Recent Food Adventures

 

I discovered coconut cream!  I had picked some up at the store in my search for regular cream for the mango float I wanted to make from my freshly chosen mangoes, and decided to throw it in a dish.  (picture right) Delicious!

Mango float, a layered dessert of mangos, cream/condensed milk mixture, and graham crackers … pictured far left.  A dessert I can make without an oven!

Here’s a photo of some rambutans – a lychee type fruit that’s quite tasty on the inside (white fruit around a seed) and quite hairy on the outside (as can be seen)

On my recent trip “to the field” I learned that these adventures also include picking up favorite treats and cheap fruits/veg.  We stopped at Mers, a favorite pastry shop and I dutifully bought a number of things I’d never eaten before:  (clockwise from top, skipping the fresh food) rice cakes (Mers’ specialty), mango rolls, ube oatmeal bar, Jo-Ann’s (yes this came from elsewhere) famous cakes (forget the name – had mung beans inside I think), pooh cakes (chinese-style red bean cakes), and bukayo (coconut sweet snack).  We obviously also picked up some fresh things: mangoes (we tried 3 kilos for 100p but only got them at 110p), unripe avocados at 10 or 15p/kilo (still have to learn how to eat this best), camote (sweet potatoes – this one was a purple sweet potato, also got yellow ones, still have yet to see my favorite orange ones).

Living with creatures

Learning about interdependence from “pest” infestations… a glimpse into my daily mental gymnastics courtesy of my wacky and value-laden worldview…

The commentary:

I live with creatures.  Hundreds, and thousands of them.  When I first arrived in the Philippines and began to settle into my house, I quickly noticed the “house lizards.”  That’s my scientific name for the small lizards that I increasingly see in and around houses/occupied spaces.  Being from a land where I rarely saw, let alone lived with lizards, I was freaked out at first, but also of course thought it was cool.

Then I noticed small ant-like creatures.  Running along the wood of my bed frame, I began to worry if they were of an identifiable variety or of a suspicious crawling type that might eat through wood or bite me or other such damage.  Then came the kitchen ants, not as big as the sugar ants in kitchens I’ve encountered before; these were smaller, but just as vicious.  Then came the roaches.  Huge massively freaky cockroaches.  I hadn’t seen these since I was a small child in Florida, and all I remember is that I didn’t like them.  As our kitchen increasingly became a den for these creatures, I had enough and went to the store to find my weapons.

Normally I’m a chemical-free, catch-and-release insect/pest kind of person.  Recall, for those of you who may, my peanut butter + cardboard tube live mouse trap.  Or my cricket in two cups technique.  But this time urgency and convenience overruled and since I didn’t get a chance to do my natural-insect-killer research online before I was at the store, I bought up ant and roach traps.  Only to discover upon arriving home and setting them up, a small corner of mouse excrements.  AHHH!!!

The reflection:

As I cleaned out cupboards and tried to flex my out-of-shape anti-pest (just don’t show yourself!) prayer muscles, I began reflecting on my reaction.  Here’s my recap of the internal conversation:

I’m a naturally organic-leaning person, yet I went straight to the store and bought the killer poison after I “had enough” of the ants in the kitchen.

I’m an environmentalist and love/appreciate animals (hence the live traps)…

… but only when they’re in their appropriate environment.

My desire for live traps is partly from my sense that all creatures are interdependent.

But wouldn’t the epitome of interdependence be in the fact that we are sharing living space, and that you can’t separate out the “pests”’ home from your own home?  That you can’t barricade your life away from “nature”, and then go visit it as if it’s a bonus to your life?

Perhaps living with creatures is one way to be reminded of this interdependence.  For now, the traps are set, and a kitchen without ants/roaches/mice sounds too good to stop the chemical poisoning.  Besides, if I was to stop now, I already purchased and opened the products, it’d only be going undiluted into landfills, so I might as well dilute it into animals first?  In any case, thanks to my mental gymnastics, I’m already appreciating interdependence with these “pests” more.

New foods!

