Sanchez Peak: General Santos City's highest spot
Nagpadayong kagubot sa Mindanao - Duterte
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Army pursues Sayyaf ambushers
Onward Christian soldiers
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Payo ni Dr. Willie T. Ong PAGE 7
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3 ARMM governors, leaders throw support behind Aquino presidency
hree influential governors and other leaders in the Muslim autonomous region have publicly came out to support the embattled Filipino leader Benigno Aquino. Many groups are demanding Aquino’s resignation over his failure to prevent the brutal killings of nearly four dozen police commandos by Moro Islamic Liberation Front members in southern Philippines during an anti-terror operation on January 25 deep inside rebel territory. The elite Special Action Force commandos killed Malaysian bomber Marwan in Tukanalipao village in Maguindanao’s Mamasapano town, but they were ambushed by MILF forces and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters on their way out of the remote village. Aquino called the daylong clashes between commandos and rebels as a “misencounter” between friendly forces. The MILF signed a peace accord last year, but the peace pro-
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Jesus Miracle Crusade launches ‘Yes for Peace,’ backs Aquino’s peace efforts
he Jesus Miracle Crusade International Ministry (JMCIM) led by Evangelist Pastor Wilde Estrada Almeda – after prayers and fasting asking for Divine Grace – decided to actively take part in the implementation of “Yes for Peace – Bayanihan para sa KKK (Kapayapaan, Kaunlaran at Kasaganahan)” in support to President Benigno Aquino’s peace efforts. The Yes for Peace, an unfunded, non-government initiated peace education and advocacy campaign, is being supported by Department of Education; the Philippine Postal Corporation, the Presidential Communications Operations Office; the Philippine Information Agency; the Philippine News Agency; and the National Printing Office. In 2000, Pastor Almeda led 12 “prayer warriors” in successfully fasting, praying and negotiating for the release, without ransom, of the so-called Sipadan hostages kidnapped and held captive in Sulu province by the feared terrorist group Abu Sayyaf in 2000.
ARMM
Sulu Vice Governor Sakur Tan speaks in a recent forum in Zamboanga City while Basilan Governor Jum Akbar and Tawi-Tawi Rep. Ruby Sahali and former Tawi-Tawi Governor Sadikul Sahali listen. The group expresses its unconditional and unified support to President Benigno Aquino. (Mindanao Examiner Photo) cess is yet to be completed with down, lawmakers also wanted him and widespread demoralization passage of Bangsamoro Basic Law to resign – accusing the president among members of the police and now pending in Congress follow- of covering up the deadly clash de- military. spite being told by the SAF about Sulu Vice Governor Tan, who ing the carnage. Aside from the multi-sectoral the clandestine operation. There was among those who openly degroups demanding Aquino to step were also rumors of a coup d’état clared support to Aquino, said he
and Governor Totoh Tan and other provincial officials and mayors in the province are supporting the president. Tan – who represented the Sulu governor - along with former Tawi-Tawi Governor Sadikul – who represented Governor Nurbert Sahali- and Basilan Governor Jum Akbar, including Tawi-Tawi Rep. Ruby Tan, pledged their all-out support during a public forum. The forum, held in Zamboanga City - was also attended by leaders of various groups from the three provinces, and student and youth leaders in Zamboanga and Sulu. “We want to reaffirm our unconditional support to the President,” said Tan, who organized the forum attended by over a hundred people. “We are gathered here to express our full and continuing support to the president. Our support to him is unconditional because we see that he’s very supportive to us and to the peace process,” he said. Continue to page 5
JMCIM Evangelist Pastor Wilde Almeda is flanked by followers during the group's 40th anniversary celebration The incredible survival and that Jesus Christ is the Son of God tiating is the subject of the book,” strong faith in God of Pastor and therefore, their Lord and Sav- Smith said during a recent book Almeda’s group that led them to ior, armed only with bibles, launching. The book was launched by freedom and the miracle that also prayers, the firm resolve to act as changed the hearts of many Abu peacemakers and a strong belief evangelist couple Luke and Sayyaf members and their leaders that God is with them convinced Annalissa Smith together with can now be read in a book heavily armed Muslims who be- Danilo Cuarteros and Hermie “Miracles in Moroland” written by lieve that Christ or Issah is a great Limpin – two of the original prayer American author and evangelist Prophet of Allah into releasing warriors, who were with Pastor Sam Smith. their hostages after more than 100 Almeda, when Abu Sayyaf rebels “How Christians, who believe days of fasting, praying and nego- seized them in Talipao town. The
Southern Mindanao
Davao
Western Mindanao
launching of the book – attended by senior ordained preachers, among others – also coincided with the spiritual mission for peace as part of the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the JMCIM. Cuarteros said the JMCIM also invited President Benigno Aquino III to speak during the anniversary celebration attended by some 500,000 members from all over the country, as well as stations in various parts of the world. In his letter to President Aquino, JMCIM Minister Wilde James Comon Almeda, Jr. and Yes for Peace Lead Organizer Ernesto Angeles Alcanzare wrote: “The recent bombing in Zamboanga City and the heart-wrecking death of 44 PNP-SAF officers and men in Maguindanao further underscored the need for people’s direct participation in defining the comprehensive peace process as clearly laid down in the current government policy that you have adopted and set in place.” Continue to page 3
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The Mindanao Examiner
Mar. 9-15, 2015
Sanchez Peak: General Santos City's highest spot GENERAL SANTOS CITY – This southern Filipino city has been growing progressively with new businesses that are giving economic drive for the “Tuna Capital of the Philippines” and has become a magnet for many people, investments, and opportunities. These changes are rebranding General Santos into a highly-urbanized city. And because of the fast and constant progress, reaching that stage is inevitable. Being the beacon for investment and the hub for products and services coming from the entire Region 12, General Santos’ current state is perfect for these opportunities. Despite all of these, General Santos has never lost its taste for tourism and adventure. In fact, some of the best trail and climbs can be found in the city or its vicinities. Don’t be a stranger. Explore General Santos and start with Sanchez Peak, the highest point in the city. Rising about 800 feet above sea level, the Sanchez Peak offers a lofty and relaxing view of Gensan without even leaving the city. Sanchez Peak offers 360 degrees view of some diverse natural attractions