My Home Grown Radio Station

Broadcast Media in Cotabato City took off as early as February 27, 1957 when DXMS AM radio station goes on the air.  And for more than half a decade now it is known as the longest running Catholic radio station in the  city and the whole of Mindanao. Located still along Sinsuat avenue, the station became one of the city’s landmark.

Owned and operated by Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation, it signs on at 4:30am and is on the air until 10:00pm seven days a week.  It is also known as the strongest AM radio station in South Central Mindanao Region.

Later the birth of its FM station DXOL 92.7 FM  came which is also managed by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.  It is one of the entities belonging to the conglomerated Oblate Media center and this includes the Mindanao Cross which is the longest weekly surviving newspaper in Mindanao.

I happen to visit its FM station lately and saw what is inside the station including  one of the DJs. Since everyone goes global, the station can also be accessed through the internet  via the E Radio Portal.  Yes, let not forget the station’s tag line “TAYO PA RIN SYEMPRE”.

 The Hallway of the Station

The DJ's/Announcer's Booth

The Antenna Tower

a vIsIt to Cotabato's Barter Trade Center

A trip to Cotabato City will not be complete without visiting and do some shopping or window shopping at the Barter Trade Center . Cotabateños might not consider this a destination but most tourists who arrives in the city sees it as a shopping haven where you can find variety of items tempting to the eyes.

I happen to approach the owner of Raifa Stall who welcomed me to her shoppe and permitted me to take some photos of the products she sells at the Barter Trade Center.  She gladly showed me and toured me to her stall.

The Cotabato City Barter Trade Center - Here you can find locally produced and imported products like garments, kitchenwares and groceries. Many shops here offer reasonable prices and discounts depending on your approach and quantity of items you buy.  Shops here are owned by both the Christians and Muslims businessmen.  The trading here has been going on for several decades now and it continues to flourish up to this time.

This is the SAREE/SARI - Common garment for Indian woman now sold at the center. It is accentuated with Inaul a locally weaved cloth by moslem weavers of the city.  This dress are also seen in Moslem wedding rites held in the city and all over Maguindanao and the whole of ARMM.

The SARONG -  a head dress for most Moslem women as shown in the photo that is how they wear it and look like.  This is part of their wardrove pass on from one generation to another.  Despite the western influences in the country, they have maintained most of the practices in their cultures and dressing.

Kitchenwares are also found here and this silver bowl is commonly used during big celebrations and gathering as containers of the food prepared for the occassion.

Thank you to Babu the owner of RAIFA STALL.  This post will somehow help you my followers and visitors to dropby Cotabato's Barter Trade Center and see it for yourself.

mY aLL sOULS dAY oBSERVANCE

 

All Souls Day is one holiday for us Filipinos to remember and visit the resting place of our dead family members and friends.  This is also our time to offer prayers for the dead and the opportunity to gather as family.

I got the chance roam around the city that day and was able to see how Cotabateños celebrate the  it this age.  It became a gathering for everyone where most spend their time remembering their dead, eat together, and have some chit chat.

At the Marian Hills Memorial Park, colorful tents and umbrellas served as the shade in the tombs where family members  flock.  Some lit the candles and focused in praying while others are fixing the flowers they brought.

This Filipino tradition shows how families are close and values our dead.  Others might have forgotten this but most of us still join our families and even live with them for with our family we are safe and valued.

dO YoU bELiEve In GHOST?

i never thought that every frame that i took a shot when me and mama visited my papa's a year ago was just an ordinary shots and pose. it took even days or weeks before i came to take a glimpse  of it again.

i felt the ghost bumps when i begun scrutinizing my shots, since the shots were taken in succession I did see the difference between the shots.  whatever it is .  . it is for you to see and comment.

 A ghost without a head (pugot ang ulo). Is it really a ghost or not? This is the succession of shot in the photos at the Uhaw Cemetery in General Santos City.  Will you believe that it is a ghost? Leave your comments.

Let's visits the cEmEtErIeS

We Filipinos value our dead so much that every first of November of every year.  The families of the dead cleans and repaints the tombs prior to the all souls day, then members of the family of the dead and friends gather together and pray for the soul of the dead family member.

Here in Cotabato City, many Cotabateños also look forward on this day where families gather in the tombs of their dead.  This tradition still depicts our values of close family ties for us Filipinos.

When I had the chance to visit one of the premier cemeteries in the city I saw some members of the family cleaning and preparing the tombs of their dead relative in observance of this years All Souls Day.

  

Flowers has form part of this annual observance of All Souls Day.  Relatives of the dead member of the family bring flowers in the tomb.  This man asks the prices of the flowers from the vendors.