RMN's Taumbayan Naman: Jake and Arlyn teamup is the best

I've been listening to Radio Mindanao Network's program "Taumbayan Naman" with the team up of Jake Maderazo and Arlyn dela Cruz. (8-10am, RMN 558khz). 

The team is excellent. Jake's down-to-earth approach to programming and Dela Cruz's in-depth analysis of what's happening around contribute to an easy-listening and interesting show. 

Maderazo's style is totally different. His voice is not a shrill one, nor is hard to listen. His approach is personal. 

Dela Cruz meanwhile, adds a touch of sophistication to the program. She's one of the most intelligent hosts around. She gives an added value to the program.

These programs are really something worth supporting by advertisers.

Arlyn dela Cruz: the Look of a Winner

Filipina journalist Arlyn dela Cruz and another colleague Cesar Apolinario won three major awards in the PMPC Star awards for their opus, Puntod, a social commentary of a movie.

This space congratulates the two for a job well done. Dela Cruz and Apolinario belong to a rare breed of journalists who are socially conscious of the events happening in our country.

What is most admirable about these two colleagues of mine--they have an acute sense of reality and to render it in the most artistic way shows a depth which other people lack. Not all journalists have this artistry in them and this is just some of the traits that I, along with millions of others, admire in people like Arlyn and Cesar.

Not only that---despite all odds, both shows an uncompromising attitude about their chosen path. Their fortitude is truly amazing.

By the way, look at my kapatid here. She not only looked a winner--she's as sultry as ever. :-) Paging Willie Revillame. Baka kailangan niyo ng kapalit ni Congrats sa Wowoweee, hehehe. :-)

The Fight Continues! Onward!

By the way, thanks Arlyn dela Cruz for that comment in my previous posts. It's quite encouraging. And also, as a rejoinder, the "colonel" you referred to in your event, is, I believe, retired already?

Like Ding Gagelonia over at http://midfield.wordpress.com/, I'll post our photo here. Now, to allay fears that I am now with Senator Loren Legarda, let me say that I was just invited by Arlyn in this event, along with other journalists. Legarda is not a client, nor a close friend. She's being handled by noted PR man, Willy Fernandez. Enuf said.
(photo cap: Left-to-right: Standing, Senator Loren Legarda, Arlyn de la Cruz, Patricio Mangubat. Seated, Ding Gagelonia. Event: Manila Polo Club, April 28, 2009)

All politicians and CORRUPT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS, as what regular NPR readers already know, are all FAIR GAME. Even Mar Roxas whom I castigated in my previous posts and whom I consider as a friend, became a victim of my vicious pen.

My classmate, Mike Defensor, also received a fair share of comments, especially on the ZTE and his role in the Chinese mining firm. Another classmate, Miro Quimbo of Pag-Ibig once received a fair share of praise and derision in this site.

For those who want to invite me in their affairs, they can just send their invites thru my email address at mangubat.patricio@gmail.com. No fancy whatever, no gifts please. If you want me to write about your side, then, this site is open. I believe in the Right to Reply although this does not mean that Congress should make this unwritten ethical thing a law. Send your statements thru mangubat.patricio@gmail.com.

I don't attend blogger nights or press conferences. I seldom meet other bloggers, except when invited by Noemi, Ding, Janet, DJB, Manolo, Juned and even Jester. I share an affinity with Noemi because I feel in my heart that she's a very nice person. And of course, we have a bull frog friend (BFF), whose bite is weak and unconvincing because of hunger (hungry for attention and hungry for food). Janet is also a highly respected figure in the netsphere. Janet was the only one who convinced me to attend a blogger event. After that, I was'nt able to go to her events due to commitments. Ding, you all know, is a good friend. DJB, I consider an intellectual and Manolo, of course. I met Manolo and AWBHOLDINGS last night. Jester, well, I go to his meetings (if he calls for it) because I want to pry his mind, hehehe! Same with Marck Rimorin.

If there's a chance, I want to meet RJ Marmol, Leslie Bocobo, Manuel Buencamino, Mel Alarilla and other bloggers who want to see a New Philippines emerge from the rut. I now have close to 900(?) friends over at Facebook and most, if not all, are friends from way back who know Revo, my petname when I was a student.

And for those who want to destroy PM, just check if I have political personalities as clients. I have NONE. They can all write ad hominem attacks. But, they'll never desist me from writing the truth. No. Kiss my lovely pen.

(Everyday, the NPR continues to receive emails of support from thousands of New Patriots in every corner of the country and in the world. NPR continues to improve its Technorati rankings and hits (more than 2,500 everyday). Google has also placed a 4/10 ranking for NPR)

Only God has the power to shut me up. Death will not deter Patricio Mangubat from his advocacy. Even if I die, other Patricio Mangubats will rise to continue the New Philippine Revolution.

By the way, I'll be re-setting my timer here. Mrs. Arroyo's days are beginning to shorten. Later, I'll do that. I just need to go to the camps, hehehe! (Joke!) :-)

Part 2: The Arlyn dela Cruz Kidnapping

In Part two of the interviews, Philippine journalist Arlyn dela Cruz talks about the root causes of the Sulu problem. She explains why people in Jolo continues to defy government forces in their island province.

Arlyn talks from experience, she having covered Sulu since the beginning of the Abu Sayyaf Group or the Al Harakatul Al Islamiyah. Arlyn explains that those Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members are doing propaganda campaigns to highlight the sad plight of the Tausugs, the majority group in Jolo, Sulu.

