The land … of bounty

Lanao del Norte—the land of beauty and bounty—continues to showcase its plentiful resource amid festivities. This was seen in today’s 61st anniversary celebration of Araw ng Baloi with the theme “Unity, Peace and Progress is the Collective Effort of the Government and the People.” Mayor Hanifa Ali took pride in ushering guests to the several booths displaying the town’s abundant agriculture produce.

Related article: 61st Araw ng Balo-I depicts unity, peace, progress
(PIA website by Breezy C. Jimenez)






It was just amazing to see the plentiful fruits and agriculture crops in this town, but it was also frustrating to think why I and even many others have not known this all along. Interestingly, I even learned now that there are several varieties of bananas organically grown and found only in the area; “amas”, a sugar-sweet, tiny banana (about 3 inches long) became easily my favorite. It was also here that I tasted a different kind of the exotic tropical durian fruit: I daresay, it is the best of its kind I have savored in all of Southeast Asia. Perhaps, the fertile soil and the cool climate stimulated the conditions for abundance, and variety of tasty fruits and crops in the area.

With these impressions, I then joined the guest speaker, former Provincial Governor Imelda Dimaporo accompanied by spouse Congressman Abdullah Dimaporo, in congratulating the local executives and the people for their achievement in maintaining peace and abundance in the town.

As we laud the community for their success, more effort should be made to help promote their agricultural produce so that many can share in the bounty of their land and for the economic benefit of the local folks as well.

WESMINCOM accents CMO approach

Along with the change of leadership is the anticipated adjustment or variation in the way of doing things. The Western Mindanao Command (WESMINCOM) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) based in Zamboanga City had such a change last on 16 July 2009 with the retirement of Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga and the assumption of Maj. Gen. Benjamin Mohammad Dolorfino, the commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps.

General Dolorfino, as the new commander of WESMINCOM, was expected to inspect his units deployed in the Lanao Provinces, Zamboanga Peninsula including those in the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. While he is familiar with the Lanao situation having earlier commanded a Marine Brigade then deployed here, he still needed to visit the area to project his command presence to the troops.



This morning, General Dolorfino did come to my brigade to personally explain his concept of command which is summarized in his vision for WESMINCOM: “a people-oriented and professional military command deeply committed to the promotion of peace, progress and development through multi-stakeholders dialogue, partnership and collaboration.” To ensure this is understood and carried out by the troops, he took great lengths to elaborate what he meant as “people-oriented” and “professional military” which he considers as the two pillars for soldiers to stand on; he stressed that peace and progress will be the ultimate purpose of all military efforts.

Hence, he says, there will be a paradigm shift in the conduct of Internal Security Operation (ISO) at WESMINCOM aspiring for a mix of 20 percent combat operations and 80 percent civil-military operations (CMO). This will involve pursuing six lines of activities that is now heavier on the latter:

• Military operations to promote peace & order
• CMO to facilitate good governance
• CMO to promote socio-economic reform
• CMO to promote cultural cohesiveness and harmony
• CMO to promote good environmental management
• CMO to promote good public information

The new WESMINCOM commander was happy to note that 104th Infantry Brigade has already been doing all these, if not weighing more on CMO—in conformity with his concept of command. Nonetheless, whatever mix it shall be, we will not err if we keep in mind the welfare of those—our people—we have sworn to serve.

Mighty Cave: ushering progress?

Driving a vehicle for 45 minutes towards the east of Iligan City, following a concrete and climbing road, brings you to the adjacent Municipality of Tagoloan. Up here, in the cooler mountain areas of the Province of Lanao del Norte, we can find the recently opened Mighty Cave Park.

The inauguration of this park was the highlight of the 40th Araw ng Tagoloan last 21 June. Speaking during the occasion, with the theme “Tagoloan Geared Towards Eco-tourism,” Mayor Maminta Dimakuta and Governor Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo highlighted the social and economic prospects in promoting the cave as a tourist attraction. The audience was amused as other speakers took turn proposing interesting ploys to attract visitors. I further thrilled the crowd when I added the suggestion of promoting the waters from the cave as a love potion.

Expectedly then, on my exit of the cave, the people cheered as I acted to have downed all the contents of my bottled water—though it was the same water I had with me before entering. Amid the festive atmosphere, I was amazed how the town became populous: it was sparsely so in the early 1980s when, as a young army lieutenant, I patrolled this hinterland municipality.




