DarkShadow

legend of 1900

2007-10-06T12:14:00.001+08:00

instrumental (piano)

SUDDENLY THEY ALL BECOME WARM

2007-09-25T19:52:00.000+08:00

JOLO, SULU is a place where you easily get sunburn as the weather is really hot and humid.

Local and Zamboanga City based journalists including hired photographers and cameramen of local politicians as well as by the foreign and Filipino military here swarmed the place trying their best to get the best shot as US Ambassador Kristie Kenney and British Ambassador Peter Beckingham move around inspecting projects.

My height is no match to those photographers and cameramen so I decided to move back away from makeshift tent to have a better view.

As I was retreating, I heard a familiar voice calling my name.

I look back and there’s Major General Reuben Rafael, chief of Task Force Comet. He was smiling and making signal to approach him which I did.

He whispered a joke saying, “I heard you were banned by CSAFP, is that true?”

So I informed him straight face that I never heard General Esperon issuing such order but several officials confirmed that Brig. General Juancho Sabban issued directive to his junior officers in Basilan.

They know because they were among those who were given the instructions.

I said those words in front of Western Mindanao Command chief Major General Nelson Allaga and I even turned the tables then saying why not asked the chief here.

Allaga in turned smiles but turned a bit apologetic explaining why he was not able to answer my call last week.

“I saw your calls several times but I cannot answer because I was in Zamboanga del Sur during the visit of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo,” Allaga explained.

I do understand Allaga because I knew Arroyo’s visit was September 16 and 17, besides Sabban’s reported banning me from coverage in Basilan was issued on September 18, 2007.

Even Brig. General Ruperto Pabustan, chief of Special Forces in Sulu who was reportedly mad at me because of the story I did about 8 minors subjected to psychological torture greeted me with a warm smile.

While we were talking, suddenly Esperon appeared behind so I immediately made myself scarce and continued my work.

During the Sulu Provincial Capitol activity, I intentionally cornered Esperon and interviewed him if indeed he issued such order as claimed by Sabban.

As far as I can remember, Sabban verbalized such claim to Major General Ben Dolorfino, the Philippine Marine Corps commandant in the morning of September 18, 2007 while they were having a closed door meeting at Tabiawan, Isabela City Basilan.

Dolorfino told me that it was Sabban who expressed that claim, “but I didn’t believe him (that Esperon could issue such order).”

So back to Esperon this is what he actually told me while I was doing my chance interview. We were all rushing for time so he granted an interview while we were proceeding inside Sulu National High School.

Esperon was smiling as usual and at first he told reporters that “Thank you, thank you.”

But I was a bit persistent so I asked him this question. “Sir, is it true I am banned?”

“Laugh… you cannot limit press freedom, then laugh, without losing it. It’s very basic in our democracy. I don’t know what report you have on that? Are you banned? No.”

Knowing Esperon for about 10 years and doing coverage while he was once a ground commander, he only got irked when I pursued the issue about how intelligent is the intelligence community of the AFP.

Esperon if he dislikes my stories, he never got to a point of banning me from coverage even during his term as 103^rd Army Brigade commander in Basilan in 2002.

FRUIT OF IMAGINATION

I read the CMFR report. I wanted to laugh when I read the portion of Sabban’s side where he claimed I need attention and dreaming up things.

First I don’t sleepwalk. I am not into day dreaming or suffering from lack of attention and I don’t think his junior officers under his so-called Thunder turf were also dreaming when they heard Sabban’s directive on September 18, 2007. I don’t think General Dolorfino was dreaming when Sabban informed him about the “banning order.”

I was not also dreaming when journalists and officers proceeded to the mess hall on September 18, 2007 when everyone was partaking Sabban’s prepared lunch and I was sitting in one of the couches facing him eating my own “baon” a bottled juice and chips.

If I was dreaming as Sabban claimed “pinakain pa namin siya” in one of interviews by Joel Guinto, probably my fellow journalists could have woken me up.

Roel Pareno of Philippine Star and Leila Vicente of ABS-CBN Zamboanga City were there to attest and witnessed that I didn’t take anything even a single drop of water from the mess hall of Thunder.

Pareno, Vicente and Major Minandang Macatoon (one of Sabban’s men) even repeatedly invited me to join them partaking the lunch which I politely turned down explaining them that I am still full and I am on a diet.

When Sabban claimed to Guinto that he fed me, that’s what you call dreaming things or “simpleng bagay na nga lang magsisinungaling pa.”

No harassment? For me its still harassment when his intelligence guys approached me and even inquired my relationship to the four year old boy.

I am not imagining or dreaming up things when we were at the third floor of the Golden Bell Commercial Center located along the Major Jaldon and Camins street in the afternoon of September 6, 2007.

I and my son were not imagining things when strangers approached me, played around and carried my son and later informed me that I was wanted by their commander (Sabban) and inquiring me who were my sources.

Lack attention? Why would I need attention? I am not a toddler like my 4 year old son that needs real attention and care.

I don’t need attention to publish my accomplishments so I will get promotion. I am very much contented with my life as journalist. They label me with names and as I said earlier, I don’t care with labels, call me leftist then fine, at least they can never label me “envelopmentalist” and I don’t contact influential people to settle problems.

In fact I live an ordinary life and I am satisfied with what I have, my son and my own home.

Inquirer reporter banned from Basilan coverage

2007-09-22T07:33:00.000+08:00

September 21, 2007

A reporter of the Philippine Daily Inquirer has been banned by the military from covering its operations in the battle-scarred island province of Basilan, a report reaching Luwaran today. The reporter was identified as Julie S. Alipala, who drew the ire of the military for her reports on “military abuses and lapses in its operations”.

Philippine Marines commandant Major General Ben Dolorfino has confirmed that Zamboanga Inquirer correspondent Julie S. Alipala has been banned by the military from covering its operations in Basilan.

The report was received by the Media Safety Office of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and International Federation of Journalists.

Alipala wrote an article on the August 18 clash in Unkaya Pukan town in Basilan, where 15 Marines were killed by the Abu Sayyaf.

Since then, the report said, Alipala received threats and warned by colleagues to be extra careful.

Meanwhile, Khaled Musa, deputy chairman of the MILF Committee on Information, expressed his concern for the “arm-twisting approach” of the military, saying instead of banning Alipala, they should conduct an inquiry into the veracity of the reported abuses and lapses.

“It is good that there are still courageous media people out there who can say straight in the eye of the military that ‘they, are problems in your ranks in the field’”, he said.

He suggested that instead of banning and castigating the poor reporter, the military should investigate and if her report has no basis then she can be liable for libel and should be charged in court, but there is enough evidence of her report then she should be commended

He further commented that by banning Alipala will only strengthen her credential as a true journalist, who vowed to uphold the truth at all times, and on the other hand reinforces the perception that the military is hiding something from the public and has indeed committed that abuses and lapses.

AFP: Learning from Mistakes?

2007-09-16T08:25:00.000+08:00

By Julie S. Alipala in Zamboanga City

Sunday, 29 July 2007

This is not the first time that the Marines have been beheaded in Basilan. Why did it happen again?

"It could have been avoided."

These are the words of some military and Basilan local government officials referring to the July 10 killing and beheading of 10 Marine soldiers and wounding of about 15 others.

Avoided, that is, if the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has learned from past mistakes.

But such lessons apparently have to be shelved to get justice for the 10 brutally slain soldiers of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 8 and of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 6.

Government last week poured in more troops in Basilan, from two battalions of Marines to about five battalions, and two more from the Army.

Last Friday, President Arroyo arrived in this city for two closed-door meetings. She was wearing a fatigue military vest, a sign that the nation's chief executive is geared up for war.

The first meeting was with the local government executives of Basilan and of this city, held at the Edwin Andrews Air Base. The other was with top military and police officials at Camp Don Basilio Navarro.

Arroyo, thru AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr., approved their requests, granting a three-day investigation for the joint GRP-MILF CCCH or Philippine government-Moro Islamic Liberation Front coordinating committee for the cessation of hostilities, emergency procurement of more artillery, and declaring Tuesday, July 31, as D-day for the serving of warrants of arrest against some 130 respondents reportedly responsible for the beheading of 10 Marine soldiers.

