KKC Holds Community Consultation Meeting at Brgy Gasi, Kiamba, Sarangani Province

Ms. Arvy Orige Origenes talked about STRIDE programs
before the consultation started. by: Jomar Gandao

In view of the economic upliftment and value development of the people of Barangay Gasi, Kiamba, Sarangani Province, the Kapayapaan Kapatid Council as the major partner of the ACT for Peace Programme initiated a consultation meeting among the nine members of the council of said barangay and as well as its residents last June 22, 2009.

Prior to the opening of said assembly, prayer was led by Pastor Juanito Kisie. After which, Father Angel Buenavides, convener of KKC, introduced the team, its composition and as well as its objectives.

Ms. Arvy Origenes, STRIDE representative, explicitly stated and explained what an ACT for Peace Programme is along with its objectives, programs, and components. Accordingly, there were one hundred barangays submitted their proposal and out of it only thirty barangays were selected and Gasi is fortunate enough to be included in the list of communities to be prioritized. She further stressed that STRIDE is one of the ten components of the program which is specifically realized for the Internally Displaced People (IDP’s).

Meanwhile, Mariano Espado, Brgy. Captain, formally open the said program with the tag line “We should not be affected nor dampen down with what had happened but, we should fight for a common good.” We should be thankful for these groups of people who are here right now for they have something to offer for us, Espado added. As part of the consultation, it is necessary to know the history of said locale which was retell by Espado himself. Accordingly, in 1940’s the place was fully occupied by the Japanese army men as part of their colonization. Lt. Maradja who happened to be a friend of the highest official of the Japanese army men appointed Marabino Espado, father of Mariano Espado, as tenyente de barrio. Years past but the power to govern and lead the community is still in the possession of the family until at present.

Moreover, the term Gasi was originally derived from a name of a tree in which the seeds of its fruit is being pound to be use by the community folks in fishing. After a long period of time of doing such thing, the community formally adopt the term as the official name of the place.

Presently, barangay Gasi has seven puroks namely Macao, Lehek, Kawayan, Sog, Salban, Lao, and Kapanal, he ended.
Conduction of consultation by purok representatives.

Danny Sabino, KKC TWG Head, facilitated the community folks to air out their concerns on education, livelihood, health, sanitation, nutrition, and others. For more than a hundred of concerns raised, only thirteen were approved as the immediate needs of the community and set as the priority that should be taken into consideration as soon as possible. Among the priorities, the following are on the top of the list:

Ø Medicines (malaria, diarrhea, cough, fever, TB, UTI, and Tipus)
Ø Dental check-up
Ø Dental facilities
Ø Water pipes
Ø Supplemental Feeding
Ø Toilet
Ø Seeds (vegetables, corn, upland rice, and abaca)
Ø Training for agricultural Program
Ø Daycare facilities
Ø Agricultural amenities
Ø Financial need for farm development
Ø Carabao, goat, and cow
Ø Raincoat
Ø School supplies

Upon presenting the above needs, the team urged to make a plan to address the immediate implementation of said program. As Ms. RV said, “we will make these dreams realized as soon as possible and of course with your participation and support.”

The above assembly was attended by sixty heads including the members of the team KKC and STRIDE-ACT for Peace Programme.

The meeting was ended by a prayer led by Pastor Nonie Suniban

"Simpleng Alay Para sa Eskwela... Para sa Patuloy na Pangarap ng Mapayapang Kapaligiran"

Tri-Youth Volunteers Distributed School Supplies in the war
affected areas of MAKIMA. by Kenneth Lacson