Unfortunately this was a slideshow but I have yet to figure out how best to embed things.  For now, just click the link and view it yourself as a slideshow if you like.

Lots of new foods!

https://picasaweb.google.com/sharonkniss/FoodSlideshow?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCP3r7vLxt6DfNg&feat=directlink

Davao: Life is Here – Photos

FUN & ISLAND PHOTOS:

https://picasaweb.google.com/sharonkniss/FunAndIslandSlideshow?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCPiExZmQ5-jfJg&feat=directlink

EDEN PARK PHOTOS:

https://picasaweb.google.com/sharonkniss/EdenSlideshow?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOr10Nb_4KuFSg&feat=directlink

KADAYAWAN FESTIVAL STREET DANCING PHOTO COLLAGES:

The Performances:

The Dancers:

The Instruments:

The Crowd:

 

 

 

 

 

MORE KADAYAWAN PHOTOS:

https://picasaweb.google.com/sharonkniss/KadayawanSlideshow?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCMyzvoGIme3CRQ&feat=directlink

 

 

 

Davao: Life is Here

The last ten days have been a whirlwind of amazing gifts of enjoyment in Davao.  The city’s tourism motto is “Life is Here,” an apt description for what I’ve experienced over the last week.  It began with the Kadayawan Festival Opening Ceremonies last Friday (August 9).  We saw a significantly substantial level of security personnel, most of whom carried AK-47s, to “protect the peace” and provide security against bombing and the like.  That consideration – that AK-47s and a vigilante police force provide security – is worth reflection on a further post.  The evening, however, was a delightful celebration of cultures.  Opening prayers led by IP, Christian, and Muslim representatives, singing of the Philippine and Davao national/local anthems, and introduction of the ten different Davao tribes were part of the evening.  Lots of dancing by the different tribes and the end of the opening ceremonies – when the Mayor officially announced that Kadayawan would go forward despite the recent levels of insecurity in Mindanao, included a distribution of fruits from a giant fruit basket.  I enjoyed a pomelo and banana.  Afterwards, Ketty and I enjoyed a small tour of downtown Davao with our friend Gracie, showing us old Spanish houses and treating us to my favorite – halo-halo.

The following day, Ketty and I adventured off to Eden Nature Park.   Desperate for nature, we both commented how the jeepney drive to the edge of Davao and the tricycle ride up the steep hill/mountain to Eden was worth the trip in itself.  The nature was breathtakingly beautiful and the fresh air was delightfully welcome.  We enjoyed a tour of the park, a 90% human-made reclaimed-nature park, including fruit groves of jackfruit and mangosteen, gardens (vegetable and flower), butterflies, and fun activities like fishing (the fastest and easiest fishing experience of my life) and my first chance to ride a bicycle since I arrived – this time hundreds of feet in the air.  On our way back, we discovered that the “mickey mouse plant” is not a fruit but rather inedible, and that the marang fruit is one of the best I’ve tried so far.

On Sunday, I participated in a 10K “fun run” sponsored by shops at the local mall to support Habitat for Humanity.  It was much more laid back than other runs I’ve done, proven in part by my early finish of #8 female despite being a relatively slow runner.  It was another cultural experience to see this public event open with a public prayer, and to participate in the celebrations and giveaways around the run.  I was grateful to enjoy the race with several work colleagues.

For the next three days, we enjoyed lots of celebrations (which means free food) at work.  We said goodbye to the head of office as he returned to the US, celebrated those with August birthdays, and enjoyed spillover food from some in-office meetings.  I discovered that these celebrations are not unique to CRS, but are a Filipino tradition – celebrating arrivals and departures, birthdays, special events, and more.  It doesn’t take much for an excuse for a party!

Tuesday evening Ketty and I enjoyed a night in Davao with some new friends, Gracie and Chris.  We enjoyed eating at Davao’s oldest Chinese restaurant, and participating in native traditions like Videoke and had our first experience of eating Durian.  It’s not so bad!!