Past Beheadings

The last time the Marines met a similar fate was in February 1993 when 21 Marine officers and soldiers were mutilated, and four beheaded in an encounter with the Moro National Liberation Front in Tuburan town in Basilan.

Dorie Kalahal, a former MNLF commander now Tuburan mayor, recalled that the incident happened when he was a commander of the 2^nd Mobile Army Command of the MNLF.

As he sat through the dialogue with President Arroyo and military officials, he told this writer that “it’s as if the past is being forcibly resurrected."

Kalahal expressed apprehension that the military might launch an operation that would not only hit their targets but innocent civilians and those who were earlier branded as enemies of the state like him.

Kalahal claimed that like the July 10 incident, he was also wrongly accused as the leader behind the beheadings in 1993.

Lt. Colonel Rudy de Bellen, a Marine officer, recalled that the Marines, about a platoon, belonged to 1^st Marine Battalion under Lt. Colonel Rodolfo Calayo. The battalion's intelligence officer then was 1^st Lt. Ramiro Alivio who is now the Marine brigade commander in Basilan.

"The truth is, we had an encounter with the Marines but we didn’t behead them because we left after the battle, taking their firearms," Kalahal recalled.

But the firefight prompted lawless elements to proceed to the area, where they found the slain soldiers, Kalahal said.

What followed was a nightmare for innocent civilians. More than hundreds of houses were burned, Kahalal said, and "thousands were evacuated. Casualties on both sides were high.”

Kalahal was granted amnesty (dissolving all previous charges) five years after the incident in Tuburan and after the signing of peace agreement between the GRP and the Moro National Liberation Front in 1996. MNLF chairman Nur Misuari then justified that the Marines were killed in a legitimate encounter.

"Why are we seeing a repeat of 1993 when it’s now quiet in Basilan?” Kahalal said. “Let’s go back to the past and learn from it.”

An Army general intimately familiar with Basilan said, "We never learn from past mistakes."

Tipo-tipo (which used to be one town) has always been known as hostile to any visitors thus the need for clear coordination. "It was known as hostile to soldiers and even to members of the Abu Sayyaf. I have never encountered reports that the ASG stayed in that place or had any engagement with the MILF against our forces," the general, who requested not to be identified, said.

Absence of Coordination

Lantawan mayor Tahira Ismael said the July 10 incident is a product of lack or absence of coordination between the military and local executives.

"It’s been more than five years since we had a firefight in Basilan," Ismael said, blaming the AFP for not coordinating with the local officials in conducting search or rescue operations.

Col. Alivio, commander of the 1^st Marine Brigade, emphasized that they coordinated with authorities and “we performed our duties based on directives."

In defense of Alivio, Marine Corps commandant Maj.Gen. Nelson Allaga told NEWSBREAK on July 13 during his visit to Basilan that "non-coordination is not an issue here when we have been coordinating regularly with local and national leaders."

"What happened (on July 10, 2007) was pure treachery and barbarism and somebody has to be answerable for this carnage," Allaga said.

However, two top members of the Basilan ceasefire local monitoring team, (LMT) Ramon Nunal Jr., and his counterpart Bas Sattar Ali of the MILF, confirmed there was no such coordination. Ali said the Marines were informed about the need for coordination in getting inside the three towns, Albarka, Tipo-tipo Central and Muhamad Ajul.

"We've been in close contact with some officers of the Marines, but it seems that our voices were never heard," Ali added.

Ghosts of the Past

Local physician Nilo Barandino who is doing post mortem examination on slain soldiers and civilians in Basilan told NEWSBREAK that he encountered about 70 beheadings since the early 1980s.

"It's a trademark for Basilan bandits to behead their captives whether civilian or soldier, and its sad because it still happening until now," Barandino said.

Of the 70 cadavers he handled for medico-legal examination, a big percentage belonged to AFP, "and I don't include those hostages and kidnapped victims who were beheaded before."

Col. Daniel Lucero recalled that when he was a 2^nd Lieutenant of the 5^th Infantry Battalion, seven soldiers were mutilated, some beheaded way back in February 1984 in Barangay Duga-a, Tuburan town.

Two other soldiers of the 55^th Infantry Battalion were beheaded in Barangay Sinulatan, also in Tuburan in July of 2001. Lucero was then a battalion commander of the 18^th Infantry Battalion.

No More Amnesty

Esperon during a press briefing at the Edwin Andrews Air Base in this city last Friday said the government has already drawn some lessons.

"We must go full force and steadfast and uncompromising in punishing the beheaders. The more that we allow this to pass without getting punished, we will be indeed be encouraging more beheadings. It's not a matter of who perpetrated it, its just a matter of punishing them so that people will not think that it is perfectly all right to behead,” Esperon said.

He insisted that Basilan remains an AFP model for counterinsurgency. Other than the ambush incident in Albarka, "it is still a peaceful place."

In 2001 and 2002, the Abu Sayyaf fled Basilan after US and Philippine forces decimated the group’s leaders. Civic action—wherein US and local troops built bridges, school buildings, water wells, and conducted medical missions—helped make the island a model for neighboring provinces like Sulu.

National Security Adviser Secretary Norberto Gonzales said there will be "no more amnesty for beheaders this time and in the future."

Gonzales was referring to the amnesty granted to some 20 MNLF rebels responsible for the February 1993 incident in Tuburan.

Aside from these lessons, two Marine officials, Lt. Col. Felix Almadrones, commander of MBLT 8 and his operations officer Maj. Nelson Marcelino were immediately relieved from their posts. A ranking Marine officer said that the troops committed a “tactical blunder.” They were operating on wrong intelligence information that the kidnapped Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi was in that part of Basilan. At that time, he was in Lanao del Norte.

Basilan Congressman Wahab Akbar expressed satisfaction with the way Esperon and Arroyo have handled the situation.

Akbar has been vocal against the return of the Marines to the province.

Esperon confirmed that a new brigade has been formed, the 105^th Army Brigade, under Col. Noel Coballes and that it will be deployed soon to Basilan.

Coballes is not giving actual figures of Army troops for the island but said "substantial force will be injected in the province, the Special Forces, Scout Rangers, Army battalions and the militia forces.”

2007-09-16T08:19:00.000+08:00

Poor Planning, Troop Burnout Caused Twin Tragedy in By Julie S. Alipala in Zamboanga City Wednesday, 15 August 2007

Beheading in Basilan, however, is mainly political.

Tactical errors, lapses—these are now commonly used words in the Armed Forces of the Philippines—and they appear to be the most convenient excuses for the recent setbacks in Sulu and Basilan. (Click here to see the location of Basilan island through Google Maps.)

But our findings show that poor planning and tired troops are key factors in the military debacle.

A couple of weeks ago, the AFP blamed the death of 14 Marine soldiers (July 10, 2007) in Basilan to the wrong radio frequency because rescue forces couldn’t get their location. Ten of the 14 were mutilated and beheaded while 15 others were injured. The beheading, Newsbreak learned, was driven by political reasons. The Marines strictly enforced the gun ban before the elections and angered local politicians.

Later, the ambush on August 9 at Maimbung town in Sulu (click here to view location through Google Maps), wherein 10 Army soldiers were killed, was attributed to the failure to provide back-up security escorts. In a matter of days, casualties increased to a total of 27 soldiers killed and 12 wounded.

Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr and Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. General Eugenio Cedo agree that tactical errors are the reasons for the heavy casualties of the military in these two provinces of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

However, an Army colonel and a junior officer we talked to expressed dismay over the outcome of multi-million pesos worth of military operations. They blame the main planners and recommend stripping them of their star ranks. "The high error percentage is unacceptable given that this caused the lives of 42 soldiers in a span of 30 days," the Army officer said.

Both of our sources requested not to be identified because they are not authorized to speak on the issue.

The junior officer, with the rank of lieutenant, says military planners are likened to licensed engineers: "They conceive first the idea, then plan and map all factors such as safety, zoning of areas, logistics, supplies and resources, workers, funding and then construction. Once a mild crack is noticed on a structure, engineers may face serious consequences. This is investigated and if the engineers are found to have been reckless, their licenses are cancelled."

Unfortunately these procedures don't apply to the main planners of the AFP, the young lieutenant lamented.

Tactical Blunder

In 2005, the Panamao attack—where the military operation against the ASG dragged on for about 10 days—resulted in the death of about 40 soldiers and an officer, Colonel Dennis Villanueva.

