Here’s a video of photos taken during and after the Rizal land dispute tragedy. It is sad, shocking, and not safe for the weak of heart. For us, the saddest portion of the video would be that picture of a handcuffed old man who was, from the looks of it, attempting to eat (or was he attempting to drink?).
Entries from June 2007 ↓
Video: Rizal, Kalinga Tragedy
June 30th, 2007 — Government, Human Rights, Kalinga
The Nurturing Dad
June 29th, 2007 — Culture and Tradition, Ifugao
Aha. I should have uploaded this during father’s day but didn’t know when that was. Me bad. Picture good.
PHOTO CREDIT: Ricardo Reyes/PCIJ.
Chi Balmaceda Gutierrez on the Uglification of Baguio
June 28th, 2007 — Baguio, History
Chi Balmaceda Gutierrez gives us some background on the “uglification” of Baguio. Chi has a blog here and a photo site here. Thanks Chi for sharing your thoughts on this issue.
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Chi Balmaceda Gutierrez:
When Steve Hamada coined the word ‘uglification’ for the Skylandnews — (which was popularized later by his cousin Jack Cariño, Skylandnews publisher, for the 2007 elections) — the term didn’t at all pertain to the congestion of Baguio per se.
What was being alluded to, first and foremost, was the proliferation of kitsch (objects/realities/ manifestations borne out of taste worse than “baduy.” Bad-uy, take note of the etymology. Ha-ha).
Precisely, both of them meant it as “the over-commercialization of every single square meter of land in the city.” (Go figure the implications, greed, even corruption…).
Bloody Hell
June 28th, 2007 — Government
Are these the signs of the apocalypse?
►Nine people were killed while nine others were wounded during a gun battle between squatters and police authorities in Rizal, Kalinga. [More at ABS-CBN and Kalinga Tambayan Blog.] We really have serious land problems in the Cordilleras.
►A known ally of Abra Governor-elect Takit Bersamin was shot dead while driving a tricycle in Bangued. [Sunstar] Meanwhile, the wife of Tineg Mayor Edwin Crisologo died one month after she was shot by a supporter of her husband’s political rival. [Inquirer]
Gloria in Baguio
June 27th, 2007 — Baguio, Government
Pick the best caption:
1) Dudette, what kind of get up is that?
2) And a little child shall lead them. (Isaiah 11:6)
3) Pare, kaya pala hindi ma-impeach impeach si Gloria dahil meron siyang anting-anting.
4) Where’s Morris? Doesn’t he need a walk?
Or suggest a better caption.
Outgoing Ifugao Governor Glenn Prudenciano Quotes Santayana
June 27th, 2007 — Government, History, Ifugao, Politics
Here’s a very interesting speech by outgoing Ifugao Governor Glenn Prudenciano sent to us by a tipster. It is a bit long but we hope you will still read it. In case you don’t have the time to read the whole speech, make sure you read the most interesting part [7th paragraph onwards or the part preceded by "arrows"], where the governor talks about Ifugao’s version of blood politics.
It’s not deadly like Abra’s version but it can be just as dangerous. We’re with the governor on this one. In this day and age, why is pure bloodedness an issue? [We're sure though that this became an issue not only in Ifugao but in other provinces of the country as well with politicians claiming that they are the only true son of such and such a place.]
State of Our Roads Report
June 26th, 2007 — Kalinga
Balbalasang, Kalinga. May 21, 2007. Photo courtesy of Yajude. You can view her pictures of Tabuk and Balbalasang here.
RELATED POSTS: Halsema Road; Bad Roads, Good People. PHOTO CREDIT: Yajude.
Obla: Margie Lumawan, Bible Translator (Part 3)
June 26th, 2007 — Culture and Tradition
Here’s the third and last part of our interview with Margie Lumawan (who goes home to Nansiakan in the above picture) about her work as a Bible translator. In case you haven’t read the earlier parts, you can read the first part here and the second part here. Thanks again Margie for this wonderful and enlightening interview.
Considering that you are also rooted in your indigenous culture, how does your work affect you as a Christian of indigenous background? Does it make you appreciate both your indigenousness and your faith? Or does it make you feel conflicted about some aspects of either your culture or your faith?
God and His Word is Supraculture. Christianity to me is not a religion (which is a system of beliefs, rituals and ideas designed to produce harmony with the divine in an effort to meet needs and gain favor) but a true Father and child, Boss and servant, Savior and saved, Friends-relationship with my Creator while culture is a means of survival.
For me, this puts everything in perspective — that I was created to give glory to my Creator. Therefore, every other thing in my culture that does not work towards this end is not worth keeping. As for my culture and indigenousness (as you call it), I can use them to worship this one true God by whose grace I have been counted worthy enough to die for, not of my own merit but of the act that His Son has accomplished for me. In more practical terms, now that my faith is in the finished work of Christ, I can now take what has been used ( e.g chants) to appease and manipulate the spirit world and turn it into a song in worship of my Creator/Savior, not to get Him to do my wishes and desires but to bring glory and thanksgiving to Him.
Report Card For Our Officials
June 26th, 2007 — Government
On June 30, outgoing officials will be relinquishing their posts while the newly elected ones will be assuming office. Because of this we decided to start a series where we pretend that we are, errm, professors giving grades to students, i.e., our officials.
We hope to make this a regular feature of this blog and we invite you to join us by also giving out your grades. The grades will be based on the actions of our officials as reported in the media (or as sent to us by reliable tipsters). We will be using the grading scale which you will find at the bottom of this post. The default grade will be “B” and it will go up or down depending on the reported actions of the official being graded.
From the Rice Terraces to Policy Advocacy
June 26th, 2007 — Banaue, Culture and Tradition, Government, Ifugao
By Gina Dizon
KIANGAN, IFUGAO – Governor-elect Teddy Baguilat Jr lives and breathes home. Home is the rice producing province of Ifugao which boasts of its stairway terraces to the skies, the famous 8th wonder of the world. (Ed’s note: Officially, there’s no such thing as an 8th wonder of the world, see our earlier post here.)
Rice being the top product of the province, the young governor sees rice culture as a vital source of livelihood and a potential source of income to be developed too.
