TURNING POINT: Pandemic Distancing in Education
NAAWAN, Misamis Oriental (MindaNews / 09 July) – If there is work from home (WFH), very soon there would be education from home (EFH),...
KISSA AND DAWAT: After a hundred days of pagtalungkû (quarantine) against this “panyakit” (plague)
ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews / 8 July) – We thought after transitioning from one quarantine status to another since the middle of March this year,...
STORIES FROM SULU: Flashback: At the Malacanan Palace for The Final Peace Agreement Sept....
ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews /07 July) -- The invitation read: The President of the Republic of the Philippines requests the pleasure of your company at...
A MORO IN EXILE: On COVID pandemic: If you think the situation is getting...
MANILA (MindaNews / 07 July) – As an emergency professional, I was among the very first few even among my colleagues in the profession...
MUSINGS FROM TEXAS: Mga badlongon ug suringiw
McALLEN, Texas (Mindanews / 7 July) – Bisan asa’ng parteha sa kalibutan, naa gyoy mga tawo’ng badlongon ug suringiw!
Si kinsa man ang unang matakdan...
LATE BLOOMS: A Haiku (In The Dark)
let us be fireflies
flickering lights in the night
pushing back the dark
Eric S.B. Libre
6 July 2020
LATE BLOOMS: Child and Mother Dark Conversation
The child, its voice a-quaver,
cried softly to its mother,
“Oh, mother, mother dear,
I am filled with so much fear.”
And the mother, ever concerned,
gently and lovingly...
TULA: Bagong Bahagharì
Magkikita-kita pa rin tayong mulî
Magsásalu-salong dî nagmámadalî
Sa pinagdaanan babangon, babawi.
Ang dî nakadalaw at dî nakauwî
Ang maglalakbáy pa sa malayong lahì
Makararatíng din nang maluwalhatì.
Ang dilím...
ANGAY-ANGAY LANG: Lessons from my major conflicts in Jolo
ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews / 03 July) – The year was 1966, the last quarter. I cannot place the exact date now but it was...
BANGSAMORO SPEAKS: : It is our fear that among the hardest hit once the...
(Statement of Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Balawag Ebrahim, Member of Parliament and Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, on the...
UPPER RIGHT HAND: Lawyering for the People
KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews / 1 July) – The powerful and eloquent speech of Justice Marvic Leonen during the oath-taking ceremonies for new lawyers overwhelmed...
HABAGATNONG HINAGAWHAW: Makaugtas
Bungol nagyawyaw,
alingugngog way unod.
Ayaw lalisa,
lagmit maugtas ra ka:
dî man siya kadungog
Hanggaw nagsangyaw,
pagtuo nga inamaw.
Lalisa ayaw,
dî man siya maminaw:
labaw ka unyang hanggaw
Eric S.B. Libre
1 Hulyo...
A MORO IN EXILE: The Anti-Terror Bill and why Muslims in the Philippines are...
For those who are wondering why ordinary poor Muslims are afraid of the Anti-Terror Bill (ATB), read on. If not interested, skip this post...
LATE BLOOMS: Crazy Seasons
the rainy season
is not exactly all rain
sometimes the sun shines
shines so very intensely
it makes you forget the rain
the sunny season
is not always so sunny
sometimes...
COMMENTARY: COVID-19 and Civil-Military Relations in the Philippines: Getting the Balance Right
WASHINGTON, D.C. (MindaNews / 29 June) -- The appointments of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, and Peace Process Secretary Carlito Galvez...
HABAGATNONG HINAGAWHAW: Balak Napulak
Bulak napulak
walay nitagad,
walay nihilak
sa iyang pagkatagak.
Bulak napulak
duna bay gitangag,
gitangag nga balak
sa damgong nahunlak?
Eric S.B. Libre
28 Hunyo 2020
UPPER RIGHT HAND: Populist leaders in democratic regimes: why drug war in Southeast Asia...
