Stage Set for 5 Presidentiables for Cagayan de Oro Leg of Pilipinas Debates 2016

By GMA-News 

Photo by Jo Madrigal

The stage is literally set as Cagayan de Oro City prepares for the first presidential debate on Sunday.

The five presidential hopefuls Vice President Jejomar Binay, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Grace Poe, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, and Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago are all expected to face off for the first time on Sunday since they declared to run for president.

The first of the PiliPinas Debates 2016 is organized by GMA 7, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and the Commission on Elections. Similar debates will be held in Luzon and in the Visayas over the course of the 90-day campaign period.

The Mindanao debate will be held at the Mini-Theater Building of the Capitol University. It will be the first time that a presidential debate will be held in Mindanao.

The event will be moderated by GMA News anchors Jessica Soho and Mike Enriquez and Inquirer.net editor-in-chief John Nery.

The Comelec earlier said that the venue can only accommodate 500 people.

Technical staff check on the stage where Sunday's debate will be held. Photo by JESSICA BARTOLOME, GMA News

Photo by JESSICA BARTOLOME

Aside from the the organizers, the security officials of the Cagayan de Oro City have also started preparing for the debate. In its initial advisory, they told residents to expect heavy traffic along Corrales, Osmeña, Gaabucayan and Recto streets on Sunday.

The PiliPinas Mindanao debate will air from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. live over GMA-7 and Super Radyo dzBB and will be livestreamed at GMA News Online. —Trisha Macas/NB, GMA News

1 in 4 Filipinos will Vote for Presidential Bet With Untarnished Reputation

By Patricia Lourdes Viray (philstar.com) | 

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The latest survey from Pulse Asia showed that about a quarter of Filipinos (28 percent) are voting for a particular presidential candidate because of his/her having an untarnished reputation.

MANILA, Philippines - One in every four Filipinos will vote for a presidential candidate with an untarnished reputation, Pulse Asia said in its latest survey released on Friday.

The survey showed that 28 percent of Filipino voters would support a presidential bet who has a reputation for not being corrupt.

According to Pulse Asia, this opinion is shared among all geographic areas (27 to 32 percent) and Classes D and E (25 to 29 percent).

The second most often mentioned reason for voting for a particular candidate is having a clear program or platform of action (14 percent) and extensive experience in governance (12 percent), the survey said.

Other reasons such as being knowledgeable in the management of government (9 percent), being helpful (6 percent) and being religious (6 helpful) are the other reasons that the respondents cited for voting for a presidential bet.

Being involved in a political dynasty and nationalism are the least reasons that Filipinos would vote for a particular candidate seeking the presidency.The survey was conducted among 1,800 respondents nationwide from January 24 to 28.

Sen. Grace Poe topped the latest presidential survey of Pulse Asia with 30 percent despite facing disqualification cases for citizenship and residency issues.

Despite corruption allegations against him, Vice President Jejomar Binay ranked second with 23 percent.

Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel "Mar" Roxas II and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte both scored 20 percent while Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago scored four percent.

Same sex, same challenges

THE GAME OF MY LIFE By Bill Velasco (The Philippine Star) 

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You can disagree without being disagreeable. Attack the deed, not the doer.

This was, in mildest terms, the feedback to Manny Pacquiao after his incendiary comments on same-sex marriage, which is a sensitive issue in many parts of the world. The level of disagreement has several levels, among them acceptance, tolerance and outright defiance and condemnation. As for the Bible-quoting boxing champion, there is no compromise. He believes in Scripture, particularly on what is unacceptable in the eyes of the God of his beliefs.

Of course, the magnitude of this issue has been fanned and blown up by our penchant for hysterics and drama. There seems to be little room for sober discussion when it comes to matters of personal preference. Our moral outrage seems to need the requisite raised voices, counter-attacks, name-calling and ganging up on people. To a certain extent, we enjoy it, and it’s not funny. Personally, I understand those who were offended. I would not pretend to know their experience firsthand. But I look forward to the day when Filipinos can learn to discuss our differences with as little hysteria as possible, and conduct the disagreement at a higher level. But that’s just my opinion.

