Author: MEDEL V. HERNANI

Cecilio Carog,72 years old, narrates his life as SSS pensioner way back in 2004 Cecilio was receiving P1,200 until 2013. After nine years, the pension increased by P200. For food alone, Carog said P1,400 is not enough, much less for medicine. He works as stevedore in FILPORT, Sasa wharf. (Medel V. Hernani/davaotoday.com)

Activists and indigenous peoples advocates hold a candle lighting activity at the Freedom Park in Davao City on Monday to call for justice for a Manobo student who was killed on Sunday by a suspected member of the paramilitary group Alamara in Sitio Laslasakan, Barangay Palma Gil, Talaingod, Davao del Norte province. The Save Our Schools Network in Southern Mindanao said the 15-year-old Alibando Tingkas is the 20th child victim of extrajudicial killing in Mindanao since 2010. The group said the total number of child killed in the country is 29. (Medel V. Hernani/davaotoday.com)

Bai Ali Indayla, a nominee of the Gabriela Women's Partylist Bai condemns the killing of the Grade 3 Manobo student, Alinbando Tingkas, who was killed on Sunday by a suspected member of the paramilitary group Alamara in Sitio Laslasakan, Barangay Palma Gil, Talaingod, Davao del Norte province. (Medel V. Hernani/davaotoday.com)

Bishop Ephraim Fajutagana (second from right), Iglesia Filipina Independiente Obispo Maximo (Supreme Bishop), and Bishop Joel Porlares (third from left), IFI bishop of Bulacan and Bataan link arms with the indigenous peoples leaders during their solidarity visit at the United Church of Christ in the Philippines Haran compound in Davao City, where hundreds of Lumads are seeking refuge since March, last year. Fajutagana said the root cause of the conflict is the big foreign mining investors and their local Filipino counterpart who wish to extract the resources of the Lumads ancestral lands.(Medel V. Hernani/davaotoday.com)

The police assured the public of their safety in Davao City in the series of Catholic dawn masses to usher in the observance on December 25 of the birth of Jesus Christ. Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson, Chief Inspector Milgrace Driz says the first day of the Simbang Gabi in the city on Wednesday was peaceful. (Medel V. Hernani/davaotoday.com)