KIAMBA, Sarangani (February 12, 2010) – Muslim women display their skill in playing the Kulintang during the Cultural Day at the municipal kiosk Tuesday, February 11, as part of the town’s 62nd Foundation Anniversary celebration. (KIAMBA NEWS CENTER/Abner P. Arzaga)
Kulintang players
February 16, 2010 By
Chieftains
February 16, 2010 By
KIAMBA, Sarangani (February 12, 2010) – Tribal chieftains from different barangays celebrate the Cultural Day highlighting old traditions during the town’s 62nd Foundation Anniversary Thursday, February 11. (KIAMBA NEWS CENTER/Abner P. Arzaga)
Cultural Day
February 16, 2010 By
KIAMBA, Sarangani (February 12, 2010) – Mayor Rom Falgui (left), named Datu Benwu (supreme datu) by the tribal community, extends his demsu (blessing) to the chieftains to strengthen unity in every tribe during the Cultural Day celebration Thursday, February 11. (KIAMBA NEWS CENTER/Abner P. Arzaga)
Respect
February 3, 2010 By
ALABEL, Sarangani (February 2, 2010) – Joel Aton of Southern Philippines Power Corporation pays respect to an old Blaan woman after the distribution of Philhealth cards to 1,726 beneficiaries from Alabel by the provincial government Tuesday, February 2. Aton is running for municipal councilor under the SARRO Lakas-Kampi-CMD party. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)
Preface of the book Postscripts from Mindanao
by: Wilma Basan Villanueva
Pitong taon na halos ang lumipas magmula nang tahakin ko ang landas ng mga Bagong Bayani. Malayo na ang aking narating, malawak na rin ang paningin, ngunit sa bawat araw na lumilipas, wari ko’y napapalayo ang mundong aking pinagmulan.
Di kaya ako lang ang dahilan?
Kaya sa aking pagbabalik, sana’y samahan nyo ako at ating balikan ang Ating Mindanao.*
Books
But returning to one’s roots takes more than just retracing one’s steps or reliving childhood memories. If there is one thing I have learned in being far from home, the journey inward requires a vision forward.
Not so long ago, our forefathers dreamed of a Land of Promise —- a land of our own where there is bounty for all. They found the seeds of that promise in Mindanao.
Thus, if I was to truly reclaim my birthright, I would need to look back into the dreams forged by our forbears and take the task of continuing to build on that dream and bring it into the future.
“Ang Ating Mindanao”, incidentally, is also a national initiative program of the government to fulfill Mindanao as the Land of Promise. It aims to ‘mobilize the local government, civil society and the business community for the economic development of Mindanao and its environs.
Such local initiatives, and the current progress in the areas of foreign service indicate substantial benefits forthcoming in this region. Under this situation, the private sector is duty-bound to initiate the tourism industry’s revitalization, by providing the expertise and additional funding or investments which the government may be restricted to provide, especially with this current gloom in the global economy
Among the members of the private sector, the 10 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have the resources, the widest contacts and the global reach to initiate the much needed world-wide marketing campaign, in order to elevate our country’s international status as an eco-tourism destination and a highly competitive investment hub in the Asia Pacific region.
With these thoughts in mind, ‘Postscripts from Mindanao’, the coffee table book was born.