Today is Friday, Feb. 13th, 2009 and it is now 11:24 PM here in the Philippines.
Music wise I have been simply listening to streamed (online) Vocal Trance on my favourite Microsoft Media station, DJFM, the 56 K Vocal Trance Station. Great Chill Out as well.
Still reading the same book, the fictional piece I discussed a post or two ago.
I have talked about my dogs a bit, and indeed in Gallery I have my favourite dog "Jumbo" (Baby Jumbo) as a pup. I have talked about my female, "Jambie" as well.
When we got her, as I have discussed, she was too terrified to leave my house, hiding behind the telly in the sala (living room to Yanks). Well she came quite a long way in that she was able to now run with the main pack in the compound, even to the point of running 2 klicks up my road to National Hiway! It was on National Hiway 2 days past that she was struck by a rice truck and killed.
I was sitting on the verandah, trying to finish some "Fried Snapper" that I had made, when my sister-in-law Marian, aged 10, came crying through the gate. "Kuya (Big Brother), Jambie was hit by truck (sic), he (sic) dead Kuya!" I speak Bisaya but we try to have all the kids talk English to teach them idiomatically as opposed to the text book nonsense they learn in school.
I was shocked. I loved Jambie. I cannot honestly say whether or not I have ever loved a human, but I loved that fucking dog. I took her in when she was beaten, afraid to move, and now she was running around the village! She had just given her 2nd litter 2 days before she died. Only 3 pups but we are bottle feeding them, trying to keep them going. 2 of her earlier litter are on the compound still. At least I have them.
I had truly hoped to breed her with Jumbo, she loved him! It is true. Wolves breed for life, unlike domesticated dogs. However , so called "Native Dogs" here are an indigenous breed realted to the Dingo, so they have other tendencies. Jambie would not look at another dog. Unfortunately for her, Chuckie, the Alpha on the compound wanted a piece and took her twice, thus the 2 litters.
All things must end.
News wise, the story on alot of peoples' lips here for the past 2 months has been the issue of "Child Combatants." Those nations who have ratified the treaty on the issue agree not to field soldiers younger than age 15.
In December the army raided a camp of the MILF's 102nd Command, under Kummander (sic) Bravo. The 102nd is one of 3 that are engaged in the MILF War right now while the other groups are supposedly sitting it out (not actually true of course).
When they raided the camp, they found a wounded youth said to be aged 16. The government tried to use it for all its worth, "Look, the MILF uses CHILDREN!" Of course a 16 year old is not a Child Combatant. Indeed, I was 16 when I went to war officially so I know the issue well. Israel by the way has never ratified the treaty but tries to only use men aged 17.5 and older whenever possible.
Anyway, the MILF soldier was taken into custody and paraded all over the media. Then it turns out, he was only 12 which does cast it in a much different light both legally and morally as far as I am concerned.
On 2/10 he was released to his family in Cotabato City, and is suppsoed to be undergoing rehabilitation to reenter society, etc.
The MILF makes no secret that it has male children of all ages on its Camps, but says it is not using them in battle, only to provide homes for Refugee orphans or those stranded from family. With literally 500,000 Refugees here, it is very real issue that needs to be taken into account. However, the 12 year old was armed when taken , and they are drilling with 8 year olds so it is disturbing.
Illongo and Bisaya paramilitaries might use 14 year olds to drill, but I have never heard one case within the last decade, of any going to war.
The NPA also says it is abiding by not using anyone younger than 18, and states as much in its handbills now . They are very progressive, even going so far as to applaud same sex marriages for close to 10 years already. In a country like this you have no idea how progressive that really is.
Since the govt. offencive 2 weeks ago we have not had any NPA Ops around these parts, although they are still operating on the other side of the mountains in both Surigao and Compostela (ComVal).
The MILF has been battling the army in Midsayap in Cotabato, with the army's 40th infantry Battalion (IB) using its usual 105 MM Howitzers and MG-520 gunships (copters) in and around the neighbouring village of Datu Piang over the provincial line in Maguindanao Province. No firm reports on the dead with both sides claiming victory in the 11 day old engagement.
Meanwhile, Kummander Bravo is having issues again with 10 men from his 102nd Command surrendering to the Army. The MILF is saying that the men were not even in the MILF, let alone the 102nd, but were instead soldiers in an MILF allied paramilitary that serves as the private army of a former mayor of Dilibayan in Lanao del Sur. The men have supposedly already surrendered twice before for the money it gives, so who can say what is really happening one way or the other over there.
On 2/5 in Barangay Tapikan in Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao the army used its 105s to shore up the Ilaga battling the MILF there. No words on deaths.
On 2/6, in Barangay San Isdro, Tagoloan I in Lanao del Norte, the Ilaga joined the official govt. paramilitary (CAFGU) and the army to engage a Moro (Muslim) paramilitary force that had been trying to destroy the Bisaya village there. At least 30 dead, in uniform and many more civlians.
Since 2/2 the army has been implementing its "Oplan Bantay Laya Part II" against the NPA's Front 72 on the Davao del Sur and N. Cotabato Provincial lines. It has scored some success, although the NPA's saying the 57th Infantry is full of shit, as always.
An intersting story took palce a couple fo days ago just down the road from me. A Belgian who is married to a Filipina, went haywire while drunk and grabbed the privates of some female hotel employee in Surigao City, which here could get him lynched. He is only 32 which is very strange because I have never heard of him, which makes me think he is claiming to live here only to get bail which of course he got (money talks here). He also "insulted" male staffers, which could also cost a life but they say he is ok and out on bail. If he is smart, he will take a boat to Indonesia post haste.
