Sunday Essays: A life well lived

IN TODAY’S world, people who are 24 years and even older usually haven’t done much. They either live their lives trying to pretend to be someone they are not or just let themselves ride the flow of life. Seldom could we meet a person who seemed to be great at everything. Seldom could we meet a person that we could consider a perfect gentleman, brother, son, student, and friend. Seldom could we meet someone like Labrador Jalandoon Jr.

Marshland in distress

WE ENTERED the Agusan Marsh to listen to the stories of how the Manobos who live there in floating houses survived the December typhoon. We heard more than that.

Yes, there were stories of big waves in what was normally quiet lakes and marshes, and the wind that was whirling in full view contrary to what they have been told from childhood that you cannot see the wind. There was illegally cutting of endangered species of trees, 100 of them in fact that a community confiscated but which the one claiming to be its owner is doing his best to grab back. The more distressing fact being that the person is a barangay captain of one of the marshland people. Then there was also their long malingering problem of steady inflow of river waters from Agusan River that is now killing the marshland trees.

Poverty and abundance

POVERTY and abundance. Two opposing words yet equally real to one school that looks like a nipa hut if not in its faded name posted unperturbed in one corner of the amakan-designed wall.

While Barangay Dahican is known on its stunning crescent-shaped white sand coastline facing the Pacific Ocean, a silent but crowded elementary public school lies in the middle of the urban poor.

That feeling when you are talking to the EIC of Sun-Star

RIGHT in front of you, there she is Stella Estremera --- lecturing about the world of Media. It was such a great experience.

February 09, 2013: Our school -- Davao City National High School and the special Program for Journalism (JPJ) Organization Conducted and OJT for fourth year JPJ students and on that first day alone, we experienced things beyond our expectations. Sun. Star Davao, a community newspaper, the biggest here, welcomed us with warm hearts.

Knowing the different media

EVERY day we get a lot of news and information from people talking about the hot issues inside and outside the country. Despite our busy schedules we manage to listen and watch timely news. News and information is part of our everyday life.

Through the print, TV, and radio we know the everyday life of others. We know the lifestyle of famous people, the victories of Filipino athletes in national and international and international competitions, tragedies, and stories of ordinary people who stand out for one reason or another.

Reporters and journalists

WE WERE to undergo an On the Job Training one Saturday in compliance with our journalism subject before we graduate. Sighs. I went to the assigned place half-heartedly. I was afraid I won’t do anything good since writing isn’t really my forte. But I was wrong.

My friends and I are fortunate to have an open discussion with the Editor-in-Chief of Sun.Star Davao, Ma’am Stella Estremera. As we went on with our discussion, I realized something crucial, that in my four years of studying, I had forgotten to ponder over.

Sunday Essays: A noble way to die

“IN THE end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”

This quote, made popular by an American president, greatly summarizes the life of the well-loved Jonaf Ortojan.

Sunday Essays: How Nanay Wienda survived Pablo’s wrath

THE traumatic experience of a Typhoon Pablo survivor kept her sleepless for weeks. A Baganga, Davao Oriental native Nanay Fredes Wienda Tripole, 53, still remembers the frightening evening when tropical storm Pablo hit their hometown and wrecked their livelihood.

Her husband, Romeo, 67, and her two grandsons Clinton Jon, 11, and Kirk Anthony, 15, experienced the same nightmare.

Watersheds, our treasures

THAT our city can still boast of biodiversity that other cities have long lost is a pride our generation and the future generations can hold dear, but only for as long as each preceding generation takes care of it for the next generation to enjoy.

This is apparent in the biodiversity found in the Talomo-Lipadas and Panigan-Tamugan watersheds in a study conducted by the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) as commissioned by the Interface Development Interventions Inc. last year.

A Kublai outside Mindanao

ARTIST Rey Mudjahid “Kublai” Ponce Millan is known as a Mindanaoan sculptor who builds huge monuments all over Mindanao.

But every once in a while, he goes out to build similarly imposing artworks, like this one in Iloilo City at the LifeBank Rural Bank of Maasin (Iloilo), Inc. in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo.

Sunday Essays: Republic of family affair

POLITICS the Philippines should, like as any part of the world, be about leadership. Not a family affair.

Philippines is enjoying the privilege of being democratic. We have all the rights which a citizen deserves to have and that includes the right of holding a public office.

Sunday Essays: False façade or true public service

ARTICLE II, section 26 of 1986 Philippine Constitution states that, “The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties may be defined by law.”

In for the long haul

A DAY shy of two months since typhoon Pablo hit, government and relief organizations still cannot fully grasp how and where to start after the emergency first response phase.

Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes admitted as much during his presentation on the fourth day of the Liwanag World Festival on Creativity and Sustainability.

Of square ones and so much more

7:30 A.M. BUZZ. There goes my cue for the usual morning rush -- bath, try a few clothes on until finally deciding what to wear to work, get breakfast if I had the time, a little makeup and a cab ride.

