While other parts of the country is facing the dry spell, others are also enjoying the rain and even are submerged in the flood. This is just one of the signs of climate change.

In Luzon, they are bracing for the looming dry spell while most of us here in Mindanao are rolling our trousers up to prepare for the street floods. In some areas in Luzon, the rice paddies have gone dry. But in other areas in Mindanao, some were washed away by landslides.

The water shortage in Luzon may also lead to power shortage. So what would this good government do to augment the power shortage? Shift to coal-fired power plant, that’s one of their options. But that’s a no, no solution. Coal is one of the biggest culprits of global warming. And yet our government is still eyeing it as one of the alternative energy sources.

Yes, piksel! Visaya for Pixel. It’s my photoblog that contains images from different parts of Mindanao. Some of the images are my assignments at school. We were required to post the some of the photos in our photoblogs.

The site is powered by Pixelpost. I just modified the banner. You can download the software here for free. The software comes with 3-4 templates, it can be modified using any html editor. So far, it’s one of the best photoblogging software I’ve ever seen.

So what’s the difference between a photoblog and photo gallery? According to Wiki.Photoblogs:

Photoblogs and galleries both display images on the web. Because they share some similar attributes, they are often confused with each other, but there are certain characteristics that distinguish the two.

A gallery is basically just a collection of images. Often times galleries are sorted into different categories or albums to make the images easier to view. A gallery may have the images sorted by date or it may not. Having dates isn’t required to be considered a gallery.

I really like this photo of Mindanews’ reporter Froilan Gallardo. The composition is great. Everything is there. The quality of light is good, it adds drama to the photo especially inside this mosque.

This is the caption of the photo:
Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters leave their shoes and sandals as they pray inside the mosque of Imam Al-Kanul, the 69-year-old leader killed along with 14 Philippine Marines and five rebels in Barangay Guinanta, Al-Barkah, Basilan last July 10. The beheading of 10 of the 14 Marines and the killing of the Imam is being investigated by a joint fact-finding team composed of government and MILF representatives.

Despite of the efforts of the peace groups to stop the violence in Basilan, it seems that there is a looming war in the war-torn island. Thousands have already left their homes, fearing that they might be trapped in the crossfire.

Although the court has released the arrest warrants for the killers of the 14 Marine soldiers, yet they (police) don’t have idea how do the suspects look like. Let’s hope that no more fall guys, again. Although this has been the trend, let’s keep our fingers crossed. Like in the past, suspected Abu Sayyaf members were picked up but in the end they turned out to be fall guys.

Again, this is another pattern of violence. Not just in Basilan, but also the in the entire Mindanao.

Sun.Star: Pattern seen in Basilan crisis
By Ryan Rosauro
(1st of two parts)

The pattern leading to the all-out war of 2000 has become apparent in the current Basilan crisis that has the potential of pitting once again the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in armed hostilities unless both are willing to settle things in the negotiating table. Just like seven years ago, the string of events start with the commission of a high-profile crime, which is attributed to the rebel group. A word war erupts between the AFP and MILF leaderships. Government pursues legal charges against the suspects meantime as the emotionalism of the event is used to drum up blame.

Newsdesk one of the journalists’ favorite spots in Quezon City. I wonder what went wrong and they mispelled their own profession. I’ve learned that this bar is also owned by journalists. What happened to copy editor?

Two weeks ago, t’was my first time to enter the former US military base — Subic. The US’ color is still very evident — the structures and even culture. What I love in the former base is its forest resereve area. There were signs of “monkey crossing” but I failed to see even one monkey. Instead, we saw bats soaring over the sky.

Modern monkey that ever came out from the jungles of Subic.

On July 26, Pupil made its first performance with their new drummer — Wendell Garciaof Barbie’s Cradle.  Wendell replaced Bogs Jugo after a year as Pupil’s drummer and programmer. Bogs was also the drummer of The Mongols.

 It was a great performance. Power. The band played couple of new songs from their upcoming second album.  Pupil’s bassist Dok Sergio said the album will be released maybe within a month or two.

The new songs are great, t’was really Pupil sound.