. The other two members of the team are Giwon Kim of Learning Link Academy and Christopher Joseph Magno of Falcon Learning Center, which both won third honors.

Fifty other Filipino students bagged third honors in the individual competition - Ella Mae Absalon, Sean Moises Aliño, Eugenio Laureano Ares, James Christian Atilano, Lesley Clarice Balete, Mia Beatrice Cahimat, Hannah Faye Canonigo, Alysza Me Carballo, Jordan Lewis Chan, Hazel Lynn Chung, Julianne Liana Co, Miko Johnson Co, Rufa Aizha Cunanan, Leovigildo Ramon De Castro III, Mikhaela Marie Diaz, Kristine Ashley Doble, Gabriel Angelo Estampador.

And Charles Louie Fernan, Gian Francesco Gamboa, Rusjonell Gerona, Gene Go Jr., Tatyana Marie Gonzaga, Jonas Andrew Ho, Shannon Gail Ho, Christopher Kohchet-Chua, Andrea Louise Lee, Marielle Francesca Lim, Marion Antonio Lim, Tonita Mari Lim, Mary Claire Lizarda, Jeremy John Magpantay, Rhomel Isaac Marcojos, Raphael Antonio Morallo, Jonathan Murga, Liam Sanro Ng, Steve HK Ng, Arvy Daniel Ngo, Maria Andrea Kristina Onglao, Camille Therese Pastoriza, Carlos Jan Penas, Charlene Rabutin, Danielle Joy Lim See, Justine John Serdoncillo, Anna Sofia Serrano, Guinevere Soria, Gwyneth Soria, Mary Joyce Tan, Terrence Brian Tsai, Joanna Nicole Yu and Sean Josef Zamora.

The MTG trained the contestants for the two competitions.

The Philippines recently competed in the 2010 China Junior High School Math Olympiad also in Tianjin and the Hua LoGeng Golden Cup Mathematics Invitational Competition in Taiwan.

SC dared to recognize Luisita SDO as bogus land reform

MANILA, Philippines - As the Supreme Court continues its oral arguments today on the issue of the Stock Distribution Option as a scheme to distribute the lands of Aquino-owned Hacienda Luisita to farmers, labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno reiterated its call to the hight court to recognize the SDO as not in any way a tool for land reform.

“For two decades, the SDO has caused the misery and exploitation of Hacienda Luisita farmers. The SDO made them have a take-home pay of only P9.50, forced them to launch a strike in 2004, made them victims of a bloody massacre, and entitled them to as low as one-peso payments as ‘stockholders’ of the land,” KMU secretary-general Rogelio Soluta said in a statement.

“We hope the SC sees the obvious: the SDO is not a means to distribute lands to farmers, in violation of the principle of land reform. It is a means to continue to deprive farmers the land they have tilled for decades and the decent livelihood they rightfully deserve.

“The Cojuangco and Aquino clans staged the signing of the compromise deal and the holding of a referendum in Luisita in hoping to pre-empt the SC’s oral arguments on the SDO. May this hearing put an end to the Cojuangco and Aquino clans’ efforts at making a grand deception. For if the SC will show that it is favoring the SDO, the people will judge it as part of the Luisita landlords’ ploy,” Soluta warned.

KMU also criticized the Aquino administration for pushing the SC to decide in favor of the SDO scheme. Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda himself said that “Hopefully, the Supreme Court will look with favor on the compromise agreement.”

“With these statements and his hands-off posturings on the issue, Noynoy is serving the greed of his clan. He must not be so confident with his popularity at present. He is earning the workers’ and people’s wrath.”

KMU also urged Congress to hold an inquiry into the sham referendum and compromise deal.

“History will judge those who will stand with the Luisita landlords on this issue. When the time comes that the people finally own and benefit from the lands of our nation, the honor of those who stood with the landlords will be burried six feet under the land.

5 soldiers killed in NPA attack in Southern Philippines

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 24, 2010) - Communist rebels killed at least five government soldiers in a clash early Tuesday in the southern Philippines, officials said.