Even as I share in the enthusiasm to promote the nature park to usher opportunities for progress in the area, I am equally bothered in the preparedness of authorities to cope with the environmental consequences. During the tour of the cave, curious visitors and their guides alike—unaware of conservation measures—liberally touched the cave walls further endangering its fragile and already disturbed condition.

Eco-tourism, like in other countries, can offer us great opportunities for socio-economic benefits, but this cannot long endure if we don’t take serious responsibility to value and protect the natural site we promote as an attraction.

Partnering with the civil sector

“How do you think we are able to maximize the presence of the partners from Civil Society, Church groups, Business?” This was the central question posed when asked to share my views in a discussion with other stakeholders on the recent events in Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon.

The forum with the theme “Learning from the Commanders”, sponsored by Balay Mindanao Foundation Incorporated, intended to help the participants gain a better understanding of the situation. It was hoped that the inputs can help in defining key strategies and the strengthening of partnerships. Colonel Nicanor Dolojan, the Commander of 403rd Infantry Brigade based in Bukidnon also came to share his views.















To my mind, it was easy to maximize partnerships between the military and the civil sector as both have common aspirations: serving the interest of the society. For one, the final goal of all military activities is “to assist in the establishment of a physically and psychologically secure environment conducive to national growth and development.” On the other hand, the civil sector has similar objectives only worded and pursued differently. An example of this would be that of Balay Mindanao which has the key words “Kaangayan, Kalambuan, Kalinaw ... sa Mindanaw, sa Pilipinas, sa Kalibutan (which can be taken as orderliness, development, peace … in Mindanao, in the Philippines, in the world) … Helping Build Empowered and Sustainable Communities in Mindanao. Helping Build Peace.”

Even as I suggested some specific approaches for the participants to pursue, I also advised all stakeholders to identify and promote common interest areas for collaboration, partnership and cooperation. I think, this is key to maximizing the presence of all stakeholders either to supplement or complement each other’s activities including that of government.

On behalf of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Army, I then committed my full support for their activities particularly found within my organization’s area of responsibility (Lanao del Norte)—if only to deliver the best service to our people.











I have then enjoined the participants to visit me at my headquarters and pursue the discussions. I am also extending the same to other interested groups for us to exchange notes on ‘my porch’ at the 104th Infantry Brigade Headquarters in Iligan City. Coffee or tea will be served.




See also a related SunStar article “People’s participation ‘key’ to peace” by Bong Fabe.

"To make a difference"

"To make a difference" was how Ms. Marit Stinus-Remonde, District Governor of Kiwanis International, described the purpose of her visit at 104th Infantry Brigade area in Lanao del Norte last February 6. Her visit was long delayed due to the violent incidents that rocked the province.

It is then understandable that her husband, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, was seemingly reluctant to have her visit the place. After visiting Kiwanis in Iligan City, she insisted to see what life is in the land of the Maranaos particularly in the hinterland barangays. I then brought her Kiwanis group to visit Barangay Delabayan of Kauswagan. The barangay had served as a model of interfaith activities with starting with the “Project Islam.” (Islam meant “I Sincerely Love All Muslims.”) At Delabayan, she met with its traditional leader—Sultan Moner—who explained their condition; talked to the local folks; and visited the schools. She also conferred with Musa Sanguila, director of Pakigdait Inc, an interfaith NGO which was doing civic work at Barangay Tacub. Her last stop was at the brigade headquarters where she took time to engage with my officers. And in several instances, I noticed her quietly taking notes. At one point, she turned to her fellow Kiwanians saying that Delabayan was a doable place for their initial community projects outside Iligan City.

I first met Marit when I was still the Chief of Staff of the 10th Infantry Division based in Davao City. I have noted her active participation in several civic activities, and in many occasions partnered with Army units to deliver assistance to the communities. Hence, I was then quite glad when she volunteered to extend the same assistance within my area.

Indeed, more civic projects should be directed towards the hinterlands communities—where small things can “create extraordinary life-changing moments.”

To the Kiwanis and the other NGOs, thank you all in behalf of the people here! Your civic activities and even just your plain visits to the remote communities show that we care for them. Surely, this will go a long way “to make a difference.”

NGO asked to help IDPs

Similar/Related Articles:
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.

Lanao Norte now generally peaceful

PIA Website (OSM-Radyo ng Bayan)

Soldiers repaint defaced mosque in Lanao Norte

by Violeta M. Gloria/MindaNews

Mindanao conflict likened to "The Kingdom"

Read in Mindanao News: 256 evacuee-families return to Poona Piagapo

RP-US Military projects up in Lanao

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.