On Thursday we ventured to the other side of Davao to attend a classical music concert at a coffee shop supporting the Tuburan Institute, a steiner/waldorf inspired school.  We enjoyed violin, classical guitar, and piano renditions of some well-known pieces. http://school.tuburaninstituteinc.com/  While there, I saw a very rare sight – a white-skinned woman, and decided to be bold and ask where she was from.  Turns out I knew her!

On Friday, we ventured to enjoy the Kadayawan River Festival on the Davao River.  Unfortunately we didn’t get clear information and so missed the parade of boats along the river, but enjoyed some tribal dancing at the celebration site.  People particularly enjoyed it when Ketty and I joined in dancing with them!

After the festival ended, we explored the local artisan store center with a variety of traditional and locally-made items.  I then joined my friend Gracie as we ate Chinese food and enjoyed a Kadayawan Bazaar before finishing the evening with a “welcome dinner” for the couchsurfer[1] friends who came for the festival from Manila and elsewhere.  Here I met another white woman, a German young lady working for an NGO in Davao.  Turns out, we spotted each other at Eden the previous weekend!  White skinned females stand out here…

On Saturday, Ketty and I secured prime seats for the much-anticipated Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan (street dancing competition).  We turned in our purses since no bags were allowed of any variety for security purposes and proceeded to watch four hours of fabulous dancing performed by tribes and groups all over the region.  The photos will describe this best, even though we were restricted in getting better photos.

After the street dancing, we enjoyed some food and went to one of the larger, nicer malls which was hosting the Davao Gourmet Food Collective and also an All-You-Can-Eat Durian festival.  My friends were too full for the Durian, so I just took photos of the different varieties, and had one taste of a variety that for now is only found on Palawan island, which I enjoyed a lot.  In the evening, we enjoyed fantastic (and free!) performances by Mindanaoan folk musicians at the local “night life” center nearby home.

Then on Sunday, we joined our couchsurfing friends to go island hopping.  Around 20 of us chartered a boat which took us to beautiful pristine beaches near Davao and allowed us to explore coral reefs and tropical fish – my first encounter seeing either of these “live.”  A wonderfully relaxing day full of natural beauty and fun.

I topped off the Kadayawan week with a stop in the city center for inexpensive massages (which is there all the time) while watching the nightlife of thousands of people enjoying the festival and the final event – a free “Mayor’s Concert”.

Davao – Life is Here.

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[1] Couchsurfing is a community of people who offer their homes for travelers and passers-by.  Couchsurfers tend to be open people, welcoming and curious of different cultures and who believe in the gift of hospitality.  Couchsurfers offer their couches, floors, or extra beds to people passing through for no cost, connected to “surfers” and “hosts” through an online portal.  Sometimes couchsurfers cannot host but can show people the city or local culture, and sometimes people join together for the community even if they can’t host.  This is the primary non-work group that I have befriended so find these friendships my extrovert lifeline!  I’ve been a member of couchsurfing since 2007 though often inactive, but am grateful to recall this connection which has led me to meet some wonderful people.

Smart Phones = Disembodying Agents?

There are surely many diverse thoughts on this, and I may alter my opinions later, but for now…

I am deeply concerned about the welfare of the human race due to the increasingly ubiquitous use of smart phones.  Sound like an extreme statement?  I stand by it.

I’m a hesitant technology consumer in e-gadget land, though not because I think technology is harmful, but rather that I find I don’t need a lot of it.  For example, I have not purchased a smart phone.  I’ve heard from many people that they “need” them for their work, and that they find them enjoyable and useful.  I’m also aware they provide a relatively low-cost option for many people to be connected to the internet and the globalized world who may have otherwise been left out of such opportunities. My choice against purchasing one has been primarily because I don’t need it and that I don’t want to be connected to my email 24-7.  However, since being in the Philippines, I recognized that having one would make sharing photos and memories with friends and family much easier, especially for those times when you want to “immediately” share something.  But that was a one-time thought and since then I’ve become much more hardened in my stance against having one, and I don’t consider myself as someone who takes many hardened stances.