However, according to an intelligence officer, "the margin of error in 2005 is quite acceptable because the operation lasted more than a week. But the error committed in the recent operation wherein 27 are dead within 10 hours is unimaginable. It's basically a tactical blunder."

The AFP has seen better days. In 2003, for example, soldiers captured Abu Sayyaf leaders Mujib Susukan and Galib Andang aka Kumander Robot in Sulu. A resident, Fatmawati Salapuddin, remembers it well: "It was very laudable as the AFP then conducted the operation quietly, they didn't employ thousands of troops and they didn't use high-powered artilleries and bombs and no one was displaced."

In Basilan last year, the military launched successful operations against the Abu Sayyaf, making them flee to the nearby island of Sulu.

Today, the AFP has sent more than 6,000 troops to pursue less then 500 armed elements in Sulu and Basilan.

Tired Troops

Weeks without rest are taking their toll on the soldiers.

Wilfreda Potoy, mother of slain Private First Class Rico Potoy, gunner of Bravo Company of the 33rd Infantry Battalion, received a text message from her eldest son on August 8, 2007 saying he's exhausted from their operation.

“Father, mother I am going home on August 12. I am very tired. Almost everyday, there's operation, morning, at night. We keep on operating 10 days straight, I want to rest," Rico said in his message.

Rico Potoy was among the 16 killed in an encounter on August 9 in Maimbung.

Wilfreda's youngest son, Private Astor "Jojo" Potoy Jr, also of 33rd IB confirmed that their unit operated without rest since the first of August.

Total battle casualties incurred in the August 8 and 9 encounters were 2. Twelve others were wounded of whom three are in critical condition.

Task Force Comet chief Maj. Gen. Reuben Rafael told Newsbreak that their enemies, combined Abu Sayyaf and "rogue" Moro National Liberation Front fighters, incurred 37 killed in action but only 10 bodies were recovered. Of the 10, only four were identified.

Widow Sara Hashim wife of slain Private First Class Daim Hashim, native of Jolo, told Newsbreak that her husband was a non-combatant. Sara, speaking in Filipino said, "My husband worked as carpenter of the 33rd Infantry Battalion, part of the non-operating troops.”

Hashim’s best friend, Private First Class Kaisar Hassan, who was also killed, was sort of an all-around personnel at the battalion, cleaning bunkers, weeding grasses, preparing coffee.

“They lacked people as everyone was in the operation,” Sara said.

How it Started

As early as August 2, Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan reported that several families were displaced in Indanan town due to renewed military campaign against the Abu Sayyaf Group. But the military kept mum about this.

Indanan field social worker Christopher Lee confirmed that on August 2, several residents scampered for safety seeing the arrival of soldiers "who later established positions in the communities, thus residents abandoned their houses for fear of being caught in the crossfire."

On August 7, two junior officers of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 11 were wounded in an Indanan clash. Still, officials of the Western Mindanao Command kept silent.

A day later, Comet chief Rafael confirmed the report in Indanan including the wounding of five others from the 33rd Infantry Battalion. One was killed, identified as Private First Class Stevencent Ballares.

"The Army troopers clashed with about 50 heavily armed Abu Sayyaf Group. We have recovered four dead from the Abu Sayyaf side," Rafael said.

However, Hatimil Hasan, interim vice chair of the MNLF sounded the alarm over the incident: “There are no members or leaders of the Abu Sayyaf killed, all those slain were bonafide members and commander of the MNLF Parang Municipal Command." Hasan identified the slain commander as Jeili Habbi, chair of MNLF Parang. A son and two other close-in security, all MNLF fighters, were killed.

MNLF Coddling Abu Sayyaf?

Apparently, the military suspects the MNLF of harboring ASG members.

Ustadz Habib Zain Jali, MNLF spiritual adviser, said he was informed by fighters on the ground that Habbi, the slain MNLF chair who is more than 60 years old, was roused from sleep early dawn, went out to inspect the surrounding, "along with his son and two others and as he opened the gate, a burst of fire greeted him."

"We lost seven comrades,” said Hasan, who is also concurrent speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the ARMM.

He revealed that prior to the August 8 attack, "soldiers in three truckloads encircled camp of Ustadz Khaid (Adjibun)," chair of the MNLF State Revolutionary Command based in Indanan.

Two wounded Army soldiers of the 33rd Infantry Battalion corroborated Hassan’s statements.

Private First Class Muhamil Hassan (not related to Hatimil Hasan) of the lead squad unit said that on the dawn of August 7, they were informed by their commander to execute a highly sensitive mission in Parang, Sulu. They jumped off before five o’clock in the morning of August 8 to the said area and Hassan was directed to lead an advance unit.

"Our mission was to go after Albader Parad and Doktor Abu (who are Abu Sayyaf) but when we arrived, it was the MNLF," Hassan said but quickly added that "the Abu Sayyaf and MNLF may have combined forces because that’s what’s been talked about."

Private First Class Abdulhari Bittong, a native of Parang, admits he was briefed about the mission but was unaware of the objective.

Bittong said that when they reached their destination, "I was surprised because it was the house of MNLF Commander Jeili. The rebels were in ambush position, then there was an exchange of gunfire, at close range. We were about 20 meters from the rebels, that’s why I know who we were fighting against."

When Bittong asked why he knew some of his targets and the slain commander, he said that he used to be with them since he is an integree, one of the former MNLF fighters who joined the AFP.

Commander Jeili is known in the community and maintained several fighters.

MNLF Not Demobilized

"The military violated the peace agreement,” Hassan said. “They attacked camps of the MNLF in Indanan and Parang and it's our right to defend our territory."

Hasan confirmed that the Bangsamoro Army was responsible for the August 9 ambush on government troops in Maimbung initially resulting in 10 killed and one wounded.

"We can’t accept that we are being attacked by the AFP, we don’t know what their objective is," Adjibun said after a series of dialogues initiated by the AFP and MNLF ground commanders.

From August 2 to 6, troops of Task Group Philippine Marine Corps along with Joint Special Operations Force encircled Indanan forcing the MNLF to abandon their last and recognized territory.

On August 8, 2007 elements of 33rd Infantry Battalion raided the house of MNLF Parang Chair Jeili Habbi. Habbi and three other MNLF fighters were killed.

Before that, MNLF commander Ustadz Habier Malik declared jihad on April 13 against the Armed Forces when he got confirmation that troops of Joint Special Operations under Col. Ruperto Pabustan were responsible for the death of a teenager on February 19, 2007 in Indanan.

The teenager turned out to be the grandson of an MNLF commander who was killed in a declared "free fire zone" area of Indanan.

However, Pabustan insisted the boy was an Abu Sayyaf: "Why on earth was he there late that night if he is not a bandit. He was killed in a legitimate encounter."

But a probe conducted by the Commission on Human Rights showed that the boy was with another male companion on their way home after watching a TV soap opera.

In late April, 2nd Marine Brigade commander Col. Ceasario Atienza took control of Camp Jabal Uhod of the MNLF in Panamao.

Basilan: Marines vs Politicians

In Basilan, it’s different. Some link the Sulu tragedy to Basilan's carnage but reasons for the clashes differ.

While the MILF admitted they ambused the Marines in July—who were then searching for the kidnapped Italian priest—they said that they did not behead the soldiers.

The reasons for the beheading of the Marines are mainly political. An independent investigation by a group of foreign and Filipino women organized by the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict-Southeast Asia (GPPAC-SEA) and the Mindanao Peace Weavers (MPW) showed that “issues related to politics are among the factors that contributed to the deterioration of peace and security in the island province."

Newsbreak learned that the beleaguered unit of the Philippine Marines during the July 10 incident in Albarka town earned a reputation as the most stringent unit when it comes to gun ban enforcement.

The slain soldiers were actively involved in enforcing the firearm ban, according to Lt. Col. Felix Almadrones who heads the Marine unit deployed to confiscate loose firearms.

The Marines started to implement the gun ban in April, as mandated by the Commission on Elections, in the run up to the May 14 election.

The Marines reported that assorted firearms were apprehended from politicians but identities were not indicated. In April and May, the unit confiscated several firearms and rounds of ammunition reportedly owned by politicians in the area.

In July 5, the unit encountered suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf Group and recovered one more firearm.

