Building or destroying our future

Visible at the foreground of the newly constructed school building in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte were cluttered marks of the burned school premises left by the pillage of the outlaws last 18 August 2008. Perhaps, what is a more disturbing sight was the children cleaning the mess in apparently salvaging still useable items from the rubble.

The P4.5 million 3-room building recently provided by the US military forces to help in the school reconstruction (also in MindaNews) obviously was still a far cry from replacing the facilities that were lost. As if telegraphing my thoughts as I surveyed the area, local authorities strongly manifested for additional classrooms for the students, and the school principal intimated having to hold temporary office at the teachers' lodging room.

Definitely, it will take some time for government to attend to this predicament considering the many contesting priorities it has to face. While we are thankful for the support of our allied countries, we can not always rely on that help especially so that the mess was on our own doing as a people.

It is difficult to understand why, in several instances, we destroy what took us much time and with a great deal of resources to build: for those things we planned and built as we thought it mattered for our future.

New Year's Call & the Best Brigade

As it is the custom in the military, the 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division held its New Year's Call for its subordinate units, but it was finally scheduled only last 20 January 2009 at its headquarters in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur. Attributed to the delay were other priorities that have to be attended to. Even with the adjustments, MGen Nehemias Pajarito, the Division Commander was not around to receive his subordinates due to the passing of his mother. Instead, BGen Jovencio Magalso, the Assistant Division Commander, received the callers and delivered the Commander's Message.

(L-R): Col Emmanuel Bautista-9RCDG Cmdr; Col Santiago Baluyot-TF Zamboanga Cmdr; Col Rey Ardo-103rd Bde Cmdr; Col Rolando Tenefrancia-CofS,1st Div, BGen Jovencio Magalso-Assistant Div Cmdr, 1ID; Col Alexander Dicang-102nd Bde Cmdr; myself; Col Roland Amarille-101st Bde Cmdr; Col Nicanor Dolojan-403rd Bde Cmdr; and, Col Rizaldy Salimbangon-IG, 1st Div.

After exchanging pleasantries with the other attendees, we assessed the year that was and charted our future directions. At that time, it was revealed that 104th (my unit) topped the other brigades within the 1st Division for the 3rd Quarter of CY 2008 Best-Best Evaluation; 35IB, a unit under 104th, placed second of the 10 battalions in their category. This came as a pleasant surprise unaware of the competition and the parameters.

Even as we celebrate in having secured for 104th Infantry Brigade the throne as the Best Brigade of the 1st Division for the rated period, admittedly capturing the rogue elements of the MILF had been quite a challenge.

While the honor is shared by all the soldiers of 104th who contributed in a way to this achievement, I reflect "Can 104th maintain the bar we have already set?" Perhaps, that is secondary to what is expected of us to deliver--the mission.

To all Sultan Warriors, congratulations and carry on.

35IB passes the torch of command

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

Significance of "Day of Sacrifice"

I recently spoke in a gathering, mostly attended by Muslim folks from the Provinces of Lanao, for "Eid'l Adha" (Day of Suffering) commemorating the occasion of God's intervention as Abraham offered in sacrifice the life of--Ismael--his most favored son. This story is both recorded in the Bible and the Koran where lessons on "faith" and "sacrifice" can be reflected on. Lessons that can, perhaps, show us hope for a better tommorow particularly here in this conflict-ridden land of Mindanao.



Relatedly, in the article--"Soldiers are sacrificing comforts, liberty and lives," a writer of MindanNews posted the speech finding the theme of the activity "Peace through Reconciliation" relevant to the times.

Speech - Eidl Adha

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Essays Academic Work peace soldiers

Peace: for our sake and the future

“Kita, karong henerasyon, maoy bug-at ang tahas nga masiguro ang atong mga anak ug sa mga mosunod pa, nga maayo ug malinaw ang katilingban” (We, the present generation, have the heavy responsibility of ensuring that our children and the ones to come are prepared with a better and a peaceful society for them to live in).

The children among the crowd delighted in the opening statement of Col Benito de Leon, the commander of 104^th Brigade, who delivered in broken Visayan dialect his peace message during the “Hudyaka sa Kalinaw” (Peace Celebration) at Iligan Public Plaza last Wednesday evening. This celebration, the last day of the Mindanao Week of Peace for the year called for by Presidential Proclamation No. 127 of 2001, was organized by the Lanao Educational Arts for Development (LEAD). The Civil Society Organization Forum for Peace (CSOFP), with Jane Bernardo as President, supported the activity.

The “Hudyaka,” from afternoon through the night of December 3, started with interfaith Christian-Muslim-Higaunon prayers followed by Maranao and Higaunon cultural presentations of dances and songs. With the theme “Duyog Mindanaw: pandayon ta ang kalinaw “ (Together Mindanao:  let’s repair or construct peace), speakers shared their views how to achieve peace.

The lone military speaker echoed the theme of the Bishop Ulama Conference (BUC) for the week-long celebration to attain peace. “Integrity of Heart and Mind” as the road to reconciliation and peace, de Leon says, would also include “keeping our passions within due bounds.”  With emphasis he closed, “ang hagit sa pagpanday niining kalinaw kinahanglan nato atubangon sa karon para sa atong tanan ug sa musonod pang henerasyon” (we have to face the challenge to repair or construct peace now for our sakes and the future generations).

Humane side of the uniform

Here is an interesting post by Violeta Gloria entitled Dining with a Colonel providing a civilian-writer's insight of the "man in uniform." The article reveals the hidden and human side of a soldier rarely exposed to the public. At the same time, it shows the critical and observant eye of a true journalist.

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.