I have been a part of several friend gatherings (and even family gatherings) where most people have smart phones, and when the conversation lulls (or sometimes not even then), people pull out their smart phones and engage in a secondary world – a world of information, pictures, communication, and more.  As someone without a smart phone, I don’t have the ability to “check out” of the conversation and entertain myself with other distractions.  And if others are all “checked out,” it leaves an uncomfortable isolating feeling to be the one patiently waiting for a conversation to re-emerge when the phones are put away, or something noteworthy comes through on the phones to discuss.

Another challenge is the decreased awareness of smart phone users.  It has often been commented on by others, but the “distracted pedestrian” (let alone distracted driver, etc) is increasingly ubiquitous as people use their smart phones while walking, etc.  I am certainly guilty of texting and calling on my cell phone while walking, but I realize that the time engaged for me to write a text is significantly less than the time for someone to engage with their multi-use phone, at least from what I’ve seen.  Additionally, the “filler” nature of smart phone use decreases awareness.  Rather than engage with the person sitting next to you – including people who know each other – you both look into your private hand-held screens, not taking in the presence of the other person, and not taking in the surroundings around you, either.

Not being AWARE is not only a safety issue, or even only a human-connecting issue, but it is a deeply spiritual deficiency.  Awareness and mindfulness are centerpoints of many spiritual traditions.  The ability to be present, to pause and reflect, to be aware of ourselves, our surroundings, and our interactions with others, connects us to the Divine.  Depriving ourselves of this necessity is spiritual harm.  And the ubiquitous nature of smart phones is doing just that.

Certainly, it’s not the technology’s “fault” per se, as we still exercise human choice and responsibility in our purchase and use of any technology.  The ease that smart phones allow for distraction and non-present engagement is akin to the tantalizing ease of fats and sugars on our grocery shelves.  We have the choice to partake in whatever amount we wish, but once we start, the addiction has launched its campaign, and it takes even greater effort to slow its effects.

The usefulness of smart phones is in their ability to keep you connected whenever you want and wherever you are.  The same key to their usefulness, unfortunately, is the key to their danger.  Interaction in the natural world will never be replaced by the benefits of technology.  We will get increasingly closer to replicating natural-world experiences, but the benefits – spiritually, physically, emotionally, and mentally – of natural-world experiences will never be fully replaceable and many scientific studies are emerging to support this.  Therefore, the question is urgent as to our personal use and consumption of technologies which decrease such necessary life features as awareness and human interaction.  The need to power-off our smart phones, and to power-off other distractions like computers/internet, etc, is critical.  Certainly I’m not saying such technology needs to be powered off for good, but it definitely needs to be powered off in a fairly regular fashion to ensure balance in our lived experiences of awareness and participation in the natural world.

I’m not sure if this is a new phenomenon.  I recognize people may have had the same hesitations when books offered information gathering and alternate-world engagement in shared social space.  But the concern, which may have been relevant when books were invented, remains relevant today.  For my own wellbeing, I sincerely hope I will never purchase a smart phone.  And if I do, or for the millions of people who already have, I hope that we will exercise extreme caution and responsible judgment as to our use of them.  I believe the collective wellbeing of the human race could be in danger, and to continue in extreme language, if uncorrected, I feel this version of life may actually not be worth living.

 

p.s. And of course I recognize that I’m not just a passive complainer and non-buyer, but a friend that while it’s hard, can find ways to shift our focus in conversations away from our phones and back into lived experiences…

Finding that-which-gives-me-joy

I’ve struggled a bit in my transition to life in the Philippines as an extroverted culture and natural beauty lover.  I live in a city (read: expanses of natural beauty are often outside the perimeter), live and work alongside another ex-pat (read: we lack any inherent local cultural knowledge), and have limited engagement with people outside of work (read: no friends).

Couch surfers gathering in Davao

But with persistence and abundant, extravagant doses of patience, situations can improve.  Given previous positive experiences with the “couchsurfing” community, I found a local group and met up with them for their monthly gathering last week.  I was immediately in my element among warm-hearted, adventurous, culture and nature-loving people.  I look forward to many more encounters and hopefully developing friendships with many of them.