that are surrounding General Santos. You have an unobstructed view of Mt. Matutum, Mt. Parker, Sarangani Bay, and some lower mountain ridges that surround General Santos City. Municipalities of Alabel, Malapatan, and the town of Polomolok are also visible up there. Sanchez Peak is located within the boundaries of Conel and Olympog, one of the few rural barangays in General Santos whose economy is primarily farming and other agricultural works. Residents here are very cordial and friendly; they will greet you with their signature, genuine Filipino smiles if ever you cross paths with them. There are two trails going up to Sanchez Peak: One is in Purok Balakayo in Barangay Conel and the other one—almost adjacent to the former—is the Purok Balsinang in Barangay Olympog. For starters, mountaineering experts would often suggest the Balsinang route. Even the pass’ terrain is steep, rocky, and ascending. The Balsinang entry is favorable because it has huge trees to shade you from the heat of the sun. Although not passable by any type of vehicle, the said route offers a good view of General Santos and nearby areas while trekking it. Beginners are also recommended to take Balsinang to practice their strength and stamina. Although the Balakayo route is passable by motorcycles or “habal-habal,” it is an open canopy area. That means that the pass has almost no trees to shield you from the sun. Another uncommon route to Sanchez Peak can be found in nearby Polomolok, which is behind the Olympog-Conel Mountain Ranges. Experienced
mountaineers can traverse the Balsinang Route towards Sanchez Peak in less than an hour. But if you are climbing the peak for relaxation and leisure, you can pound the trail at your own pace. Take a rest under the tall coconut trees, drop your bags, and savor the cool, breezy air the place has to offer. Of course, you have to travel equipped with necessary mountaineering gears: tents, trekking apparels, water and liquid dehydrators, and food. The secret to Sanchez Peak’s serenity and peace is found in the idea that it is considered a hermit’s place -a beautiful place devoid of the most common of amenities but where nature and man can come to silently meet and reorient themselves with one another. The most suitable time to ascend is early morning, around 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. and mid-afternoon, 3 p.m to 4 p.m. when there is a lesser battle with the scorching heat. But when you reach the top, everything is silent except for the strong gushes of the wind. Why fly to Tagaytay or Baguio if you want to experience windy zephyrs and cool breezes? And Sanchez Peak can offer that at a minimal expense. When you want a heavy meal, you can have an order of a whole native chicken—cooked whatever way you want— for only P250 per kilo through the culinary services of Manong Jun and Mising Sanchez – owners of Sanchez Peak. If you think you’re an experienced chef and confident in your cooking skills, you can buy the whole chicken at P180 per kilo. Manong Jun and Manang Mising also own a small, stand-alone store in Sanchez Peak where you can buy snacks and food. Eating while bonding with friends and families is the perfect way to pass a day here in Sanchez Peak. Holding a cup of coffee while enjoying the grandeur of nature is the perfect way to expunge all your stress and travails. Getting along with other hikers is also a nice thing to do. Up here, every individual has no trace of nuances. And in the stark height of Sanchez Peak, one of the best delights you can have is witnessing the gradual glowing of the city lights as the night takes over. The streetlights shine like a million stars that illuminate General Santos. A romantic, gleaming testament that General Santos — throughout the years – has changed and improved. Leana Margarita Nitafan Diaz, a regular trekker of Sanchez Peak, brought her friends to hike with her. “It was a really nice experience to hike here. Even if it is just my fourth time here, everything seems new,” Diaz said. “I brought my friends here so that they can experience Sanchez Peak. I want to show them that the adage ‘no pain, no glory’ is true,”
she added. For her friends, going to Sanchez Peak have given them the chance of tasting the best native chicken delicacies. For other hikers, it means quenching their thirst with the coldest and “most delicious” water they have ever tasted. In the opinion of Manong Jun and Manang Mising, going to Sanchez Peak is the perfect thrill and adventure for city folk who love nature. “Many hikers are going here just to seek nature adventure. During holidays, summer breaks, and vacation, a quite number of people are going here for short excursion and voyage,” Manong Jun said. “In peak days, the number of hikers staying overnight here could reach 250-300.” Manong Jun and Manang Mising oversee the maintenance and cleanliness of Sanchez Peak. Not business-minded in nature, they just want to take care of their precious property. They are also encouraging visitors to help them take care of the trails and the area. As they say in the mountaineering and trekking lingo, “Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints and bring home nothing but memories.”Sanchez Peak is a land given by the native Blaans here to my father. It is a proof of their camaraderie and friendship,” Manong Jun said. Celebrations like Kalilangan can highlight Sanchez Peak as a piece of culture and history. Bonds and friendship between the Christians and Blaans were formed here. “Now, we are trying to preserve the neatness of the place; we always check the surroundings to pick dirt and garbage,” Manong Jun said. “We are also seeking the help of the local government unit of General Santos City for the maintenance of Sanchez Peak. Of course, this (Sanchez) peak is the only treasure we can hand down to our children,” he added. City Mayor Ronnel Rivera has already expressed his support in promoting Sanchez Peak as a tourist destination. “Not all urbanized cities have this kind of landmark. Sanchez Peak is unique because the adventure and the nature that some people are just inside the city. In some other places, you have to go outside the city and spend more money just to experience an adventure like Sanchez Peak,” Mayor Rivera said. “This is the reason why we are trying to preserve the environment of and around the Sanchez Peak with the help of Community Environment and Natural Resources Office and Waste Management Office,” he added. Currently, boosting Sanchez Peak’s image to become a prime tourist destination is not being taken for granted. And as for every residents of General Santos, don’t be strangers in your land. Don’t leave and explore other places without even visiting the bounties teeming in General Santos. (Ian John Lagare)
(Photos by Cocoy Sexcion)
Taxi, gi hold-up sa Davao City DAVAO CITY Nagpatabang ang usa ka taxi driver sa San Pedro Police Station nga si N. Campuso sa Holiday Taxi human gitulis sa 2 niya ka pasahero nga gikan sa downtown area alas 3 sa kaadlawun. Nasamad ang palad sa driver human misukol sa mga kawatan ug gisagang nya ang kulsilyo nga gigamit sa mga suspetsado sa maong insidente. Daling nangambak ang duha sa ug ni sibat padulong sa Bolton Bridge. Matud pa sa Mindanao Examiner ni Senior Inspector Melgrace Driz, spokesperson sa