Officials said one soldier was also wounded in the fighting that erupted in the village of Fortuna in Agusan del Sur's Veruela town. The clash broke out after dozens of New People’s Army rebels attacked a military detachment.

The fighting lasted several minutes and only stopped after rebels retreated to the hills. It was not immediately known whether any of the attackers were wounded or killed in the clash.

“There is an operation going on aimed at tracking down the rebels in the province,” said Lieutenant Colonel Triumph Dominic Bagaipo, a spokesman for the Army’s 4th Infantry Division.

There New People’s Army, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, is fighting for decades now for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country. (With reports from Merlyn Manos and Becky de Asis)

Muslim traders accuse cops of extortion in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 23, 2010) – Muslim traders selling second-hand cell phones in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines have accused local members of the police elite SWAT team of extortion.

They said the SWAT team seized their phones after they failed to pay seven thousand pesos the policemen were demanding from them every week. “They raided our places and seized all our phones and this came after we failed to pay seven thousand pesos they were asking from us,” one trader told TV 11, a local television station.

Another trader also showed text messages purportedly from one of the officers who warned that police would raid their place if they fail to pay up. “We are seeking help from the government to stop these nefarious activities. We are poor, we want justice,” he said.

There was no immediate statement from the authorities on the allegations, but unscrupulous policemen had been accused in the past of protecting illegal gambling in Zamboanga City. (Mindanao Examiner)

2 Moro rebels arrested in Zamboanga City

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Philippine hostage-taker killed

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 23, 2010) – Police commandos have killed a former officer who took hostage over a dozen Hong Kong nationals in Manila after a firefight late Monday.

Former police captain Rolando Mendoza, 55, was shot in the head and body near the bus’ front door where he fought it out with commandos. The hostage-drama came to an end with officials saying several of the hostages were alive.

A civilian was wounded after Mendoza fired his automatic rifle indiscriminately on commandos trying to get inside the bus.

After the firefight, at least eight hostages were seen being rushed to waiting ambulance cars. At least 15 people were held hostage by Mendoza, officials said.

Mendoza, who was dismissed from the service after being accused of robbery and extortion, hijacked the bus on Monday morning. Mendoza later demanded that he be reinstated to the police service after denying all accusations against him.

At least 9 people had been released earlier by Mendoza and the bus driver escaped later in the night after jumping out of the window. He was quoted as saying that the remaining captives had been shot and killed.

Earlier in the night, policemen arrested a brother of the hostage-taker, Gregorio Mendoza, after he was accused of instigating, instead of convincing the armed man to surrender peacefully, according to Director Leocadio Santiago, chief of police forces in the National Capital Region.

The arrest of Mendoza’s elder brother may have prompted him to shoot the hostages. Mendoza’s brother told reporters that policemen would kill him after accusing him of conspiring with the hostage-taker, an accusation he vehemently denied.

Moments after the arrest of Mendoza, several shots rang inside the bus.

Officials said Mendoza hijacked the bus to air his gripe. His brother and wife also urged him to surrender peacefully. (Mindanao Examiner)

Commandos storm tourist bus, fire stun grenade

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 23, 2010) – Police commandos fired stun grenades inside a tourist bus in Manila where over a dozen Hong Kong tourists were being held hostage Monday, but there were no signs that any of the captives are alive.

Sporadic firing can still be heard from inside the bus where a dismissed police officer, Rolando Mendoza, accused of robbery and extortion, hijacked the vehicle and held its passengers hostage.

At least 9 people had been released since early this day and the bus driver escaped later in the night after jumping out of the window. He was quoted as saying that the remaining captives had been shot and killed.

No officials would confirm the report until commandos take control of the bus.

Earlier in the night, policemen arrested a brother of the hostage-taker, Gregorio Mendoza, after he was accused of instigating, instead of convincing the armed man to surrender peacefully, according to Director Leocadio Santiago, chief of police forces in the National Capital Region.