For centuries, Bangsamoros have been fighting for a separate homeland. Tausugs are part of this Bangsamoro homeland. In the 1970s, a young Tausug professor by the name of Nur Misuari established the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). This force grew and led the anti-Marcos armed rebellion in the South which killed hundreds of thousands of Filipinos. In the 1990s, Misuari entered into negotiations with the Ramos administration. Some parts of Mindanao were turned into the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). ARMM was an experiment in self-government.

Lack of support, scarcity of funds and unfulfilled promises from the national government weakened the ARMM. With the weakening of ARMM, Islamic dissident groups reinvigorated the Bangsamoro movement in Mindanao. A branch from the MNLF broke off and became what is now known as the ASG or the Abu Sayyaf Group (formal name Al Harakatul Al Islamiya or the Bearers of the Sword).

The ASG was founded by an USTADZ, an Islamic scholar named Abdurajak Janjalani, who fought side by side with the Afghans in the Afghan-Russia war. When the Russians were annihilated, Janjalani went back to his native Bangsamoro land and formed the ASG, along with some Muslim engineers and Islamic scholars.

The elder Janjalani was killed by police in Zamboanga, believed to have been betrayed by a Muslim convert, Edwin Angeles (also killed in Zamboanga City). The brother of Janjalani assumed the leadership and led the ASG's most famous hostage capers. He has since been killed by government forces, along with original ASG members such as Commander Robot, Commander Abu Sabaya and others. Only Dr. Abu remains.

ASG has a new emir by the name of Yasser Igasan, a staunch believer of Islam and a very religious man. Igasan is said to have assumed the leadership of the group and made it closer with the regional terror group, Jemaah Islamiyah.

Arlyn dela Cruz saw the birth of the ASG and was there as a close spectator when it grew into what it is now---the most feared, and the most dreaded jihadist group in the entire Asia-Pacific region.

Part One: The Arlyn dela Cruz kidnapping

Seven years ago, a young journalist by the name of Arlyn de la Cruz was kidnapped by rogue elements of the military in the hinderlands of Jolo, Sulu. Arlyn was there to cover a story. She was snatched by some para-military men, taken into custody, interrogated and made a prisoner for so many days. Through the intercession of then Senator Loren Legarda, Arlyn was released by her captors.

Yet, what has not been told is how Arlyn de la Cruz (now a mother of two young kids) managed to survive that ordeal. Who helped Legarda and Arlyn? Who initiated the negotiations? Was there ransom paid? These and more unanswered questions were fortunately taken up in today's commemoration of Arlyn's ordeal many years ago.

I was fortunate to be part of this interview held at the Manila Polo Club today. Here is the first part of the interview. I'll be releasing these interviews in a series.

IN this movie, Loren Legarda narrates the circumstances behind the kidnapping and narrates, in brief, how she managed to release Arlyn from her captors.

By the way, there was a Colonel in the military who took a very active part in the release of Arlyn. For security purposes, the name of this Colonel will not be revealed here. (For further info, you can check this on YouTube also. I've recently opened a YouTube channel account. Starting today, I'll be working on uploading videos on YouTube)

** Who is Arlyn dela Cruz? Arlyn dela Cruz is a noted journalist in the Philippines. If my memory serves me right, she started as a reporter over at ABC Channel 5 before being hired by ABS-CBN Channel 2. Right now, she writes for the Philippine Daily Inquirer as a correspondent and anchors the news and public affairs shows over at NET 25. She is considered an expert in Mindanao affairs, having covered the region since the 1990's.

The New Sparrows

This report " AFP rebels in war vs. drugs: 20 freed Magdalo prove there's life after Oakwood" by Arlyn dela Cruz of the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) maybe interpreted by some to be part of government propaganda efforts to dissuade a growing revolutionary movement within the AFP.

On the flipside though, it is refreshing to note that, at last, there is a New Sparrow Group to hit big-time drug dealers here in this country. PDEA Chief and ex-AFP Chief Santiago's decision to "reform" these idealistic men gets my nod. And my utmost respect. I salute you sir!

I say to these Patriots--continue the fight to reform Philippine society by smashing these drug syndicates. Kill them, our young Patriots. Mercy should never be given to these drug dealers and pushers. They are the scums of society. They profit by killing dreams and lives of so many innocent children and Filipinos.

Hit their factories. Hit their bosses. Kill their Chinese connections. But never be a John Campos.

Magdalo should also infiltrate other government agencies and serve as the People's Sparrow Group. I dare say, hit the brokers at the Bureau of Customs. Kill these smugglers who deprive us of billions of pesos worth of taxes.

Search for these big-time rice cartel. Smash their network. Seize their stocks and distribute to the needy and the poor among us. Make their trip to hell faster by the barrels of your guns (which you never fired by the way at Oakwood).

Look for these unscrupulous election officers and government officials who profit from big-time government deals whereever and whoever they are. Ferret them from their hideouts. Seek for them in these exclusive golf clubs and countryclubs. Arrest them. Jail them. If they resist, kill them. These scums know the law of the jungle. Make them pay for making our poor people suffer.

While you're doing this, other Patriots will continue reforming society in the highest levels. The Truth is--we need deeper reforms.

We need to change society through the Oakwood route.

We need to obliterate this mafia group who rules our government with ruthlessness and inhumanity. Yes, there should be Magdalos who must seize the reins of power and establish a government that shall embody the true ideals and values of the Filipino People.