Taxi driver N. Campuso (Marlon Gayog) Davao City Police Office, under investigation karon ang maong kaso sa pag hold-up sa mga taxi driver. Ilaha ng imbestihan
ang biktima sa pag hold up sa maong taxi. Dugang sa iyang pamahayag na duna usab nahitabo sama sa pag hold up sa taxi didto sa San Rafael Street, Maa apan wala na nagpakita ang maong taxi driver sa kapulisan ug iyang gituohan na “hold-up me” ang nahitabo sa maong taxi driver sa mga niaging adlaw. Sa iyang pamahayag na isolated case lang ang maong pang hold-up sa taxi dire sa Davao. Nagpalatala sa kapulisan ang taxi driver human gitulis sa mga pasahero nga nang hold-up kaniya. (Marlon Gayog)
Mar. 9-15, 2015
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The Mindanao Examiner
Jesus Miracle Crusade launches ‘Yes for Peace’, backs Aquino’s peace efforts Continued fr om page 1 from Cuarteros said earlier during President Aquino’s term, he declared: “We shall endeavor to restore confidence in a peace process that is transparent and participative.” But contrary to President Aquino’s firm belief that the comprehensive peace process was conducted in accordance with his guidance, critics are having a heyday proving that even the drafting Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) was not transparent and participative. Feeling that there is a need to recognize the growing clamor against the BBL, President Aquino challenged critics to lay out alternative solutions instead of merely criticizing efforts undertaken toward a just and lasting peace. And pursuant to the principle posted in the website of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process that, “a comprehensive peace process should be communitybased, reflecting the sentiments, values and principles important to all Filipinos. Thus, it shall be defined not by the government alone, The book launching of "Miracles in Moroland" authored by American evangelist Sam Smith with "prayer warriors" and former Abu Sayyaf hostages Danilo Cuarteros and Hermie Limpin and members of the JMCIM watch Pastor Almeda on a huge screen.S
nor by the different contending groups only, but by all Filipinos as one community.” Cuarteros said in another letter to the President, Almeda and Alcanzare also wrote, “Many of our Preachers are undertaking various initiatives to be bridges between the government and the armed groups within existing government policies and in accordance with published guidelines. In fact, bible studies are being conducted in rebel infested areas as well as military camps which have resulted in a down swing in the number of armed confrontations.” He said the JMCIM also enjoins its members to actively participate in Yes for Peace by following-up the compliance by public and private elementary and high schools where their children study to Department of Education Memorandum 277, s. 2011 as well as subsequent issuance until, if needed to stress the point, majority of Filipinos have responded to the campaign that calls for the permanent cessation of the armed conflicts; conduct of peace negotiations here in
the country instead of abroad; and direct people’s involvement and participation (Bayanihan) for the implementation of programs and projects that have already been agreed upon or will be agreed upon. Cuarteros said Almeda and Alcanzare continue to pray for the President’s favorable response to join the calls of over 11 million Filipinos who have thus far responded to the Yes for Peace – Bayanihan para sa Kapayapaan campaign and are actually praying that President Aquino personally respond to Yes to Peace and use his position to push for the whole of nation approach and Bayanihan (collective involvement and participation) in addressing the protracted armed conflicts of Filipinos against Filipinos to protect and uphold the individual and collective human right of the Filipino people to peace. He said considering the rain of criticisms currently besieging President Aquino, Almeda and Alcanzare are actually “praying and waiting for a miracle to happen.” (Mindanao Examiner)
Nagpadayong kagubot sa Mindanao - Duterte DAVAO CITY - Mukabat sa P4.695 million ang gigasto sa local nga goberno sa siyudad sa Davao sa isip educational grant o assistance sa mukabat sa 184 ka mga scholars sa mga nagkadaiyang pribado ug pampublikong tulonghaan. Nagpaabot sa iyang pahisubo si Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte sa mga pamilyang nabiyaan sa ilang mga minahal sa kinabuhi kinsa nahimong biktima sa pagpabusikad sa bomba sa Sasa International Airport sa Bangoy Monteverde. Gitambagan ni Duterte ang mga pamilya sa 22 ka mga namatay sa pagpamomba niadtong Marso 4, 2003 - 12 ka tuig na ang milabay - nga silang nasakitan kinahanglang mobiya sa ilang kasuko nga gibati - di sila kinahanglang magpadala sa ilang kasuko , kay kung magpadala sila sa ilang kasuko wala gyoy mahitabo. “Makig-estorya ka ug taong suko ka, magnegotiate ka ug kaso makig-areglo ka unya ikaw nag-init ang imong ulo kay
ang imong kasingkasing nagadugo, mawala ka sa normal nga dagan sa kinabuhi”, si Duterte nagpaklaro. Gitmbagan sila sa Mayor nga kalimtan na lamang ang tanan, ka yang Ginoo man sab ang namulong nga mabanhaw siya gikan sa mga minatay aron sa paghukom sa mga buhi ug mga patay, usa ka panid sa biblia nga kanunay ginapasabot sa mga Kristiyanos. Kini nga pasumbinguay na lang matud pa ang atong toohan aron nga makabangon ang matag pamilya kinsa may minahal sa kinabui nga nahimong biktima sa niluog nga krimen. Si Duterte dugang namahayag nga magpaabot ta anang panahon nga manindog ang mga patay nga atong mga kaigsoonan unya huwesan ta sa Ginoo. “Kamong tanan mga pulis, sundalo ug civilian huptan ang maong saad gikan sa atong Ginoo, sa pagkakaron ang pinakaepiktibo natong himoon mao ang
pagsuporta sa atong Goberno,”si Duterte dugang namahayag. Apan subling gpasabot sa mayor nga ang bugtong kasulbaran niining atong giatubang nga suliran ang padayon nga pakig-estoya sa mga grupong mikontra sa goberno, aron atong maangkon ang tinood nga kahusay ug kalinmaw nga atong ginadamgo dinhi sa Mindanao. Adunay tambag ang mayor sa mga taong gusto ug gyera, siya miingon nga kining mga tawhana mas maayong moadto sa North Korea o sa Syberia kay didto matag karon ug unya ang kagubot . “Di ta pwedeng maginisog sa ingon niini nga panahon, ug sundalo ta tanan walay problema, apan ang problema duna kitay pamilya, ang batakang institusyon sa atong kumonidad; naa man tay mga igsoon o anak nga sundalo ug pulis apan dili kitang tanan pweding makig asdang sa mga grupong mibatok sa atong gobyerno,” si Duterte nagtapos. (Roan R. Abasolo)
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The Mindanao Examiner
Mar. 9-15, 2015
Positibo and nahimong tubag sa mga partisipante sa Araw ng Dabaw
Philippine military chief General Gregorio Catapang, accompanied by Western Mindanao Command chief General Rustico Guerrero, inspected troops in Maguindanao province where he pinned medals to five soldiers - one officer and four infantrymen - during an inspection at the 6th Infantry Division with its commander General Edmundo Pangilinan. The soldiers were among those who helped rescue police commandos who clashed with Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Mamasapano town on January 25. The fighting killed 44 Special Action Force commandos, 18 MILF rebels and 5 BIFF and seven civilians were also slain in the violence. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Mark Navales)