DAY 1

KKC Tri-youth volunteers, together with the 73rd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, kept their promises to the students of some elementary schools in Maasim last June 8, 2009.
The proceeds from the “Panaghoy sa Kalinaw” youth concert for peace which was recently held at KCC convention center were used to buy the school supplies for the “bakwit” and affected children of Sarangani Province.
In high spirits, the tri-youth volunteers prepared the goods which will be distributed to the different schools in Maasim, Kiamba and Maitum. On the first day, an army truck filled with school supplies surprised the elementary students of Nomoh, Pananag and Teneb. Papers, crayons, pencil, pair of scissors, ballpens, eraser, ruler, pencil sharpener and notebooks enclosed in a plastic envelope drew a smile in the faces of the students.
Two volunteers were assigned in each classroom, from grade 1 to grade6. Before the distribution of the school supplies, the volunteers refreshed the minds of the students about the CFS conducted in their respective schools. “Aba Okay Syempre!!!” echoed in every room visited by each volunteers which denotes that the previous activities conducted by the KKC tri-youth were inculcated in the young minds and heart of the students.
Lines here, lines there and happy children everywhere… this is the best line that could describe the situation in each place visited. Children fall in line and followed the instructions of their ate’s and kuya’s obediently and waited with enthusiasm. And when the their turn to receive their school supply, their faces enlightened and saying “Salamat po” with a big smile is what they gave in return to each volunteer.
Teachers were glad because, as what they say, this could really help motivate their students to study well and do well in school. “Halos daghan gid ang nagsulod na estudyante sa among first day sa klase karon kay nagaexpect sila na muabot mo karon”, one of the elementary teachers said.
Others little hopes and dreams were fulfilled with this simple activity conducted. “Simpleng alay para sa eskwela… para sa patuloy na pangarap ng mapayapang kapaligiran”.

DAY 2
Neither the scourging heat of the sun nor the roughness of the road could ever stop the willingness of the volunteers to reach out to those who are in need of the school supplies. The team set out first to Jamalol Elementary School together with some of the military escorts from the 73rd infantry battalion of the Philippine Army.
When the volunteers came to the place, the flag ceremony is about to start and the volunteers also participated in their morning routine. After the flag ceremony, the teachers first distributed the toothpaste and toothbrush provided by the Local Health Office which made the children filled with joy. But when the army truck filled with school supplies came, this brought a bigger joy and happiness to each student. The students were really excited to have the goods they are waiting for. The same process of distributing was followed by the volunteers. The volunteers also refreshed the minds of the children about the past CFS conducted and they responded with a loud “Aba Okey Syempre!!!” Some students also rendered some intermission number just like dancing and singing. They really participated with enthusiasm because they know that in return, they would receive the school supplies they are waiting for. “Salamat ate, salamat kuya” with a big smile in their face is what they replied when they received the school supplies.
The next stop was the school of Gasi wherein not only school supplies for the students were given but also clothings and other goods were given for the benefit of those who are really in need in the community. The same process in distributing was followed by the volunteers. But the volunteers have hard time sorting out the goods since the list given to them were incomplete. But with God’s help, the volunteers were able to carry out their task properly.
Ground Breaking Ceremony of DND Pro-Poor Project

A ground breaking of the nursery school and the barangay hall followed after the distribution of the school supplies. This was participated by Mayor of Kiamba, Romel Thomas Falgui; Vice mayor of Kiamba, Dr. Elmer T. De Peralta; Brgy. Captain of Gasi, Mariano S. Fado; LTC Edgardo De Leon; LTC Reyes; Fr. Angel Buenavidez, Committee Chairman on Health, Kag. Rosemarie Young; Dr. Lemuel Benedict Non; the KKC tri-youth volunteers and the people of Gasi.
Each guest gave their respective message which is more focused on the peace and development process in the place and how they could, as people of Gasi, will be able to help in the process.
Some of the Tribal Leaders of the T’boli tribe rendered an intermission number depicting or showing their own culture and traditions. After the inspirational message of Kagawad Rosemarie Young, the partakers went to the place of the ground breaking and the Philippine flag was raised where the old barangay hall and the old nursery was burned.
Distribution of the mosquito blankets was then made after the ground breaking. People from the different places in Gasi benefited. “The reason why the local health office initiated this activity is because malaria is third in rank when it comes to the illness that the people of Gasi experiences”, Dr. Non said.
This joint activity of the Local Government of Sarangani, KKC and the Philippine Army together with the people of Gasi really proved that Development Starts with Peace.

Panaghoy sa Kalinaw, The Concert with Arnel Pineda of the "Journey"

"Panaghoy sa Kalinaw: The Concert" featuring Arnel Pineda and the winning bands during the Mindanao Week of Peace 2009 sang various peace songs and other compositions. The proceeds of this concern will be given to the school children in the war-affected areas of Sarangani Province. The concert was held at KCC Mall Convention Center, General Santos City on April 28, 2009.

Easter 2009 Treat With The Street Children

More than 200 street children of General Santos City were gathered at DXCP-CMN Compound by Philippine National Police from various posts in the city to experience the Child Friendly Spaces program on Easter Sunday 2009.

The Tri-Youth facilitated CFS module to the children while finalizing and validating its operations manual on the various CFS activities conducted in Maasim, Kiamba, and Maitum.

