By Samira Gutoc (14-Jan-2010)

IT IS not funny when you make fun of people. We take serious concern at the January 7 column of Ramon Tulfo which stereotypes Muslim cultural communities and women.

Tulfo wrote in his last column, “Because the Muslims of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi permit marriages with other tribes and even Christians, whereas Maguindanaoans and Maranaws are ‘closed’ societies or xenophobic. Xenophobia or hatred for strangers is the reason most Maranaws and Maguindanaoans marry within the family or tribe.”

Muslim women’s groups, such as colleagues in the Philippine Muslim Women Council, feel insulted and degraded.

By Samira Gutoc , YMPN (06-08-Jan-2010) 

It was refreshing to hear SHARON CUNETA say ASSALAMUALAIKUM at her Sunday show.

National Achievement Tests (NAT) for Grade 3 on March 3, Grade 6 on March 5 and second year highschool students on March 11 will be conducted by the Department of Education (Deped) to assess competencies in Math, English and Science among others.

SHABU druglords beware. Newly appointed Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Chairman Antonio Villar Jr said anti-narcotics agents with the International Police (Interpol) would be deployed in the country’s seaports and airports “for an up-close scrutiny of cargoes entering the country.” Some P 15 billion worth of high-grade shabu have been seized by the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone and 112 millionworth of high-grade cocaine discovered by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) at the Sasa Wharf in Davao City.

By Veronica Uy, Inquirer.net (04-Jan-2010)

MANILA, Philippines—A Saudi-based overseas Filipino worker whose senatorial bid was rejected by the Commission on Elections has asked the poll body to reconsider its decision.

Nhazrudin “Rudy” N.D. Dianalan flew home last week to file a supplemental opposition to Comelec Resolution 8713 promulgated December 15, 2009. He met with INQUIRER.net, whom he provided a copy of his motion.

Dianalan said he possesses all the qualifications required by the Constitution to run for senator, and not any of the disqualifications set by the Constitution as to the minimum age or minimum residency.

In his motion, he noted that he is a natural-born Filipino and at least 35 years old. He graduated from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Mineral with the degree of BS Systems Engineer as cum laude, and now a candidate for a master’s degree in national security administration. Working most of his life in Jeddah, he is now chief systems engineer of an international airline.