So much fun! These two were our “orientation” gurus, Ate Myla and Ate Cora.

My friend and I also hosted a housewarming party for our work colleagues (read: the only people we know), and happily two new couchsurfing friends also came (and our friendship was only two days old!).  This was a true delight and honor for us to host these wonderful people in our home.  We catered the gathering as is traditional in the Philippines culture, attempting some recipes from our home countries (see food experiments for my contribution) and supplementing with some favorite Filipino food (pancit bihon, banana cake, and buttered chicken).  With the amazing support of two of our dear colleagues, we were also able to set up “videoke” – karaoke in the Philippines, without which you cannot consider any gathering as a true party.  We had a blast singing and eating and enjoying each others’ company outside of the office.  And this extrovert was very much refreshed.  (See more photos in GALLERY)

View from the road returning from the shrine – see the line of visible ocean.

Without access to a vehicle or form of personal transportation (like a bicycle), I’m limited to where public transportation or my two feet and can take me.  To this end, and given my desperation[1] for nature, I was thrilled to discover the Shrine of the Holy Infant Jesus of Prague that is about 2.5km from our house, making it excellent running distance (though of course it’s up a super steep mountain hill).  Along this curving (read: dangerous due to speeding cars and motorcycles) road, I’m able to see many trees, expansive views of Davao, glimpses of mountains and ocean, and at the top of the hill, the shrine’s nice park.  I’ve also appreciated gaining reflective space while reading “The Bill McKibben Reader: pieces from an active life,” a collection of essays by a well-known environmentalist who aptly challenges our commercial, consumerist-driven lives, and reminds us of the urgent work needed for the planet – the source of life.  (See more photos in GALLERY)

I could list several elements which I have appreciated on the cultural front, but one joy has been discovering Cinematheque Davao, an independent cinema around the corner from work which shows movies for free, generally of the independent and foreign varieties.  So far I’ve seen films from Spain, Japan, and France.

Thanks to the advance warning from my choir director in Indiana that the Philippines has an excellent musical tradition, since my arrival I was on a dedicated hunt to find a local choir I could join.  From what I’ve been able to discover, choirs are either located in schools or churches.  Therefore, I’ve joined the only one of those which I can – a church.  I now wear a hideous (apologies for any choir member who may eventually read this… but it’s true) purple choir robe along with a green sash while I sing songs for a weekly English-speaking protestant church service.  While it’s an English-speaking service, I believe I’m the only non-Filipino who attends (English is of course one of the national languages of the Philippines).  I can see multiple benefits emerging from this, particularly nourishment through making music, and cultural immersion experience even if it includes slightly less comfortable elements.

I can’t say that exercise is something that “gives me joy,” but being healthy is something that has tremendous impacts in my life and something I actively seek to do.  I joined a gym during July, and last week went running with two colleagues at the local public park.  I’ve kept up, generally, with my every-other-day exercise/running schedule though the running has been generally a mile less than I did in the states.  Nevertheless, my two colleagues had signed up for a “fun run” (there are many here in Davao) this Sunday, planning to run the longest option – the 10K.  Having run a 10K for the first time this spring, and feeling that I had survived it fairly well, I went ahead and signed up for this run.  I don’t feel particularly ready to run 10K given my fairly mediocre recent running habits, but I’ve signed up, so “too late now.”  Here’s to crazy impulse actions!

And such a list that gives me joy wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the lovely work environment I enjoy.  While working in a small cubicle 32 hours every week is generally not joyful, and the lack of opportunity to go on team trips outside of the office (due to my security needs/restrictions) can be frustrating, I have been grateful to enjoy the celebratory nature of the office.  Whenever someone becomes a full employee, they throw a mini-feast for everyone in the office.  Additionally, whenever someone leaves there’s a party, and there are birthday celebrations at least once/month.  This means lots of great food, and especially lots of great laughs.  The joy of this internship has also included the deep honour and privilege to work alongside dedicated, beautiful, wise, experienced peacebuilders working day in and out for peace in Mindanao.  What a gift and incredible learning opportunity.