The arrest of Mendoza’s elder brother may have prompted him to shoot the hostages. Mendoza’s brother told reporters that policemen would kill him after accusing him of conspiring with the hostage-taker, an accusation he vehemently denied.

Moments after the arrest of Mendoza, several shots rang inside the bus where the tourists were being held by the former cop.

Officials said Mendoza, armed with an automatic rifle, hijacked the bus, mostly carrying Hong Kong students, to air his gripe. His brother and wife also urged him to surrender peacefully. (Mindanao Examiner)

Police arrest brother of Philippine hostage-taker

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 23, 2010) – Philippine policemen arrested Monday evening a brother of a former cop who is holding over a dozen Hong Kong tourists in Manila.

Director Leocadio Santiago, chief of police forces in the National Capital Region, said Gregorio Mendoza, also a policeman, was taken into custody after he accused him of instigating instead of convincing the hostage-taker, Rolando Mendoza, an ex-police officer, to peacefully surrender.

Moments after the arrest of Mendoza, several shots rang inside the bus where the tourists were being held by the former cop.

It was unknown whether any of the hostages were shot, but police commandos opened fire on the tires of the bus immobilizing the vehicle. The bus driver was able to escape after jumping out of the window, leaving the hostages behind. Their fate is unknown.

Mendoza, an officer of the Philippine National Police, was removed from service after he was accused of robbery and extortion, among others. But he denied all the charges against him and said he was wrongfully dismissed from the service.

So far at least 8 hostages had been freed by the hostage-taker, Rolando Mendoza, and police continue to negotiate for the safe release of the others, including several Filipinos.

Officials said Mendoza, armed with an automatic rifle, hijacked the bus, mostly carrying Hong Kong students, to air his gripe. His brother and wife also urged him to surrender peacefully.

Police forces have surrounded the bus and ready to strike if peaceful negotiations fail. (Mindanao Examiner)

Filipino urban poor group furious over sugar, cooking oil price hike

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 23, 2010) - A Filipino urban poor group called Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap said it is furious over the current increased prices of sugar and cooking oil, and on the proposed price hike of the National Food Authority rice.

The group pointed that the Aquino administration should prove its “daang matuwid” policy by putting stricter price control in the costs of basic commodities.

“We already suffered greatly during the last decade-rule of the Arroyo regime. Now, we are again dismayed with the Aquino administration’s neglect to check and regulate prices of basic commodities. Sugar, cooking oil, electricity have become expensive,” Franchie Buhayan, spokesperson of Kadamay, said in a statement.

Buhayan said newsreports peg the price of a 50-kilo sack of brown sugar at P1,650-P1,700 from its previous price which is P1,400-P1,650 while the price of white sugar has increased by P100 per sack. Cooking oil is up to P61 per kilo from its P48 per kilo last week.

Earlier, the Aquino administration is proposing to increase the price of NFA rice in order to generate more income for the government.

Buhayan said: “Enough of the pro-poor rhetorics. What we need are concrete actions to alleviate our suffering.”

Kadamay is challenging the Aquino administration to approve the P125 legislated wage increase in order to uplift the purchasing capacity of the people amidst price hike. The group also demands that the government should eradicate cartels of rice, sugar,oil and other commodities because these are behind the skyrocketing of prices.

Kadamay likewise pointed that, in the coming weeks to come, oil prices are expected to soar again that would trigger the domino effect of increasing prices of other commodities.

“We have been calling for the repeal of the Oil Deregulation law which previous presidents have failed to do. We are demanding to the Aquino administration to heed our clamor.”

Buhayan also cited that the government has been making a lot of money on the tax it puts to every litter of oil--2 pesos automatically goes to the government or an average of 140 million per day.

Educating torture 'experts' is pointless: AHRC

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The widely publicised video of a police torture has drawn mixed reactions and opinions from the public, including lawmakers, lawyers and human rights groups, who have all joined in the chorus condemning such a barbaric and cruel act.

Most of them share the opinion that 'lack of education of the law enforcers' is to blame for it happening but the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) strongly argues that this is not the case.