DAVAO CITY (Mindanews / 28 June) -- Indonesia, Philippines and the Kingdom of Thailand offer an interesting contrast of democratic consolidation (or decline) in...
TURNING POINT: The Pandemic Lockdown Woes
NAAWAN, Misamis Oriental (MindaNews / 28 June) -- The Philippines may yet hold the record of having imposed the longest lockdown in the whole...
FIRST PERSON: Poverty did not deter me from becoming a doctor
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews / 27 June) -- "Wala gid mabilin sa aton kung tumanon mo ang handom mo mag-doctor, pati ido naton...
INTEGRAL ECOLOGY: The Joy of Climbing the Great Mountains of Bukidnon
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews / 27 June) -- I grew up in Bukidnon, a land-locked mountainous Province of Mindanao, where about 70 percent...
A SOJOURNER’S VIEW: Tatay Bido
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 27 June) – June 26, 1987. Thirty tree years ago today was a sad day for many of us who...
OUR MARAWI: Ang solusyon po sa terrorismo ay ang pigilan ang mga injustices at...
Dear Senator Lacson,
Bago nyo po gamitin ang 2017 Marawi Siege na Justification para maipasa ang Anti-Terror Bill mag Senate Inquiry po muna tayo paano...
BANGSAMORO SPEAKS: Balance compassion and discipline and at the same, uphold the rule of law
(Privilege speech delivered by MP Mohagher Iqbal, Minister of Basic, Higher and Technical Education of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao during the...
THINK TALK: How I Became a Motornapper
MATALAM, North Cotabato (MindaNews / 22 June) ---You must first read this one below before I will tell you how I became a motornapper.
(photo...
A SOJOURNER’S VIEW: Fatherhood facing fearful facts in post-modern times
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 21 June) -- Even before COVID-19 radically changed people’s lives across the globe, the dawn of what has already been...
UPPER RIGHT HAND: Government Critics and the Anti-Terrorism Bill
SURIGAO DEL NORTE (MindaNews / 20 June) – In Agusan del Norte, Caraga last month, the police arrested a salesman for the latter’s social...
ANGAY-ANGAY LANG: Pamalandong sa Terror (-ism) sa Ating Kasaysayan
Berdey ni Jose Rizal ngayon. Matagal din akong nagturo nito, kasi required course ito, hindi ka ga-graduate sa college kung wala kang Rizal. Anong...
TULA: Takipsilim
Paano ko masasambit
At inyong maririnig
Ako’y nalulungkot
Ako’y natatakot
Mahirap mang aminin
Unti-unting tumatakas na lakas
Mga ala-alang kipkip sa diwa
Nagbibigay ng ngiti, masasayang gunita
Unti-unting tinatangay ng hangin
Yugto sa...
ALPSIDE DOWNED: United, Divided
BERN, Switzerland (MindaNews / 19 June) – For nearly a month now, my family has been holding weekend Zoom meetings to keep in touch...
THINK TALK: How I want to be pampered on Father’s Day
MATALAM, North Cotabato (MindaNews / 18 June) -- For the one who first thought that there should be Father’s Day inasmuch as there is...
LATE BLOOMS: Let The Sunshine Find Me
Bludgeoned and disillusioned
with frustration from many things gone wrong,
cherished dreams ruthlessly overturned
by nightmares that on waking refuse to be gone,
falsehood masquerading and celebrated as...
A SOJOURNER’S VIEW: To Ask The Right Questions! To Seek The Enlightened Answers!
(In commemoration of Jose Rizal’s birthday. Born 159 years ago, on 19 June 1861, Rizal's life, works and death helped inaugurate the nation’s post-Spanish...
TECHREMOTE: What I learned from working with NGOs and tech companies to be better...
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 17 June) – My first experience with remote work arrangement while employed full-time was in 2005. I was with a...
PEACETALK: On the ATB: Beyond Constitutionality
NAGA CITY (MindaNews / 17 June) – The current public debate in media and occasionally in the streets, as well as the reported executive...