Army pursues Sayyaf ambushers COTABATO CITY – The Philippine Army has ordered troops to relentlessly pursue Abu Sayyaf rebels involved in the ambush of two young officers in Sulu province. Abu Sayyaf rebels ambushed a military convoy in Patikul town last week and killed two army commanders and an infantry man. The ambush also wounded at least 6 soldiers, but military and police officials did not release any information into the daring attack that occurred on a highway in the village of Pansul. The attack occurred the same day after Philippine military chief General Gregorio Catapang inspected troops in the province. Mindanao Examiner sources in the province said two lieutenants and one sergeant were slain in the attack. And sources identified the wounded as Sergeant Julieto Payumo, Privates First Class Ramil Akiatan, Jear Sumagang, Nasser Adian, Samuel Quinones and Cor-
poral Carlos Baguio. The soldiers were on three trucks – two KM450 and one M35 – when rebels detonated a roadside bomb and then opened fire on security forces. The ambush sparked a firefight between troops and rebels and only stopped after military reinforcement arrived to rescue the embattled soldiers. The troops came from an inspection and were heading back to their camp when the Abu Sayyaf attacked them. Provincial police chief Abraham Orbita did not answer phone calls by journalists who were trying to get details of the ambush. The Western Mindanao Command under General Rustico Guererro said troops clashed with at least 80 Abu Sayyaf gunmen. Security forces have launched a fresh offensive against the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu in an effort to flush them out from the province. Authorities have tagged the Abu Sayyaf as behind the spate of bombings and
kidnappings in the restive Muslim autonomous region. After his visit to Sulu, Catapang, accompanied by Guerrero, also flew to Maguindanao province where he pinned medals to five soldiers - one officer and four infantrymen - during an inspection at the 6th Infantry Division with its commander General Edmundo Pangilinan. The soldiers were among those who helped rescue police commandos who clashed with Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Mamasapano town on January 25. The fighting killed 44 Special Action Force commandos, 18 MILF rebels and 5 BIFF and seven civilians were also slain in the violence. One soldier,Sergeant Whilmer Jaranilla, of 62nd Division Reconnaissance Company, who led a small team during the rescue operation, was also promoted on the spot. (Ely Dumaboc and Mark Navales)
A yam vendor in Kidapawan City prepares her merchandise at the local market. Many villagers have resorted to selling agricultural produce to augment their income. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Geonarri Solmerano)
SUPPORT PEACE IN MINDANAO
DAVAO CITY - Mas mabulokon ug mas pinasahi angsa ika-78 nga pagsaulog sa Araw ng Davao karong tuiga. Kini ang gipaklaro ni James Zimmerman, ang chairman sa Parada Dabawenyo karong Marso 16 (Civic Military Parade) ug usa sa mga lomilihok sa Mutya ng Davao 2015. Si Zimmerman dugang nag-ingon ng ilang paningkamotan nga dili law-ay o pangit ang presentasyon sa mga aktibidad sa Araw ng Davaw ug karong tuiga mas bibo ug granduso ang kasaulogan sa siyudad. Dunay kausaban nga mahitabo aron lamang makaagni kini ug atensyon gikan sa mga dumodoong dinhi sa siyudad sa Davao. Bisan paman ug may kalisdanan sa pagpangia ug dugang pundo alang sa malampusong kasaulogan sa Araw ng Davaw. Gani daghan na ang ilang panagatagbo nga gihimo sa Araw ng Davaw executive commiittee aron
plantsahon matubaga ang mga panginhahanglan sa searck sa Mutya nga Dabaw. Apil sa mga kabagohan mao ang pagdawat sa hagit sa mga andidata nga makigdungan sa kabaguhan sa panahojn; sama na lmamang sa ilang mga sapot kung sa nakalabay nga tuig 1991 ang mga finalist sa Mutya ng Davao naka-Kimono pa; sa tuig 2015 naka-sleeveless na. Kung ang mga pasundayag 14 anyos ang milabay trompa pa ang ginagamit ka ron anaa na ang electronic music festival, usa sa mga modernong kabag-uhan sa Mutya ng Davao. Gani ang pamaagi sa pagpili sa mga finalists kung sa imaging mga kasaulogan sa Araw ng Davaw tag-lima lang, karon 15 na ka mga kandidadta ang musolod sa mga finalists. Kung sa una kutob pa sa ubos sa tuhod ang palda sa mga kandidata karon mamahimo na silang magpasundayag sa
kahamis sa ilang kutis sa mg ailing hurado. Kini ug uban pa ang pipila sa mga kabag-uhan nga gipasabot nmi Zimmerman nga mahitabo sa kasuologan sa Araw ng Davao. Tungod kay wala pa kitay konkretong listahan sa mga gilauman nga bisita sa siyudad gilauman nga mas modaghan pa ang mga dumodoong nga mobisita sa siyudad. Samtang positibo ang nahimong panlantaw niini ni Minnet Macaraeg nga taga-Branagay Calinan sa iya ug sa ilang pagdawat sa bag-og hagit nga gipagula sa executive committee. “Among gidawat ang maong hagit sa kabaguhan gikan sa kinahiladman sa among kasingkasing ug kinahanglan nga among mahatag ang tanang ginapangayo sa mga organizers ug sa mga nanguna niining Mutya ng Davao 2015,” si Macaraeg nagtapus. (Roan R. Abasolo)
Students in Kidapawan City buy unsafe street foods from vendors despite warnings by health officials. (Mindanao Examiner Photo - Geonarri Solmerano)
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The Mindanao Examiner
Mar. 9-15, 2015
3 ARMM governors, leaders throw support behind Aquino presidency
Sulu Vice Governor Sakur Tan with Basilan Governor Jum Akbar, Tawi-Tawi Rep. Ruby Sahali and former Tawi-Tawi Governor Sadikul Sahali during a forum in Zamboanga City. The group expresses its support to President Aquino. (Mindanao Examiner Photo) Continued fr om page 1 from Tan emphasized Aquino’s sincere leadership and his aspiration for peace and progress in Mindanao and at the same time strongly criticized those who are calling for the president’s resignation or ouster. He said Aquino has never spoken about war, but peace for the country, especially in the Muslim autonomous region and other parts of Mindanao where the president poured billions and billions of pesos in development projects in
support to peace and development efforts. “There are certain people who believe in going to war to be able achieve peace. But we are now talking peace because they went to war. There are so many groups, the BIFF, the MNLF, the MILF – they all went to war and now they are talking about peace, but in the case of President Aquino, he has not been talking about war, he’s never talked about war (but peace),” Tan said. He said although the
Mamasapano clash was a tragic incident, Aquino had not resort to violence. “There are calls for the president to resign, why are there calls for the president to resign? The 2016 elections are fast approaching and everybody is positioning and others are posturing to become candidates both in the local and in national elections, but do you think taking a fall, any destabilization or instability at this time (is helpful to the country?) Dapat tumulong tayo sa
