Category: The South

Template disasters, the backhoe and why Andal Ampatuan is like Typhoon Sendong

December 22, 2011December 22, 2011 benign0 5 Comments

A lot of people who have followed the investigation, apprehension, and building of a case against accused mass-murderer former Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr had made that topic the epicentre of everything about the Philippines that has to do with impunity. Ampatuan is accused of masterminding the massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao province,…

Culture, Environment, Government, Media, Society, The South

To those calling for war or peace in Mindanao: You’re not asking the right questions

November 1, 2011November 1, 2011 benign0 43 Comments

Despite having been to Mindanao more times than the average Manila resident when I was younger, I can’t really say I know the place as well as some of those who are quick to offer “solutions” to the “situation” over there. To begin with, it was mainly its major cities that I’ve been to —…

Development, Politics, Religion, The South

PNoy and the Philippine Armed Forces both stunned by the MILF

October 28, 2011October 31, 2011 Ilda 41 Comments

Someone from a public forum was disappointed that I did not have an opinion readily available for him about the situation in Mindanao. He wrote to me: Hi Ilda. It’s rather odd that you did not have the time for this issue that’s been in the news for over a week, and in fact, this…

Government, Media, The South