January 2008
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01.23.08Photo of the Day: CHARM Project
What is CHARM-P (Cordillera Highland Agricultural Resource Management Project)? Is it the success story that some of its supporters say it is? Or is it just one of those foreign funded projects that were quite successful in producing glossy brochures and voluminous reports (complete with vision, mission, goals, and bar graphs, and pie charts) but had very little impact in Cordillera communities?
Note: Click picture to expand. To read the article “Charm Offensive” by Rita Festin, click here.
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01.23.08Are You a Limahong Descendant? Part II
In Part 1 of this topic, we mentioned that the legend of Limahong hiding and begetting children in the Cordilleras is most likely just a legend. But how do we explain the “Chinese” features of some Igorots/iCordilleras? I think it’s because our ancestors really did come from mainland Asia as Arcibald wrote in our earlier post, .
According to the current prevailing theory, people from the Philippines came from the north and not from the south. So as Edwin writes in his post here, it would seem like the migration wave theory (i.e., the Philippines was populated by waves of Negritos, then Indonesians, then Malays) that we learned in school may not be true at all.
Anyways, going back to the “Chineseness” of some Igorot groups, did you know that Barangay Tabaao in Kapangan, Benguet has a pretty significant number of people of Chinese descent? How did this come about?
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01.23.08Probers: Politics Behind Mayor Cesar Rafael’s Murder
Come on people in power, let’s have a gun ban not only during elections but forever and ever. Politicians, of course, should be the first to surrender their guns. Here’s the latest update on the murder of Paracelis Mayor Cesar Rafael.
Politics behind murder of mayor, probers say
By Dexter See/Manila BulletinBontoc, Mountain Province — Police probers here said that politics is behind the murder of Paracelis Mayor Ceasar Rafael on Dec. 25, 2007.
They said they are now closing in on the suspects in the first sensational political crime in this province.
Senior Supt. Joseph Adnol, director of the Mountain Province police office, said that the investigators have ruled out revenge and personal grudge as motives, noting that circumstantial evidence point to politics as the cause of the murder of the mayor.
He said that the investigators are now validating the information on the five to 10 suspects who, they said, have not yet left the province due to the tightened security they have implemented at various exit and entry points.
However, Adnol did not give any description about the politicians involved in the killing, saying it is still premature to disclose such details because this might prejudice an on-going operation against the mastermind and the killers.
The men who carried out the murder plot on the long-time municipal chief executive of Paracelis are said to be aligned with an influential person in the town.
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01.22.08Governor Diasen’s First 100 Days
Here’s the report of Kalinga Governor Floydelia Diasen on her first 100 days in office. From the official website of Kalinga province:
The political lane is one less travelled by me before. But because of your overwhelming support it now became an avenue that shall serve as my linkage to you in delivering the reciprocate of the mandate that you have given me.
My being a newbie in the arena has not deterred my strong determination to fulfil the development thrusts especially the PEACE vision I have outlined upon my assumption into office.
Of course the road has been rough and tough considering the complicated situation that I’ve been through right from the start, but against all these odds, and with your usual support, we have been able to start it right rowing towards a common direction that fits our vision for a better Kalinga. With full humility, allow me then to present some highlights on my first 100 days in office.
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01.22.08Thoughts From Dhaka: Concretizing Autonomy
DAKKA, Bangladesh — The results of the survey on Cordillera autonomy just says one thing: What is autonomy? It is strange that 40 percent of Cordillera respondents don’t know what autonomy is.
With 60% of respondents categorically answering Yes (27.9%) or No (34.6%) to the question of the readiness of the Cordillera to become autonomous, it implies they are informed or assertive on their categorical responses. Whatever arguments they have, they can neutralize or persuade others to their sides – those who do not know or are still undecided whether or not to go for autonomy.
Obviously, saying Yes is a move which could be termed as daring or risky. If not now, then when? is the question for the Yes mover. A sound and feasible rationale based on concrete potentials needs to be presented to the public — what regional autonomy means other than a Yes vote. It is a question on how firm is this position with regards to financial and administrative capacity of the Cordillera to go into autonomy. It basically asks how politically relevant is the move to push for regional autonomy.
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01.22.08Baguio Flyover to Open Without Her Highness
In the first place do we have to have her inaugurate everything? Like she has no more important things to do? But wait, she really has no more important things to do.
From the Inquirer:
Top public works officials will no longer wait for President Macapagal-Arroyo to open the city’s controversial flyover, whose construction she once tried to stop.The flyover “will open to all types of vehicles 14 days after Tuesday (Jan. 14),” which is Jan. 28, according to Public Works Undersecretary Ramon Aquino. It needed “further curing” over two weeks, he said.
Ms Arroyo’s schedule was no longer “an issue,” Aquino told the Inquirer on Friday, when he supervised a “final inspection” of the flyover together with the quality assessment team of the Department of Public Works and Highways.
INFO SOURCE: Inquirer. PHOTO CREDIT: Aldrin Zapata
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01.21.08Governor Fongwan: We’ll Export Vegetables to Japan
Thanks to “Anonymous” who alerted us about this news. I’m not optimistic that it will happen (i.e., the Cordilleras exporting vegetables to Japan, etc.) but I’m ready to be pleasantly surprised. I’m sure you are too :-)
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Gov says Benguet ready to export vegetables
Desiree Caluza
Philippine Daily InquirerBAGUIO CITY—Benguet Gov. Nestor Fongwan said his province’s farmers are ready to export their vegetables to Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong this year.
Fongwan said President Macapagal-Arroyo wants to enhance the province’s vegetable production after allotting P10 million for the full operation of the cold chain to preserve and ensure the freshness and quality of the local produce.
He said buyers from Japan sought broccoli grown in Benguet after the vegetable passed Japanese quality standards. He said several companies in Japan wanted the initial shipments this month.
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