First off, let me make this clear. This list of Mindanaoans who want to run for Senator in the 2010 elections is just initial – there may still be more interested senatorial candidates in the days to come so Mindanaoan will try to update the list as often as possible. Hopefully, this list can help you, fellow Filipino voters and fellow Mindanao residents, in choosing the right candidate to send to the Senate. I’m also hoping that this post can help provide a platform for all of us Mindanawans to discuss who can really be the true voice of Mindanao in the Senate.
Please feel free to share your thoughts!
Aquilino Martin “Koko” Pimentel III – ran for the Senate during the last elections but lost to former Bukidnon congressman and now Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri. Koko Pimentel has since launched a protest and he even has a website for it. Father is Senator Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. of Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao. A lawyer. Named as one of the senatorial candidates under the slate of former President Erap Estrada and Makati City mayor Jejomary Binay.
Teofisto “TG” Guingona III – was originally with Sen. Manny Villar and Nacionalista Party but recently defected to the Liberal Party. He’s now one of the senatorial candidates under Sen. Noynoy Aquino and Sen. Mar Roxas’ slate. Currently serving as the representative of the second district of Bukidnon. His father is former Vice President Teofisto “Tito” Guingona.
Atty. Adel Tamano – former spokesperson of the United Opposition and served as president of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. He’s now with Sen. Manny Villar. Adel, whose name reportedly means “lover of justice” in Arabic, is the son of the late Senator Mamintal “Mike” Tamano and civil leader Hadja Putri Zorayda Abbas of Lanao del Sur and Jolo, Mindanao. Official website here.
JR Nereus “Neric” Acosta – former representative of the first district of Bukidnon. Currently part of the Liberal Party and will run under the Aquino-Roxas slate. Best known as the principal author of the Clean Air Act. Very active in various non government organizations. Is facing an Ombudsman case. He released a statement pertaining to the graft charges a few months back. In 2004 he was named the very first Filipino World Fellow of Yale University. An associate professor at the Asian Institute of Management and the Ateneo de Manila University. Official website here.
Rodolfo “Ompong” Plaza – businessman, part of the huge political Plaza clan in the Agusan area. His family owns a lot of businesses in Mindanao. Ompong is currently serving as representative of the lone district of Agusan del Sur, Mindanao. Best known as the principal author of the LPG Act (House Bill 5942). Ompong Plaza will reportedly run as “guest candidate” under the Erap-Binay slate. Official website here.
Popular band Spongecola will perform in Davao City, Mindanao today, October 9, 2009, during the Bagong Sigla benefit concert at Damosa Market Basket, Lanang, Davao City. Entrance is technically not free since you’re requested to bring some canned goods, a pack of rice, dry and usable clothing, bottled water or medicines but this is for a good cause so it’s still all good, yes?

Alternatively, you can also just donate a minimum of one peso at the concert gates to gain admission (although I highly suggest that you bring more than that please) Beneficiaries will be the typhoon Ondoy victims.
This Bagong Sigla concert will actually be held simultaneously in Manila, Iloilo, Davao and Dagupan. Originally planned to be a free musical concert in time for Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s 40th birthday, it’s now a huge, nationwide benefit concert for the Tropical Storm Ondoy victims (Ondoy’s international code name is Ketsana).
The Manila concert will be held at Liwasang Ullalim at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex and it will feature BAMBOO, Miguel Escueta and Chicosci. Imago will lead the concert in Dagupan while Cueshe will provide the entertainment in Iloilo. Dabawenyos, meanwhile, will be in the company of Spongecola.
“Sugod! Kilos! Tayo ang Bagong Sigla” underscores Chiz Escudero’s call for a united front.
Chiz will celebrate his 40th birthday on October 10, 2009 and reports say that he will state his intentions to run for president in the May 2010 elections on October 12, 2009.
NORTHERN MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES – Club South Pacific, a luxury property on the beachfront of beautiful Northern Mindanao, has just announced a very special promo wherein the first twenty (20) families and/or first twenty (20) individuals can avail of discounted membership packages/rates!
An individual membership package (lifetime), for instance, will only cost P88,000.00 (regular price is P150,000.00) while the family membership rate will only cost P105,000.00 (regular rate is P180,000.00)
Make your reservations RIGHT NOW! You only need to pay P1,000.00 as reservation fee! (this is even deductible from the full payment) We can also arrange for a free trip to the Club South Pacific site so that you can personally check out the amazing property.
Read more about Club South Pacific HERE. And if you want to avail of this great offer, call us at (+63) 919 238 6575. You can also send an email to asteriskEC@gmail.com or leave a message HERE.
Like a lot of people, I myself also can’t stand cold weather. I hate catching colds and to remain stuck at home can somehow be boring. So you can just imagine how disappointed I was today when I learned that Mindanao will continue to see rains and cold weather in the next few days. According to Nathaniel Cruz, chief of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (OMG, I can’t remember the last time I said that out loud…hmm), the country is currently plagued with a cold front, which also apparently triggered the rains and unfortunate flashfloods in both Visayas and Mindanao (Cagayan de Oro City has been badly hit by these flashfloods as of late).
Which reminds me…I hope this cold front will not dampen the Sinulog 2009 celebration. I’m actually looking forward to traveling to Cebu City this weekend and join the festivities. (Any of you out there who’s also heading to the Queen City of the South?)
Brace yourselves, people! It’ll be a chilly January.

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Davao region soon to be a lobster production area?
November 4, 2009
BIMP-EAGA, Business, Commentary, Controversial, Davao City, Food, Mindanaoan Update, News
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A PNA article caught my attention today. It said that an American feeds supplier is eyeing lobster production in the Davao region here in Mindanao! A certain Denzil Nicholson of Verdant Ocean, an aquaculture feeds company, said that they’re keen on the possibility of producing lobsters in Davao.
“The region is a good area for development. It is one of the most viable industries as lobster stocks are on the decline,” Nicholson was quoted as saying.
Did you notice the tricky part? He said “lobster stocks are on the decline.”
I wonder if the proposed lobster production process would involve “synthetic” procedures or would the entire thing adopt natural means?
Nicholson was part of the US-Philippines Agribusiness Trade and Investment Mission. The group visited the 60-hectare mariculture park of the Bureau of Aquatic Resources and Fisheries in Panabo City, Davao.
While I understand that investments are crucial to an area’s growth and development and while I do appreciate the fact that this project, should it push through, will spur more jobs, I would appreciate more information on just how the lobster production process would go.
Would it affect our ecological system?
Would proper taxes be imposed?
And the questions go on and on and on.
What about you? What do you think? Is this a promising project?