But this morning wasn't like the usual. So I dismissed my alarm and rolled to the other side of the bed, feeling a significant pound heavier because an unemployed butt probably counts.

Upholding ethics

IT’S the second year that staff members of the paper are asked to swear to its code of standards and ethics; although Sun.Star Davao had adopted the code from Sun.Star Cebu since the 1990s.

Sunday Essays: Convenience over security

EVERY person gets out of his way just to ensure his security, at the same time, he will also find ways to make his life easier. But should security be sacrificed over accessibility?

Vincent Heights Subdivision is located at Barangay Angliongto, Lanang. Adjacent to this subdivision is NHA Buhangin. Separating them is a concrete wall where a small door-shaped opening is located in the middle.

Sunday Essays: When your yard becomes another's toilet

A CLUMP of loose sand lying on the street covering the feces of your neighbor's dog doesn't really bother you. It doesn't worry you until their dog finds its favorite spot and gets rid of its waste right beside a bougainvillea located in your own yard.

Filipinos are pet lovers. Most of the children and young adults adopt what they label as "man's best friend". However, your best friend can be another person's enemy if these pets are not trained.

Andap ng Liwanag

IT WAS just a very short meeting after a short trip out there where boulders and mud still hypnotize all those who visit - getting a glimpse of the horrors of that long night of December 3 to the harrowing dawn of December 4.

It's going to be a debris to art project, artist Rey Mudjahid "Kublai" Ponce Millani said, that will involve the residents.

A private concert with Chorus Juris

THEY serenaded Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno during the fellowship night of the IBP National Convention at the RSM Event Centre of the Philippine Women's College of Davao, I was told. I wasn't there, I was more excited about painting birds.

But on that Friday night while we were motoring off to some far-away place in Baguio, Calinan District, I didn't know what was in store.

Norte scouts reap awards

WHEN it rains, it pours!

This is how we can describe the Girl Scout of the Philippines (GSP) Davao del Norte Council's its resounding success in the recently concluded national search.

DepEd coping

EVERYONE was caught by surprise when super Typhoon Pablo (internationally named Bopha) wreaked havoc to lives, livelihood and properties of Davao Region particularly in the province of Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental.

Old folks, who have been living there for 70 years or more swear, this was the first time ever that such a devastating typhoon hit them; changing the landscape of the once picturesque coastal lands, the people’s main source of livelihood.

The green source of fuel

"BIODIESEL dramatically reduces potential risks of cancer and birth defects; it reduces serious air pollutants such as particulates, carbon monoxides, hydrocarbons, and air toxins."

That statement comes from a fact sheet circulated by the Laguna-based Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development.

Sunday Essay: Livelihood for better future

LIVELIHOOD refers to the means of securing the necessities of life. But not all have the means to secure such. Take, for instance, a case at Purok 7 in Barangay Talomo, Davao City, where livelihood is one of the main problems.

This purok is located along the shoreline and their basic source of income mainly relies on the aquatic resources. To be able to get these resources, they need boats.

Sunday Essay: The land of false hope

THE local disaster coordinating body has recorded 404 flood-prone areas in Davao City, including subdivisions, sitios and puroks.

Operations officer Pepito Capili of the Davao City Disaster Coordinating Council (DCDCC) said that of these flood-risk areas, 139 are in District 1, 138 in District 2, and 127 are in District 3.

Child Friendly Spaces

IT WAS five days before Christmas. Everyone was worried about the impending “end of the world” hullaballoo and grim TV footages of increasing number of casualties of Typhoon Pablo and the devastation it caused in Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley Province.

Vanishing species

TYPHOON Pablo (international codename: Bhopa) killed hundreds of people and displaced millions in Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, and other parts of the country. The reason why there was a huge turned out of casualty was because of deforestation in the affected areas.

A cheerful Christmas of God’s little angels

THE event area of Abreeza Ayala mall was speckled with twisted balloons, clowns, and kids who were all excited to perform and watch their friends groove on stage as the Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines, Inc. celebrated the Christmas season as well as their 15th Anniversary last December 29.

Postcard pretty but freezing cold

IT’S a Christmas carol I used to sing as a kid… “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas, just like the ones I used to know…”

To the victims’ aide

STUDENTS from Davao Central High School proved that in times of disasters where help is badly needed, giving is not hard and sacrificing is a privilege.

The school raised more than half a million for the victims of typhoon Pablo and the students alone were able to raise P109,000 in their fund raising activity inspired by School Director Elisa W. Yong Look.

Sunday Essays: Blessing in disguise

WHEN Typhoon Pablo finally left the country, it did not do so without leaving a few marks to remember.

Pablo left hundreds dead from its recent visit in Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley. Aside from the lives it took, it also damaged infrastructures, local agriculture and private properties. Indeed Pablo is proving to be the deadliest and most costly storm this year.