Kalilang in a hotel under renovation, and identity in Mindanao

It was a bit awkward for me and Omar, a reserved Maguindanaoan who tried to be informative, as we took a peek at the wedding of a couple from two big Maguindanaoan families in Cotabato City.

We were looking through the window from our side of the conference hall— we looked like kids wanting to gate crash or something. Everybody in the training was doing just that as we waited for our morning session to start.

We were holding grassroots documentation and reporting training next door and the arrival of wedding guests drew our attention —especially when traditional wedding songs and hymns began to play.

Inihanay sa:ARMM, Agriculture, Art and Culture in Mindanao, Entertainment, Every Day Mindanao, Feasts in Mindanao, Food in Mindanao, Freedom, Indifgenous Peoples, Jobs in Mindanao, Local Governance, Lumads and Mindanao, Mindanao, Mindanao's communities, Philippines

Davao choral group wins Asian tilt

Davao City’s renowned Himig Singers won the grand prize of the 1st Asian Choir Games in Jakarta, Indonesia over the weekend, City Councilor Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz said. But Ortiz still could not give other details of the group’s victory. The all-Dabawenyo choral group won in one of the 21 categories of the pioneering tilt participated by more than 70 choral groups, mostly Indonesian-based, from around Asia-Pacific.  

The group was one of 12 from the Philippines that competed in various categories in the competition.  According to the competition’s website, the group was conducted by Aldwin Curambao and Alvin E. Aviola.  

The other Mindanao-based group in the competition is the Xavier University Glee Club from Cagayan de Oro City.  Read the rest of the report on MindaNews.com.

Inihanay sa:Art and Culture in Mindanao, Davao, Entertainment, Mindanao, Mindanawon around the World, Music and Mindanao, Philippines

Congrats to Dabawenyo film director Sherad!

Congratulations to Dabawenyo film director Sherad Anthony Sanchez for bagging more awards for the film Huling Balyan ng Buhi in Germany and France.

Last year, Sherad’s team showed hard work WORKS  despite the film’s ordeal with budget constraints while shooting it in Davao’s suburbs and remote points.

Read more on the director’s and the film’s additional feathers here.

Inihanay sa:Davao, Entertainment, Human Rights, Mindanao

Zubiris firm up control over Bukidnon

MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/21 May) — Bukidnon is still Zubiri country.

Gov. Jose Ma. R. Zubiri, Jr. won over lone opponent, three-termer 1st district
representative Juan Nereus Acosta with a margin of at least 250,000.

Zubiri got 323,238 votes.

His son, Jose Ma. III, also won as representative for Bukidnon’s 3rd district.

The governor’s nephew, Iñaki, also won as vice mayor over former mayor
Nicholas Jurolan in Malaybalay City.

The victory of the Zubiris of Southern Bukidnon ushered in the defeat of its
arch-rival, the Acostas of Northern Bukidnon.

Inihanay sa:Bukidnon, Elections 2007, Entertainment, Governance, Malaybalay City, Philippines

Mindanao’s regions account for at least 10-M voters

If the Comelec figures are reliable, Mindanao accounts for around 25 percent of the country’s total voters as shown by this report by MindaNews’ Carolyn Arguillas:

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/30 April) — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has
yet to release an updated statistical data on registered voters for the 2007
elections but based on the 2004 figures, Mindanao’s six regions would account
for at least 10 million voters this year.

The Comelec’s website posted statistics as of April 28, 2004, in preparation
for the May 10 polls then. The state-run Philippine Information Agency
regional office here does not have the updated figures on the region it is
covering and is also awaiting Comelec’s list, a check with PIA Davao showed.

Inihanay sa:Davao, Elections 2007, Elections in Mindanao, Entertainment, Mindanao, Philippines

To Disneyland and back in 10 hours

I’m back for a day of hiatus. “I just arrived from Disneyland in a quickie trip.”
I’ve wanted to use that quote the moment I thought I’m blogging on this.

Actually, before you would think about a stupid trip that I might have taken (10 hours?!!! even DL-HK, still not logical even if possible), I’ll put it straight.

I just arrived from Tamayong where the flock of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy runs a prayer mountain.

I got invited to cover the chief minister’s 58th birthday — with many politicians, businessmen and government officials present as guests.

The members of the Davao city council, who could barely form a quorum on session day were almost present in the party, except for two.