While educating law enforcers about the content of the Anti-Torture Act of 2009 is necessary the lack of education of this law cannot be used as an excuse to justify the said incident. If there is anyone who are 'experts and well-educated' on the use of torture, it is the law enforcement officers themselves. Torture is not something so new that one has to be told that it is abhorrent and prohibited.

The enactment of the Anti-Torture Act in December 2009 did not mean that the term 'torture' just came into existence and was an alien concept to the law enforcers.

The term torture itself has been widely used and understood to refer to violence and cruelty perpetrated against a person. Before the right not to be tortured was included in the 1987 Constitution, the police and the military had already been practicing it, particularly during Martial law period against political dissenters.

Therefore, it would be too naïve to argue that the lack of education amongst law enforcers is to blame as to why it continues to persist. For any police officer who thinks with reason, torture is absolutely a condemnable act undeserving of those who wear the uniform of the Philippine National Police.

Some of the authors of the Anti-Torture Law were victims of torture themselves during the Martial Law regime. It is their experience, and that of countless others, that made the enactment of this law possible. It was also after the Marcos regime that the concept of the right against torture was first introduced in the Philippine Constitution. The torture victims, most of them in disbelief as to how cruel people of their own nationality could become, felt the depth of what torture really is. It meant being a witness of their own suffering long before this was written into law. Those who 'survived' have to suffer and live with the trauma of having been tortured for the rest of their lives.

Torture is not a result of ignorance and lack of education by the law enforcers. It is the absence of an effective mechanism that would hold them accountable. It is also this absence that breeds and develops a culture of violence amongst the law enforcers. When a law enforcer or torturer cannot be held accountable for torture or any other form of violence he would commit, this becomes an accepted norm which we know to have been thriving in the police force for decades.

This is what happened in the Philippines. The policeman who tortured the suspected thief in the video did not become a torturer overnight, but had learnt and developed his expertise of using torture and the accompanying mindset to an extent that has become acceptable to him because it is a commonplace practice.

Filipino policemen also do not become police officers overnight. The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), two agencies who are responsible in training and recruiting applicants into the police force, require highly competitive academic qualifications, accomplishments and intensive training before it awards a policeman the rank of a police captain, the rank that the policeman in the video held. They also undergo civil service examinations, regular background checks and continuing education on law enforcement.

Also, the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), one of the highly competitive police training academies, even conduct background checks of their recruits, by way if interviewing their family and persons who know the applicant, before admitting him for training to ensure that immoral persons or those with psychological problems would not be allowed in the academy. This is in addition to passing a lengthy qualifying examination.

Apart from training in the police academy, the PNP and NAPOLCOM also absorb applicants with a bachelor's degree in criminology and those who had already earned units from any social sciences course but were unable to graduate. This is also after passing a civil service examination.

Thus, those who are absorbed into the police force are either university graduates or have studied for years in a university. They are educated people and need not be told that torture is prohibited. They are have completed, at least the rudimentary teaching on logic, ethics, philosophy and the morals in the universities. They are certainly not uneducated.

When the policeman tortured the victim in the video, he did it consciously. It was not indiscriminate or an isolated case, as earlier mentioned by the police establishment. It reflects the tip of the iceberg as to the state of policing in country.

The emergence of further complaints on torture as reported in the media, after the video had been exposed, only demonstrates the ugly reality of the country's policing the surface of which has yet to be scratched. It is a matter that most of the people knew and had live with. Any further complaints must therefore be seriously acted upon under the law.

Duyog Ramadhan In South RP

Some of the delegates to the Duyog Ramadhan held in General Santos City in the southern Philippines. (Photo by Michael Dumamba)

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 23, 2010) - At least 110 delegates from various religious organizations joined the annual ‘Duyog Ramadhan’ held at the Brokenshire College in the southern Philippine city of General Santos.

Duyog Ramadhan is a gathering of different religious groups in the city in solidarity with the Muslim world in the observance of the holy month of Ramadhan, the ninth month in the Islamic lunar calendar where Muslims, as an act of worship to Allah, fast during the day - refraining from food and drink and sexual activity from dawn till sunset.