BANGSAMORO SPEAKS: Siniguro natin na ang Bangsamoro Government ay ramdam ng tao
(Speech delivered by Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Balawag Ebrahim at the opening of the 2nd Regular Session of the interim Bangsamoro...
BANGSAMORO SPEAKS: Of Pandemics and Governance
(Ceremonial speech delivered by Speaker Ali Pangalian M. Balindong during the 2nd Regular Session of the interim Bangsamoro Parliament on 16 June 2020 in...
BANGSAMORO SPEAKS: Because no Bangsamoro child should be left behind
(Delivered by Minister Mohagher Iqbal during the virtual launching of the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education Learning Continuity Plan and Multi-Platform Communications...
BANGSAMORO SPEAKS: Making the Tausugs realize the value of education
ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews / 16 June) -- Today, we pay tribute to one of the greatest Tausug Muslim educators, who, during his time made...
TURNING POINT: ABS-CBN: Entertaining Live
NAAWAN, Misamis Oriental (MindaNews / 16 June) -- The franchise issue of ABS-CBN has become a national participatory entertainment, amusing everyone, especially the netizens,...
SOMEONE ELSE’S WINDOWS: Who’s afraid of terrorists?
MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews / 16 June) – The world loves a terrorist, although how often is open to argument. I’m not referring to the...
RIVERMAN’S VISTA: Maria Ressa’s conviction bad for Mindanao
QUEZON CITY (MindaNews / 16 June) -- On Monday, June 15, 2020, a Manila Regional Trial Court convicted Rappler Executive Editor Maria Ressa and...
UPPER RIGHT HAND: Terrorizing the Constitution
DAVAO DE ORO (MindaNews/15 June) --- ASSO (Arrest, Search and Seizure Orders), PDA (Preventive Detention Action), PCO (Presidential Commitment Order). These were the dreaded...
BANGSAMORO SPEAKS: Protect the security of our Muslim brothers and sisters
(Statement of Rep. Yasser Alonto Balindong, 2nd district of Lanao del Sur, on the alleged illegal violation of domicile and arrest of Muslim residents...
HABAGATNONG HINAGAWHAW: Balighô Sa Kinabuhì
Kagahapon nga matam-is
handomon makasákit
kalipay nga lumalabay
himayà nga nahanaw.
Subô nga mga gutlò
mapahiyomon nga hinumdoman
mga hagit nga gikaharong
mga pagsulay nga nabuntog.
Nabuntog nga mga pagsulay
gikaharong nga mga...
QUARANTINE DIARIES: All That Matters
Isn’t it refreshing when the sea breeze blows?
Isn’t it therapeutic to see the roses in rows?
Isn’t it invigorating when the rain drizzle?
Isn’t it comforting...
ANGAY-ANGAY LANG: Pamalandong sa Banwa ko Mindanaw
ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews / 13 June) -- Magandang reminder ang Hunyo 12, Independence Day. Apat na magandang alaala ang naramdaman ko. Una ang kanta...
UPPER RIGHT HAND: Lawyers for the people
DAVAO CITY (Mindanews / 13 June) The controversial anti-terrorism bill puts lawyers, especially human rights lawyers, at the limelight. People from all walks of...
BANGSAMORO SPEAKS: Anti-terror Bill in relation to the Philippines, including BARMM
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 12 June) -- Security has always been a critical issue in countries around the world, especially in developing nations. Over...
HABAGATNONG HINAGAWHAW: Kalampag
Bansang malaya, bayang malaya
ating Pilipinas ay naturingan
at ang Kalayaang ito ang ngayon
ay siya nating ipinagdiriwang.
Sa araw na ito, sariwain sa isipan
na itong Kalayaan na...
A SOJOURNER’S VIEW: But pray tell, who are terrorizing us?
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 12 June) -- FEEL LIKE CELEBRATING PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE DAY TODAY?
Re-imagining how the Katipunan's cry would echo today... one surely would...