Refocusing Perspectives

"The BBL was finished in July and its done in a hurry. The MILF will mainly focus for its legislation; we will support and monitor for its legislation. However, the government will push for federal form of government. This can change the condition when the congress is transformed into a constituents assembly. We do not know the position of the MILF chair on this concerns but I hope this will not render the sacrifices of the BTC for BBL. The BTC meets at Malacanang today as we speak and I beg off for my presence there because convening the Maranao people to discuss our plight is more important to me. Remember that the BTC is led by the MILF. I, as a commissioner represents the MNLF as a vice chairman of the Central Committee for Foreign Affairs. The MNLF will wait with what the MILF will do relating to BBL ’s legislation. The Bangsa Maranao congress is an aggrupation or convention of all leaders of Bangsa Maranao. The term Bangsamoro term has been used, abused and misus...

IN solidarity with the indigenous peoples in Mindanao and the rest of the country who are celebrating and are also continuously in a creative assertion of their identity, lives, and their struggle to right to self-determination.                          

I was 10, at school, in a province when they occupied Edsa and declared revolution in 1986. They unseated Marcos whom they loathed for his wealth & power. I don't remember Marcos leadership except for what was written in history books & the presence of eloquent rebels who knocked at my grandparents home,near our farm, on some rare nights for quick accommodation. My grandparents didn't have qualms and was innately a peaceful family, solving problems & managing farm like a daily chore. They were easily humbled when they saw armed men. They didn't want violence. I was barely a teenage girl, not interested on television, when soldiers attacked some parts of the hinterlands in our province. Some Cafgus said, 'this could be the end of revolution.' This was post-Edsa period. This was when Cafgus beheaded a rebel & showcased to media workers--which was highlighted as a 'political horror' in national dailies thereafter. Walking from school, I thou...

Lecture delivered by Violeta M. Gloria to civil society organization  in Iligan and Lanao initiated by MPPM & LAHRA at Palao, Iligan city;  October 8, 2013; 1-5pm. What is freedom? What is information?  Depending on socio-political context and philosophical perspective, freedom can be defined in many ways. Is freedom a necessity? As peoples are subject of social contract, don’t we like that our freedom be controlled and managed by government? Do you really need information? Is your sense of freedom dependent on the kind of information that you gain from the academe? From community? From government? From international organizations? Why do you think media workers and non-government organizations are/should be in the front line in advocating for Freedom on Information? These are just essential preliminary questions that can be raised as advocacy on FOI and frustration over corruption or public disservice are mounted nowadays. Two hours ago, I over...

Hall of Peace, Apo Agbibilin Community, Brgy. Songco, Lantapan, Bukidnon July 24-29, 2010 Nine candles were lighted and solemn prayers were said in memory of the departed ancestors of  Mindanao and Luzon’s tribal leaders whilst offering the drafted 10-point Agenda of the Indigenous Peoples who gathered during the fourth State of the Indigenous Peoples Address (SIPA) at the Hall of Peace of Apu Agbibilin community within the Talaandig tribe of Bukidnon from July 25-29 th , 2010. “They offered the drafted agenda to the souls of IP leaders who have returned home to God and whose lives were spent with the passion of advancing and protecting the IPs rights and welfare,” said Carl Cesar Rebuta, team leader of   Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center of Cagayan de Oro Regional Office. State of the Indigenous Peoples Address 2010 Kami, mga lider katutubo mula sa iba’-ibang tribo ng Ata-Manobo, Ayta, Ayta-Mag-antsi, B’laan, Hanunuo, Hanunuo-Mangy...