It is intended to foster important values among Muslims such as patience, humility, and deep spirituality.

Muslims offer more prayers than usual during this month to ask forgiveness for past sins, seek guidance and help in confronting from everyday evils, and aspire to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds.

Abina Rombaoa of Moro Women, which spearheaded the gathering, said the event aims to strengthen solidarity among peoples in Mindanao as means to breaking all religious barriers with the perspective of attaining justice and lasting peace in the South.

With the theme ‘We join hands; we are one in prayer, We are one in the struggles for genuine justice and lasting peace’, the whole day interfaith forum tackled the wisdom of Ramadhan and social issues on Power Rate Hike, The Implications of Coal Fire Power Plant, and National and Moro Situations.

Among which transpired from the discussions are the group’s challenges and their dexterity to assert genuine land reforms, justice and peace to Aquino administration, also, denouncing the presence of US troops in Mindanao, which the Moro people believe to obscure and hinder peace in Mindanao.

The said Moro sentiments got affirmative nods from audience coming from the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Iglesia Filipina Independiente and the Roman Catholic Church.

Various Moro groups - Suara Bangsamoro, Liga ng Kabataang Moro, Kawagib Moro Human Rights and Ustadz and EMAM’s also joined the gathering. (Michael Dumamba)

Philippine cop takes HK tourists in Manila

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 23, 2010) – A disgraced Filipino policeman who is accused of extortion and robbery hijacked Monday a tourist bus carrying over a dozen Chinese nationals in the Philippine capital.

So far at least 8 hostages had been freed by the hostage-taker, Rolando Mendoza, and police continue to negotiate for the safe release of the others, including several Filipinos.

Mendoza, an officer of the Philippine National Police, was removed from service after he was accused of robbery and extortion, among others. But he denied all the charges against him and said he was wrongfully dismissed from the service.

Officials said Mendoza, armed with an automatic rifle, hijacked the bus, mostly carrying Hong Kong students, to air his gripe. His brother and wife also urged him to surrender peacefully.

Police forces have surrounded the bus and ready to strike if peaceful negotiations fail. (Mindanao Examiner)

UP-Mindanao co-ed wins 'Dear P-Noy...' Letter-Writing Contest; Ateneo de Zamboanga student places 2nd

DAVAO CITY, Philippines - A second year BA English (Major in Creative Writing) student of the University of the Philippines-Mindanao bested 120 other letter-senders or 19 co-finalists in the recently-concluded 'Dear P-Noy...' Letter-Writing Contest.

The 16-year old Julie Kristine de Guzman, of Tagum City joined the contest and sent her entry by e-mail to dearpnoy@mail.com, along with other youth from Mindanao, in a hope to be able to air to President Noy Aquino her dreams for Mindanao.

The writing tilt was organized by the Voice of Mindanao, a youth organization composed of the young from various parts of Mindanao, who are bonding together to share visions and hopes for the land of their birth here in southern Philippines, in partnership with the People Power Volunteer Center-Zamboanga City.

"Tulungan mong maiangat ang pangalang Mindanao mula sa kanyang pagkalugmok. Tutukan din sana ng iyong gobyerno ang pagsasaayos ng mga imprastruktura para sa transportasyon, turismo at pangangalakal dito sa Mindanao sapagkat lubusan na kaming naiiwan sa pag-unlad," Julie appealed to the President in her letter.

The 17-year old Mikaela Joyce Somera, a BS Mass Comm. student of the Ateneo De Zamboanga University, placed second. In her letter, she shared with P-Noy, "I dream that one day, I would be walking confidently to school without having to worry if a bomb might blow off somewhere near me. I dream that one day, no Mindanaoan youth would be going to school with the fear that they might be kidnapped. I dream that one day, no media practitioner will die for voicing out the truth. I hope that one day, every politician would find in their hearts the true essence of public service."

