October 28, 2009
Announcements, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, Events, Features, Internet, Media, Mindanaoan Update, News, Personalities, Politics, Videos, blogging, northern mindanao
Apart from Senator Kiko Pangilinan, another special person who extended his greetings and message to the participants of the Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3 was former Bukidnon Congressman Neric Acosta. Acosta, the author of the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, is the first Filipino World Fellow of Yale University. Neric Acosta is also an academician, an environmentalist and a passionate member of various NGOs.
Thank you very much to Sir Neric for his time and for his great thoughts 
Yes, I agree, let’s re-ignite that Mindanaoan spirit! Mindanao should be for Mindanaoans and let Mindanao not be a place of contestation. It must be a haven of peace and harmony especially for all of the diverse tribes here in our island.
For more information about Neric Acosta, log on to Neric Acosta 2010.
Thank you also to Paolo! Mindanaoan “harassed” Pao pa naman so he can look for Sir Neric and to get this video hehe 
Thank you so much Paolo! I super appreciate this!
Here’s his special video message for all of the MBS CDO participants:
LikeOctober 15, 2009
Advocacy, Bukidnon, Commentary, Controversial, Features, Government, Headline, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, News, Opinion, Personalities, Politics, agusan del sur, armm, misamis oriental, muslim mindanao, northern mindanao
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.
August 12, 2009
Advocacy, Cagayan de Oro City, Campus, Events, Government, Mindanaoan Update, News, Personalities, Photos, Politics, northern mindanao
Here are the photos Mindanaoan (me!) took during the recent Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao leg of the Register and Vote (RV) Campaign – specifically during the two students fora held at the Mindanao University of Science and Technology and Cagayan de Oro College – both Cagayan de Oro City schools.
Mindanaoan was privileged enough to have accompanied the Team Kiko group last July 30, 2009. This RV campaign, which is spearheaded by Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, aims to draw out 5 to 9 million first time voters, encourage them to register at the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and then come May 2010, exercise their right to suffrage.
Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, AKBAYAN Partylist Rep. Risa Hontiveros, former Bukidnon Rep. Neric Acosta, BAYAN Partylist Rep. Teddy Casino and author Atty. Alex Lacson led the fora.
By the way — Rock the Vote, which is a free musical cum advocacy concert, is also part of the Register and Vote Campaign. Read more about the highly successful Cagayan de Oro Rock the Vote 2009 show, which featured Hale, Spongecola and Luke Mejares.
August 3, 2009
Advocacy, Announcements, Bukidnon, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Campus, Entertainment, Events, Features, Government, Internet, Journalism, Mindanaoan Update, Music, News, Personal, Personalities, Photos, Politics, blogging, northern mindanao
Roughly 8,000 people made the pledge to register and vote in the May 2010 national elections last July 30, 2009 during the Rock the Vote 2009 Cagayan de Oro City leg held at Xavier University Gymnasium, Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao.
Rock the Vote is a musical cum advocacy show which aims to encourage people especially first time voters to register at the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and exercise their right to suffrage. Rock the Vote is also a part of the ongoing Register and Vote (RV) campaign, which is led by Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan.
Pangilinan, along with author Atty. Alex Lacson, AKBAYAN Party List Rep. Risa Hontiveros and Bayan Muna Party List Rep. Teddy Casino, led the reading of a unity statement which declares commitment to bring about needed change through being a responsible voter.
Students from various Cagayan de Oro schools, young adults who have yet to register, stakeholders, representatives from various sectors of society and private citizens from CDO, Bukidnon, Butuan and other areas in Northern Mindanao converged and declared their support to the ongoing RV campaign.
Popular bands Hale and Spongecola and crooner Luke Mejares performed during the Cagayan de Oro Rock the Vote show.
Earlier that day, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing between Pangilinan and COMELEC, representatives of NGOs, media groups, business groups and private organization groups took place. The MOA signified all parties’ commitment to encourage more people to register and vote. All parties agreed that to register and vote is an essential role that each Filipino must play.
