Today’s Views

In spotlighting the celebratory pitch and color of the Kadayawan Festival, let us give honor and deference to the unifying common tongue of all Lumads of Mindanao — the Cebuano language as the Island’s lengua franca. And so, allow me to use this as medium in this special write-up about the legendary Datu Mangulayon, the greatest of all Lumads in this part of the Philippine Islands.

Why is it the poor are called anti-social elements? And so, they are thrown into crowded prison? You rarely see rich people in jail!

by Don Pagusara Davao Today My neighbors ask:  Sir, unsana man ningmgapanghitabokaronsaatongkatilingban? Nagkagrabena man ang paggamit og armas pagsulbad og mga…

Eid’l Fitr marks the end of Ramadhan, the Muslim’s fasting month. Following the lunar calendar, the sighting of the new moon signals the change of month in the Muslim’s Hijrah calendar. For those who feel that they have not fulfilled well this month the 4th pillar of Islam, we still have today and tomorrow to fast, give zakat ‘ul fitra (voluntary material or financial assistance), pray the Salatul Taraweeh (special nightly prayer reciting verses of the Qur’an) and the Salatul Layl or Tahajud Salah (midnight prayer). These are special prayers performed voluntarily in congregational and individual prayers.

The other day, more or less 500 Agusanon Manbo from Loreto, Agusan del Sur sought refuge in the City of Davao, not to rejoice for the “good harvests” as the city annually celebrates KADAYAWAN, but to tell their stories of fear, anger and desire for justice, peace, equity and inclusion.

A blind musician, Willie, who was a student of the Davao School for the Blind, visited me the other day. He is a good musician, as he could play the guitar, keyboard and could sing. He played the guitar for the theme song of a film I wrote two years ago, which was beautifully sung by his classmate Gaga.

By DON J. PAGUSARA   Davao Today Ang damgo ni Juan de la Cruz: Kanus-a pa kaha ta ini madato oy? …

A nation that has embraced or swallowed hook-line-and-sinker, the doctrines of Catholicism is bound to obey the persuasive majesty of the church in matters that touch on the question of morality. It does not admit wrong or loss or defeat.

By DON J. PAGUSARA

Davao Today

For what really is this goddamn pork barrel? Why is this a modus vivendi in our legislative system, first of all?

By DON J. PAGUSARA

Davao Today

My childhood years were filled with random dreams and not-so-intentional glories.  But they come as happenstances with childhood drives and urge to excel in everything — from shatung to basketball, to high jump, to gardening to handicrafts making.  And to give fleshly meaning to parents’ and mentors’ exhortation in the cliché Burn your midnight candle!