The Last Warriors of Mindanao: A Legacy Lost to Time

In the early 1900s, at the height of colonial rule in the Philippines, three warriors stood side by side in a quiet studio, their expressions solemn, their clothing woven with the history of their ancestors. They were Bagobo warriors, indigenous protectors of Mindanao, known for their resilience, spiritual beliefs, and mastery of the kampilan— a long, single-edged sword.

The man in the center, Datu Amang, was a revered leader who had defied colonial forces in his youth. To his right stood Timoay Gani, his most trusted warrior, whose large ear ornaments symbolized his status. To his left was Kulaman, a skilled tracker and the last of his bloodline. Together, they had fought to defend their land against invaders, refusing to submit to foreign rule.

This photograph, taken by an American ethnographer, was meant to be an anthropological record—but it became something else. Days after this image was captured, Datu Amang and his warriors vanished into the mountains. No written history tells of their fate, only whispers among the elders. Some say they were betrayed, others claim they took their resistance underground.

But one thing remains certain: their legacy survived. Their descendants still tell their story, passing down the same intricate garments, the same warrior spirit, and the same unyielding love for their homeland.

Disclaimer: I do not own the image presented. The photo is provided for educational and informational purposes only and to enhance visual understanding of the topic. Rights solely belongs to the rightful owner.

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446Bai Jerlina Owok, Leah A. Valle and 444 others

🌄 Life is a Journey—Embrace the Beauty Along the Way! 🌿✨

 

Life is a Journey—Embrace the Beauty Along the Way!

Looking at the breathtaking La Palmera, Columbio, Sultan Kudarat, you’re reminded that life doesn’t always have to be a struggle to be meaningful. Some paths are smooth, some trails are easy, and yet they still lead to incredible destinations. Just like this stunning view, life is about appreciating the journey, embracing every moment, and finding beauty in the simple things.

Not every success comes from hardship—sometimes, it’s about choosing the right path, staying consistent, and trusting that you are exactly where you need to be. Just like how La Palmera’s rolling hills stretch effortlessly into the horizon, your dreams and goals can unfold naturally when you move forward with purpose and positivity.

So take a deep breath, enjoy the journey, and remind yourself that life is not just about the destination—it’s about the moments, the views, and the peace you find along the way. Keep going, stay grateful, and let your path lead you to something truly beautiful.

Tag and share it to someone who needs this reminder today! Let’s inspire each other to live fully and appreciate the journey. #LaPalmera #LifeLessons #EnjoyTheJourney #StayMotivated #NatureInspires

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2KYou, Igorota Wanderer and 2K others

LIFE CHANGES DRAMATICALLY

 

Life is so unpredictable. We can never know what Is going to happen in the next hour or even next minute.

Being in online classes while teaching but in the daily home office, I experienced a total change when it comes to the digital body language:  cues you send – or don't send. Writer David Robson gets to the point in a nutshell: "Online, as in real-life, it's not just what you say – but how you say it".

Think about the last work email that you sent. Did its sentences end with full stops or exclamation marks, or did you forgot punctuation altogether? Was it peppered with emoji – or plain text? And was your response prompt, or did you have to apologise for the time it had taken to reply?

Now, consider your last Zoom call. Did you check your phone or email at least once during the meeting? And did you pause to be sure that the other speaker had finished? Or did you find yourself frequently interrupting their sentences, as you failed to take into account the slight delays in the connection?

According to the leadership expert Erica Dhawan, these are all examples of our “digital body language” – a concept that serves as the title of her new book. Like our in-person physical body language, digital body language concerns the subtle cues that signal things like our mood or engagement, and change the meaning of the words we say – be it in text, on the phone or in a video call.

Following David Robson, it is needless to say, the rise of remote working during the pandemic has only made these issues more urgent, but psychologists have long known that digital communication is ripe for misunderstanding.

So, what can be done? It’s indeed a question of mindfulness, so that we can be sure that our digital body language is intentional and appropriate to the situation at hand.

Do you like emojis?!? Well, first consider written communication, starting with the use of emoji and punctuation marks, like the exclamation point. Stylists may sneer, but many people (and include me in!) argue that they often help to clarify the meanings of the words themselves, much in the same way as a nodding head or a smirk in person. Whether you’re signalling urgency or excitement with ALL CAPS, impatience and irritation with an “?!?” or mutual appreciation with a fist-bump emoji, you are helping your text to convey the feelings you would have embodied in person.

It took me almost a whole year, but right now allow me to tell you: don’t feel shy about adopting these more informal digital cues, where appropriate – and be aware that others may well be expecting them.

Broadly, your use of punctuation and emojis are part of a bigger set of cues that will establish the tone of your exchanges – whether they feel formal or informal, enthusiastic or bored. Other signals will include your greetings (whether you include a friendly “Hello” at the start of the message or simply dive straight in), and your sign off (an emotionally distant “Regards” versus an enthusiastic “Thanks!”).

Honestly, sometimes I'm really getting tired of video calls and zoom meetings. They present their own unique problems. Your body language, manners and level of engagement on video-chat platforms can influence how colleagues see you and interpret your message. Even during my online teaching, I observed some students being absent-minded or even not being dressed well.

Whatever medium you use, you should remain conscious of two factors – trust and power – in all your interactions. These ratings will be subjective, of course, but if you sense there is a clear gap on either of these dimensions, you need to be more cautious.

In the past, the handshake, the smile and the smile gave us many well trusted signals,– but in online communication, our gratitude is often less apparent, or may not be expressed at all. Measures to remedy this could be as simple as sending a follow-up email, after a virtual meeting, to make it clear that you valued someone’s input, or cc’ing a junior colleague on an email to a client, acknowledging the role they played in a project. We can’t just assume that our colleagues will know how much we value them.

Erica Dhawan’s book Digital Body Language, is out now from St Martin’s Press. I learned a lot from her, especially perfecting our digital body language will take practice – but a few moments of thought each day may save hours of anxiety and confusion in the days and weeks ahead.

I am trying to move forward each day every day on my spiritual journey . It’s been a continuous journey not of this birth but of multiple births . We have learned so much about spirituality from outside .

For me my life altering change would be to feel that divine experience within me . Meditation is a slow process or maybe fast. I don't know if it all depends on intensity and your journey. Sometimes it can freak you because you won’t be able to notice any change