Bulad Vendor

A bulad vendor at the Bankerohan Public Market in Davao. Mmm…. Lami! Not!

Hostages released in Pikit

Good news tonight from Pikit, North Cotabato.  The hostages that were taken this morning in that area have been released after about four hours in captivity.  The news now reveals that the four hostages included on German and three Filipinos.  The Filipina wife of the German (who was one of the hostages also) says that they were treated well by their captives, and ransom was paid for their release.  It makes me feel bad that a ransom was paid, as I feel that by doing so, other foreigners in the area are now in danger of being kidnapped.  When the word is out that a quick kidnapping can lead to monetary gain, it could happen again and again.  This is unfortunate.  At this point, though, I don’t have any idea of how much of a ransom was paid or by whom.   I still feel that paying any ransom at all was a mistake.

I am happy to know that everybody was treated well and released unharmed.  It makes me feel good that it only lasted for a few hours before being resolved.  I pray that no other incidents like this will happen again.

Breaking news – and it’s not good!

I was just notified by a good friend who is also a journalist here in Mindanao.  He tells me that four foreigners have been kidnapped in Pikit, North Cotabato.  No other details are yet available, the nationalities of those kidnapped are not known as of now.

This news really saddens me.  It has been a long time (more than 5 years, as I recall) since any kidnappings of foreigners have occurred in Mindanao.  And, actually, it has been even longer, as I think about it.  You see, the last two kidnapping cases that are associated with Mindanao are the incidents in which the Burnhams and other hostages were taken, and also the diving group from Sipadan, Malaysia.  Both of these incidents did not actually occur in Mindanao, but the hostages in each case were eventually taken to and held in Mindanao.  In the case of the Burnhams, they were taken in Palawan, and transported to Mindanao.  In the case of the divers, they were taken in Sipadan, Malaysia and taken to Mindanao.

I have personally gone to Pikit twice now, and I felt safe there.    Recently, I even posted a comment on my Photoblog stating that I hoped to return to Pikit soon.  For now, those plans will certainly be on hold, at least until I hear more about what happened and the details surrounding it.

Operating this particular blog, I get asked daily through e-mail – “Is it safe to come to Mindanao?”  In almost all cases, I answer that it is safe to come here.  From time to time, people will ask about parts of Mindanao that are not so safe, and I say to avoid it.  But, when something like this happens, people will be fearful to come to even the safest parts of Mindanao again.  After a long break from kidnappings and such, Mindanao was finally starting to overcome those negative reports.  Now, we will be back to square one, I fear.

UPDATE:  Just got a report that the kidnap victims were 4 Caucasian individuals – 2 male and 2 female.

Garbage Can Factory

These are garbage cans! Here in Mindanao they use old used tires to product garbage cans! Neat idea, cool recycling idea.

Mahal Ko ang Mindanao

I agree with Mary Ann….  Mahal Ko ang Mindanao!  I love Mindanao.  Mindanao is paradise.  This is what Mary Ann E. Mata said during her speech at the Commencement Exercises at UP Mindanao recently.  A lot of the things she said echo things that I have been saying on this blog for almost 2 years now.  Mata recently graduated from UP Mindanao with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics.  She is from Davao City, and a true Mindanaoan!

Mary Ann says that she can see the Mindanao’s Agricultural sector has vast potential, and one of her goals is to assist in developing it’s potential in business, particularly business in the Agricultural sector.  Not only did Mary Ann graduate, she also received a number of rewards in the process!  She received the Dean’s Medal for Academic Excellence as well as The Chancellor’s Medal for Excellence.

Congratulations, Mary Ann.  I like what you had to say about Mindanao, and just based on your words, I can see and feel your strong love for the Island of Mindanao!  We have that in common.

Based on a report in the Manila Bulletin Newspaper.