Every time something’s good happening on the peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), something bad is happening too. As usual, it’s the government’s fault. This only goes to show the insincerity of this government in peacefully resolving the decade-old Mindanao problem.

Negotiations with MILF flop; Arroyo gov’t ‘breaks’ promise

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Saturday blamed Manila for the collapse of the peace talks after government negotiators allegedly reneged again on a deal that would grant Filipino Muslims a separate homeland in the southern Philippines. The talks collapsed on Friday in Malaysia after government peace negotiators attempted to make changes on an earlier deal on ancestral domain. “The talks collapsed because the government was undoing already-settled issues on ancestral domain,” Mohagher Iqbal, chief MILF peace negotiator, said.

DAVAO CITY — Around a hundred of indigenous peoples will gather on July 28 to 31 at Camp Alano, Toril this city to expose the real state of the lives of the indigenous peoples in Mindanao, who seemed to be always missing in President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s area of concern and programs.

The three-day conference, dubbed as State of the Indigenous Peoples Address (SIPA), will be in time for Arroyo’s 8^th State of the Nation Address (SONA). Continue Reading »

The most awaited reunion gig of the greatest Pinoy band, Eraserheads, is finally happening on August 30.  After weeks of rumors, no less than Ely Buendia confirmed (over the radio last Sunday) the most awaited gig of the decade.

The Eraserheads Reunite - And this time, they’re Smokin’

There has never been a better time to be an Eraserheads fan than right now - for the first time since 2001.

“Eraserheads Reunion” rumors have been flying all week around the wild and wooly pinoy blogosphere. A number of these had been reported on the decade-old Eraserheads mailing list , sparking speculations a-plenty.

And all these have definitely been enough to get me out of the music journo doldrums and get on the case. Were the clues and leaks and blind items intentionally scattered out there as a devious form of viral marketing? Perhaps.

If it was really a viral campaign, it has proved to be quite effective, and my hat goes off to the digital marketing strategist who conceived it.

Villagers fetch water from the faucet in Baranagay Tinoto, Maasim, Sarangani province. Water supply is apparrently scarce in the village as villagers have to queue everyday and pay P2 for every five-gallon water container. A 200MW coal-fired power plant is being eyed in nearby barangay Kamanga. Researchers say a typical 500MW coal-fired power plant requires 2.2 billions of water each year.

More photos here.

About four years ago, a native chicken barbecue costs P25-30 only. Just last week, I learned that it’s already P45 a stick. Almost everything today goes up, — fuel, rice, etc. Suweldo, kelan kaya? :)