No Sacred Cows

Local officials attest to the dedication and determination of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 8 (MBLT8), headed by Almadrones, in trying to clean the province of loose firearms that have been the cause of lawlessness and banditry for a long time.

Lamitan City Mayor Roderick Furigay said the sincerity of the said unit is indisputable. “They didn’t have sacred cows. If anyone violated the law, whoever he or she was, they were treated equally."

Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad said that "they were very faithful to their work, they were just following orders and doing their mission and were known as uncompromising against illegal activities."

Jumoad said the unit was firm in their campaign against loose firearms. “They arrested and seized guns even if they belonged to the followers of influential politicians like Gerry Salapuddin or Wahab Akbar."

Naval Forces Western Mindanao Command chief Rear Admiral Emilio Marayag said that "our soldiers in Basilan were able to apprehend more firearms in just a span of four months in the area compared to other units that have been assigned to this island for more than three years."

Party-list Rep. Mujiv Hataman (Anak-Mindanao) confirmed that Almadrones’ unit "was very rigid in performing their mission they were not afraid to disarm politicians or followers of politicians before and after the election."

Trace the Root Cause

Hataman believes that the root cause of the conflict "boils to one thing, the proliferation of loose firearms. The government's efforts to address this and personnel engaging in this campaign always end up in tragic incidents, relieved or demoted."

In 2001, Army personnel of 103rd Army Brigade also implemented the gun ban campaign. Hataman recalled that more firearms were recovered inside the Provincial Capitol Office when the governor was Wahab Akbar, now a congressman, and the Army official then was Col. Jovenal Narcise.

"Other than growing animosity, there was legal battle between the governor and the army official," Hataman said but the difference was, "Narcise didn't coordinate with his higher official while the Marines had prior coordination and they properly turned over the apprehended firearms to their higher officials."

"It's like rido (vengeance) against uniformed personnel, where armed groups tried to avenge their losses," Hataman said.

Rear Admiral Marayag suggested that the "Commission on Audit should conduct a probe on politicians like Akbar. He should explain how he was able to acquire firearms: are they government firearms or does he buy them using his own money?"

2007-09-16T07:34:00.000+08:00

Why the Marines were Walloped (update)

By Julie S. Alipala in Zamboanga

Friday, 31 August 2007

Commander deployed student-soldiers—who were not familiar with the terrain—and miscalculated enemy strength.

At least 10 military officers privy to operational details could help shed light on the two battles in Basilan that left 29 Marines dead in July and middle of August.

At the time of these two separate encounters, these officers were based either in Basilan, Zamboanga City, or Sulu. Some of them directed the operations, while the rest were asked to assist ground troops.

Marine Brig. Gen. Juancho Sabban served as officer in charge of the entire Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) based in Zamboanga City during the first encounter on July 10 that killed 14 Marines, 10 of whom were beheaded. He was the deputy of Lt. Gen. Eugenio Cedo, Westmincom chief, who was in Cagayan de Oro at the time to attend a national peace summit.

After the first massacre, Sabban was appointed commander of Task Force Thunder that was tasked to oversee the counter-offensive operations in Basilan. It was he who mapped out and executed the battle plan that led to the second encounter on August 18 in which 15 Marines were gunned down, mostly young soldiers on a test mission.

Change of Battle Plans

That day, Col. Ramiro Alivio, commander of the 1st Marine Brigade in Basilan who directed the July 10 encounter, had not yet been relieved. But Sabban, as task force commander, was already in control of all military units on the island-province, including the Special Operations Platoon and Force Reconnaissance Company of the Marines and the Special Forces of the Army.

A brigade officer told Newsbreak that Alivio had prepared a battle plan for the August 18 offensive, which excluded the deployment of student-soldiers from the Marines’ Force Reconnaissance Company. Under Alivio’s plan, the source added, troops led by the Marine Battalion Landing Team 8 under Col. Elmer Estilles would spearhead the attack on the suspected Abu Sayyaf lair.

But two days before the August 18 attack, Sabban reportedly changed the plan and deployed instead the young recruits from the recon company. They again miscalculated enemy strength; 15 Marines, including five young lieutenants, were gunned down. An Air Force pilot was also killed in the encounter.

Sabban claimed that it was a "worthy" mission because 42 members of the Abu Sayyaf were killed in the process. “Justice was finally served,” he said, referring to the July 10 massacre.

Test Mission

But Mayor Joel Maturan of the town of Unkaya Pukan, where the encounter occurred, said that the young officers deployed to lead the attack were on a test-mission and ignored the advice of civilian militias to avoid the Abu Sayyaf lair.

In the words of the mayor, the Abu Sayyaf turned the battle into a target practice. “Ginawa silang parang hayop, parang ibon [They were targeted like sitting ducks.]

Cedo and Sabban blew their top over the mayor’s remarks. They brought three junior officers—lieutenants Jordan Argete and Paolo Jose Jandusay of Force Recon Company Class 13 and lieutenant Rowan Rimas of Marine Battalion Landing Team 8—to a press conference to belie the reports. Maturan also attended the press conference to deny that he ever made such remarks.

But the officers acknowledged along the way their limitations—their lack of familiarity with the terrain and the strength of the enemy.

Jandusay recalled that it was his first time to see fortified rebel bunkers. Rimas himself confirmed that Argete and Jandusay were among the 44 students who were just in Basilan to complete their test missions.

Ideally, the Force Recon Company students are not meant to engage the enemy but to find them for the infantry troops. Officers said that the most that Force Recon soldiers can do is conduct a swift raid followed by a quick withdrawal, “but never do pitched battle with the enemy.”

Enter Task Force Thunder

It’s not the first time that Sabban deployed students to dangerous missions. When he was brigade commander in Sulu in September last year, Sabban deployed the 1st Recon Company Class 12 under Lt. Romulo Dimayuga.

Dimayuga led a platoon of 27 Marine soldiers and encountered more than 200 bandits that led to the death of six soldiers and the wounding of 19 others, including Dimayuga.

Alivio himself has to take responsibility for relying on false information on the whereabouts of abducted Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi. His informants had told him that Bossi was in Basilan (the priest was later rescued in Lanao). This prompted Alivio to launch the July 10 operation against the stronghold of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and deployed two battalions for the attack—Lt. Col. Felix Almadrones commanded the Marine Battalion Landing Team 8 while Lt. Col. Jessie Bugayong commanded the Marine Battalion Landing Team 6.

A brigade officer said Alivio was certain of the radio frequency that he gave the Air Force, which later sent reinforcement to Basilan. Alivio also reportedly called up a battalion commander in Sulu for possible air support. A leaked militay investigation report had previously said that the pilots got wrong radio frequency, thus their failure to spot the exact encounter site and their decision return to Zamboanga City later.

At the time, Alivio was reporting directly to the highest Naval command officer in Westmincom, Rear Admiral Emilio Marayag, commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao Combined Command. Under this chain-of-command set up, Alivio could only deal with the Navy-Marines fleet in the area headed by Marayag and it was Marayag’s duty to deal with the Westmincom leadership.

Marayag confirmed this to Newsbreak. “He Alivio) used to be under me operationally until Task Force Thunder was created." Marayag explained that as head of a combined command of Navy and Marines, "the Marines are under me unless they are under a joint task force."

Dolorfino’s Call

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV had previously said that Manila-based officers intervened in operational details that led to the July 10 massacre. He was perhaps alluding to Marine commandant Maj. Gen. Ben Dolorfino, previously commander of the National Capital Region Command, who confirmed making a call to Alivio that day to ask him if he could “de-escalate” the fighting. At the time, the government was worried that the encounter with the MILF would harm the ongoing peace process with the rebel group.

Dolorfino told Newsbreak that he called up Alivio and another ground commander, Maj. Minandang Macatoon, "and my actual message to them was, ‘we are concerned about the situation and as much as possible try your best to de-escalate the situation.’"

Dolorfino said he learned about the clashes at noon while he was in Cagayan de Oro City for the Peace and Security Summit. He learned about the encounter from Brig. Gen. Edgardo Gurrea, chair of the government’s ceasefire monitoring committee with theMILF.

They did backchannel talks with MILF commanders, who tried to intervene but found the battle already so intense.

But the beheading of the Marines prompted the government to launch an all-out offensive against those involved in the July 10 encounter.