(gobyerno at bansa),” Tan said. “We call, first and foremost, they must not only listen (to the people in Manila), we also have the right to be heard, Philippines is not only Manila . The Sulu , Basilan and Tawi - Tawi and Zamboanga are also Philippines and we are among those who voted President Noynoy. We demand, Mr. President do not step down,” he said. Akbar and the Sahalis also echoed Tan’s statement, saying, they all
support Aquino. “We are peaceful people and we are supporting the presidency. If anybody would cry for war or something else, kami siguro magkibit balikat lang. Yun tao mismo namin, kami will not support instability, we are peace-loving. Maliit man kaming probinsya, we may have been progressing in all aspect, but we always go hand-in-hand with our brothers and sisters in Basilan and Sulu. But in so many huge issues that would define us as people, as Mus-
lims in the Sulu sultanate area, we always concur with the sentiments of the people of Sulu and Basilan,” the Tawi-Tawi lawmaker said. Municipal mayors in Sulu also issued a manifesto expressing their support to Aquino. Tan’s group was the first in Mindanao to come out in the open and express their full support to Aquino. They are also expected to issue their own provincial manifesto in support to Aquino. (Mindanao Examiner)
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The Mindanao Examiner - FOREIGN
Mar. 9-15, 2015
Onward Christian soldiers: US filmmaker, self-styled revolutionary trains faithful to fight ISIS
JUST 12 miles north of the ISIS-controlled city of Mosul, an American filmmaker and self-styled revolutionary is running a boot camp for Christians willing and able to fight for their lives and faith against the murderous Islamic terror organization. Matthew VanDyke, an award-winning documentary filmmaker who escaped a Libyan prison after going there to help overthrow Col. Muammar Qaddafi in 2011, is helping to train hundreds of long-persecuted Assyrian Christians in everything from firearms to close quarters combat. VanDyke, who founded the security contracting firm company Sons of Liberty (SOLI), is working with an unnamed U.S. military veteran to get the Christian conscripts who range in age from 18 to 60 or older, ready to take on the ominous black clad army that lies dug in to Iraq’s second-largest city just over the horizon. Earlier this week, the first battalion of the Nineveh Plain Protection Units (NPU) graduated from the boot camp. “It’s designed to help local sectarian forces in local
communities facing threats of terrorism, insurgency or oppressive regimes to be able to defend themselves,” VanDyke told FoxNews.com from a base in the Kurdish region of Northern Iraq, where he hopes to help train 2,000 men. “It’s the step where the international community has failed or is moving too slow.” The Assyrians, sometimes called Syriac Christians, belong to a variety of Christian sects and are a stateless ethnic group. One of the oldest civilizations from ancient Mesopotamia, they have their own culture, language and heritage sharply distinct from that of Arabian or Kurdish people. They speak a near-extinct language connected to Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus, and remain stateless – over the years enduring immense persecution and land expropriations. While the Kurds have proven a worthy adversary of ISIS, with their battle-hardened Peshmerga pushing back the terrorist army in cities and villages throughout northern Iraq and Syria, the Christians and other religious minorities including
theYazidis have been slaughtered, starved and sent fleeing throughout the region since ISIS broke from Al Qaeda and began establishing a so-called caliphate in the region a year ago. Iraq’s Christian population, which numbered 1.5 million in 2004, has dwindled in the face of the ISIS onslaught while, VanDyke charges, the world has stood by. “The international system has failed [Christian] communities around the world in recent years,” said VanDyke, a 35-year-old Baltimore native who obtained a master’s degree from Georgetown University’s vaunted Walsh School of Foreign ServiCe before embarking on a mercurial career that has seen him film and fight throughout Northern Africa and the Middle East. “Christianity is about to be wiped out in Iraq. “They are down to less than 400,000. Many of those who have left will never return,” he continued. “They need to demonstrate that they can maintain and be responsible for their own security to encourage their people to stay – or else, within a couple of genera-
Russian opposition leader Nemtsov shot dead in Moscow BORIS Nemtsov, a charismatic Russian opposition leader and sharp critic of President Vladimir Putin, was gunned down near the Kremlin, just a day before a planned protest against the government. Nemtsov’s death late on Saturday ignited a fury among opposition figures who assailed the Kremlin for creating an atmosphere of intolerance of any dissent and called the killing an assassination. Putin quickly offered his condolences and called the murder a provocation. Nemtsov, a 55-year-old former deputy prime minister, was working on a report presenting evidence that he believed proved Russia’s direct involvement in the separatist rebellion that has raged in eastern Ukraine since last April. President Barack Obama called on Russia’s government to perform a “prompt, impartial and transparent” investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice. Obama called Nemtsov a “tireless advocate” for the rights of Russian citizens. Nemtsov assailed the government’s inefficiency, rampant corruption and the Kremlin’s Ukraine policy, which has strained relations between Russia and the West to a degree unseen since Cold War times. In an interview with the Sobesednik newspaper, Nemtsov said earlier this month that his 86-year old mother was afraid that Putin could have him killed for his opposition activities. Asked if he had such fears himself, he responded by saying: “If I were afraid I wouldn’t have led an oppo-
sition party.” Speaking on radio just a few hours before his death, he harshly criticised Putin for plunging Russia into the crisis by his “mad, aggressive and deadly policy of war against Ukraine”. “The country needs a political reform,” Nemtsov said on Ekho Moskvy radio. “When power is concentrated in the hands of one person and this person rules for ever, this will lead to an absolute catastrophe, absolute. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko called Nemtsov a personal friend and a “bridge” between the two countries. He said on his Facebook page that he hopes the killers will be punished. Nemtsov’s lawyer Vadim Prokhorov said the politician had received threats on social networks and told police about them, but authorities didn’t take any steps to protect him. The Russian Interior Ministry, which oversees Russia’s police force, said that Nemtsov was killed by four shots in the back from a passing car as he was walking over a bridge just outside the Kremlin shortly after midnight. Driv e-b y shooting ive-b e-by Interior Ministry spokeswoman Yelena Alexeyeva told reporters that Nemtsov was walking with a female acquaintance, a Ukrainian citizen, when a vehicle drove up and unidentified assailants shot him dead. The woman wasn’t hurt and was being questioned by police. Mikhail Kasyanov, a former Russian prime minister now also in opposition,