After the MOA signing, Pangilinan then proceeded to a Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) forum where he led the distribution of hundreds of Certificates of Land Ownership Agreement (CLOAs) to beneficiaries from South Bukidnon, North Bukidnon, CDO, Agusan and Camiguin, among others.
Pangilinan then proceeded to Mindanao University of Science and Technology for an advocacy forum. Despite the rain, hundreds of students, teachers and school administrators gamely stayed and listened to Pangilinan. Joining the independent senator were Lacson and Casino. The three urged the students to further strengthen their voice as citizens of the country by voting in the 2010 national elections. Pangilinan reminded the students that they only need to bring a single valid ID during registration.
After the MUST forum, Pangilinan, Lacson and Casino proceeded to the Cagayan de Oro College, where they were joined by Hontiveros and former Bukidnon Rep. Neric Acosta. A similar advocacy forum took place.
Check out these photos Mindanaoan – blogger in Mindanao took during the Rock the Vote 2009 CDO leg:
[Gallery not found]Very special thanks to ASTERISK Events and Communications, Team Oro Photo and Video Coverage group, Atoy Martinez High Definition Video and to the CDO Bloggers. Mindanaoan would also like to thank all media colleagues as well as Maxine and TJ for their support. If you wish to tap ASTERISK Events and Communications for events management, photo and video coverage, public relations services, advertising and media relations services, please don’t hesitate to CONTACT THEM here. You can also CONTACT TEAM ORO through this form.
On a personal note, Mindanaoan would like to thank Lizel, Julie and most especially Sir Jojo. Daghang salamat!
ALL PHOTOS FOUND IN THIS ARTICLE ARE COURTESY OF IRENE, a Mindanao-based photographer, journalist, events organizer and publicist. Contact her here.
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Zubiri and Acosta, enemies yesterday, friends today and tomorrow?
November 10, 2009
Bukidnon, Commentary, Controversial, Government, Headline, Mindanaoan Update, Opinion, Personalities, Politics, Weird, northern mindanao
2 comments
Ang politics nga naman! Mindanaoan was a bit shocked – nay, very, very shocked – when I found out that last-termer Bukidnon Gov. Jose Ma. Zubiri, Jr. and political archrival JR Nereus “Neric” Acosta MAY soon sing sweet music together. This, after Zubiri is reportedly eyeing a “transfer” to the Liberal Party from LAKAS-CMD-KAMPI. Acosta will run for Senator under the LP.
What’s so interesting about this is that these former political allies have burned a lot of bridges over the years and have become bitter political enemies. Zubiri has accused Acosta of graft and corruption. Acosta, on the other hand, tried to run for Bukidnon governor in the last elections but lost to Zubiri by a very large margin. From mudslinging to accusations of one trying to kill the other to one trying to discredit the other, you can say that the Zubiris and the Acostas have been, are and most probably will still be bitter enemies. To even see them in one place can probably be the biggest news for the day in Bukidnon. However, with Zubiri reportedly transferring allegiance to Noynoy and Mar, should we now call these two FRENEMIES?
Interestingly, Zubiri reportedly led a 3-day caucus in the Province of Bukidnon, Mindanao recently and during the mock polls, Liberal Party bets Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas gained the most votes among Bukidnon mayors, vice mayors, councilors and barangay captains. Because of the result, Zubiri now has reportedly urged the local leaders to pledge allegiance to Noynoy and Mar and ultimately to the LP.
As of press time, talks of an induction in Bukidnon are spreading like wildfire.
Interestingly, too, Zubiri has now accused President Gloria Arroyo’s party, LAKAS-CMD-KAMPI, of not being “supportive” of the provinces that have delivered votes for her in the last election. Zubiri said that PGMA’s party has neglected the provinces that have helped her win before. Of course, we can assume that Zubiri wanted to remind the president that he busted his ass campaigning for her in Bukidnon during the last elections and yet Bukidnon (or probably him) hasn’t been generously rewarded.
Another thing that we should also take note of — Zubiri’s son, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri is an official of LAKAS-CMD. Does this mean that Migs will also soon leave PGMA’s side and follow his dad’s transfer to the LP?