600 Bikers For Peace in Mindanao

I love biking since my childhood. Several health circumstances held me back to such events, I am writing about here and now.

More than 600 bikers pushed their way uphill as the first "Bike for Peace" sponsored by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process outside of Metro Manila.

Participants from local government sectors along with other peace advocats, biking enthusiasts and media guests trekked the mountainous terrain staring from the People Park in Cotabato City (city hall), where I have been staying in 1989 during an interview with during that time acting mayor Mr. Badoy, to North Upi in Maguindanao.

Beyond the physical activity, this event also mirror (hopefully!) the Philippine goverment's goal in reaching a final peace agreement with the MILF, which has been going in for years niow.

"Bike for Peace" is usually held in Manila. Peace for Mindanao! Is it really such a never ending story???

Mindanao Daily Mirror A Finalist in PPI Press Awards

The Mindanao Daily Mirror is among the six newspapers that made it as finalists in the daily category of the 2010 Civic Journalism Community Press Awards to be held by the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) on June 22 and 23, 2011 at the Traders Hotel in Manila.

The awarding night is part of the activities of the 15th National Press Forum and 2011 Annual Membership Meeting, which has the theme "Reporting Governance and Human Rights".

The other daily newspapers vying for the award are Sun Star Cebu, Cebu Daily News, The Freeman, Sun Star Cagayan de Oro and Sun Star Davao.

You can imagine, that I am really blessed and honoured having my regular column in the "Mirror" since February 2011.

Go to ARCHIVES and check it out:
http://www.dailymirror.ph 

Media Must Tell the Truth in The Philippines

Please check out this very important post and a statement, which is also coming from the bottom of my heart being a foreign journalist, living in the wonderful Philippines for good since 1999 and forever... .

Media must tell the truth, says priest

Camiguin Island - an Island of Your Imagination Born On Fire

I never expected having a very hectic schedule as an expatriate living in the Philippines. BUT, I still take my time out, travelling around this beautiful country, especially Mindanao.

Camiguin is a very small island province of the Philippines off the northern coast of Mindanao. Its capital is Mambajao. The island of Camiguin is in the Bohol Sea about 10 km north of Misamis Oriental.

Sagay Church facade  

The name Camiguin is derived from the native word  "Kamagong", a tree of the Ebony family that thrives near Lake Mainit in the province of Surigao del Norte. The original inhabitants of Camiguin were "manobos" who migrated from Surigao. The old native language in Camigiun is called "Kinamiguin", which is similar to the dialcet speaken in Suriago.

(During the volcanic birth of mount Vulcan, some areas in the town of Bonbon subsided, sinking the cemetery of the town below sea level.)

There are a lot of tourist destinations, i.e. the Old Catarman Church Ruins in Bonbon, 16 km's from the center of Catarman. What remains are ruins of adobe walls, belfry and convent that are testimonials to the devastating 1871 earthquake which wiped out the illustrious town of Catarman established earlier as a Spanish settlement in 1967.

(Katibawasan Falls, 5 km South East from Mambajao)

Camiguin Island - this means Tuasan Falls, Sto. Nino Cold Spring, Mount Hibok-Hibok, Old Vulcan, 13 kms west of the capital Mambajao, the "White Island", 3 kms across Agogo and Yumbing, an uninhabited small white sand bar and many other places to be discovered.

Remembering the history of classical composers - Klaus Doring's Classical Music

Many people misunderstand, if I am talking about classical music. they think about the Beatles during the 1960s and maybe about some Swing from the 1930s. Sure, it's also classical music.

I am talking about the last 400 years - and hey, please don't misinterpret me. Not every classical music is Beethoven or "terrible opera music", by the way, why "terrible"???

Check out Franz von Suppe.

http://www.klausdoringclassicalmusic.webs.com

Peace Education in Mindanao

Peace education in Mindanao - very important. Check out my post here;

http://www.germaninthephilippines.tropicalpenpals.com

SMART, GLOBE, SUN - An Amazing Cellphone Company Competition in The Philippines

The cellphone companies' competition in the Philippines is becoming smarter and smarter, more globally under the sun. 

Speaking of competition: Leading wireless service provider SMART  is rallying running enthusiasts and nature lovers (including me) to join an advocacy run for the benefit of the environment.

Dubbed "Run for the Environment', the event will be held in partnership with the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature - Philippines) on May 22, at 5 a.m. at SM City of Davao City.

Be there and JOIN! See you there!

And check out more:

http://www.germaninthephilippines.tropicalpenpals.com 

14 Points to Ponder For a Solar Home in The Philippines

Every time I stayed in Spain during the 1980s in my friend's Solar home  I planned to ponder for a solar house in the Philippines. During the 1990s my house has been almost finished. 1999 me and my family moved in. Solar? No question! No decision yes! The prizes kept me breathless - and also the monthly electric bill.

Philippines, a "sunny country"... . BUT... ! 

Check out also the following post: 

14 points to ponder for a solar home

MILF Flags Possible Peace Deal

 (MILF panel chairman Mohagher Iqbal)

The Philippine government peace panel's target to strike a comprehensive agreement with Muslim rebels within one year "is very possible"... .

Check out more here:


MILF flags possible peace deal

Peace Advocate Defends Closed Meeting

NO MEDIA ALLOWED!!!

Check out this post:


Peace advocate defends closed meeting