said he was shocked. “In the 21st century, a leader of the opposition is being demonstratively shot just outside the walls of the Kremlin!” Kasyanov told reporters as Nemtsov’s body placed in a plastic bag was removed on a rainy and cold night, as the Kremlin bells chimed nearby. “The countr y is rrolling olling country into the ab yss abyss yss..” Sunday’s rally was pushed to the city’s outskirts by the authorities, but Kasyanov said the rally organisers decided that they will stage a demonstration in the center of the capital to commemorate Nemtsov. Officials’ failure to authorise it would be certain to cause anger and could lead to unrest. Opposition activist Ilya Yashin, who last spoke to Nemtsov two days before the killing, said he had no doubt that Nemtsov’s murder was politically motivated. “Boris Nemtsov was a stark opposition leader who criticised the most important state officials in our country, including President Vladimir Putin. As we have seen, such criticism in Russia is dangerous for one’s life,” Yashin said. Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of backing the rebels with troops and sophisticated weapons. Moscow denies the accusations. ‘Contr act killing ontract killing’’ Putin ordered Russia’s top law enforcement chiefs to personally oversee the probe of Nemtsov’s killing. “Putin noted that this cruel murder has all the makings of a contract hit and is extremely provocative,” presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in remarks carried by Russian news agencies. (Al Jazeera)
tions, there won’t be any Christians left in Iraq. This is their last chance.” In December, the Assyrian Democratic Movement – the primary political party of Assyrians in Iraq – announced the development of the NPU, a militia made up mostly Christian volunteers.VanDyke said the Christians realized they had to fight for themselves when ISIS began a major assault on Christian-held areas of Iraq such as the Nineveh Plains last year and the Peshmerga withdrew without telling them. “Some people woke up and looked outside and there was ISIS in their backyard, so they don’t trust anyone else but their own defense and nor should they,” VanDyke said. “They’ve had women kidnapped; their homes have been taken from them in the fight with ISIS.” However, bringing this Christian group together and training them to take up arms has been something of a political challenge. VanDyke said that the minority faction was persistently denied requests by the Iraqi Central Government and Peshmerga to form their own force, so they began training covertly. With a nascent force now established and ready to fight the common enemy, any opposition from the Iraqi or Kurdish governments has dropped. Klado Ramzi, an Iraqi Christian who serves on the NPU Leadership Committee, told FoxNews.com that the group’s goals go beyond just protecting its people and territory from ISIS, but include
acquiring the long-term capability of defending itself. “We have had roots in Iraq for thousands and thousands of years,” Ramzi said. “It is very important that we protect our language, our being. We respect all people in Iraq, but we refuse to be part of the fighting between Kurds and Arabs. We want to be independent and we need our own system of security for the NPU area.” The Assyrian fighters supply their own weapons at the camp, which VanDyke began covertly in December. In addition to basic military training, VanDyke and his associates are helping leaders within the Christian communities forge international diplomatic connections, including with the U.S. State Department. Sons of Liberty bills itself as a full-service military training, consulting, support and security firm that seeks to “enable those abandoned by the international community to take action in defense of themselves and their people.” In 2013, VanDyke released his first documentary, entitled “Not Anymore: A Story of Revolution” with his own money and the goal of encouraging international support for Syrian rebels in the ongoing civil war. The film won more than 50 awards and has been shown at educational institutions and events around the world sponsored by organizations such as Amnesty International. His second documentary, “Point and Shoot,” which used footageVanDyke shot from 2007-2011, while motorcycling around the
Middle East and North Africa as well as while in Libya. His latest project, Sons of Liberty, relies on donations to provide training and aid, one reason he is no longer conducting the camp in secret. VanDyke said his goal is to redefine the security contracting industry “by challenging the mercenary model that has dominated it throughout history, by providing services and assistance for free to those in the greatest need of them.” In addition to funding, he seeks skilled ex-military operators and security contractors who can donate their skills to help train the Assyrians. In its violent quest to take over cities and land, ISIS has intentionally persecuted religious minorities – kidnapping, murdering, raping, enslaving and torturing Christians. Just this week, Syrian activists said as many as 200 Christians had been abducted, including women and the elderly, from Assyrian Christian villages in northeastern Syria. The U.S. State Department condemned the attacks, and stated that hundreds more are trapped in villages besieged by ISIS operatives. For now, VanDyke – who fought alongside rebels in Syrian more than a year ago, believes going into Syria is just too dangerous. “The problem there is the level of betrayal,” he said. “There is a very high likelihood for anyone who goes there of being sold to militants by the very people you’re there to help and protect.” (Fox News – Hollie McKay)
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The Mindanao Examiner
Mar. 9-15, 2015
Dreams of a young Manobo evacuee DAVAO DEL NORTE - The fresh morning breeze, sparkling stars at night, the simple life in the community where they gather sweet potatoes for their food…these are some of the things that a young Manobo evacuee remembers after she left their home in Sitio Bagang in the village of Palma Gil in Davao del Norte's Talaingod town. At 12, Aileen Baliti became an evacuee, together with her parents who are both peasants. She said that she is afraid of the soldiers who have encamped in their community. She said that being an evacuee is not easy. She sleeps on a makeshift bed made of bamboo under an improvised roof in the evacuation center. Constantly, they are awakened every time a motorized vehicle passes by. As she narrates her story, she feels sick with fever. Aileen says she misses her home and hopes that one day the
military will leave their community. As a young girl, the sound of war and bombs are not new to her anymore. Along with her two siblings, she stopped going to school to join her community in their call for the government to pull out the military troops away from their land. Deep in her heart, she longs to go back to school and she knows that this dream will only come true once the military troops leave permanently. Before the evacuation, Aileen was on her second grade at Salugpongan ta tanu Igkanogon Community Learning Center at Sitio Lasakan. Every day, she walks for two hours in order to reach her school. She dreams of being a teacher one day that’s why she wants to continue her studies. She says that there a lot of children in her community who need help in