To conclude this post, you can only imagine the excitement I hold as an extroverted culture and natural beauty lover in anticipation for the Kadayawan Festival (assuming it goes on as planned – see previous post on the recent violence)… a week of cultural dances, music, and celebrations highlighting the beauty of life in Davao and beyond, celebrating in particular the indigenous communities and the tremendous abundance of gorgeous FRUIT grown in the region.  Woohoo!  Joy indeed.

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[1] Desperation feels to be a very apt term.  When I discovered a café near work which had outdoor seating under the open sky with a few trees by the tables, my excitement was through the non-existent roof.  It’s one thing to walk by trees on the street; it’s another thing to be able to sit among the trees.  And this was no forest – just a few trees emerging from a gravel “floor.”

Violence in Mindanao

With apologies to my dedicated readers for the silence, I had to refocus my energies elsewhere for a little.   A lot has happened in the last two weeks, and while I’ll try to spare giving pages of commentary, I will attempt to offer some glimpses.

The new occurrences that are taking more of my mental and emotional space in the last few days are the recent spate of bombings across Mindanao.  To the best of my knowledge, the specifics are these:

In summary, as of Wednesday evening August 8, as reported by Mindanews, “a total of 16 persons were killed and 83 others injured in at least five bombing incidents reported in 12 days in two of Mindanao’s 33 cities, two of 36 towns in Maguindanao and one of 18 towns in North Cotabato.[1]”

1. Bomb explosion in Cagayan de Oro, July 26, killed 8 people and wounded 46 others.  The explosion occurred at a busy night club with lots of attendees from a medical professionals conference taking place in the city.  The scene was cleaned up within 24 hours, removing vital evidence.  Conflicting reports initially were circulated as to whether investigations turned up possible subjects or not.  However, police have since claimed to file charges against six subjects, who they say are part of Khilafa Islamiyah Mindanao, an “obscure group linked to the al-Qaeda.”[2]  The bomb was an IED (improvised explosive device).
2. Bomb explosion in Cotabato City, on Monday, August 5.  8 dead, 40 injured.  Car bomb set off on a busy road outside of a school.  Mayor claims the bomb was set for him and his sister who is the City Administrator.
3. Bomb on country highway near Shariff Saydona Mustapha town in Maguindanao on August 7 in the morning, which injured 7 soldiers.  The BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters), a break-off group from the MILF, claimed responsibility for the attack.  The attack used M79 grenade launchers.
4. Bomb explosion in Midsayap, North Cotabato in the early morning hours on Monday, August 7, in front of a local business.  No injuries were reported, and an immediate curfew was imposed for the nighttime hours.  Experts discovered fragments believed to be from a mortar round.
5. Bomb explosion in Datu Piang, Maguindanao in the late afternoon on Monday, August 7.  A bridge was targeted; no injuries were reported.  Bomb believed to be fashioned from 60 mm mortar with mobile phone as trigger mechanism.  BIFF is believed to be behind the blast.[3]

Violence is sometimes “part of the scenery” of life in Mindanao.  In early July there were bomb explosions on a bridge in Datu Piang attributed to the BIFF, and also a bomb explosion in Cotabato City, killing one person and injuring three.[4]  There was also fighting in late July in North Cotabato between two families over a land dispute who also divided allegiances to MNLF and MILF (see https://justkalinaw.wordpress.com/2013/07/22/land-conflict-roots-of-political-conflict/).  And just on Thursday, soldiers were injured in a bomb explosion in Agusan del Sur, though it is unclear (to me) whether it was a planted device by the NPA specifically against them, or whether it was a landmine generally placed in the region by the NPA.[5]  And these are just the ones I’m aware of, or which were publically reported.  Bombs, bomb threats, gunfights, and other incidents of violence are unfortunately relatively common experiences, especially in certain parts of Mindanao.