On the surface, the Bible specifically mentions homosexuality in the most negative terms, from Leviticus in the Old Testament to the first book of Corinthians and the book of Romans in the New Testament, for a few assumed reasons. One of the reasons is the desire for procreation, which is considered a major component of marriage. In fact, sex was not really considered something you would do for pleasure, and the male bodily secretions associated with it were meant to be used for the sole purpose of making children. Though I am not an expert on Scripture, from my limited understanding, the oft-repeated chapters and verses wherein homosexuality is considered foul have rape (Sodom and Gomorrah), prostitution, slavery and infidelity as their context, all considered undesirable circumstances. As far as I am aware, the Bible does not mention anything about committed relationships between persons of the same sex. Lastly, in its various translations, Hebrews 8:13 speaks of “a new covenant” or new law with the arrival of Jesus Christ. Does this, by default, make the old ones obsolete? It’s a question I find myself asking.

A counselor for a private Roman Catholic group once mentioned to this writer that Christianity was superimposed by the Spanish onto Filipinos’ pre-existing spiritual beliefs, many of which are still very much alive in more remote parts of the country and  our tribal communities. He called it “split-level” Christianity, and said that it explains why many people attend weekly church service with one foot outside the door, and why some are devout inside the church, and start fighting in the parking lot over minor things like getting out first. These examples are probably just bad eggs, but it illustrates the point that having a default setting may not be enough. One has to actively seek out his or her beliefs, and own them. 

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community is a small but vocal, high-profile and often well-connected minority fighting for its place and recognition in Philippine society. They have experienced all sorts of oppression and abuse and, in some cases, even use its shock value for their economic benefit, as comedians and entertainers. Like everybody else, they have their own problems, personal and otherwise, and work hard to overcome them. Some even hide their true selves for fear of any reprisal or negative impact it may have on them personally or professionally. That is a sad fact that cannot be denied. The question is, as in anything else, do we let one disagreeable aspect of someone’s personhood define them in our eyes? How we answer would be most telling for us as a people.

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San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich once said that “The measure of who we are is how we react to something that doesn’t go our way.”  So what does it say about us when we respond with similar violence and bile when someone of stature disagrees with our belief system? Aren’t we as guilty, even when we use our past hurts as the justification for striking back?

For many years, this writer was part of a small but valiant group that worked for the welfare of Amerasian children, those sired then left behind by irresponsible or even deceiving American servicemen. I saw firsthand the discrimination against these abandoned children, mostly based on their skin color. The Caucasian kids were considered beautiful, and the luckier ones were able to have productive careers, some as entertainers here and in other countries. The children of African-American GI’s, however, were treated very badly, called names as kids, made to suffer terrible indignities, and were often considered useless burdens. You wanted to have paler skin, an aspiration that fuels a billion-peso beauty industry in the Philippines alone. That double standard persists today, in how we treat children, women, the sick or elderly, persons with disabilities and the LGBT. That is the true tragedy, that it exists at all. When you think about it, the great majority of the people in those various sectors argue that they did not choose to be that way, but neither do they shrink from it.

In any democracy, we are free to have opinions, no matter how strong. But we are not free to tell others how to live their lives, until those choices infringe upon the rights of others. We tell our children that they are free to love whomever they want to, but when that person walks into our lives, are we prepared to live with that choice? In past times, arranged marriages, same-race marriages and even child marriages were more accepted. Today, they are much less so. If we believe people are heading down the wrong path, we have the responsibility to tell them so, based on our beliefs. But nowhere do we have the right to call them names or condemn them. That is a line that democracy is not supposed to cross. Again, if their choices hurt others or curtail others’ rights, then we have a moral obligation to intervene. If you agree or disagree with Manny Pacquiao, that is your right. Choosing to vote him or not is, too. Reflect your approval or displeasure there if you wish.