Sabban’s Past

On July 29, Sabban told Newsbreak that he got instructions from President Arroyo to provide "strong back-up support" to the police, which was tasked to serve the warrant of arrest to 130 suspects in the beheadings.

Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. likewise decided to resurrect Task Force Thunder, a unit that he led in 2002 in Basilan, and named Sabban as its commander.

Thus, the offensive of August 18 was made under Task Force Thunder.

Yet, Esperon relieved Alivio days later, giving the impression that Alivio was responsible for the second tragedy. Esperon told reporters that he relieved Alivio because he felt that the latter should have been with his troops during the August 18 encounter, not in the brigade headquarters. But the troops were aware that Alivio had nothing to do anymore with the August 18 operation.

A brigade officer noted that Sabban seemed to have gotten away with it.

Earlier, Sabban told Newsbreak that he was not aware of the first encounter of July 10 until 4 p.m. of that day. But how could have Sabban been clueless about it when the public information office of Westmincom knew that a GMA7 reporter was able to join the troops that day?

A 1978 graduate of the Philippine Military Academy, Sabban earned his stripes in the battle against terrorists. He led operations against Aldam Tilao alias Abu Sabaya, the spokesman of the Abu Sayyaf until his death in 2002. Sabban was likewise involved in operations that led to the killing of Abu Sayyaf chief Khadaffy Janjalani in Patikul, Sulu, last year.

fighting addiction

2007-06-08T08:24:00.000+08:00

I just quit smoking, yes I did! Yet for four days now, I started puffing the white long and slim stick.

I don’t know why it’s so difficult to stop this bad habit from my system.

I am not just addicted to nicotine, I also enjoy savoring the super black caffeine not just every morning, but round the clock sipping.

For quite sometime, I have been fighting this addiction.

As much as possible I make myself free from tension even at work. I make sure that lighter and cigarette are no longer part of my bag’s accessories.

If there are friends smoking in my presence, I distanced myself so I cannot inhale the smoke or I’ll be tempted to ask for a stick.

If craving is getting stronger, I fight it out by doing other things like fixing or repairing broken toys, weeding out the backyard, playing with my son or picking Sampaguita flowers at my mother’s front yard.

It has almost been out off my system when suddenly, I find myself inhaling smoke, one stick to another, then another stick, then another one until I finished one whole pack within 24 hours.

Smoking also increases my caffeine intake, so I ended up sipping and puffing throughout the day, for almost five days now.

I told myself that this will be the last, but that’s always the case.

I think I should follow my old routine, one stick after every meal or free smoke at daytime.

In that routine, I managed to quit my bad habit for about 10 years until I met my ex-hubby, a chain smoker then.

But to set a timeframe is another thing. Maybe I should start today, or tomorrow? Maybe later…I don’t know, but what is sure for now, I am ready to quit.

2007-06-08T07:34:00.001+08:00

HE LOVES SCHOOL

2007-06-05T13:41:00.001+08:00

I woke early and remember that it’s Monday, Kenneth’s first day in school.

Feeling like a high school student again, I rushed to the bathroom, prepare all the meals and hastily clean the house.

Soon I woke him up and he was smiling when I carried him to the dining room, “Kenjo school na, breakfast na and bath agad.”

He seriously obliged to my words and he ate fast so he could join me in my bath.

We arrived early in his school, the three elderly women, adviser, principal and the finance officer were already there as well as the two teachers.

He greeted them good morning and left me with the elder women as he proceeded towards the seesaw.

Teacher Michelle followed him and later I heard them both laughing and talking.

It’s good to be early because Kenneth was able to adjust in the surroundings.

Other classmates came in quite late and soon I heard blocks and toys fell down from their tables.

Others were crying looking for their mothers or nannies.

Kinder one class only lasts for three hours everyday, but for Kenneth, “masyadong madali lang ang klase namin,” as he wants to stay longer in school to draw and play.

I just realized that bringing Kenneth to school once in a while before opening of classes is a good thing.

Seeing his new environment together with children of his age is something enlivening for him other than what he encounters inside our home.

Kenneth grew up in my world where computer, cellular phone, facsimile, television and radio news make my life complete.

Tips for mothers having first timer kiddie in school:

Find out the nearest community school, distance makes children restless in travel and burdensome.
Check background of teachers and administrators then ask around especially from mothers whose kids enrolled in the said school.
Inspect the facility and make sure the structure is designed for children’s safety.
Before enrolling your kid, bring him or her to the school and try to get reaction, find out if the child likes the environment.
If feedback is overwhelmingly positive, then enroll your child.
Be early for the first day of class, not just to make an impression but for children’s familiarization.
Children upon seeing more strangers other than their teachers or security guards are quite afraid or shy.

KENNETH IS GOING TO SCHOOL

2007-06-05T13:37:00.000+08:00

Few years back, I was just coddling a little angel in my arms.

His eyes were simply reacting to peoples’ voices, noises and music as his arms stretching up, reaching out to feeding bottle and anything colorful.

I remember at his infancy stage, he cried out loud when he was in pain or hungry, he threw his feeding bottle if he was mad, he closed his eyes when he was afraid of something and laughed out loud when he was happy.

A couple of years passed and this little angel started to run after puppies and cats and trying to catch colorful butterflies.

He is also catching up with words not just Mama, Lola, Tita, Tito, Kuya or Ate but words like flowers, dogs, mineral water, milk, thank you, good night, sweet dreams and a lot more.

Humming a familiar tune from a television commercial and popularized by Donna Cruz surprised us, but what shocked us most when he can sing the whole stanza with correct lyrics.

“Ang gabing payapa lahat ay tahimik… pati mga tala sa bughaw na langit…”

At the early age, my mother said that my angel will become a popular singer or a musician, “wag lang mapabayaan ang kanyang talento.”

Yet he loves my pampering, carrying him like an infant, feeding him with solid foods and helping him to bath.

A year passed and he is helping my mother to clean the surroundings by picking up dried Talisay leaves and plastics.

Assertive and very vocal, this little angel started to show his dominancy but still all his demands are subject to negotiation.

Once hooked with his favorite television show at Nickelodeon like Backyardigans, he cannot be lured to take his meals or noontime nap.

He loves compromises, allowing him to watch the shows for an hour or two and afterwards, he will personally put off the television, get his favorite pillows and on his own he will go to sleep.

Today, he woke up early, took his earliest breakfast made of cereals and milk, took his bath and dressed for school.

Kenneth is now going to school, of course with Mama assisting him.

What inspired me is that Kenneth is very excited to be in school.

All laughs and talks along the way as his school is just within the community where three elder women, all retired school teachers are running the facility for humanitarian reasons.

Once he got in and met his Teacher Michelle, he almost forgot that Mama is around and waiting outside the school.

He was so engrossed in building blocks, drawing books and meeting new friends.

My once little angel is now growing up as a fine young boy and soon more challenges will come along the way.

therapy for kenneth?

2007-05-24T08:46:00.000+08:00

Kenneth is growing up gracefully. Yes, really graceful as he starts declaring openly that “I wanted to be a girl than a boy!”

At four years old, he speaks his mind boldly and doesn’t care if he hurts anybody or in return, he’ll be ridiculed by his kiddie peers.

Once, I tagged him along in one of my downtown trips to pay our monthly bills. We went to one of a service providers’ office, it was almost Holy Week break so the billing office was so crowded and we stand for an hour to be attended by a teller-cashier.

Suddenly a friend journalist approached and greeted me. Our casual conversation was diverted to my son’s behavior.

He was dancing amidst the crowd and doesn’t care if people were laughing at him.

I don’t know what to do then. People might think that my son is a special child as he is making faces and noises showing his decayed teeth.

So I called his attention, “Kenneth, stop it please, people here don’t want noise.”

Everyone was stunned and then later laughed again when they heard Kenneth’s replies saying, “Mama please call me Kimberly, I don’t like the name Kenneth, okay?”

My friend journalist could hardly control his amusement.

“Julz, you should bring your son to a psychiatrist or else you’ll have problems with him later,” says my homophobic friend.

I was trying to control my emotion then as I dearly loved to slap his face in public.

One time I got mad when Kenneth was peeing mimicking the male dog.

He explained that he just wanted to feel how dogs urinate from one wall to another.

“Sinubukan ko lang kung mahirap kasi kanina pa yung dog ihi nang ihi sa bakod paikot-ikot hanggang dun sa puno.”

