October | 2007 | Northern Dispatch (nordis) Weekly

Weekly Reflections: The altar and the street

October 29, 2007 in columns, general, opinion

By REV. LUNA L. DINGAYAN

“What you have done to the least of my brothers (and sisters) you have done it unto me” — Matthew 25:40

The Street as paradigm

The street is a paradigm of our country’s political life. A paradigm is a pattern or example. Some of the crucial and significant decisions affecting our country’s political life are done not in congress or in Malacañang; they are in fact decided in the parliament of the streets.

Martial Law, for instance, came to an end through the parliament of the streets. The two women presidents of our republic came into power through the parliament of the streets. It was in the streets, indeed, that people power had been decisively shown. Read the rest of this entry →

Women's Front: Indigenous women in Asia (2)

October 29, 2007 in columns, general, opinion

By INNABUYOG-GABRIELA

This is the part 2 of the paper presented by Vernie Yocogan-Diano, chairperson of Innabuyog, to the Asia Rural Women’s consultation, August 2007. — Ed

Disadvantaged status of indigenous women

As indigenous peoples, they often experience institutionalized discrimination and racism from the dominant culture as imposed by the states. As farmers or laborers, they often experience exploitation in the hands of landlords or employers. But the mere fact that they are women is an aggravating factor that increases the degree of oppression and exploitation they experience as indigenous people.

Indigenous women live within largely feudal-patriarchal societies which dictate that women are subordinate to men. Such culture of feudal-patriarchy view women as mere extension of their husband’s production and are not regarded as active forces of production. Indigenous women of Asia are usually considered inferior to males from birth. In such a culture, indigenous women are usually viewed as being there to bear children, to serve her father, her brothers and later her husband and her family, including her in-laws in many cases. In very specific cultures, indigenous women do not have property rights, or if they do, they cannot inherit these rights. Read the rest of this entry →

A tribute to Chester Stone Pogeyed Batnag

October 29, 2007 in general, people

(Delivered as response by Wennie P. Balawis during a necrological mass held on Oct. 23, 2007 before Chester’s burial at the Pyramid in La Trinidad.)

The life of Chester is a history and a memory that everyone can treasure. Chester – the “blind poet” known as a teacher, a friend, musician and a great mathematician, to his friends, students and colleagues. He lived for only 21 years.

He is the fourth among five children and was born considered perfectly normal by his doctors. He grew up normally with no suspicion of any inborn disease, until the age of six when he was diagnosed to have juvenile diabetes mellitus like his two other sisters. Medicating became part of his daily living since then. Read the rest of this entry →

Sagawisiw: 28 Oct. 2007

October 29, 2007 in general

By TITO SANQUI

Read the rest of this entry →

Burburtia Krokis: 28 Oct. 2007 (Puzzle)

October 29, 2007 in general

By ART B. BELISARIO

ACROSS
1 sagot sa pagkapagod (Tag);
12 natabunan, natambakan (Ilok);
14 Los Baños (abbrev);
16 alalay na tao o gamit (Ilok);
17 Southern Luzon (abbrev);
18 bahagi ng katawan na pangtapak at panglakad (Tag); Read the rest of this entry →

Burburtia Krokis: 21 Oct. 2007 (Solution)

October 29, 2007 in general

By ART B. BELISARIO

A list of other North Luzon indigenous groups

October 29, 2007 in general, indigenous, NL general

By PIO VERZOLA JR.

Note: This is Part 3, the final installment of an abridged version of the final report for the Cordillera-North Luzon IP Mapping Project. Parts 1 and 2 were published in the Oct. 14 and 21 issues.

IP groups in the Ilocos region

The Ilocos region is composed of four provinces, namely, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan. The region’s composition is predominantly Ilokano – one of the country’s largest ethno-linguistic groups, and among the first to be fully assimilated into the Spanish colonial-feudal setup.

