Forgotten…

On September 21, we covered the commemoration rally of the 40th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law in the country. We were expecting hundreds of activists would gather to remember the dark years under President Marcos. But we were surprised that only a handful of activists, mostly students, have gathered along San Pedro St in Davao City.

I’ve only noticed less than 10 who were in their late 50s, who may have really experienced the Marcos dictatorship. The rest may have just read and heard the stories of martial law from their parents and grandparents.

But Juland Suazo of Panalipdan blames it on the educational system of the country, saying that martial law era is no longer taught in history subjects. I haven’t seen the latest history books of both high school and elementary these days. He must be right.

Or maybe the younger generation today is no longer interested in learning how our fellow countrymen suffered under martial law. And how some of the Filipinos gallantly sacrificed their blood to restore democracy in our country.  That remains to be seen in the years to come.

For more martial law stories, click here.

Fr. Peter Geremia’s reflection on CPP’s tribute

Death in the Sky

On Friday, September 9, 2011, I was enroute to Manila on board Cebu Pacific Flight 5J694 to attend a work-related event in Quezon City. It was a cloudy day.

Earlier at the Davao International Airport, I noticed a lady in her mid-30s and looks like a TV star as many passengers and airport personnel were looking at her. In my mind, I assumed that she must be a TV star.  As I was about to check in at the counter, I saw one Cebu Pacific staff tapped one of her colleagues to attend to that lady in a separate counter. She was alone.

I was surprised why they had to open one counter just for her. Being a journalist, I didn’t bother to ask the Cebu Pacific staff who was about to issue my boarding pass. “Miss, kinsa diay na ngano daghan lagi gapa-picture?”  She replied: “Ah, si Isabel Granda gud sir.”

Oh, I didn’t recognize her, as usual, since I don’t really watch telenovelas at home and even Filipino movies. But I know that there was an actress named Isabel Granada.

After passing the second and final x-ray/security check, I stopped by a cafe beside the VIP lounge and grabbed a cup of tea to ease my cough.  At around 10am, we started the board the plane. Passengers had to walk on the ramp and use the stairs going inside the aircraft.

I took few shots of the aircraft while walking on the ramp. I also took a photo of the A320′s tail  before going in. I noticed few babies were also on board and few elderly people. My seat assignment was 18C, which I actually requested to the staff to put me on the aisle near the wing.  But as got to the 18C, Isabel already occupied my seat. Then a woman behind me told me to occupy the window seat instead. Later I discovered that she was Isabel’s buddy, a short-haired tall and burly woman.

When everyone was on board, the burly woman sat between me and Isabel.

The plane  took off around 10:30am.

About 20 minutes after the flight, one of the flight attendants paged for a medical doctor on board. Of course, she did not mention why they need a doctor. But my attention was towards a mother holding her baby who was standing about  five rows away on the right side in front of me. I thought it was the baby that needs a medical attention.  Read More »

Basura!

Every week, garbage pile up at a vacant lot in front of our house especially a day before or two days before the scheduled pick up day, which is every Thursdays.

Last week, garbage collectors left a pile of unsegregated garbage. I have no choice but to douse it with diesel and burn it to prevent flies from feasting on the biodegradable materials.

Since the implementation of the Waste Segregation Ordinance in the city, garbage collectors are leaving the biodegradable wastes in the vacant lot. Then we noticed  the increase of flies in our surroundings.

In our case in Emily Homes, there should be a pick up point so that the residents would only dump their garbage in the designated area instead of leaving them anywhere.

The barangay officials should conduct  a symposium among its constituents regarding this policy. It is not enough to simply announce it on radio or TV.

Since Cabantian is a home to many subdivisions,   the barangay should visit these subdivisions and inform the residents.  I’m sure this is not just a problem in Emily Homes, this is also a problem in other subdivisions.

Who is telling these people when and where to dump their garbages? It’s the garbage collectors! Is this already part of their job to inform the people?

Just this morning, a garbage collector lectured some residents that they should not leave their garbage anywhere. Instead, they should wait for the garbage truck to arrive since it is blowing its horn as a signal that the garbage truck is in the vicinity.

It’s not just the residents  living near this vacant lot turned into a mini-dumpsite suffer this foul smell and pestering flies, it’s also the people passing by the street.

The barangay must deploy monitoring teams in subdivisions in coordination with the housing association presidents. I learned that the barangay has coordinated with the local purok leaders in the subdivisions to report violators. But it seems no one is monitoring the implementation of the policy.

Ang usa pud ka problema ani kay ang mga tag-balay, dili man nila ingnon pud ila katabang na hulaton ang truck. Karon, kinsa man pud masakpan kung naa na manakop, di ba ang katabang dili ang amo?

To Kapitan Joji Lumanog, our future city councilor, isn’t it hard to exert extra efforts to educate your constituents?