"I dream of a united Mindanao. I dream of a Mindanao that is one in its vision to prosper--for this thing cannot be done by one person only. It cannot be done by a few. And this dream will come true only if every Mindanaoan will work together in unity for the progress of Mindanao," Mikaela wrote.

"Mapayabong pa sana ang mga produktong likas sa Mindanao upang magsilbing pang-akit sa mga turista maging sa mga negosyante na magsisilbing daan upang mapayabong ang ekonomiya ng bansa. Sana'y magkaroon ng ngiti sa bawat labi ng taga-Mindanao ngayon at bukas," Julie penned.

To third placer Ma. Teresa Carmela Cruz, an AB Mass Comm. sophomore of the Western Mindanao State University, being among the contest winners "changed my life completely." In her letter to P-Noy, she said, "I'm not a seer but I do believe that peace and development is possible with you as our leader and if we all help one another. It is a laborious dream but, if we, the young people of Mindanao will begin the change in ourselves then, we can fulfill our dreams and hope again Peace in Mindanao is possible."

The project was conceived by 16-year old Deorenzie Frances Ramos, president of the Voice of Mindanao. Frances, an International Studies freshman of the Ateneo De Zamboanga University, said it was "just timely since P-Noy is starting his term, and we see in him a leader of a nation who is willing to listen to his people. His mention of Mindanao in his inaugural address inspires us Mindanao youth and gives us hope that southern Philippines has a place in his heart not just as a political territory but as a home of Pinoys he as P-Noy wants to serve. We see hope for a real change for Mindanao and the rest of the Philippines under his leadership."

PPVC-Zamboanga President Dr. Anton Mari Lim saw the enthusiasm of the young, and willingly supported the cause. "We are just glad to be of help," Lim said.

The writing contest is also backed by Smart Communications, which is one of the few companies that do extension projects as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility. Smart has provided support to various schools in Mindanao, adopting some schools, and providing educational materials and even technology support directly or through the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), of which it is a member. Smart at the event was represented by Ms. Lalaine Daguno, Smart Officer-In-Charge for Community Care Projects, and Ms. Matet Macadaan, Distributor Business Manager for Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

Other partners are the Peace and Conflict Journalism Network, MIST-Philippines, the Mein College Language Center which provided the translations for entries written in Mindanao languages, Bloomingdale's Department Store in Zamboanga City, Mindanao Bloggers Association, Philippine Information Agency, MindaNews, and Mindanao media for the information dissemination.

"This is a Mindanao-wide effort," Frances of VoM said. The contest kicked off on August 1, the death anniversary of President Cory Aquino, and winners were proclaimed on August 20, the 3rd anniversary of the Voice of Mindanao. PPVC presented the letters to P-Noy on August 21, the death anniversary of Sen. Ninoy Aquino.

"We did not give cash prizes, and we are happy to share that the gifts from VoM and our partners were hardly the motivating factor for the participants. They all simply wanted to share with P-Noy what they thought. And that is very clear, because we only announced the prizes when judging started," Frances said.

Other winners are Farisia Buhari, Krystel Audrey Wertle, and Kenneth Varquez.

The final level was adjudged by Ms. Viel Aquino-Dee (Chairman) of the PPVC, Mr. Christian Olasiman, head of the Noy Yo! Movement in Zamboanga City; Ryan Rosauro, secretary-general of the Peace and Conflict Journalism Network; Frencie Carreon, program head of the Voice of Mindanao, and Carol Arguillas, editor-in-chief of MindaNews.

The full text of the winning letters are posted in http://voiceofmindanao.blogspot.com/and sites of Mindanao bloggers.

PPVC's Lim said the President will respond to the letters after his receipt last Friday. As winner Julie said, "Magsilbi sanang tulay ang liham na ito upang marinig mo ang pangarap naming mga taga-Mindanao."