Since the narrow Ilocos coastal strip abruptly gives way to the Cordillera ranges to the east, however, with many rivers and passes providing mutual access, there have always been close ties and near-imperceptible blending between the coastal Ilocano and upland Cordillera groups. The exception to this pattern is in the vast plains and western hills of Pangasinan. Read the rest of this entry →

Romancing the stone

October 29, 2007 in Cagayan Valley, general

By CHEN REYES-MENCIAS

Twenty minutes from the town proper of Baler, Aurora is an awesome rock formation that presents tremendous opportunities for learning. It is a place for nature hikes, snorkelling, kayaking, rope courses, rappelling, sunrise viewing and whole lot of exciting outdoor activities designed to introduce visitors to the wonders of the natural world.

ROCKEY EDUCATION. These rock formations characterize the area and provide tremendous opportunities for learning. Photo courtesy of Chen Reyes-Mencias
Read the rest of this entry →

Pakasaritaan ti unyon dagiti minero ti Lepanto

October 29, 2007 in Cordillera, general, workers

By NAFLU-KMU-CORDILLERA

Ti unyon ket isu ti batayan nga organisasyon dagiti mangmangged. Mabukel ti unyon tapno kolektibo a mailaban dagiti rumbeng a sweldo, benepisyo, karbengan ken pagsayaatan dagiti mangmangged.

Ti Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company (LCMC) ket nangrugi idi 1936. Maysa daytoy a kadakkelan a kumpanya iti panagminas ti balitok, gambang ken pirak iti Pilipinas. Rinibu a mangmangged manipud iti nadumaduma a paset ti pagilian ti nagtrabaho ken nangpadakkel a ganansya ken nangsustena ti produksyon ti kumpanya kasukat ti bassit nga inaldaw a sweldo. Read the rest of this entry →

The big ears of Sto. Tomas

October 29, 2007 in columns, general

By JOHN MARASIGAN

I cannot count the times we reached the peak of Sto. Tomas and each time we do, even if it is the same route, the experience is never the same thing. Perhaps because of the change of road condition. Each time there is a change in weather, the road also changes. (hmmm… even roads follow the rule of dilectics he..he..). Say there is a rain that night, the following morning would be a road washed and full of solid protruding rocks. If it is a drizzle, then expect a mud packed route. And you won’t be able to anticipate the climate that easy. While it is sunny in the city, the weather goes to extreme at the peak. But what ever the weather or the climate is, Mount Sto. Tomas is a must “ride route” for bikers.

The left ear of Mt. Sto. Tomas? Posing before the radar station at the peak of Mt. Sto. Tomas. Bottom: L-R,Wes, Ferdie, Gi, Aban, Jonathan, Reycar. Top: L-R, Derek, Elvin, Romy, Mike, Ceasar, Toto, and the Author. (photo courtesy of Tom)
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Cinderellas prepare for Alaska Cup with victory in PMA tournament

October 29, 2007 in general

BAGUIO CITY (Oct. 28) — The Baguio Cinderellas primed themselves up for the upcoming national Alaska Cup with a hard-earned 1-0 victory against youthful Brent School in the Philippine Military Academy Cup last Sunday.

Veteran striker Richelle Ranchez-Tabisula booted in the winner in a three-kicker shoot-out after Brent held them to a scoreless draw in regulation at the PMA’s Borromeo Field. Read the rest of this entry →

Palm Grove defends IMBL crown

October 29, 2007 in general

BAGUIO CITY (Oct. 26) — It is the Palm Grove – CCF Bowlers again, this time against a new opponent as the International Mixed Bowling League draws to a close with the position night set on November 8.