Inihanay sa:Davao, Entertainment

Pride over Dabawenyo coffee

Even if in the strictest sense I am not a Dabawenyo because I am originally from Monks’ Blend Coffee country, Bukidnon; I am a Dabawenyo by heart.

And I am bit prouder as a Dabawenyo tonight. (At least three hours ago: 11p.m. Thursday night)

Its actually for a mundane reason. I heard my new found friends from Manila, Cagayan de Oro, Pagadian, and Subic praise Davao’s Durian Coffee as veeeeeery good.

Most of them were from the Union of Catholic Asian News, which I recently joined and they were out to unwind Thursday night.
We ended up in the Matina Town Square. Since half of the group, including me, wanted to beer out and the others, to coffee dive; we choose Taboan and ordered coffee from the shop across.

Inihanay sa:Davao, Elections 2007, Elections in Mindanao, Entertainment

All eyes on the Pacquiao-Solis fight

People around Mindanao and the rest of the country would be glued to television again for the anticipated Pacquiao-Solis fight Saturday night (Sunday morning in Davao) at the Alamodome, in San Antonio, Texas, USA.

It’s the same venue where Pacquiao defeated Marco Antonio Barrera in an 11th round technical knockout on November 15, 2003.

From the focus on the fight between government forces and the rebel New Peoples Army, Filipinos, especially in Southeastern Mindanao where recent encounters erupted , can shift attention to this match where the fighters pit for honor for their countries.

So from the countryside to the ring, its a clash between the Philippines and Mexico. At least, I’m sure we could use a breather!

Inihanay sa:Davao, Entertainment, Every Day Mindanao, Mindanao Sports, Peace Process, Philippines

Three Hundred

I have scheduled to watch the top gross Zack Snyder-directed film “300″ thrice this month. I thought tonight I would fail again for the 4th time.

King Lionedas Photo grabbed from Wikipedia entry on Battle of Thermopyle

All the while I was thinking I should probably read, not watch the movie about the Battle of Thermopyle. Every time I fail to watch it as scheduled, I resort to reading more about the battle from the internet.

Inihanay sa:Davao, Entertainment

Dabawenyos spend holiday for city’s 70th foundation day

As has been tradition here, Dabawenyos will spend a holiday to celebrate the city’s 70th foundation day with pageantry.

Residents and tourists to the Araw ng Dabaw festivities will be treated to trade fairs, parades, concerts, celebrity gigs, sports events, beauty contests, and other highlights.

Organizers, however, warned they will not allow the celebration to be used by
politicians for their campaign gimmicks.

Inihanay sa:Davao, Entertainment, Feasts in Mindanao, Mindanao, Philippines, Tourism

Make History: Attend the Davao Bloggers Party #1

Five days more to go for blogosphere’s most anticipated gathering in Davao City.

I’m actually trying to convince myself to ditch some changes in schedule just to make it to the celebration. (The title is meant to remind me this is the first time and I’d better make up my mind.)

When I got Blogie’s invitation a few days ago, I thought of adjusting sked –set a month ago by the way — and most likely that’s what will happen (fingers crossed).

Inihanay sa:Business, Davao, Entertainment, Fun, Mindanao, Mindanao Media

Tuna industry, MinBC hit NEDA chief on BIMP-EAGA statement

The local tuna industry here has disputed statements by Secretary Romulo Neri, of the National Economic and Development  Authority (NEDA), that the Mindanao has made
a mistake by partnering with fellow poor areas in the Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines – East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA)

The Mindanao Business Council (MinBC), meanwhile, said that Neri’sstatement was “an insult to both the government and the private sector
working on economic cooperation in the area” when he said that the
BIMP-EAGA is the “wrong economic partner” for Mindanao’s industries.

Mindanao is the Philippines’ key player in the sub-regional economic
block formed in 1994.

Domingo Teng, immediate past president of the Socsksargen Federation
of Fishing Associations and Allied Industries, Inc. (Federation), said
in a statement that EAGA has helped the industry, like forging joint
business ventures with their counterparts in the other member
countries.

“It is not true that nothing has happened in BIMP-EAGA. It is better
for NEDA to come down and get the specific data on BIMP- EAGA,” he
stressed.

Teng pointed out that two years ago, two local fishing companies in
Southern Mindanao were able to put up canneries in Bitung, North
Sulawesi through a joint venture agreement with Indonesian
counterparts.

Inihanay sa:Agriculture, BIMP - EAGA, Bukidnon, Business, Davao, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Malaybalay City, Mindanao, News, Philippines