Philippine National Elections Voting Guide

John Paul 'Lakan' Olivares February 23 at 2:50am Reply
Ladies and Gentlemen,

As we all know, the campaign season for the Philippine National Elections has swung into full gear, and as some would say "The Circus has come to town".

I here by implore you to review your candidate, and truly select one out of a truly conscientious effort. Here are some reminders in selecting a candidate truly driven to change our country:

1. We are all the stock holders to this country, what the candidate is simply doing is coming to us and apply for the job to be the president / CEO of this nation. The platform each candidate presents must be beneficial to the whole of the nation and binding to the will of the people.

Will they address:
a. Foreign Debt
b. Proper Education
c. Sustainable Internal Economy and Jobs
d. Human Rights Abuses and Private Armies
e. Human Trafficking
f. Population and the RH Bill

2. Is the platform of the candidate clear on how to steer this country towards sustainable development, corruption eradication, and climate change preparation? Not mere tree planning sessions will save us from future disasters, hence they must be ready for the inevitable. Remember, economic gains can be short lived, but environmental damage will last more than a life time.

Nature is our Life Line, the source of our food, water, shelter, etc. If the candidates cannot protect it, if they cannot protect us from the future disasters to come.

3. No Compromises! Is the candidate aligned with party mates who have been known for corruption and abuse? If they tolerate such party mates, then what will stop them from covering up the transgressions of that party mate? What will stop then in acting for the good of the party, rather than the good of the people? Remember, corruption isn't only about stealing but also about allowing another to steal.

4. Does the candidate have a record of creating positive sustainable impact in our country? Or are they just riding on personality and fame?

Remember, we are all voting for the future of this nation, and that goes beyond 2016. Our votes must be a deliberate act of ensuring that the candidate will be our partner in development, and not just another talking head.

The Green Vote is a vote of conscience.

Mindanao-Based Magazine

25 years after People Power 1

February is 25 years after People Power I. As we, the older ones in MindaNews, know, the most number of human rights violations under the Marcos dictatorship was in Mindanao. Some of those who fought the dictatorship are dead (so many of them Mindanawons -- some Manila-born like Edgar Jopson and Emman Lacaba were killed in Mindanao, some lived to see the day but died in the 1990s or 2000s (e.g. Larry Ilagan, Benjie de Vera, Rey Teves), some are still alive but tired, retired, etc...

What did we in Mindanao do to get rid of the dictatorship?

Who were these people who sacrificed their lives, their supposedly lucrative practices whether in law, medicine, business, etc... to go against the dictatorship (armed or unarmed). They should be remembered. We should remember what they did. We owe our freedom to them.

37 years after the burning of Jolo

February 7, 1974, Jolo burned. Who did it, both the military and the MNLF blame each other. No one has seen photographs of the burning but there are existing photographs and I've asked permission -- about two years ago na -- to use them for publication.

(we got the file! done last saturday!)

Balemtayms Mindanao style

a. Christian-Muslim wedding. Forty one years of the Mastura couple. Germelina Lacorte

b. Lumad wedding. Boy Mordeno

c. Tri-people marriage. Froilan Gallardo