The year 2008 was supposed to have marked a milestone in the 11-year history of on-and-off peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Yet this year, the dream of peace in Mindanao has only become more elusive. BY ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO YEAREND REPORT – THE MINDANAO CONFLICT Bulatlat The…
Month: December 2008
Mabtad as Told by a Kalinga Warrior
In his uggayam, or traditional chant, Ama Julio Longan, 68, of the Taloctoc sub-tribe of Kalinga urged his audience in a human rights rally to join mabtad, where Cordillera communities and groups are urged to collectively act in searching for James Balao, an activist missing since September 17. BY ARTHUR ALLAD-IW INDIGENOUS PEOPLES WATCH Northern…
Injustice, Impunity, Trademarks of Arroyo Regime – Rights Group
Injustice and impunity are still trademarks of the Arroyo regime, said a human rights alliance in an annual report released to the media.
Scarred Souls, Lost Innocence: Stories of Children Victims of Human Rights Violations
At first glance, they looked like ordinary children. But deep within them are scarred souls and lost innocence because they are children-victims of human rights violations. On December 9, they went to see the United Nations (UN) Secretary General’s Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflict Radhika Coomaraswamy to tell her their tragic stories.
OFWs in Hong Kong Protest vs Cha-cha
Overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in Hong Kong held a picket protest in front of the Philippine Consulate General office to denounce renewed moves to amend the 1987 Philippine Constitution. BY BULATLAT MIGRANT WATCH Overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in Hong Kong held a picket protest in front of the Philippine Consulate General office to denounce renewed…
Observance of Migrants Day Focuses on Distressful OFW Conditions
The distressful plight of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) became the highlight of a gathering of families at the Itogon Training Center at Bua, in Barangay (village) Tuding here, as the event focused on five Benguet OFW families. BY LYN V. RAMO MIGRANT WATCH Northern Dispatch Posted by Bulatlat ITOGON, Benguet (200 kms north of Manila)…
Overload
Overload. By its very looks, this pedicab hardly appears capable of carrying even two passengers. (Photo by OWEN SEGOVIA BAYOG)
The Arroyo Government: Struggling to Survive till 2010 and Beyond
The probability that the Arroyo government would survive another year and complete a six-year term may be getting higher as we approach 2009; but its concern is no longer limited to staying in power till 2010. With the numerous unresolved issues hounding it, it could not help but try to keep itself in power beyond…
Statement on CARP Extension
BY AXEL PINPIN Former Political Detainee Indang, Cavite DEMOCRATIC SPACE Posted by Bulatat I was released from prison almost in time for the expiration of the government’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) that paved a crossroad to the majority of farming sectors in the country. Anent the current raging discourse on Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill…
Migrant Workers Shall Suffer the Brunt of the Globalization-induced Crisis
BY THE INTERNATIONAL MIGRANTS ALLIANCE Posted by Bulatlat Neo-liberal globalization has forced us to migrate and become commodities for sale by sending countries and cheap laborers for the receiving ones. Now, as neoliberal policies induced another global recession, we are again made to carry the brunt of the crisis. Slowly but surely, the crisis that…
Environment-Friendly Mites Remove Pests from Strawberries
Some strawberry farmers in Itogon, Benguet hope to get a boost in the yield this season with the recent introduction of the predator mites. These predator mites prey on the spider mites that eat a whole bunch of leaves and flowers within a day. BY LYN V. RAMO Northern Dispatch Posted by Bulatlat LA TRINIDAD,…