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learning how to read and write that’s why she wants to be a teacher. Like Aileen, there are 93 more pupils among 200 evacuees from Talaingod and Bukidnon who are now in United Church of Christ of the Philippines' Haran to seek refuge. According to Dolphing Ogan, Secretary General of Kusog sa Katawhang Lumad sa Mindanao (Kalumaran), the education of their children has been persistently under attack since the military troops use their school as encampments and transformed them into military barracks. He said that militarization under President Benigno Aquino the Third’s Oplan Bayanihan has incessantly targeted the Indigenous Peoples. Military troops along with paramilitary groups continue to victimize and terrorize their communities. (Kilab Multimedia via Mindanao Examiner)
Aileen Baliti (Kilab Multimedia)
MAY BODY ODOR: Paano Maaalis? Payo ni Dr. Willie T. Ong bagoong, baka mangamoy suka ka rin. NAKU! May kilala ba kayong may body odor o yung may amoy ang katawan? Ang 7. Uminom ng 8-12 basong tubig, para luminis ang iyong katawan. mabahong amoy ay nagmumula sa 8. Magsuot ng cotton at linen na baro, naghalong pawis at bacteria sa katawan. Ngunit huwag mag-alala dahil mayroon pantalon at underwear. Mas mabilis matuyo ang pawis sa cotton at linen na tela. tayong mga tips para matanggal ito: Umiwas sa mga nylon na baro. Mas 1. Maligo araw-araw. Sabunin at kuskusin ang buong katawan, lalo na ang mainam din kung maluwag ang kasuotan. 9. Labhan maigi ang mga baro. mga lugar na madalas mangamoy. 2. Hugasan ang kilikili, singit at paa ng Magpalit ng baro at medyas araw-araw. 2 beses sa isang araw. Ibang klase ang pawis Kapag mabango ang iyong baro, mas hindi ka mangangamoy. Huwag ulit-ulitin ang na lumalabas sa mga lugar na ito dahil mas maamoy kaysa sa ibang lugar. baro. Dr. Willie T. Ong 3. Gumamit ng sabon. Pumili ng sabon 10. Huwag masyado magpapawis. na babagay sa iyo. Puwedeng subukan ang Safeguard at Kung alam mong may meeting ka sa hapon ay huwag nang mag-eher-sisyo o dumako sa maiinit na lugar sa umaga. iba pang anti-bacterial na sabon. 4. Maglagay ng kontra sa pawis o antiperspirants sa Kapag pinawisan ka ay manga-ngamoy na. Magbaon ng kili-kili. Puwede ang tawas, roll-on, baking soda, at iba pa. extrang baro at medyas. 11. Magrelaks lang, Ka-pag kinakabahan ka, lalo kang Hanapin kung ano ang mas epektibo para sa iyo. 5. Subukan ang alkohol sa kilikili at paa. Kapag napatay papawisan. ang mikrobyo, mababawasan din ang amoy. 12. Magpakunsulta sa doktor kapag may body odor 6. Umiwas sa pagkaing spicy at maaanghang. Umiwas pa rin. May mga espesyal na deodorant na binibigay ang din sa mga bawang, sibuyas, curry at maamoy na isda. Alam mga doktor. Kailangan din masuri ng doktor kung may iba ninyo ba na ang mga pagkaing ito ay lumalabas din sa ating kang sakit tulad ng goiter, nerbiyos o talagang mapawisin pawis? Kung mahilig ka sa sawsawang sili, suka, patis at ka lang. Good luck po.
IWAS BAD BREATH
MARAMING tao ang may bad breath. Minsan nahihiya tayong magsabi sa ating kamag-anak o kaibigan na may bad breath sila. Alamin natin ang solusyon dito. 1. Huwag kumain ng maraming bawang, sibuyas at sili. Nananatili ang amoy ng mga ito (galing sa essential oils) sa loob ng bibig ng 24 oras. Kahit anong sipilyo mo ay nandoon pa rin ang amoy. Subukang sumipsip ng calamansi para mabawasan ang amoy. 2. Huwag manigarilyo. Mabaho ang hininga nila at parang nakaamoy ka ng isang ashtray. Ihinto ito. 3. Umiwas sa spiced meats tulad ng pepperoni, salami at longganisa. Mayroon kasing maamoy na mantika na lalabas sa iyong pagdighay at hininga ng 24 oras. 4. Umiwas sa mabaho o malansang isda. May mga isda tulad ng bagoong, alamang o bangus na matagal maalis ang amoy sa ating hininga. Pumili na lang ng ibang isda. 5. Tubig lang ang dapat inumin. Ang kape, beer, alak at whisky ay nasa listahan ng maamoy na inumin. Nagiiwan ang mga ito ng residue (parang latak) sa ating bibig at sikmura. 6. Magmumog ng madalas. Kung wala pang pagkakataong magsipilyo, magmumog nang maraming beses pagkatapos kumain. Mababawasan din ang dumi sa iyong bibig. 7. Magbaon ng sipilyo. Pagkatapos kumain,
magbrush ng ngipin para matanggal agad ang amoy. Magsipilyo ng 3 beses sa maghapon o bawat kain. 8. Gumamit ng tongue cleaner. Ito’y isang plastic na panlinis ng dila. Maraming bacteria at dumi ang maaalis sa paggamit ng tongue cleaner. Mas epektibo ang tongue cleaner kaysa sa pag-brush ng dila na gamit ang sipilyo. Gamitin ito 3 beses sa maghapon. 9. Gumamit ng dental floss. Maraming dumi at tinga (plaque) ang sumisingit sa ating ngipin. Kapag hindi ito naaalis ay manganga-moy bulok ito. Napakabaho po nito. Mag-floss kahit isang beses sa gabi. 10. Gumamit ng mouth-wash. Kung may bad breath ka, may tulong din ang paggamit ng mouthwash. Maganda itong ga-mitin bago matulog. 11. Magpatingin sa dentista. Ang bad breath ay kadalasan nanggaga-ling sa nakatagong impek-syon sa bibig at gilagid. Minsan may sira pala ang iyong ngipin. 12. Kapag hindi pa rin mawala ang bad breath, kumonsulta sa isang doktor na espesyalista sa tiyan (gastroenterologist) o Ear Nose Throat (ENT doctor). Minsan nanggagaling ang bad breath sa loob ng ating lalamunan o tiyan. Huling tip: Kung ika’y nagmamadali, puwede rin naman ang mga chewing gum na mint flavor. Ngunit panandalian lang ito at tinatakpan lang ang amoy. Iwaksi ang bad breath.
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Mar. 9-15, 2015
Sunken Japanese WWII Battleship Located in the Philippines
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During World War II, this catapult system was used to launch float planes (either Mitsubishi F1M2s or Aichi E13As) from a Japanese warship. Now, it rests more than 3,000 feet below the sea. (Photo By Paul Allen)
Search for Journalists of the Year is on
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he Metrobank Foundation, Inc. and the Probe Media Foundation have launched here the “Search for Journalists of the Year”. The Search will recognize 3 journalists as paragons of their profession and the media industry and each of them will receive a P300,000 as cash prize and a specially designed medallion. Organizers said the awardees will also be bestowed the title “Metrobank
Foundation Fellows in Journalism,” where they will share their expertise and experience through professional lectures for students, academic professionals, and media practitioners in different parts of the country. It said those who are interested to join the search may register at http://bit.ly/ JOYCebu. Now on its 2nd year, the JOY Search recognizes excellence in Philippine journalism. It celebrates and honors Filipino journalists from print, television, radio and online
media whose excellent stories have contributed to the development of the nation, and have influenced and inspired their colleagues and the broader media industry over the years. The first journalists recognized by MBFI in 2001, and then known as the Search for Outstanding Journalists were Sheila Coronel, Jessica Soho, and the late Armando Malay. In 2013, it was relaunched with Malou Mangahas, Jarius Bondoc, and Jiggy Manicad as the awardees.