In the end, if we truly believe in an all-knowing, all-powerful and loving God, then we know two things in the scope of our faith. One, each of us will face the Almighty personally and individually come judgement; nobody will be there to speak on our behalf. That is the nature of things: you live alone, you die alone. Everyone wants to look out for his neighbor, but none of us should impose our choices on others, that’s up to them., Secondly, if we believe that God can forgive all things, then any choice we make that does not define how kind we are towards other people won’t really matter. Does the God we believe in even need gender for anything?

Nine Spectacular Places to Visit Mindanao

Serene Lake Sebu, untouched Britania Islands, crystal clear Enchanted River, and more

Henrylito D. Tacio is an award-winning journalist based in the southern part of the Philippines. He specializes on reporting science, environment, medicine, agriculture, and travel features

Henrylito D. Tacio

FALLING FOR THE FALLS. Check out these breathtaking spots in Mindanao! Photo by Henrylito D. Tacio/Rappler

Looking for vacation options? Baguio, Boracay, Sagada are popular destinations. But in recent years, many Filipinos have discovered a wealth of beautiful locations in Mindanao. (IN PHOTOS: Dahilayan Adventure Park, Mindanao's playground)

Let’s take a look at a few.

All photos by Henrylito D. Tacio/Rappler

Lake Sebu, South Cotabato

Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio/Rappler

The Department of Tourism promotes this municipality as one of the prime eco-tourism destinations in Mindanao. It is named after the biggest (354 hectares) of the 3 lakes of the town. (The other two lakes are named Seloton, 48 hectares, and Lahit, 24 hectares.)

Lake Sebu is often called the “Summer Capital of Southern Philippines” as its climate is pleasantly cool (due to an elevation of 1,000 meters high from sea level). By night, the temperature gets even cooler and feels great for those who seek the feel of the fresh mountain air.

The bestselling Lonely Planet described Lake Sebu as a place located in a “bowl of forests and mountains.” The 42,450-hectare landscape is recognized by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a cultural landscape in Mindanao.

Maragusan, Compostela Valley

“Maragusan is a cold place just like Baguio and Tagaytay.”

“There are so many beautiful and exotic spots to visit. There are too many I can’t say them all.”

“In the morning, it’s so cold that even cooking oil would solidify. It’s like ice candy in the freezer.” (READ: Perfect for summer: 8 cool-weather PH destinations)

These are just some of the remarks you often hear from people who had been to Maragusan, a first class municipality in the province of Compostela Valley.

The best place to stay is at the Haven’s Peak Highland Resort, which has been featured in The Lonely Planet. It is nestled on Tarago Hills facing the town with 208 beautifully landscaped steps leading to its tidy but beautiful lobby. This mountain resort provides sight of the picture-perfect and picturesque view of green foggy mountains appearing like a painting and like backdrop of a stage.

Kopiat Island in Mabini, Compostela Valley

Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio/Rappler

This 87-hectare island is off the coast of Pindasan. Sea travel around the island takes about 20 minutes by motorized boat, while in-land tour takes about 45 minutes. A portion of the island encircles a seven-hectare lagoon. (READ: From Davao City, make the trip to these 8 beautiful beaches)

Actually, Kopiat Island is part of the protected area known as Mabini Protected Landscape and Seascape. It was declared as such during the time of President Joseph Estrada and for good reason. It is a known breeding ground of marine turtles, a “protected and regulated” species. As such, it is a good place for snorkeling and diving.

The whole island is fully planted with coconut trees. There are also some wild fruit trees inside the heart of the island. Since it is still undeveloped, there are no stores where you can buy soft drinks or food. But that’s what makes the island a perfect place for adventure.

Not far from Kopiat Island is the appropriately named Lunod Island: more than half of its 17 hectares is occupied by submerged mangrove forest teeming with beautiful sea creatures. Its rich coral gardens are spawning grounds for fish, crustaceans, and other marine life.

Dahican Beach in Mati City, Davao Oriental

This is located some 15 minutes from the heart of the city. A recent American visitor, who had also been to Boracay, praised the beach in these words: “I have not seen such a wonderful beach, not even in Boracay. The Dahican Beach is South Sea dream come true.” (READ: Head to 'Borawan' and these 5 unspoiled PH beaches)

Swimming is not the only thing you can do while you are in Dahican Beach. If you like water adventure like skimboarding, this is the best place in Davao region. In fact, several skimboarding competitions have been held in the place; it is being touted as the Skimboarding Capital of Mindanao.