The recent bombing incidents, however, have been given heightened consideration because of some of their unique characteristics, their urban nature, considerations of their interrelatedness, and also due to the timing of impending resumption of peace talks between the MILF and Philippines Government as well as the recent global terror alert issued by the US.[6]

I found it really interesting to be a part of the analysis discussion at work, as the peace team members discussed information they gathered about the events, drawing from conversations they initiated with their various sources[7] across the island.  Using their skills in conflict analysis and their long-term experience as residents and peacebuilders in Mindanao, they sought to determine the potential context of the violence.  What follows here are pieces I gathered from the conversation, pieces of the puzzle contributing to developing a perspective of the violence:

• consideration that a number of these bombings took place in urban centers, and in ways that were set to cause maximum damage.
• consideration that particularly for Cotabato City, local politics could be at play.  The bombs could be diversionary tactics, to take attention away from the frustrations of planned demolition due to recent severe flooding or corruption allegations and hearings against local government leaders.
• In Cotabato City, the use of a car bomb instead of the more common IEDs shows a sophistication of knowledge and technical expertise
• The climate in Mindanao is one where the possibility for the use of violence – be it guns or IEDs or other weapons – is very close to the surface.  For many, violence is an accessible and common response to frustration and retaliation.
• Negotiations on final annexes of the Framework Agreement of the Bangsamoro, the peace agreement between the MILF and the government, are set to resume now that Ramadan has concluded.  The BIFF, among others, are not satisfied with the momentum towards the FAB and what may be implemented as a result.
• A string of violence can increase anxieties against Muslims in Mindanao, thus potentially creating suspicion for the FAB and its impact of granting Muslims greater autonomy and authority in the Bangsamoro region.
• Some Catholic Bishops groups have not made a unified condemnation of the violence, as may be normally expected.  This is potentially due to their current standoff against the government as the government seeks to pass a reproductive health bill which the Catholic Church deeply opposes.
• Recognition that the numerous texts which are being circulated send rumors about the potential for heightened violence after Ramadan, thereby connecting the bombings and future potential violence to Muslims.  This is disturbing and frustrating for many, to see the continuing perpetuation of stereotypes against Muslims as the perpetrators of violence in Mindanao.
• In an August 7 statement from Mindanao PeaceWeavers, a local respected peace network, they highlight the various potential motivations for the bombing in Cotabato City: “In the aftermath of the blast we hear of the scenarios bruited about in its wake. For some, this was a vendetta that came to a boil and played on the historical instability of the region to mask its criminal intent.  Others saw a continuation of a terrorist campaign linked to the earlier bombing in Cagayan de Oro. A number of others saw it as a last-ditch attempt to derail the nascent Bangsamoro peace agreement, spoiling for a chance to set back years of hope-filled negotiations and peace-building. Still others saw it as an act of provocation, timed during Ramadan to sully the holiest month of the Islamic calendar with blood and carnage and feed the call for revenge and retribution.”[8]
• Davao City Mayor Duterte has heightened security and encouraged the active cooperation from DC residents in maintaining peace and safety in the city.  The city is on “red alert” – its highest alert level, and police presence has been stepped up and cooperation is urged for residents as they dutifully comply with the usual bag searches, etc, in malls and other public areas.  Further, backpacks are discouraged (originally banned but it was noted that this was potentially unconstitutional and certainly hard to enforce[9]) during the Kadayawan Festival, and there will be no street-side parking allowed during the festival either.
  • The Kadayawan Festival is, to my understanding, the biggest festival of the year for Davao City.  The entire city is out in celebration and people come from all over the country to celebrate the festival which is known for highlighting the outstanding fruits of the region, indigenous tribal cultures, and dance/art/music (especially indigenous).  The city was given August 16 as an official non-work holiday in order that all residents could enjoy the festival.  However, Mayor Duterte has made a statement that he is considering cancelling or postponing the festival due to the violence in Mindanao.  Duterte is known for his resolute strength (also read: vigilante tendencies) – in promoting Davao City’s safety and culture in particular.  The peace team noted that Duterte’s contemplation of cancelling (he’ll make an official decision on Tuesday) signals that there could be reason to be concerned for future violence.  The festival has never been cancelled as of yet despite security threats.  Obviously if the recent bombings are connected and there is reason to suspect that urban areas of high concentration of people are targets, then DC would be an ideal target during the Kadayawan Festival.

