INQUIRER.NET multimedia reporter Izah Morales visits the town of Nagcarlan to see how espasol, one of Laguna’s famous delicacies, is made. She interviews Ester Almanzor, daughter of Belen Castelo, who established Aling Belen’s Special Espasol.
Video taken by INQUIRER.net online videographer Janie Christine Octia in Laguna, Philippines.
SAMAON SULAIMAN of Mama sa Pano, Maguindanao received the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan or National Living Treasure Award in 1993 for outstanding artistry in the Maguindanao kutyapi, a two-stringed plucked lute. Watch him play this difficult-to-master Filipino instrument.
Video produced and provided by Tesoros.ph.
By Edwin Fernandez
Inquirer
CAMP SIONGCO, Shariff Kabunsuan–An alert used clothing (ukay-ukay) vendor, police and military authorities yesterday foiled a bombing attempt in a densely populated public market in Tacurong City.
Lt. Col. Julieto Ando, spokesperson of the military’s 6th Infantry Division, said a suspected terrorist group allied with the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah planted a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) at a stall selling used clothing along a busy street in Tacurong City, an agricultural city rocked by more than a dozen bomb attacks in the past two years.
The vendor noticed the explosive left unattended near the stall of his merchandise at about 7 a.m. He immediately carried the device to a children’s park and reported his discovery to the police.
By Vicente Labro
Inquirer
BALANGIGA, Eastern Samar–With fervor and pride, they again paid tribute to their forebears who left behind a legacy of love for freedom.
People of the century-old coastal town of Balangiga in Eastern Samar commemorated the 106th anniversary of the victory of their forefathers against American invaders on Sept. 28, hoping anew that the historic Balangiga Bells taken as war booty by US soldiers will eventually be returned.
A festive mood pervaded the town as the historic event was marked, albeit with less pomp as before. Photo shows a dance drama depicting American soldiers taking away the church bells of Balangiga.
By Tonette Orejas
Central Luzon Desk
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO–The poor have ceased being just receivers and the rich, the givers. They both participate in building families and communities in Pampanga.
This is the “paradigm shift” that Pampanga Gov. Eddie Panlilio, a Catholic priest, said he had helped introduce in his first 100 days in office.
It manifested also in the ability of Vice Gov. Joseller Guiao and provincial board members to “rise above their disagreements” with him and “putting the needs of the people above all else,” he said.
By Jocelyn Uy
Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines–This 77-year-old retired home economics teacher has come up with simple and real recipes for peace in her troubled little town in Sulu province.
Wobbly from arthritis, Norma Abdulla was never fettered from helping couples resolve fights or calling the attention of authorities whenever there’s trouble in her neighborhood.
“Peace should start with solving petty conflicts in the community, especially in the family so it will not escalate into a full-blown clash that could involve the entire town,” Abdulla, convener of the first Muslim Women Peace Advocates in Sulu, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Friday.
By Gabriel Cardinoza
Inquirer
DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines–It’s now a lot easier to spot the bangus (milkfish) grown in Pangasinan.
They are now labeled either “Dagupan bangus” or “Pangasinan bangus.” Those without these labels are considered “alien bangus,” or grown somewhere else, according to city agriculturist Emma Molina.
“We have to act fast because we cannot ignore and set aside the perception of our consumers,” Molina said.
By Carla Gomez
Inquirer
BACOLOD CITY–Negros’ muscovado sugar, which is gaining popularity in the growing health-conscious global market, is synonymous with those mouth-watering pastries only its people can make best.
The dark brown, slightly coarse, unrefined sugar, which still contains the minerals and vitamins originally found in sugarcane, has a pleasant bitter-sour taste from molasses not found in regular sugar, says pastry reinventor Millie Kilayko.
It is also this sugar that makes Negrense pastries delightfully different, bringing back memories of the old days of leisure and long lunches.
By Carla Gomez
Inquirer Visayas Bureau
BACOLOD CITY, Philippines–He will have to work for 20 months to earn the P100,000 he found in a room of a government resort in Negros Occidental recently.
But Pedrito de la Torre, a contractual employee of the government-owned Mambukal Resort in Murcia town, preferred to return the money that he found under a pillow in a resort room occupied by Korean nationals who checked out on September 19, said Negros Occidental Provincial Board Member Edgardo Acuña.
In recognition of his exemplary act, Vice Governor Isidro Zayco said on Thursday he would recommend to Governor Joseph Marañon the hiring of De la Torre as a permanent employee of the Capitol.
By Gerald Gene R. Querubin
Inquirer
BOAC, Marinduque–The Muslims have their “singkil” and the Visayans, their “Usahay” and “Dandansoy.” But what do the people of Marinduque have?
This question has inspired an advocacy by a music educator since childhood to learn and preserve songs and folk dances that are truly Marinduqueño.
“I heard old folks in my place singing old short songs aside from the kundiman and love songs with positive values. I listened to some of them and there, my research began,” says Prof. Rex Manuel Asuncion, who is now director of the Center for Cultural Arts Studies of the Marinduque State College in Boac town.