“We are back the way we want it. Win or lose, we are already happy,” said Dong Torres of Palm Grove as he helped lead his team to a possible sixth straight title. Read the rest of this entry →

Makan a la Pinoy: Suman

October 29, 2007 in food, general

Ni BRENDA S. DACPANO

Ti suman ket diket a nabalkot iti bulong ti saba, bulong ti niog wenno buri, a napasenggawan wenno nailingta. Adu a klase ti suman. Adda suman iti ibus ti Antipolo, suman iti lihiya ti Batangas ken Nueva Ecija, suman Bisaya, suman ti Besao a linapet, suman ti Ifugao a binakle, ken dadduma pay. Naimas met ti suman a balanghoy.

Read the rest of this entry →

British firm eyes 3 Benguet towns for mines

October 22, 2007 in Cordillera, general, mining

TUBLAY, Benguet (Oct. 18) — Representatives of a London-based mining firm is wooing Benguet town councils to support its proposal for it’s mining exploration permit application (Expa) involving more than 5,000 hectares in three towns.

MTL Philippines, a British mining company, reportedly appeared before Tublay town council recently to inform lawmakers of its intention to conduct mining exploration in the tri-boundary with Bokod and Atok. Read the rest of this entry →

Domogan says money given was “perk” not bribe

October 22, 2007 in Baguio City, general

BAGUIO CITY (Oct. 18) — Fuming at accusations that like other Philippine congressmen he also got “P500,000 bribe money” from Malacañang, Baguio Representative Mauricio Domogan instead said he got only his regular allowance from Philippine Congress.

Domogan, in a press conference Wednesday clarified he did not admit getting a bribe amounting to P200,000 from Malacañang as allegedly reported earlier in some media outfits after he had a press conference last week. Read the rest of this entry →

Free Joe Cawiding signature campaign on

October 22, 2007 in Baguio City, general, human rights

BAGUIO CTIY (Oct. 19) — The clamor to free political detainee Jose “Joe” Cawiding took off with the Friday launch of a signature campaign for his immediate release and the dropping of charges.

Cawiding is falsely charged with eight counts of murder and one frustrated murder at Branch 35, Regional Trial Court, Bontoc Mt. Province in relation to the July 14, 2003 ambush staged by the New People’s Army (NPA) against Army troopers, the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) earlier said. Read the rest of this entry →

Anti-mining leader in Nueva Vizcaya jailed

October 22, 2007 in Cagayan Valley, general, mining

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (Oct. 19) — London-based mining company Base Metals PLC, operating in the Philippines as FCF Mining Company and MTL Exploration Company, succeeded in putting in jail a local farmers’ leader for her anti-mining stance.

Runruno Landowners Association (Rulanas) leader Josie Guillao was arrested Thursday afternoon by the Chief of the PNP of Quezon, Nueva Vizcaya for grave slander, a criminal case, barely two days after the victory of Kasibu folk against Oxiana Philippines, whose suit against locals was rejected by the court. Read the rest of this entry →

Baguio walks against cancer

October 22, 2007 in Baguio City, general, health

BAGUIO CITY (Oct. 15) — Over 2,000 residents and visitors clad in pink shirts and bandanas joined the walk against breast cancer here on October 14 as part of the global observance of October as the Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

WE WILL SURVIVE. Families and friends give much-needed moral support to breast cancer survivors through Minda’s Buddies and I Can Serve. Photo by Cye Reyes/NORDIS

“I Walk with You,” organized by Avon Philippines in different key cities in the country, was participated by different organizations, institutions, government agencies, establishments, and individuals who support the campaign to educate the general public about the dangers of the disease. Read the rest of this entry →

Baguio flowers enough for All Saints Day

October 22, 2007 in Baguio City, general

BAGUIO CITY (Oct. 19) — Despite common problems encountered that are yet to be addressed by authorities, local flower dealers here are ready for next week’s All Saints Day claiming there is enough locally produced flowers.

However, claiming that while the industry survived the economic crisis and unstable prices which lead to financial losses, flower dealers here urged government support for the industry. They said they need subsidy for agricultural inputs, programs to ensure safety against hazardous pesticides, and support for marketing of their produce. Read the rest of this entry →