  Due to security concerns, CRS staff are restricted from travelling to affected areas in Mindanao and encouraged to limit any non-essential travel for the next week.

I asked a friend who grew up in Mindanao, how these incidents affect her.  She said that this is “normal,” it’s part of life in Mindanao.  Some cities, depending on their proximity to the violence, will issue significant curfews, and night life in some areas is limited or non-existent because of the danger of violence, but broadly her daily life or considerations don’t really shift much with these announcements/incidents.  She acknowledges that it’s a risk, as with anyone, that she could be the victim of a bombing.  She’s also worked in the NGO field for a while, including doing emergency and development work in challenging areas of Mindanao.

Life “feels” to be continuing normally in Davao today.  While the security concerns are certainly on my mind, I continue to go about my day fairly “normally” and plan to attend the opening ceremonies of the Kadayawan Festival this evening (the main events take place next weekend).

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[1] http://www.mindanews.com/peace-process/2013/08/08/pnoy-says-bombings-are-a-desperate-act-of-peace-spoilers/

[2] http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2013/08/08/charges-filed-vs-cdo-blast-suspects/

[3] http://www.sunstar.com.ph/breaking-news/2013/08/07/another-blast-rocks-maguindanao-bridge-damaged-296604

[4] http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/07/10/13/biff-denies-hand-maguindanao-blasts

[5] http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/321139/news/regions/four-soldiers-1-militia-man-wounded-in-agusan-sur-blast-army-official; http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/461237/5-soldiers-injured-in-npa-ambush-in-agusan-sur; http://www.mindanaoexaminer.com/news.php?news_id=20130808114938

[6] http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_6042.html

[7] When I say “sources” I refer to individuals with whom CRS colleagues were in touch with who are closer to the situations, to get their perspective.  Sources, as any human, always have their own bias and perspective, so multiple sources need to be considered together to consider the range of possible scenarios for context.

[8] http://www.mindanews.com/statements/2013/08/08/peace-will-reign-in-the-aftermath/

[9] http://newsdesk.asia/duterte-says-backpack-ban-is-unlawful-but/

Weeks 5-6

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Salsa Surprise

For our housewarming party, my contribution, beyond red rice, was Salsa.  I’ve made salsa a handful of times in the US and have felt it has generally come out quite tasty.  I had seen tomatoes, onions, and peppers in the markets, so figured I could whip up some of this for others to enjoy.  I ended up calling it Sharon’s American-Mexican-Filipino Mango Salsa Surprise.  It was a continual experiment of amendments as I discovered the local ingredient options.

• No coriander or cilantro meant I substituted cumin.
• Super small tomatoes meant I didn’t want to chop all day, so supplemented with an old large can of chopped tomatoes (canned tomatoes aren’t easily found).
• I had already decided it’d be a mango salsa, and thought that perhaps adding bamboo and coconut shoots (which I had bought that week at the market to experiment with) would be a good asset.
• I bought six small cans of black beans…only to later discover that the canned black bean variety here is seriously fermented and super salty.  Thankfully I tasted before adding, so they were left out of the mix.

The ingredients therefore became a mix of:  Onions, garlic, cumin, tomatoes (fresh- including red and green, and canned), chili peppers, red and green peppers (not sure the variety – they are small and sweet), chopped fresh mango, and bamboo and coconut shoots.

The chip hunt was the secondary challenge.  The stores had tortilla chips – but being a rare find, they were very expensive, so I sought out cheap alternatives.  I picked up some cheese-flavored small “tortilla” chips (there was no plain flavor), which turned out to be very small and round and SUPER cheesy, filled with the ever-present magic MSG.  I supplemented (thank goodness) with a bunch of white butter crackers.  Not quite my ideal for salsa accompaniments, but we survived.

Thankfully, some thought it was a hit!  Only I was partially disturbed by the more-odd-than-usual conglomeration of ingredients.

My salsa surprise along with its (slightly sad) accompaniments