Ukay-Ukay Shop in Kidapawan City

A grandmother and her niece shop for used clothes at a thrift shop more popularly called "ukay-ukay" while children pose for a picture in the southern Philippine city of Kidapawan. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Geo Solmerano)

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)

Kidnapped Zamboanga City trader freed in Basilan Island

A photo released to the regional newspaper, the Mindanao Examiner, by Basilan provincial deputy governor Al Rasheed Sakalahul shows freed Zamboanga City trader Vicente Barrios shortly after his freedom Saturday, August 21, 2010. With Barrios are Basilan provincial deputy governor Al Rasheed Sakalahul (left) and Basilan military chief Brigadier General Eugenio Clemen. (Mindanao Examiner)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 22, 2010) – Kidnappers free an elderly local trader after two months in captivity in the southern Philippines, officials said Sunday.

Officials said Vicente Barrios, who was kidnapped while traveling at sea in Zamboanga City, was released late Saturday afternoon in the village of Bohe Mangal in Sumisip town in Basilan, one of five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region.

“He is so weak and frail and could hardly walk, but the good thing here is that Vicente Barrios was freed unharmed,” said Al Rasheed Sakalahul, the provincial deputy governor.

He said villagers contacted him late Saturday to say that an old man was spotted near the riverbank of Bohe Mangal. “They told me the old man could not speak our dialect and that he is so weak, so I sent my nephew to see who this man was, and the poor man told my nephew that he is Vicente Barrios and we secured him right away,” Sakalahul said.

Sakalahul said the Barrios, bearded and frail, was alone when found by villagers. “He was only carrying a cane and his name, date of his kidnapping and a name of his captor a certain Commander Alex were engraved in that old cane,” he told the Mindanao Examiner.

No group or individual claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and officials would not say if ransom was paid by the old man’s family to the gang, but the kidnappers had demanded at least five million pesos in the past in exchange for Barrios’ freedom.

Police said Barrios, whose family maintains fish cages off Zamboanga City, was abducted by gunmen after he was intercepted at sea.

The abduction occurred a day after police commandos, backed by soldiers killed one of three gunmen tagged as behind the April 4 kidnapping of Swiss-Filipino Charlie Reith, 72, in Zamboanga City. Reith was also freed weeks later after private negotiators allegedly paid ransom to the kidnappers.

Kidnappings-for-ransom in Zamboanga City were not uncommon. Many foreigners and wealthy traders had been kidnapped in the past and released after their family paid huge ransom. (With a report from Jung Francisco)

2 students killed in attack outside school in Mindanao

ILIGAN CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 21, 2010) – Unidentified gunmen killed two students Saturday in a broad daylight attack just in front of the government-run Mindanao State University in Marawi City in the Muslim province of Lanao del Sur, police said.

Police said the gunmen who were on a jeep shot the duo - Mark Anthony Ticson, 21, and Ever Sosillo, 17 – both engineering students. Provincial police chief Cosanie Derogongan has ordered an investigation into the killings and deployed policemen to hunt down the gunmen.

The victims came from an Internet café and were on their way home when gunmen attacked them. Derogongan said Ticson sustained one gunshot wound in his chest while Sosillo was hit in the head.

The motive of the attack was unknown, the police chief said. (Merlyn Manos)

Media walk out on CHR Commissioner's press conference: ABS-CBN

Coco Quisumbing (Video grab from ABS-CBN Television)

MANILA, Philippines - Some media people covering the press conference yesterday of Commissioner Coco Quisumbing of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) walked out after she scolded them for not following her instructions.

The press conference was called by CHR to address the issue of the torture scandal involving Manila policemen.

"If you're not in my line of sight, I'm not going to talk to you. If you're not going to listen to me and position yourselves as I ask you to, I'm just gonna walk out the door," Quisumbing said.

She wanted the press people to sit in the order she wanted them to in one place so she will only look at them in one direction.

"Do you hear me?" she asked. The press mumbled, "Yes ma'm."

"Ano?" she asked. The press answered again, "Yes, ma'm."

"I don't hear all of you," she said.

Quisumbing then singled out some media people. "Hindi ka nga puwede diyan. Bawal diyan. Everyone should be on the same side para hindi ako paganun-ganun! I'm sorry. Mainit ang ulo ko ngayon!" she said.

