Ruby left Sophie with me on Sunday because she went to Malagos for the Flight of the Eagles event. Since Sophie is in my pigeon hole, she has a little room to run and jump. So she just had  to play whatever she could find under my bed or anything that she feels like a toy for her.

On lunchtime, I prepared soup bones for her. She was apparently starving as she was waiting in front the stove until it’s cooked. She won’t eat pretty big chunks, as other dogs do. So I had to cut them into small pieces before giving them to her. When she was done with the meat, she grabbed the biggest bone left, little bigger than her bones in the leg.

(click image to view more photos)

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I understand why some young journalists love to be called “war correspondents.” (Especially the men journalists) They want to prove their worth, they want to prove they are man enough to enter the combat zone. Maybe some would also want to try what and how is it to be in the middle of the combat zone.

Also, I understand that conflict stories are big stories. They would surely land on the frontpages and cover stories of the magazine. I’m sure there are young journalists in Manila today who wants to fly to Sulu to cover the looming war and maybe they are praying too for another large-scale war. Continue Reading »

Sending a big contingent of government troops in Sulu would only worsen the situation. This has happened before, the government dismantled the Moro rebels’ camps and yet the problem is still there.

The Sulu clashes already left 57 killed on both sides. T’was so far the biggest casualty of the government soldiers in a single day — 27 killed while 30 on the other side. President Arroyo ordered more deployment of troops in the island of Sulu. I was told that at least 70% of the government forces is already in Mindanao. Still, there is no peace. When will the government learn from this?

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Aside from the interesting topics in our photojournalism course, there are also other things that caught my attention during the week-long class at the Ateneo de Manila Univesity two weeks ago.

I was amazed by one of our classmates whom at first glance you could hardly believe that he is one of the good photojournalists in the class. While some of the young photojournalists are like very much obsessed with their digital cameras, this guy is opposite. You would see him carrying Leica film camera around his neck wherever he goes. Some young photographers are ashamed of carrying their film cameras, but not this lanky classmate of ours.

When we had our dinner together at the fast food along Katipunan. Avenue, he shared to me how he survives in the urban jungle of Metro Manila. I couldn’t believe he’s sleeping wherever he gets sleepy – parks, internet cafes or coffee shops. Worst, he would only eat if he’s starving already. I can’t say if he has no money because he’s earning as photojournalist.

Look at the staff box of Newsbreak Magazine if who’s their staff photographer – its Buck Pago,20 years old. He quite naive somteimes, but good photorjournalist.

Buck Pago during the anti-SONA rally coverage along Commonwealth Avenue. Photo by Keith KP Bacongco

A mysterious package arrived this morning in our office. It’s addressed to me. But what’s inside remains a mystery. I was told that it’s for Ruby. The package looked like a box of tuna but it’s from Manila… I will not reveal what’s in that box. Just visit her new blog in the next few days and see for yourself what’s the package is all about.

I’m quite surprised by the call of the church to the parshioners to refrain from wearing “sexy” attires when attending the mass. Cardinal Rosales says the “sexy attires” could distract some church goers… But for me, I won’t believe it because of the culture today, it’s kinda normal already when you’d see “sexy attires” on the church. But maybe for the “conservative” church, it’s not normal… Seeing sexy church goers could also serve as “test of faith” for those who are looking at these sexy church goers. It’s up to them if they’ll get tempted by what they’ve seen.

This image is grabbed from the Manila Standard Today website. Just click the image and read the church’s statement on “wearing sexy attires” during weddings.

The redesigned website of Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center - Kasama sa Kalikasan (LRC-KsK) is now live. Thanks to Studio Arsenic  for  doing a great job. Although some sections have to yet be  filled in, major sections are already available. Photo galleries will be updated within a week. But the basic information about the group is already online. The photos in the slideshow are from different LRC-serviced communities.