So I told him in an angry tone that “next time I’ll see you peeing like a dog I will really cut your penis.”

But I was shocked with his answer, “hay salamat, mawawala na ang penis ko.”

I am deeply aware that my son is growing up as gay and he is not a typical person trying to hide his preferred sex.

Although I keep explaining him that even if he removed his penis (as this is what he wanted) he’ll remain a male forever as God is the One that bestowed his gender.

“If I die and I live again on green planet (Earth) do you think God and Papa Jesus will already make me a girl?”

That is always his difficult question if he’s cornered with ended answer as “wala ka nang magagawa anak dahil pinanganak kang lalaki.”

Kenneth at his age is probably exploring everything, maybe at age 6 he’ll soon realize that he is indeed a boy. Whatever choice he’ll make someday, I will always support him.

signing on!!!

2007-05-23T00:23:00.000+08:00

Ang tagal kong nawala! Halos di ko na alam kung saan magsisimula. I even forgot how to sign in in my own blogspot. Since January till present I have been pre-occupied with nothing, wala lang...
I just got tired or maybe I don't have enough time to sit and update my blog. Especially since January this year I decided to let my nanny go and look for a greener pasture. She's been with me acting as second mom to my son for almost four years. My son is growing up and he needs to be more independent, hindi sa lahat ng oras ay may yayang sumusunod. Ang hirap maging solo parent, now that Kenneth starts to ask so many questions and he speaks his own mind. Unlike before, I always do the talking and thinking, ngayon hindi na.

Actually December 2006 was the most busiest for me. Oy! Hindi ako nang-aginaldo ha! Me pinagawang assignment one of the fellow journalist which I have failed to complete dahil sinabayan ba naman ng events tulad ng pagkamatay ni Kadaffy Janjalani, the Nicole and Smith, US Ambassador Kenney's frequent trips to Sulu.

Dagdag dito, last December din when I received news from Carol Arguillas that I'm nominated for Peace Journalism Summer Course at Sydney, Australia kaya I was also busy preparing all my travel documents.

Anyway am back and with jest to write anew. This time more sharing on parenting and my exciting discoveries kung paano magpalaki ng isang Juniorita.

Hoping for a Joyful Christmas

2006-12-06T20:05:00.000+08:00

Hoping for a Joyful Christmas

She was sitting on her wooden bench facing east where the air blows gently. I thought she was enjoying the early cold breeze that Sunday morning.

No, she wasn’t, she was there thinking alone and reviving the past memories.

When I approached her, I saw tears in her eyes, she was crying…

Casually I asked her why she’s up so early when it was her typical late waking up routine every Sunday.

In a casual tone trying to hide her broken voice, she said that “I was not able to sleep last night, I have had some nightmares, I am just here trying to recall that bad dreams, don’t mind me.”

My mother is a very sentimental person, but when I saw her emotions that Sunday, I sensed something’s wrong, somewhere.

Before I could ask for more questions, she immediately turned the table on me saying, “hey! why you are up too so early, your son might wake up and find you missing, you better go back to your house.”

I reminded her gently that Kenneth knows his way around and innocently, I asked what’s bothering her.

“Nanay I know that you know you’re hiding something, I know you’re crying and I believe there’s a big reason for that tears.”

She just nodded her head and suddenly blurted out that “I am afraid that I will be spending Christmas alone, your sister has already left me, she is now staying in an apartment near her office and your brother is about to leave me soon, he’ll be working out of the country.”

She wept quietly, I just embraced her trying to console her feelings. I know that at her age, she’s becoming very sensitive and she can’t stand living alone in her house.

“Hush! It’s okay Nanay, my sister is already old enough to be independent, let her live her own life, she knows where to find you and my brother has to move on, he’s been out of job for almost a year.”

However her instant reaction has moved me.

“You know what? I miss the life we had in Baliwasan, we shared every inch of the space in our small house but we were all happy, but…during those days, I was dreaming of having a big house where everyone in the family will have its own room, now I just wish to get back to that old small dwelling.”

Now I am sharing her tears, I know that those moments were the best for us even if we hardly eat a decent meal in a day.

I remember our Christmas excited to have a piece of an apple (the cheapest one), slice bread with margarine and biko. Tatay and Nanay then were proud to share a peso coin for each of their six children.

Those days… late at night, I made sure to watch my parents making a Christmas tree made of white strings tied to a big flat rounded plywood and a long pole in the middle where to tie the strings. Inside that Christmas tree is a manger where Tatay, a skilled carpenter sculpted some figures of the three kings, Mama Mary, Baby Jesus and Papa Joseph with small animals including dogs and cats.

At Noche Buena, we were all satisfied and happy sharing and sipping a cup of hot tea and slices of bread.

Ah… those were the days… Simple yet happy life… Suddenly, I too has to wipe my tears realizing that I sympathize with her longings.

This coming Noche Buena, my Nanay fears of spending it alone in her huge house. The only sounds she can hear is her own footsteps, the squeaking of the door and noises from the lizards on the walls and ceilings.

I have my own house just few meters away from her. Kenneth my son and I are the only souls that occupy our humble domain.

Yet I assured her that with all her grandchildren around, “you’re not going to miss even me.”

I told her that she has Kenneth, Kix Daryll and Kix Darren and Bimbong and probably my brother Jose would also bring his children Jemalyn, Jonalyn, Christopher and Nicko for Noche Buena celebration.

“Well that’s a great idea, I think I should focus more on my apos, hmp! Why should I be so selfish when there are still noisy earthlings that I can play with on Christmas day,” was my Nanay’s words.

But looking at her, seeing her sad eyes, I know that she is still trying to convince herself that everything will be okay.

“You are all grown-up now, if God asks me what will be my wish, I will wish that we all go back to where we started,” was my mother’s words before I left her to check my son.

Lonely Table

2006-11-27T23:24:00.000+08:00

When I was a little girl, I remember my parents having a huge wooden table with eight wooden chairs where eight people can sit and dine together.

As I am blooming in my adolescent years, I recalled that our wooden table and wooden chairs started to give off due to constant floodings in our birthplace in Barangay Baliwasan that reached knee or waist deep.

All the furnitures that my parents invested before were gone to waste one by one like old Guava tree behind our old house giving off its branches and twigs as its roots gradually eaten by insects, bugs and molds.

Like the old Guava tree, my father's health was failing then gradually succumbing to death until one day we lost him while he was there lying on a hospital bed with a smile in his face.

Again like the old Guava tree, it didnt retire to return to its nature until we grew up tired of eating its fruits. It didnt stop from bearing fruits and growing more branches despite the heavy floodings then until my father saw a good place for us.

My father worked hard till his last breath so we could finish school and find a well a good job of our won. He made sure that we are all in good hands and bought a property where there is no floodings to destroy our furnitures and fruit trees.

His last request then was for us to transfer to our property in Putik once he's buried and united with Almighty. We granted his wish although most of us objected to staying in Putik because of its distance to the town. But we managed and now we have again many Guava and Mango trees, we have coconut trees and bananas, calamansi and other vegetables, its like tending to a mini farm and we didnt experienced floodings.

After five years when my father was gone, my mother started to think of building her life in her huge house. She said she wanted a big table good for eight person. I said no, it will just make her more lonely because she will be sitting and dining in a huge table along with her children.

Tatay is gone and who will sit on the 8th seat? So she decided to have six seater table, but then again I said no, it would still be lonely for her since three of her children are all married and living their own lives that includes me.

But she said during special occasions we visit her, and ignored my advise.

Two days ago I visited her. Her house is just a stone throw away. She was crying alone and I asked her what's her problem.

She said I was right that having a huge table with six seats will make her utterly sad.

I asked her why when she has two more with her, my youngest sis Emma and my fourth brother Bobong and plus my cousin Jainab.

Nanay said Emma moved to a new apartment recently just near her office, while my brother Bobong is readying his paper to work abroad.

And next year she will be living alone since my cousin is working for me as my son's yaya.

Glancing at the table, my mother wished that she followed my advise then, but I assured her that Kenneth (my son) and I are still there.

To console her, I promised that once my sister and brother definitely leave her alone, I and my son will stay in her huge house with a huge table and that my home near her house will serve as my office where I can go there anytime to do my work.

With that her face glows like she discovered some nice little secrets. Then she said the lonely table will not be lonely after all.