Spotting someone, she said, "Ikaw naka-green shirt. Hindi kita kilala. I'm not going to answer any of your questions. Sinabi ko na sa inyo, diyan kayo. Gaano kahirap ba 'yan? Lady with the white undershirt, you should be nicer to the people you interview. Be polite and answer her, OK?"

Quisumbing, who used to be a journalist, said she just wants the media to get good video footage.

"I'm not doing this for me. These are not kaartehan! If I'm facing that way, maganda ba ang shot niyo? I could have sat up there. Pangit ang inyong shot! Pinag-isipan ko ang trabaho niyo," she explained.

As some reporters left, Quisumbing asked, "Sino'ng umalis?"

In spite of what happened, the rest of the media stayed to finish their duty to cover the CHR's stand on the torture scandal.

Last month, President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III said Cabinet members will undergo a media seminar so they can deal with the media well. This was announced after two Cabinet members, Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro and Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, figured in some misunderstandings with the media.

Secretary Luistro accused the media of muddling the issue of sex education when he was asked for his comment about the topic, while Lacierda made the Malacañang press corps wait for hours for a scheduled press conference.(Report from ABS-CBN News)


Link: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/08/21/10/media-walk-out-chr-commissioners-presscon

Pet Shop, Road Shop!

A pet shop worker cleans a bird cage on the side of a busy road in Zamboanga city in the southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

Media slam Philippine audit official

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 20, 2010) – Local journalists have decried the arrogance of a senior government official who was accused of berating a radio reporter while trying to get an interview.

Roberto Marquez, regional director of the Commission on Audit in Western Mindanao, berated Santos Cortez, of the Radio Mindanao Network, who phoned the official Wednesday and introduced himself politely.

The reporter told Marquez that he wanted to interview him on several issues, but the official, his voice slightly rose and said: “I don’t know if what you’re saying is true, I am in the blind, I do not know who the hell you are. You maybe a kidnapper or an extortionist, you better come to my office and show your face and I can talk to you.”

“On the phone, I do not know who the devil you are? You maybe using somebody else’s name, how could I verify this? I am not sure who I am talking to and if you want to discuss anything with me, but who the hell I am talking to? You come to my office and I will talk to you,” Marquez said.

The whole conversation was later aired by the Radio Mindanao Network and drew various reactions from the public. The radio station said it would file a complaint with the Commission on Audit central office in Manila and the Civil Service Commission.

Francisco Duque, chairman of the Civil Service Commission, said he will have the matter investigated and also urged the radio network to file a complaint with the Commission on Audit under Chairman Rey Villar.

“We should bring this matter also Chairman Rey Villar, of the Commission on Audit, so he can order an investigation into this director. This director is shameless as if he is not a public servant,” Duque said.

“He should resign because his behavior is unethical and there is no room for arrogant people in public service. President (Benigno) Aquino should act on this,” said Joseph Zosobrado, a television cameraman.

“He is a bad example to civil servants. He should not be in the government service,” said Jung Francisco, manager of the regional newspaper, Mindanao Examiner.

It was the second time that a civil employee was criticized for their unethical behavior.

A senior employee of the Philippines’ National Statistics Office in Zamboanga City was also criticized after she shouted at a man trying to get legal documents.

The National Statistics Office is a recognized world-class provider of statistical and civil registration products and services.

The whole scene was recorded on a cell phone and uploaded in the Internet video sharing websiteyoutube.com and can be accessed on this URL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qD7WPsh2hw.

The unidentified woman was so angry at the man that she started shouting at him and in front of many clients while her microphone is turned on.

Various comments and criticisms were posted on the YouTube channel of Johoranz, who was believed to have uploaded the video on June 11. The video was branded as “NSO Zamboanga Scandal.”

“You can see (in this video) the kind of civil servants we have at the NSO Zamboanga. It was so shameful and almost all people wanting to get legal documents at this government agency were berated and shouted by this woman,” he said on his YouTube channel which can also be access on this URL http://www.youtube.com/user/johonranz. (Mindanao Examiner)