No matter how many times one hears about senseless killings, it is appalling each time it happens. How could people sink so low? How could people engaged in violence continue to believe that it will ever solve anything?
The massacre yesterday of the Mangudadatu family members and journalists in Ampatuan town on their way to Shariff [...]

Due to the recent — and enduring — devastation brought about by Ondoy (a.k.a. Typhoon Ketsana), in the news now, we see pleas for more awareness of environmental issues. We read about government being asked to be more rigorous and meticulous in public infrastructure planning, as well as in granting land development projects to real [...]

(This is a contributed article by Phillip Somozo.)
This Davao-born visual artist frequently stepped upstage during his college years for consistently winning painting competitions. His stuttering childlike speech, incompatible with his towering 6-foot height, sometimes made people laugh. Today, Bienvenido Banez, Jr., towers all the more for achievements uncommon among Filipino artists.
Diagnosed with mild learning disability [...]

I got this open letter via one of my mailing lists, and I’m sharing it here now because it deserves to be read by as many Filipinos as possible. Contained in this open letter are brave and insightful thoughts, written anonymously.

To all Filipinos Everywhere:
I used to think that corruption and criminality in the Philippines were [...]

Kumon Philippines will be offering for free its Math and Reading Programs in all its centers nationwide on September 17-30, 2009 to allow more Filipino children and their parents to experience the benefits of the widely-recognized Kumon method.
The free trial campaign allows interested students to go through the same learning routine as regular Kumon students. [...]

Sa mahalagang araw na ito, ibinabalik-alaala nating mga Pilipino ang Araw ng Kasarinlan ng ating bansa. Noong ika-12 ng Hunyo sa taong 1898, kumalas tayo nang buong layunin mula sa mga nagnakaw ng ating kalayaan matapos ang napakahaba’t magulong panahon. Ngunit, anupaman ang kalagayan ng ating bayan ngayon, anupaman ang mga suliraning ating dinaranas, tayo [...]

Davao City has led the country in aggressive anti-smoking initiatives, foremost of which is the ordinance that banned smoking in many public places. Several years ago, Davao City imposed strict rules against smoking in restaurants, hotels, transportation terminals, etc. Eventually, the national government followed suit and made it into a law.
Now, the city’s legislative body [...]

Ten days to go before Christmas. Is it just me, or are there a lot more beggars on the streets this year? I think I’m seeing more Bagobo and Ata beggars trying to scrounge a few bucks from the lowlanders compared to last year.
We’ve all heard of alleged syndicates that’re responsible for ‘fielding’ beggars into [...]

On our way back from Cagayan de Oro via Bukidnon, my friends and I came upon this huge sculpture jutting from the side of the road, precariously sitting on the edge of a cliff. By the looks of it, it would be safe to assume that it’s the work of Davao artist, Kublai Millan.

Metanarrative in Metamorphosis (Conclusion of a three-part series by Phillip Somozo. Click here for Part 1 and Part 2.)
Eve’s biting the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden was not original sin but the first disobedience. It is today something for her descendants not to be repentant of, but one worth celebrating.
So spoke the [...]