The city has become so many different things to so many different people. From merely the Nueva Guipuzcoa province, Nueva Vergara city, for the first Spaniards who arrived here, to the Japanese’ “Little Tokyo” before the war, it has become an eco-tourism destination, offering a host of packages featuring such adventure sports like scuba diving,…

Here, one may find herself in the middle of the jungle of Mount Apo, the Philippines’s highest peak, and finds that she is still within city limits. By Germelina A. Lacorte DAVAO CITY — Far from the Moro settlement that the Spaniards found when they first arrived here in 1848, the city of Davao has…

Bankerohan and the other public markets in Davao are places to explore, not only for fun but for a few pesos of savings in this increasingly difficult times. By Daisy C. Gonzales DAVAO CITY — If you are a first-timer here — if, let’s say, you don’t have any idea about this city except its…

Gushes of spray bathed me, and even when I looked down, the water would sting my eyes. After a few minutes, the loud drum roll of the waterfalls faded into light pelting and my vision cleared. We were past the waterfalls and before us was the large green patch of vegetation I had long wanted…

At least 100 elders from the Mountain Province gathered for a two-day congress and strengthened their opposition to corporate mining and military deployment in communities where anti-mining sentiments are strong. BY ARTHUR L. ALLAD-IW Northern Dispatch BAGUIO CITY—At least 100 elders from the Mountain Province (394 kms from Manila) gathered for a two-day congress and…

Since the start of vegetable importation in 2002, about three-fourths of Benguet farmers have been incurring incomes barely enough to provide for their family’s needs. BY LYN V. RAMO Northern Dispatch BAGUIO CITY (246 kilometers from Manila) — Since the start of vegetable importation in 2002, about three-fourths of Benguet farmers have been incurring incomes…

A grand global fight looms in Hong Kong in December—a fight between the rich corporations and governments of the First World, and the vast number of people in the Third World worst hit by the W.T.O. By Joseph Yu Ibon Features With two failed ministerials out of five, the World Trade Organization (WTO) faces a…

“My paintings,” Papo de Asis wrote in 1992, “yearn to be the anguished expression of a people long denied of justice and equality…The convoluted reality of my historical past wrote the scenario to my present sources of sorrow.” By Bobby Tuazon In the last analysis, what is the source of all literature and art? Works…

Papo was ever eager to know better the workers and peasants that he depicted in his works. He either lived with them or he renewed his links with them through visits and serious social investigation… He made manifest his position on social reality not only in the relatively cozy art galleries with framed paintings but…

Filipinos are familiar with the sayote, but not everyone knows its origins and its many uses. BY ARTHUR L. ALLAD-IW Northern Dispatch SAGADA, Mountain Province — Filipinos are familiar with sayote (Sechium edule) but not everyone knows that this vegetable was introduced by the Spaniards. Sayote (called chayote by Spaniards) was introduced in Sagada sometime…