Keeping My Sanity

2006-11-27T22:43:00.000+08:00

For the past weeks I have been so busy with my coverage. Its like racing against time and I have this need to fill in anything from coffee and sugar jars to water jars and my purse just to make sure I have something for rainy days.

Seeing my little boy growing so fast, at first he demanded me when he will go to school and just this morning he asked me when is the right time to circumcise his baby penis. Oh my God he is just a four year old angel and he asks so many questions.

My dear friend David earlier advised me to enroll my son to a corporate school like Ateneo de Zamboanga University so he could get the best education, but with my meager income as journalist its not enough. I was thinking of a public school but many friends discouraged me if I really wanted something best for my kid.

And here's the fear... can I or will I make it, can I afford the tuition fees? Will my savings last for his education till he graduated from college?

Before I celebrated my 40th year in this Earth, I have this growing fear inside, so many fears that I sometimes feel that I may last long in this world.

I really love my little boy and my only wish is to see him grow and mature as a better person with better education and the only legacy I could leave is my principles in life, but will this principle makes him survive and beat all the pressing demands?

My other fear is that my boy is growing with this feeling that he is a girl. Society is not that open to gay communities moreso to gay relationship. What will happen to him?

In the end, I always console myself that life is beautiful to spoil and that God is always with me whenever I go and whatever I do. But gnawing fear is always there, always reminding me that I cannot stop, I have to move on, write more stories, earn more, save more...

But what about my time together with my little boy? He kept on asking why I always go out to work and why his other aunts stay in the house where his cousins are being attended well.

The only explanation I give to him is that Mama is alone to keep our life moving and that Mama is the sole breadearner and that if I am not going to work, he will not be able to drink milk, eat boiled rice and his favorite chicken skins and bananas and that I cannot buy him beautiful and colorful barbie dolls.

Sometimes it surprised me when he said "why dont you make yourself beautiful, wear make up so you can find a honey and so that I can have a Papa."

I just laughed to his innocent suggestions, but at this time, I am not ready for any intimate relationship because my concern is only my son and my ailing mother. I wanted them to be happy while I can work and earn for them. I wanted to use all my energies while I am healthy and active and that personal feelings like relationship with the opposite sex has to be shelved until one day my life is easy and pressures are not that heavy to take.

But deep within me, I am no longer interested since I have encountered and experienced different relationships and the most wonderful feeling that I have ever felt and that even renewed my faith is when a little boy came into my life that restored all my sanity.

IN THE ARMS OF ARMS

2006-11-13T20:05:00.000+08:00

Out of the blue, Kenneth and I were resting in one of the seats at the Yubengco StarMall when suddenly my son grabbed my ear and whispered, "mama, mama, I think I know that lady there."

I looked around trying to find the lady Kenneth earlier pointed. But I think I missed her.

So I asked him who was she? "yung bang Philippine Idol, andun siya, tingnan mo mama," pointing near the icecream booth.

There I saw Armarie Cruz, Zamboanga's bet for the Philippine Idol but managed to reach the top 12.

I turned to my son and said "si Arms yun anak," watching my son's face got so excited but when I called Armarie, he got so shy and tried to hide behind my back.

I feel so glad not because I was able to talk to Armarie in person (di naman ako mahilig sa celebrity) but am happy to see my son staring closely to the not so stranger as he maintained a following for this show until Armarie got evicted.

My idol is Mau Marcelo, his is Armarie Cruz.

For the sake of my son, I asked Armarie how I can communicate with her and even introduced myself as one of the correspondents of the Philippine Daily Inquirer so she could stay a little longer for picture taking.

Am elated when she granted my request but I was shocked to see that my son prefers to have a long chat than picture taking.

For info, Kenneth is a typical boy who wanted to be the star of the show, and objected to photo shoot if he is with somebody else including me, "gusto niya, siya lang at wala ng iba sa photo frame."

Anyway, at least my son has another encounter that he excitedly shared with his yaya Jainab soon as we got home.

MISS KO NA SI TITA WENG

2006-11-10T18:44:00.000+08:00

A day after Rowena "Weng" Caranza left for Manila, Kenneth misses her presence in the house. He kept on asking why Weng has to go to Manila and why she can't stay longer here in Zamboanga.

"I miss Tita Weng, is she going away too long, when is she coming back?" was Kenneth's persistent question.

I told him that Weng is residing in Manila and that she has 3 children and a husband to attend to. Kenneth asked me if Weng's husband and 3 children are still small like him, and I said no, "they are all grown ups."

"But Mama, why does she has to attend to them when they are all grown ups, what about me? I am still a small boy?"

Sigh... I explained to him that Weng has a family and she belongs to her family. I further said that if she will leave them behind, she might end up alone.

I turned around the situation to make him understand more. "What if Mama visits the house of Tita Weng and then Tita's children will insist that I will stay there longer, do you think your Lola and you will be happy without me?"

With that he said, "okay na Mama, basta sabihin ko na lang na miss ko parati si Tita Weng."

HE JUST WANT TO HELP

2006-11-08T20:17:00.000+08:00

I was playing scrabbles on my computer when suddenly Kenneth shouted "Mama! Halika! Halika! Tingnan mo!"

He was pulling my shorts, dragging me towards the living room and told me to watch the news on television.

I saw a baby boy lying on a bamboo couch. His head was too big for him and he could hardly blink his eyes as tears flowed down to his neck.

Then at my back Kenneth asked, "Mama bakit siya ganun?" referring to the baby boy named Mark.

I told him he is sick. Then he asked why baby Mark is on television, I said he and his father are asking for help so he can to the hospital for treatment.

"Pag magamot na ba siya, hindi siya mukhang Tweety?"

Suddenly his yaya Inab burst with laughter, but Kenneth and me were serious watching the boy in pain.

"Mama kung tulungan siya hindi na siya magmumukhang Tweety?" I said yes and asked him if he wants to help. "Opo" was his reply and followed with another answer, "para mukha na siyang Cinderella."

"Eh saan ka kukuha ng pera? Me pera ka ba?" was my question, then he automatically pointed to his plastic blue piggy bank.

Okay I said, then asked him further how much will he extend to the baby boy, "he said marami, lahat ng pera ko."

I maintained a piggy bank for Kenneth and at the end of the year, we opened it up and first day of office on January, we usually deposit the saved money to his kiddie account at the Metrobank's Kiddie Savers.

I was moved by his instant reaction to help people. I always tell him to be respectful to elders and be a good boy always, but his second time to share his earned money is something I cannot just easily ignore.

His first "kawanggawa" was when he donated his savings of Php145 from carolling to the Kapuso Foundation December last year. He said then "kawawa naman ang mga bata, walang pagkain."

The second time I remember when we went to Fort Pilar. He insisted on holding to a hundred peso bill so he can choose and buy candles as offering to the patron.

When we reached Fort Pilar, I asked him where's the money and he said he gave the money to an old Badjao woman, a beggar. His reason was "kasi buntis yung kanyang leeg, matanda na siya, wala pang nagbabantay."

Much as I wanted to get mad at him, but I just consider the incident as blessing, a blessing to keep my son away from harm.

Kenneth's Birthday

2006-11-07T08:31:00.000+08:00

My angel John Kenneth turned 4 on October 27, 2006. The only wish he expressed a day before his day is to buy him a nice little flashlight. I asked him why he wants flashlight, he said that "para kahit madilim na o gabi na puede ako pumunta kina Lola, para ma-kiss ko siya bago ako matulog."

Actually the distance between my house and that of my Nanay is just about three meters, but my son is quite afraid of the dark especially images coming from the trees and bushes that he regularly encounters in sneaking behind our house to my Nanay.

But in his birthday, I gave him a set of playing golf (colorful) and a DVD toy. Though he is happy with my gifts, he is still asking for his flashlight. I told him that I will buy him a bigger one on Christmas.

FLOWERS AT THE BACKYARD

2006-10-22T19:13:00.000+08:00

After typhoons Neneng and Milenyo hit our place, I realized that some of my precious collection of flowering plants were either traumatized or died of long hours of soaking from floodwaters.

At least a number of my shrubberies survived the onslaught of typhoon that lasted for about a month and a few of my ornamental plants could still be rehabilitated.

Initially I lost interest in gardening when I saw the destruction to my backyard.