Well, all for now..
Music wise I have been simply listening to streamed (online) Vocal Trance on my favourite Microsoft Media station, DJFM, the 56 K Vocal Trance Station. Great Chill Out as well.
Still reading the same book, the fictional piece I discussed a post or two ago.
I have talked about my dogs a bit, and indeed in Gallery I have my favourite dog "Jumbo" (Baby Jumbo) as a pup. I have talked about my female, "Jambie" as well.
When we got her, as I have discussed, she was too terrified to leave my house, hiding behind the telly in the sala (living room to Yanks). Well she came quite a long way in that she was able to now run with the main pack in the compound, even to the point of running 2 klicks up my road to National Hiway! It was on National Hiway 2 days past that she was struck by a rice truck and killed.
I was sitting on the verandah, trying to finish some "Fried Snapper" that I had made, when my sister-in-law Marian, aged 10, came crying through the gate. "Kuya (Big Brother), Jambie was hit by truck (sic), he (sic) dead Kuya!" I speak Bisaya but we try to have all the kids talk English to teach them idiomatically as opposed to the text book nonsense they learn in school.
I was shocked. I loved Jambie. I cannot honestly say whether or not I have ever loved a human, but I loved that fucking dog. I took her in when she was beaten, afraid to move, and now she was running around the village! She had just given her 2nd litter 2 days before she died. Only 3 pups but we are bottle feeding them, trying to keep them going. 2 of her earlier litter are on the compound still. At least I have them.
I had truly hoped to breed her with Jumbo, she loved him! It is true. Wolves breed for life, unlike domesticated dogs. However , so called "Native Dogs" here are an indigenous breed realted to the Dingo, so they have other tendencies. Jambie would not look at another dog. Unfortunately for her, Chuckie, the Alpha on the compound wanted a piece and took her twice, thus the 2 litters.
All things must end.
News wise, the story on alot of peoples' lips here for the past 2 months has been the issue of "Child Combatants." Those nations who have ratified the treaty on the issue agree not to field soldiers younger than age 15.
In December the army raided a camp of the MILF's 102nd Command, under Kummander (sic) Bravo. The 102nd is one of 3 that are engaged in the MILF War right now while the other groups are supposedly sitting it out (not actually true of course).
When they raided the camp, they found a wounded youth said to be aged 16. The government tried to use it for all its worth, "Look, the MILF uses CHILDREN!" Of course a 16 year old is not a Child Combatant. Indeed, I was 16 when I went to war officially so I know the issue well. Israel by the way has never ratified the treaty but tries to only use men aged 17.5 and older whenever possible.
Anyway, the MILF soldier was taken into custody and paraded all over the media. Then it turns out, he was only 12 which does cast it in a much different light both legally and morally as far as I am concerned.
On 2/10 he was released to his family in Cotabato City, and is suppsoed to be undergoing rehabilitation to reenter society, etc.
The MILF makes no secret that it has male children of all ages on its Camps, but says it is not using them in battle, only to provide homes for Refugee orphans or those stranded from family. With literally 500,000 Refugees here, it is very real issue that needs to be taken into account. However, the 12 year old was armed when taken , and they are drilling with 8 year olds so it is disturbing.
Illongo and Bisaya paramilitaries might use 14 year olds to drill, but I have never heard one case within the last decade, of any going to war.
The NPA also says it is abiding by not using anyone younger than 18, and states as much in its handbills now . They are very progressive, even going so far as to applaud same sex marriages for close to 10 years already. In a country like this you have no idea how progressive that really is.
Since the govt. offencive 2 weeks ago we have not had any NPA Ops around these parts, although they are still operating on the other side of the mountains in both Surigao and Compostela (ComVal).
The MILF has been battling the army in Midsayap in Cotabato, with the army's 40th infantry Battalion (IB) using its usual 105 MM Howitzers and MG-520 gunships (copters) in and around the neighbouring village of Datu Piang over the provincial line in Maguindanao Province. No firm reports on the dead with both sides claiming victory in the 11 day old engagement.
Meanwhile, Kummander Bravo is having issues again with 10 men from his 102nd Command surrendering to the Army. The MILF is saying that the men were not even in the MILF, let alone the 102nd, but were instead soldiers in an MILF allied paramilitary that serves as the private army of a former mayor of Dilibayan in Lanao del Sur. The men have supposedly already surrendered twice before for the money it gives, so who can say what is really happening one way or the other over there.
On 2/5 in Barangay Tapikan in Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao the army used its 105s to shore up the Ilaga battling the MILF there. No words on deaths.
On 2/6, in Barangay San Isdro, Tagoloan I in Lanao del Norte, the Ilaga joined the official govt. paramilitary (CAFGU) and the army to engage a Moro (Muslim) paramilitary force that had been trying to destroy the Bisaya village there. At least 30 dead, in uniform and many more civlians.
Since 2/2 the army has been implementing its "Oplan Bantay Laya Part II" against the NPA's Front 72 on the Davao del Sur and N. Cotabato Provincial lines. It has scored some success, although the NPA's saying the 57th Infantry is full of shit, as always.
An intersting story took palce a couple fo days ago just down the road from me. A Belgian who is married to a Filipina, went haywire while drunk and grabbed the privates of some female hotel employee in Surigao City, which here could get him lynched. He is only 32 which is very strange because I have never heard of him, which makes me think he is claiming to live here only to get bail which of course he got (money talks here). He also "insulted" male staffers, which could also cost a life but they say he is ok and out on bail. If he is smart, he will take a boat to Indonesia post haste.
Well, all for now..
Im happy you have the pups!