National Living Treasures (Manlilikha ng bayan)

Last January 6, 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte, through Proclamation 126, named three "National Living Treasures" otherwise known as "Manlilikha ng Bayan". The thre persons named are: Yabing Masalon Dulo, Ambalang Ausalin, and Estelita Tumandan Bantilan.

Courtesy of http://cctmalungon.blogspot.com/

Yabing Masalon Dulo. A B'laan ikat weaver from Mount Matutum, Polomolok, South Cotabato. She is recognized for her commitment to the safeguarding and promotion of the B'laan Mabal tabih (ikat weaving) tradition.

Yabing Masalon Dulo photo by Rappler/Edwin Espejo

A Rappler story by Edwin Espejo published October 21, 2014 showcased her work as a master weaver. Her children says she is 95 years old but probably younger than her proclaimed age, nevertheless she is slowly loosing her steps because of her eyes is always watery - a sign of aging.

Unlike other traditional spinners, B'laan uses strans of abaca fiber, joined them patienly by hand and use no spinning wheel - all done by hand.

A purist artist. She can't bear to see commercial looms added to the weaving process. "No, that is not what I taught them to do. My design was wasted because they put the red and white bands in it and very small Tabih design replaced," She told to her grandniece Josephine "Arjo" Turner, a half B'laan married to an American living in Atlanta.

The name "B'laan" is coined from the root word "bla"meaning "opponent" and "an" a suffix meaning "people".

Tabih is a B'laan word for the finished hand woven cloth. It has a hefty price tag depending on the intricacy of the design. It is said that a single piece of tabih is more that enough for a dowry and also can be used as blood money according the the Landan village chief Jerry Ante.

for further reading: click here

Ambalang Ausalin a Yakan tapestry weaver from Lamitan, Basilan, is recognized for her commitment to the safeguarding and promotion of the Yakan tennun (tapestry weaving) tradition.

Mindanawon weavers shocasing Mindanao fabrics photo courtesy of RD Nelly Dillera

Estelita Tumandan Bantilan. a B'laan mat weaver from Malapatan, Sarangani, is recognized for her commitment to the safeguarding and promotion of the B'laan igem (mat weaving) tradition.

The three are presented with a specially designed medallion, an initial grant of Php 100,000 and a Php 14,000 lifetime stipend per month. They will also receive a maximum cummulative amount of Php 750,000 worth of medical and hospitalization benefits as well as funeral assistance.

Other Mindanawons awarded with the Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan include Kutyapi musician Samaon Sulaiman of Mamasapano, Maguindanao in 1993, tinalak weaver Lang Dulay of Lake Sebu, South Cotabato in 1998, ikat/inabal weaver Salinta Monon of Bansalan, Davao del Sur in 1998, kulinatang, kwitangan, kayu, gabbang, agung, and tuntungan musician Uwang Ahadas of Lamitan, Basilan in 2000, pis yabit weaver Darhata Sawabi of Parang, Sulu in 2004, and mat weaver Haja Amina Appi of Tandubas, Tawi-Tawi in 2004.

Source: Mindanaotimes

UN Arbitral Tribunal ruling on Mischief Reef (Panganiban reef)

Mischief reef, also known as Panganiban Reef is a reef in the Spratlys Islands in South China Sea - west of Philippines.  It is approximately 128 nautical miles from the island of Palawan, Philippines.

Here are some pictures that will show how close this one is to to Palawan, and yet China is still claiming it as their own - even the UN ruled in favor of Philippines.

Ruling on the Michief Reef by the UN - in favor of Philippines

Approximate distance of Michief Reef courtesy of Google Earth.

200 Natical Mile line 

In just a span of a little over three years, China has managed to change the landscape of the reef.

From a natural habitat and sanctuary of fish and other creatures of the sea into a military outpost.

The Natural landsape of the reef - 2015 from Google Earth

Military with airstrip - 04/2016 by Google Earth

According th NYTimes report published in October 27, 2015, China (that time) was creating seven new islet in the region

From that report until now, they did manage to create islands from the submerged reefs. 

Now that the US has a strong stance on the matter, A chinese tabloid now says the the US needs to "wage war" to block off South China Sea islands. This is a response to the hearing for confirmation of Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State. Obama administration previously conducted  air and naval patrols to assert the right of free navigation in the South China Sea. This angered Beijing, but seeking to blockade China's man-made islands would be a major step further and a step that Washington has never raised as an option. 

Japan researchers warn of fingerprint theft from 'peace' sign

Hand Peace Sign

Research by a team at Japan's National Institute of Informatics (NII) says so, raising alarm bells over the popular two-fingered pose.

 Fingerprint recognition technology is becoming widely available to verify identities, such as when logging on to smartphones, tablets and laptop computers.

But the proliferation of mobile devices with high quality cameras and social media sites where photographs can be easily posted is raising risk of personal information being leaked., report said.

The NII researchers were able to copy finger prints based on photos taken by a digital camera three meters away (nine feet) from the subject.

"Just by casually making apeace sign in front of the camera, fingerprints can become widely available," NII reseracher Isao Echizen told the Sankei Shimbun newspaper for an article published monday.

"Finger print data can be recreated if fingerprints are in focus with strong lighting in a picture," Echizen also told Yomiuri TV

source