Pinning our hopes on the youth … our children

Our hopes for the future are pinned on our children. And school graduation exercises celebrate this event with the awarding of diplomas and medals proclaiming the children’s achievement. It is usually an emotionally charged affair when tears are shed—of joy, of gratitude, of pride, of hope, and perhaps ... even of despair—by the graduating students, teachers, and parents, and even by guests. The deeper significance of the occasion is that our individual and collective dreams are being passed to the youth, to the children.










I had the opportunity to again witness this thrilling celebration in the 24th Commencement Exercises of Balo-i National High School in Lanao del Norte. In a Christian-dominated class marching for graduation, about 40% of the 149 students were Muslims. Despite this, Johari M. Abubacar, a well-mannered Muslim, was the class valedictorian. He reaped a number of awards: Best in Mathematics, Best in Science, Best in Mapeh, and Best in Aral Panlipunan. I would say that he was quite good particularly as I listened to him deliver a remarkable speech from memory. This, I thought, was an excellent example of a youth upon whom we can pin our hopes for the future. But, my upbeat feeling was soon overwhelmed by a sense of despair: he may not make it to college due to financial incapacity. Later, I was comforted with the thought that the teachers and some guests were doing something to put him to school. Still, I asked myself how many of our promising youths are not accorded the chance to deliver their full potential.

Mindful of this dilemma together with my own parental responsibilities, I took my turn to deliver my message on the adopted commencement theme—“My Education: My Contribution to the Future.”

Message - My Education

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NGO asked to help IDPs

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Mindanao Examiner: Thousands Attend Serviamus Assembly In Mindanao; Army Brigadier Seeks Help For Refugees

PA Website: Army appeals to a micro-financing organization to help IDPs in Mindanao

Iligan City (30 November). An army commander had asked the Serviamus Foundation Inc to also help the internally displaced persons (IDPs), particularly the Muslims, as a result of the August 18 atrocities in Lanao del Norte.

The appeal was directed to Serviamus Foundation, a Non-Government Organization (NGO), by 104^th Army Brigade Commander Col Benito de Leon in addressing a crowd of about 3,000 members gathered for its 11^th General Assembly at the MSU-IIT Gym. The mission of the micro-financing organization is to “uplift and strengthen the socio-economic condition of the poor households in Mindanao towards total human transformation through a quality innovative financial and other development services.” The assembly highlighted the various local products from the Small Enterprise Development Program Project. Bishop Elenito Galido of the Diocese of Iligan and Norma Gejon is the President and Executive Director of the Foundation, respectively.

Col de Leon said in his speech that his soldiers are now also much involved in the return, resettlement, and reintegration of the IDPs in the province consistent with the International Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement as well as the implementing instructions of government leaders. He noted, however, that many of the IDPs have lost the drive and the capacity to recover economically. He thus suggested a similar Small Enterprise Development Program be made by Serviamus to also benefit the IDPs.

“In being able to also extend your service to the IDPs, especially to the Muslims, this Foundation would have demonstrated firmly its full transformation from being church-based into a true NGO,” he challenged.

Interfaith Prayer: starting the Mindanao Week of Peace

An interfaith prayer for peace was held on 27 November 2008 at St. Mary Gym, Tibanga, Iligan City co-hosted by the Bishop Ulama Conference (BUC), and the Ranao Muslim-Christian Movement for Dialogue and Peace (RMCMDP), both for the Lanao Provinces, with the theme 'Integrity of Heart and Mind: Way to Reconciliation and Peace'. The activity was attended by Muslim and Christian students, religious and traditional leaders from the area. This symbolized the start of the celebration of the "Mindanao Week of Peace" called for by Presidential Proclamation No. 127 signed on 26 Novemeber 2001. 

  

Franciscan Priest Fr Marselo Fada, 

Parish Priest of San Lorenzo Church, 

Bgy Hinaplanon, Iligan City

(L-R) Atty Saidale Gandamra, Army Col Benito de Leon of 104th Infantry Brigade, 

Fr Daniel Somani of Iligan Diocese, Fr Chito Suganob of Marawi, 

Bishop Elenito Galido of Iligan, Bishop Edwin dela Pena of Marawi, 

and Alim Elias Macarandas, a BUC member 

& President of Muslim Welfare Society. 

·  L

Soldiers repaint defaced mosque in Lanao Norte

by Violeta M. Gloria/MindaNews

Project ISLAM Gets Warm Welcome in Southern Philippines

ILIGAN CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 9, 2008) – Christians and Muslims gathered at a village in Lanao del Norte’s Kauswagan town to welcome the members of the Christian Ministerial Fellowship who visited them as part of a humanitarian outreach mission in Mindanao.

Provincial government and military officials joined the fellowship visit headed by Pastor Peter Robert Matalinis in the village of Delabayan to nurture and promote one of the successful peace building initiatives in the aftermath of the war in 2000 between soldiers and rebels.

The Philippine Army’s 104th Infantry Brigade under Col. Benito de Leon has largely assisted in the successful mission dubbed as “Project ISLAM” which stands for “I Sincerely Love All Muslims.

The project was started by Lt. Col. Johnny Macanas, then with the Army’s 4th Infantry Division to help the Muslim village recover from the devastation war. The village was one of those worst affected by the fighting during the administration of President Joseph Estrada.

“One of our thrust in 104th Infantry Brigade is to explore and promote all avenues of peaceful undertakings that may hasten unity and harmony in conflict areas,” said Captain Alonto Maamo, Civil-Military Operations officer of the 104th Infantry Brigade.

He said the projects included housing, madrasa, mosques, school building, and potable water system for residents of Delabayan.

Educational scholarships were also awarded to the locals in support to the army’s literacy program. “Significantly, this project has paved the way for both Christians and Muslims to undertake symbiotic activities that benefited each other.”

“The military along with the Christian Ministerial Fellowship plans to replicate the project in other areas to help put in place the conditions for lasting peace among Christian and Muslim communities,’ Maamo said.

Just recently, President Gloria Arroyo also ordered the distribution of sleeping bags to soldiers to protect them from colds and harsh weather condition in Lanao del Norte. Also the military handed over new machine guns for soldiers as part of its upgrading program.

“We thank the President and our military leaders for their continued support to the troops,” said Col. De Leon. (With a report from Merlyn Manos)