Failure, unplugged

“Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.”
― Truman Capote

To all those whom I failed in 2013, sorry is not enough; but sorry just the same. You all deserved something better. I will not make any promise, I just decided not to give up; I will keep on trying. I’m not only hoping that 2014 will dish out better things for me and all of us; I also hope that I will be better in learning from mistakes, in making the best out of what is available; that I will be better in admitting my mistakes and omissions; that I will be quick in owning weakness and seeking help; and that what little good things I’ve done so far will grow even more. Mea culpa. The buck ends with me. No one else is responsible for my mistakes and omissions. I pray and seek others to pray for me and for all of us; our humility will not be enough; that God will not only send his wisdom, blessings, reparation and provisions. I hope God will also send his strength and zeal.

Advance Happy New Year; another year to learn, make mistakes, and to grow is ahead of us.

Cheers!

Reading the 11-point summaries of the GPH-MILF Peace Talks in Kuala Lumpur

When I used to cover Davao City, I have become more familiar with the GPH-MILF peace negotiations. Even if it is only the committees on the cessation of hostilities who meet, they issue a joint statement to some how shed light on the coverage of meeting.

I expected this from the talks in KL but the reports said there was none.This is not a good sign, if we look at it that way.  I think having no joint statement is more sincere an act, than forcing one when there is none.Is it right to have one just to play with symbolism?

Many people expected a lot from the talks. After that “historic” meeting in Japan between President Benigno Aquino III and the MILF’ chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, the stakes are high on “expediting the peace process”.

As a journalist who covered this from afar, my reading is, are we supposed to mistake “expediting the process” with taking short cuts? Unless we expected the negotiators to be rubbing on a bottle for a genie to make wishes easily his command.

Eagles of hope

The Philippine Eagle Foundation has announced its plan to release two new eagles into the wild of Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park in January 2009.

This is despite the death of a Philippine Eagle named “Kagsabua” (unity) in July 2007, which it released just months earlier.

“What happened to Kagsabua is not a stumbling block,” a PEF official said in this report at MindaNews.com.

Life in the Plateau

Thanks to all who sent messages to my Kamuyot bag.

Ma’am Prix (and to all who are unfamiliar with it), Kamuyot is Bukidnon’s version of the tinalak. It’s made of sinamay from abaca fiber, from plantations scattered in Bukidnon’s rugged terrain. Of course, its woven mostly by indigenous women who sell it to buyers from the lowlands.

It’s a business beginning to die –unless the government and the lumad communities could save it together against fiber plant diseases haunting even planters in our beloved Davao City.

I’m in for some updates from the Bukidnon plateau.

Zubiri bats for bigger Mindanao budget

MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/16 Jul) — Senator-elect Juan Miguel Zubiri took his oath here Monday morning in front of thousands of spectators mostly government employees and students in homecourt ceremonies two days after he was proclaimed the 12th winner of the senatorial elections Saturday.

Zubiri becomes the third candidate from the administration’s Team Unity in the winning circle, after senators Edgardo Angara and Joker Arroyo.

He pledge to make Mindanawons proud of his representation as the first senator from the province of Bukidnon, saying his priority is public service and not politics.

Eyeing ahead: On climbing Mt. Apo after Lake Venado accident

“Maybe all climbers must first undergo the ritual by our tribal elders in order to avoid similar incidents in the mountain,” chieftain Datu Simeon Serrano said as tribal elders living in the foot of the majestic Mount Apo have suggested that all mountain climbers must first undergo the traditional “pamaas,” an indigenous ritual, before they will be allowed to climb the country’s highest peak. Serrano believe that Ian Caasi, 23, a mountaineer from Davao City who drowned in the mountain’s Lake Venado on Maundy Thursday, was taken by their god “Apo Sandawa” as sacrifice. The chieftain of Sitio Sayaban of Barangay Ilomavis here, said Mount Apo is considered sacred by their ancestors and home to various spirits that govern nature. (MindaNews/ 9 April 2007)

Eyeing ahead

“We hope your profession will help uplift the condition of the Moro ummah particularly those innocently and unjustly incarcerated behind bars in different jails nationwide on the pretext of preventing terrorism.

Let us help ease the pain of our brothers and sisters who are languishing in jails,” said Baibonn Sangid, chairperson of the Manila-based Young Moro Professionals Network (YMPN). She has challenged Muslim passers of the 2006 bar examinations to serve their fellow Muslims especially those who are ‘unjustly’ imprisoned as suspected terrorists. (MindaNews, 07 April 2007)