Gov't rallies support for Cebu Action Plan
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ational Treasurer Roberto Tan has rallied delegates at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Finance and Central Bank Deputies' Meeting to support the Cebu Action Plan (CAP), saying, it would benefit a lot of people. "We highly encourage you to work with us on our CAP initiatives so that we could bring about their intended benefits. We look forward to your support to the CAP, as we, together as one APEC community, concertedly work towards
our ultimate goal of sustained and shared prosperity," Tan told the delegates. Tan said they have developed the CAP, mindful of the imperatives for the AsiaPacific, as well as the progress that the APEC has achieved through the years. Tan said the aim of the CAP is to achieve free and open trade and investment set by the Bogor Goals, the importance of sustainable and balanced growth and sound fiscal management highlighted in the Kyoto Report on Growth Strategy and Finance, and the priorities on financial inclusion and
literacy put forward by the United States and Russia. The CAP will also look at the agenda on infrastructure development and financing brought up by Indonesia in 2013 and carried over by China in 2014. The consultations with APEC Senior Finance Officials last January in Clark Economic Zone, Pampanga and the inputs from APEC member economies and observers form part of the CAP as it becomes a roadmap towards a more financially integrated, transparent and resilient APEC community, Tan said. (PNA)
Better immigration services at Mactan airport
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he Bureau of Immigration said it has installed new equipment and facilities in an effort to further provide better services at immigration counters for all international-bound passengers at the Mactan Cebu International Airport. “These upgrades have been lobbied for quite some time and we are very
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happy with the new development," said BI commissioner Siegfred Mison. Mison said just recently they installed 29 new passport readers and 20 computers at the immigration counters. “The new counters and equipment will ease passenger congestion at the arrival area and cut waiting time by more than half," he said.
Last year, the BI put up the Anti-Fraud Laboratory and processed 13,940 flights and 1,763,470 passengers, according to Mison. “These numbers are expected to receive on a yearly basis and we are confident that the BI is fully-equipped and ready to receive the demands of the international passengers,” Mison said. (Hazel F. Gloria)
Southern Mindanao
Davao
ore than 70 years after it sank during World War II, t he legendary Japanese battleship Musashi has been discovered off the coast of the Philippines. Billionaire Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has been leading an expedition to find the Musashi — one of the biggest battleships ever built — aboard his high-tech 414-foot-long (125 meters) yacht, the M/Y Octopus. The team announced this week that they finally located the shipwreck in the Sibuyan Sea. "Mr. Allen has been searching for the Musashi for more than 8 years, and its discovery will not only help fill in the narrative of WWII's Pacific theater, but bring closure to the families of those lost," a statement on Allen's website said. The Musashi and her sister ship, the Yamato, were considered the heaviest and most powerful battleships ever built, though neither survived World War II. The Yamato sank during a fierce battle for Okinawa on April, 7 1945. In the 1980s, shipwreck hunt-
ers found the Yamato 180 miles (290 kilometers) southwest of Kyushu, one of the main islands of Japan. The ship was split in two and was found resting at a depth of 1,120 feet (340 m). American forces sank the 862-foot-long (263 m), 73,000-ton (66,225 metric tons) Musashi on Oct. 24, 1944, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, killing more than 1,000 members of the ship's 2,399-person crew. The final resting place of the ship remained elusive for decades, despite eyewitness accounts of the sinking. Allen's team hasn't revealed too much information about exactly where and how they found the Musashi, but according to a news release, they drew from historical records from four different countries, topographical data and advanced technology aboard the M/Y Octopus. A tweet from Allen indicated that the wreck was discovered about 3,280 feet (1 km) below the water's surface. The team released crisp underwater footage taken by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) that shows several parts of the ship, includ-
ing a catapult system that was used to launch float planes, a wheel on a valve from an engineering area that had Japanese script, the turret from an 18-inch (46 centimeters) naval gun, a 15-ton anchor and the battleship's bow. Allen has a history of bankrolling ambitious tech and exploration projects. He was an early backer of Scale Composites' suborbital spacecraft SpaceShipOne. He later founded his own spaceflight company, Stratolaunch Systems, with Scale Composites founder Burt Rutan. The company is trying to build the world's largest airlaunched space rocket. In 2012, Allen lent his yacht to support filmmaker James Cameron's expedition to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, the ocean's deepest point. Allen and his team said they plan to work with the Japanese government to ensure the wreck of the Musashi is treated "respectfully and in accordance with Japanese traditions." (Megan Gannon LiveScience.com)
Cebu bloggers, media people tour Bantayan Island
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loggers and media from Cebu went home with inspiring stories from the two-day "ecovoluntourism" held recently on the island of Bantayan. Some 20 selected members of Cebu’s press and the Cebu Blogging Community (CBC) returned to Cebu with pictures and stories of the island’s beauty, people’s resiliency, and how the Bantayanons rose victorious after being hit by typhoon Haiyan. During the event, the group were able to engage with municipal officials of Bantayan and Madridejos and some also interviewed officials of Santa Fe town. They were first toured to the various resorts and accommodations of the island, which is known as a summer getaway in the Visayas, specially during the Holy Week. The journalists also visited the Women’s Association of Basawon, which is engaged in fashion bag-making, and other organizations. The town-owned relocation site is located in an eight-hectare lot with 300 units for those who lost their
homes or living near danger zones. Philipp Dukatz, a German travel blogger who was among those in the tour, said the event was a great venue for bringing together social media writers and media people. “What I liked about the concept of #iBlogforBantayan is that it combined classical aspects of tourism with social side of it all, which often tend to be neglected,” Dukatz said. He said that becoming aware of all these things and putting it all into perspective and even getting first-hand statements and explanations from government officials was what made the event so educational and informative. Dukatz wrote about rare opportunities of doing manual labor for the housing relocation site as well as getting inside the cockpit area in his side trips. He took a lot of pictures of sunsets, beaches and the locales. “Travel writing and especially blogging should not only depict all those fluffy things we see in glossy magazines. It should also ask critical questions and shine the
Western Mindanao
Cebu
light on those hidden aspects of it. #iBlogforBantayan provided the perfect platform for that,” he said. Jeph Flores, of kiatcebu.com, said he is inspired with the thought that tourism industry in Bantayan is back. The beaches in Santa Fe are fully operational to serve local tourists and foreign. Andres Robin, of ElroyRobin.com, said he is delighted to know that the business sector is coming up with an initiative in granting seed money to local groups for various endeavors. The event #iBlogforBantayan was jointly initiated by the Philippine Information Agency Cebu, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Cebu Blogging Community and Bantayan through Vince Escario, the town's consultant on tourism and cultural affairs. PIA Cebu and CBC have been vigilant in their partnership to push for utilizing citizen media for social good and promoting Cebu. (Ferliza C. Contratista)
Manila