Lanao mayor's life immortalized in locally produced documentary -by:Ali Macabalang/Manila Bulletin

ILIGAN CITY, Philippines – A documentary movie depicting the life of a former Moro rebel leader-turned-municipal mayor in a former strife-torn town in Lanao del Norte was shown here on November 25 in observance of the Mindanao Week of Peace that started that day and ends December 2. Over 500 people from various sectors viewed the documentary film at the College of Nursing of the Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) here, a venue chosen aptly for the occasion by organizers belonging to the Ecoweb in collaboration with the United Nations' ACT for Peace Programme. At the end of the 21-minute presentation, most of the viewers lauded it as "very informative," and expressed hope this would be replicated in other parts of the country, especially for those having no knowledge about the history of the lingering Mindanao conflict, according to Ecoweb executive director Regina Antequisa and Precious Derro of the Cinema for Peace. The documentary film titled "Engaging Dante's World" portrays specifically the life and exploits of Abdulaziz Batingolo, a former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) freedom fighter, who rose to the mayoralty post of Tangkal, Lanao del Norte, film director Ted Juanite said. It generally depicts the evolution of the Moro rebellion reckoning from the American troops' massacre of villagers in Sulu in 1900s and the execution by military agents of Muslim recruits undergoing clandestine training in the island of Corregidor in 1968, Juanite said. The repressive American occupation of Sulu, for which the 1911 model of the caliber .45 pistol was manufactured, rekindled the Moro rebellion during the Spanish invasion, while the infamous Jabeddah massacre in Corregidor triggered the formation of the mainstream MNLF. Former University of the Philippines (UP) Professor Nur Misuari, inspired by Muslim leaders pushing the Mindanao Independence Movement (MIM), formed the MNLF with the first batch of 90 combatants trained in Malaysia followed by the second batch of 300 members to resist the Marcos dictatorship and struggle for Moro secession. Batingolo, known in the MNLF as "Commander Dante Mutia," is a member of second 300-man batch, to which Chairman Hadji Ebrahim Murad of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) belongs. How Mayor Batingolo gradually transformed Tangkal town from the ravage of war to greater heights – being the first MNLF camp in Lanao del Norte – has inspired the Pakigdait, Inc., a Mindanao-based non-government organization, in collaboration with the UN Act for Peace to make the documentary film in his tribute, Juanite said.

Former 104th Commander celebrates thanksgiving with Pantao Ragat mayor By. MARIZ REVALES

Former 104th Commander celebrates thanksgiving with Pantao Ragat mayor By. MARIZ REVALES Mayor Eleanor Dimaporo Lantud heads a group from Pantao Ragat, Lanao del Norte during the Thanksgiving Dinner hosted by Brigadier General Benito de Leon and his wife Annabelle on the occasion of their 26th Wedding Anniversary, and in celebration of the military officer's recent promotion to the star rank.   General de Leon was the former Brigade Commander of 104th Infantry (Sultan) Brigade under the 1st Infantry Division of the Philippine Army which was then assigned the area of Lanao del Norte and Iligan City.   De Leon and his wife have gained a number of friends in the area including Mayor Lantud who joined many others coming from different provinces to join the couple's celebration at the Philippine Army Officer's Clubhouse, Fort Andres Bonifacio, Metro Manila.  A framed Maranao kris was presented by the mayor to the general, an honorary sultan.  ( with report from General Benny De Leon)   THANKSGIVING PARTY – Standing ( Brigadier General Benito Antonio T. de Leon and Annabelle de Leon) Seated from left Pantao Ragat  Municipal Mayor  Neshreen Leonor Dimaporo Lantud,Mairah Lantud, (sister mayor Lantud) Qaribah and her husband Minso.

Nov 23 Maguindanao massacre commemoration set - RIC CLET and MARIZ REVALES

Iligan City – Media personalities from different outlets in Mindanao will be supporting in full sympathy the program set the in the first year commemoration of the brutal  Maguindanao massacre which killed 57 people including journalists on November 23,2009.

Media groups from other areas of Ozamiz, Pagadian, Dipolog, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan and Marawi cities will be joining other colleagues for a prayer and candle-lighting programs at the main street going towards the massacre site at Sitio Malating,Barangay Salman, Ampatuan, Maguindanao.

Expectedly other sectors will be joining the group along with the relatives of the victims.

The three day journey, the group will be travelling by land passing  Lanao del Norte and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao area of Lanao del Sur will start on November 21 to November 23.

In line with the National Union of Journalist (NUJP) and Governor Esmael Mangudadatu of Maguindanao Province had intend to make the program solemn and worthy of the commemoration.

Mangudadatu in an earlier press conference at Datu Paglas disclosed that November 23 is special holiday in Maguindanao.

The Maguindanao massacre, also known as the Ampatuan massacre, last year of  November 23, 2009 in in Maguindanao province.

At the time, the massacre victims were on their way to file Esmael Mangudadatu's certificate of candidacy for Maguindanao governor. Mangudadatu, then Buluan vice mayor, won the gubernatorial post during the May 10 polls.

The 57 people who were brutally killed and buried in a mass grave in Ampatuan town included Mangudadatu's wife, his two sisters, journalists, lawyers, aides, and motorists who were witnesses or were mistakenly identified as part of the convoy.

Iliganon assumes commander of Army’s 65th IB - BY: RIC CLET and MARIZ REVALES

Marawi City- The 65^th Infantry (Stalwart) Battalion, 9th Infantry (Spear) Division, Philippine Army will have a new commanding officer by the person of Lt Col Siegred J Espina INF (GSC) PA is an Iliganon. Espina will assume office today November 19, 2010 at the 65^th Infantry (Stalwart) Battalion,9^th Infantry (Spear) Division, Philippine Army at  Agus 1 Compound, Barangay Datu Saber, here.

The turn-over ceremony will be attended by Major General Ruperto R Pabustan AFP, the commander of the 9^th Division as the presiding officer and keynote speaker. Other expected guests and visitors are local public officials from the different towns, city of Marawi and the province of Lanao del Sur. Philippine national Police officers and Army officials. 

The program will start at about 1:00 in the afternoon with the singing of the national anthem to be led by the 65thIB band. Captain Arturo M Dumalagan will lead the invocation and followed by the presentation of awards by General Pabustan to be assisted by AC of S for Pers,G1.

The reading of awards/relief and designation will be done by G1 followed by the remarks/relinquished of command by LTC Jed G Motus INF (GSC)PA, the outgoing officer of 42IB, and to be followed by the assumption of command by LTC Siegred J Espina, the incoming commanding officer of 65thIB.

The turn- over of unit color/symbol will be led by General Pabustan and to be assisted by AC of S for pers,G1.This will be followed by the remarks of the new commanding officer, LTC Espina and  introduction of the keynote speaker  and a message  by General Pabustan and after which, will be a singing of the 9^th spear Division hymn lead by the 65IB personnel.