I feel quite guilty when I didn’t salvage my collections when the first typhoon came.

Soon as I got back from Davao City attending the meeting, I immediately attended to my garden.

MASK OF ZOMBIE

2006-10-22T17:58:00.000+08:00

I was awaken by a loud shrill. At first I don’t know what to do because the room was so dark and I cannot make out where was that noise came from. Finally my sanity and consciousness returned and I realized my son John Kenneth was the one shouting and crying.

In darkness I hold him closely assuring him that nothing’s wrong, but the reality is I don’t know the reason why he was shouting and crying.

I carried him and he is quite heavy as he is turning 4 on October 27. We put on the lights and went to the dining room to let him drink his water.

After that, I again feel sleepy and asked my son if we can go back to bed but he strongly objected to getting back in our bedroom.

I asked what’s wrong and he said he saw something moving beside him.

I checked the bed while he was watching the Nick channel.

There I saw a zombie mask which we bought earlier from a local shop. Kenneth loves the mask primarily because of its color violet.

The zombie mask is made of rubber with real hair glued and looks frightening in the dark.

I brought the mask outside to show him if the zombie mask was the cause of his earlier fear and Kenneth nodded saying, “I saw it moving, I was afraid of the mask.”

So I just urged him to give the mask to his cousins but he strongly objected saying, “its mine and I like it.”

“I just thought it was moving but I am fine now,” Kenneth adds.

When I asked him if we can go back to sleep, he agreed, but still bringing in back to our bed his precious mask.

A POSE I CAN'T RESIST

2006-10-18T14:29:00.000+08:00

John Kenneth insists that we go to the Lady of Fort Pillar at Pettit Barracks because he wanted to light a candle.

Well, I dont have much choice but to visit our patron, known as the Miraculous Mother that saves the city against any disasters.

After lighting some colorful candles, Kenneth requested to have a brief rest at the concrete benches facing the altar.

Again, I granted his wish, but out of the blue he meekly whisphered to my ear, "Mama can you take pictures of me here?"

"What? It's not allowed here, Mama Mary will get angry at us," was my response to his wish.

Without a word and apparently ignoring my reply, he started posing facing the altar, dancing and singing loudly the song "Till I Met You!"

He made several poses that I cannot resist, so with all the people around silently expressing their thoughts and prayers to our patron, I am kind of busy taking shots of my son's daring poses.

JEFFY'S IMPRESSIONS

2006-10-14T18:20:00.000+08:00

Sunday, October 08, 2006

He seldom smiles and when he does, he lights up the entire room so bizarrely that the energy emanating from his sweet and lovely face defies the nasty sight of his decayed teeth.

His presence is just illuminating that it exhausted the weariness of the stale aft

ernoon as he moves around while humming a familiar television fantaserye theme, walking comfortably despite the oversize shoes and distracting the passivity of the hour just like how a sudden blow distracts the doldrums.

So like how a strong brewed coffee amuses an octogenarian’s cracked and thirsty lips.

Lovely.

Sigh. He’s such a darling. So young. So sweet. So handsome. And so bitch!

John Kenneth is just three years old. But believe me, a three year old boy who is, by all barometer and yardstick, already way up gay. Mother is proud, someone that John Kenneth should be very proud about when time comes that he is mature enough to realize what it is to have a mother like Julie.

Julie has “warned” me about the gayness of John Kenneth, whom I later christened Joana Kimberly. She, however, failed to warn me about the tactlessness of the kid. Oh please, sometimes, I would like to think that John Kenneth, er…Joana Kimberly, is not really tactless but just true and blunt about what he sees.

Besides, the kid doesn’t have the idea yet about the art of being fake disguised as being tactful.

My initial encounter with the kid was really a disaster. At least for me. He was restless as he roams around the bureau office cuddling Ansherina, the mermaid toy Julie bough him the last time she was in Davao.

“Bakla ka? Hindi ka pwede maging bakla kasi may balbas ka,” the kid told me that

left me turning purple.

The kid has a sword tongue that victimizes everyone, including his mom.

Here’s some of Joana Kimberly:

Kimberly: Anong pangalan mo?

Rolly: Ako si Juno.

Nico: Ako naman si Markadan ay siya naman ay si Sabina (pointing at me)

Rolly: At boyfriend ko si Argo.

Kimberly: (pointing at Rolly’s crotch) Alam ba ni Argo na meron ka nyan?

Nico: Ay! Chaps na bayot!

Kimberly: (Instructs Rolly to cross his legs) Ganito para hindi makita ni Argo ang iyong lawit?

Rolly: (Crosses legs) Ganito?

Kimberly: Ay maraming ugat ang paa mo.

While I was discussing something with Nico, Julie talking in, Kimberly asked his mom: Mama bakit ka sumasagot na hindi ka naman nila kinakausap?

And a lot more:

Mama, ano pong ibig sabihin ng digmaan?
Mama, galit ako kay Gloria (macapagal-arroyo)
Nye! Inggit ka lang at marunong akong kumanta nyan (Majika)
Mama, pwede ikaw huwag magsuot ng sleeveless kasi maitim ang kilikili mo.

Sigh. Kids.

Posted by bananas at 7:52 PM 21 comments (www.bananachoked.blogspot.com)

INNOCENT QUESTIONS

2006-10-14T18:07:00.000+08:00

Kenneth: Mama bakit ako white (fair),ikaw black (morena)?
Mama: Kasi magka-iba blood natin.
Kenneth: Ano pala kulay ng blood mo?
Mama: Red
Kenneth: Eh, ano kulay ng blood ko?
Mama: Red din.
Kenneth: Sabi mo iba blood natin, bakit pareho tayo red?
Mama: Naalala mo nung natumba ka at nasugatan sa tuhod, di ba red ang kulay ng blood mo?
Kenneth: Opo!
Mama: Eh, yung nasugatan si Mama sa finger, di ba red din ang blood ko.
Kenneth: Opo, eh bakit sabi mo kaya ka black kasi iba blood mo?
Mama: Teka... isip muna ako.
Kenneth: Aha! Alam ko na! Pareho tayo red ang blood, pero blood ko lalake, ikaw, blood ng babae, di ba correct ako?
Mama: Korek ka nga!

LESSONS FROM A CHILD

2006-10-14T09:59:00.000+08:00

MAMA… NO SMOKING PLEASE?

We, meaning Kenneth, my almost 4 year old son and I were watching a news program on television when something catches his attention.

In between breaks of the said program, an ads on cigarette brand flashed on screen where a sexy woman in red luring a male friend to fetch her for a date.

After the ads, a white bold letters appeared on screen advising viewers that “smoking is dangerous to health.”

Suddenly out of the blue, my son innocently inquired, “Mama ano ibig sabihin sa nakasulat dyan, yung white na letters ba?”

“Aah! Ibig sabihin nuon, masama ang manigarilyo,” was my short reply.

“Bakit?” Kenneth asked still not convinced with my translation.

Choosing proper words for answer, I explained that “kasi masama ang smoking, magkakasakit ka tulad ng ubo, serious pag cancer na.”

“Mama wag ka na mag smoke, magkaka-cancer ka, tingnan mo o umuubo ka na, me cancer ka na siguro, no smoking na Mama ha?”

With his instant reaction, I realized that small kids like my son (a keen observer and meticulous) noticed everything I do inside our home.

I also realized that whatever I forgot or misplaced something inside the house, he is the first to locate it and get it for me like my pair of eyewear, a cellular phone and even my car, bedroom or cabinet keys.

Whenever I watch television or listen to radio and (unconsciously) I could utter such negative or positive words against a certain tv or radio personality, he could easily recall it.

He was then 3 years old when President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared Proclamation 1017. I was muttering some words to myself while my son snugged quietly at my lap.

The next day, he said, “Mama look at Pangulong Arroyo, she is there again o, she might be harassing again reporters like you, she is not good.”

Lately, when Efren Bata Reyes went home victorious, I told his yaya that “hey that’s my real idol, a humble person!”

After that, every time Reyes is featured on television, my son immediately shouts “Mama, your idol is on tv, hurry you might miss him!”

Well, Kenneth keeps on surprising me with his intelligence, with him, my mother does not need to remind me the do’s and don’t’s. I have a son whom every time he calls my attention, not only embarrasses me but actually reminding me what I am supposed to do as a mother to a child. (end)