George Plaza, whose story I featured in Reader’s Digest, is the man behind the popularity of skimboarding in Dahican. He founded the Amihan Boys to help those out-of-school youths to do something worthwhile instead of being a problem in the barangay where they are living. These boys can be tapped as trainers for those who want to learn skimboarding.

Britania Islands in San Agustin, Surigao del Sur

Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio/Rappler

It’s a group of islands that faces the Pacific Ocean; the islands are stunningly beautiful and will take your breath away. (READ MORE: Britania Islands, breathtaking paradise in Surigao del Sur)

Most of the islands are uninhabited with minimal or no vegetation. But all have one thing in common: they are surrounded with crystal clear waters.

One visitor wrote in Trip Advisor: “In my opinion, the Britania Group of Islands is the next best thing to Boracay in the Philippines in terms of pristine white beaches some people at a time can enjoy. While Boracay is a popular choice (because of the night life there), this group of islands offer adventurers a real deal and one would give a true appreciation of the spectacular white beaches…

Enchanted River in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur

In the Trip Advisor website, one tourist wrote: “I visited this place around 5 years ago and it was simply breath taking. We are the only ones there and it was simply surreal. We swam for a couple of hours and just enjoyed the water, the nature surrounding the river and the over-all tranquility of the place.”

Only discovered in recent years, the Enchanted River flows into the Philippine Sea – six meters away is the coastline of Hinatuan Bay – but no one knows where the water comes from. Is it from a spring? Does some of the water come from the sea?

Generally, most people swim in the river whose water’s shade ranges from aquamarine to blue. When the shade is darker blue, watch out; it means the water is already very deep. The water’s undercurrent is strong so people are advised to wear life vests even if they are very good swimmers.

Tinuy-an Falls in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur

Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio/Rappler

Its 95-meter wide waterfall plunges 55 meters high from the top of the three-tiered cascading waters that looks like a huge white theatrical curtain. (READ: Hit the road: Cool off at these 5 PH waterfalls)

There is a bamboo raft on the side of the pool which you can ride to go near the falls. If you have more time, you can follow the staircase located at the side of the falls. It will bring you to the second and third levels of the waterfalls. Those who have been there say that the falls in both levels are smaller but the beauty is still incomparable due to its unique formation.

Farther from the three-tiered waterfalls, there is a smaller one located near the entrance. We saw some people swimming in the area. Be sure to do so with caution as the stones are a little bit slippery.

Pearl Farm Beach Resort in Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte

Once a breeding ground for Daniel Aguinaldo’s white lipped oyster, whose survival depended on the cleanest underwater environment, it is now an idyllic private resort.

One of the famous landmarks of the resort is the three-tiered Parola wharf (named after the local term for “lighthouse”), which was once a lookout post for strangers who were not welcome on the island, back in the days when it was still a pearl farm. (READ: The beautiful Island Garden City of Samal: 16 things to do)

Just off the beach resort is the Malipano Island which is the site of 7 exclusive villas. All waterfront bungalows were designed by world-renowned architect Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa, inspired by the stilt houses of the Sulu Sea using strictly native materials such as bamboo, coconut and yakal.

For scuba divers, the Pearl Farm is a paradise. This natural haven offers spectacular diving amongst the huge shoals of fish and the giant taklobo clams, without the need for tedious boat rides. Just 60 meters away from the resort are two sunken Japanese World War II ships that await discovery.

Buenavista Island in Davao del Norte

The 4-hectare island is a perfect place to go this summer. It has a beautiful view, especially the one that is facing the Pacific Ocean. It’s no wonder why the owners named it The Island Buenavista (the latter comes from two Spanish words,buena for “good” and vista for “view”).

Take refuge under the shade of coconut trees (they don’t bear nuts so you are safe wherever you go) and feel the sun-kissed cottony sands.

Heading down to Mindanao any time soon? Tag these items on your bucket list. Enjoy and #SharePH! – Rappler.com