FBI FILES: Ang biko ni Dodong kag ang suman ni Toto

DAVAO CITY (21 May) — Pila naman ka semana nag-agi, nagkitaay naman si Dodong kag si Toto. Upod naman sanda kay mamiyesta kuno sila sa Dodong didto sa baryo sang iya lolo sa banwa naman sila sang Midsayap.

Pero kay malayo man ang baryo sa hiway, ginhambalan ni Dodong si Toto nga malakat na lang daw sila pakadto sa sentro sang baryo.

“To, baktas lang ta paadto didto sa ila ni Lolo.  Subay lang ta dire sa karaan nga dalan,” mangkot ni si Toto.

Daw natingala si Toto pag pamangkot ni Dodong. “Dong, ngaa dira man ta mag-agi sa dalan nga damo subay?” mangkot man si Toto kay Dodong.

“Ay ka-pilosopo gid sa imo ‘to ba. Subay bah, sa ingles na follow or to go along ba! Unsa diay pagsabot nimo ana?” mangkot naman si Dodong.

“Man-an mo Dong,” esplikar si Toto, “sa amon ya ang subay kay amo na ang tawag nga ants! Ti abi ko kung maagi ta dira sa dalan nga damo subay, baw kadton ta. Makatol!” Read More »

FBI FILES: When Dodong travels with Toto

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/5 May) – While aboard a boat from Visayas to Mindanao, passengers would usually stay on the deck to enjoy the rejuvenating air while at sea. And this is what happens when a Cebuano and an Ilonggo travel together:

“Hala, may pating sa dagat, To!” Dodong tells Toto. To his surprise, Toto looks up in the sky and asks: “Diin man? Waay gani pro!”

Clearly, they don’t understand each other because in the Cebuano dialect, pating means shark. But in Ilonggo, it means dove. Read More »

FBI FILES: Ilonggo 101

DAVAO CITY (19 April 2011) — Since I was young, I have often heard my grandparents talk about their hometowns in Panay Island, Western Visayas.

Even my uncles also talk about their vacation experience in Iloilo, particularly Pototan town, which is about 45 minutes away from Iloilo City.

Just last week, Ruby and I had the chance to visit Panay Island, where most of the settlers in Southwestern Mindanao came from. Having born and grown up in Mindanao, I have always been eager to visit our beloved Iloilo.

There’s a joke among Ilonggos that when you say you’re going to visit Iloilo, you will have to “renew.” It means you have to have your “license to boast” renewed in Iloilo.

It has been a joke that Ilonggos are known “tikalon” or boastful. Tikalon also means talking exaggeratedly.  I still wonder why. Read More »

State U!

This morning, Ruby and I attended the graduation rites of her younger sister at UP Mindanao-Mintal campus.

Since it’s also an opportunity to cover, we took several shots of some vendors on the sidelines for news dispatches.

As the program was about to start, we rushed back to the atrium of UP Mindanao. We were just few meters away.

But we were surprised to hear some faculty of the school told us that we, and even the parents, are not allowed to take pictures since the UP Mindanao has its own official photographer.

I told them that we will just take a photo of our graduate while she’s marching towards their designated area. But the ladies, including the guard, insisted that it is prohibited because they have an official photographer.

Wow, I didn’t know that there is such a policy like that in a state university like University of the Philippines! Read More »

Bt Eggplant: Is it safe or not?

On December 17, the Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte ordered the uprooting of the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) eggplants at the field test site inside the University of the Philippines-Mindanao campus in Mintal.

Is it really harmful to our health? Why does the government or some academic institutions is pushing for genetically-modified plants?

Personally, I’m not in favor of any genetically-modified plants. Why can’t the government support or promote indigenous practices instead of the multi-national companies? Farmers have survived for years using traditional methods.

Do we have a shortage of eggplant supply? Academic freedom, yes. But please show some respect to the local government officials.

Pilots Are Leaving (PAL)

Before, they say PAL means Plane Always Late. But now, it could be Pilots Are Lacking or Pilots Are Leaving.

I don’t believe that the PAL management did not anticipate that pilots are leaving soon and would seek for greener pasture abroad. They knew it. But the problem is that, I think some qualified pilots would rather try their luck abroad rather than work with the flag carrier.

Obviously, it’s because they would earn much higher than our airlines. It could be 100 percent higher.

PAL pilots earn at least $4,000 to $7,000 a month, a news report said. I’ve also read somewhere that some of these pilots are overwork. Does the management realize that this has an implication on the safety of the passengers?

I think with what is happening now, the flag carrier could hardly recruit new and qualified pilots. If I’m a qualified pilot, I’d rather try my luck abroad, too.

Maybe, some Philippine Air Force pilots are now tempted to jump in and fly these passenger jets.

What else can you do on this problem Mr. President?