Dula Ta: A theater Forum on Effects of War to Women & Children

KKC Spearheads A Theatrical Forum on

Effects of War to Women and Children by: Jomar Gandao

The Kapayapaa Kapatid Council, a non government organization promoting all forms of peace activities spearheaded a 6-hour forum in form of one-act play last March 8, 2009 at the Family Country Hotel.

The play aimed to redefine and as much as to reflect on the effects of war to the women and also to the children who are the most vulnerable victims of conflicts.

Some participants of the above-mentioned forum were from various sectors- religious, academe, military and police, media, local government units, civil society, and youth who were then encouraged to reflect on the possible effects of war to our women and as well as on their roles in buliding the spirit of peace among their children. The theatrical forum was then entitled “Dula Ta” performed by the Kabpapagariya Ensemble of Mindanao State University.

This was made successful with the joint effort of the United Nations Act for Peace Programme and the other government sectors concern in peace building and peace keeping among all Mindanaons.

THE PLAY DULA

The Play is about two children, but is meant not for the child in us. Indeed, the play skillfully and artistically made obscure the violence surrounding the lives of two children in a remote war-torn village. How the war affected their day to day existence and how their choice of game to play and the roles they perform in their child games show stains of violence and hostility.
“Dula Ta” was already showed to different schools in General Santos City, Sarangani (Kiamba- during the opening of the Mindanao Week of Peace 2008, Glan…), Polomolok. It shows the effect of conflict (between Moro and Christian) on children and women.

Soon, the play will also be shown internationally at Cyprus.

THE OPEN FORUM:

The play is an instrument to have a forum on peace.
1. Prof. Aguha

- An experience in our pilgrimage to peace.
- “Tapusin na sana ang giyera”… women and children were most affected.
2. Kagawad Nep Gonzales
- The war will not stop as long as there are people who made themselves

“entrepreneur” on wars
- Prayers of a women make heaven to stand still
- The play is full of angst – it touches us to our core
3. Chancellor Canacan
- One common denominator – STOP the war
- Collateral damage of war: material, loss of innocence for the children, trauma…
- MSU will continue to be a University for peace… doing cultural integration
4. Mrs. Chiu
- There’s so much to do… all of my life, I am working for peace
5. Sr. Pat of the Justice & Peace
- I felt like crying… a lot of victims of war in Sarangani
- There has to be women, children in peace negotiations
- Ingender peace

- Point out the role of women to peace building
- Tri-people… include Lumad – to make it realistic to Mindanao context
- Away gikan sa labas – power & wealth not in the community
- Hina pa an gating constituency… we are are facilitating this
6. Mrs Domingo – DepEd
- “Dula pa ta”, says the young girl… very innocent of what is happening.
- our children/women should take a great part for peace advocacies.
7. Dra. Emily Lagare
- war is raging in everybody’s heart… nagagalit ang civilian sa government…

everything is fair in love & war.
8. Supt. Poe
- this is one way Mindanaon is showing that we are doing something for peace
- very good show… very balanced view
- “Dula ta” must be presented to as many audiences in Mindanao specifically

on affected areas
- might focus on the effects… can also portray incidence in Mindanao such

as land grabbing, political warlords, etc.
9. Dr. Non
- develop friendship with muslims
10. Col Ferer
- in ware, there are no winners, all are losers
- war or conflict… even low intensity, destroys friendship
11. Reginns, Youth Volunteer
- dapat maglaro pa ang mga bata… the scenes reminds me of our experience

in the Child friendly spaces for bakwits… some children wanted to be MILF

because the military killed their father… some wanted to be in the arm

forces of the Philippines… the war will not stop unless these dreams will be addressed
- peace begins in me…
12. Col de Leon
- I seen some episode in Kiamba… but there are biases to the military…

highlighted police brutality & military abuses… now, naituwid ang maling pagaakala
- kahit hindi kami tagarito – we will protect the civilians
13. Michael, Editor – Goldenstate College

- we, the youth, have to reflect… ano ba ang ating magagawa? ... anong clasing

kabataan ng General Santos ang ating ipoproject sa Mindanao -sa Pilipinas

14. Fr. Ariel
- sa discurso… invisible palagi ang mga babae
- might include in the concept about the environment… mother nature
15. Dr. Cagape
- can also include in the concept the effects of war for the pregnant women…

as experience in the evacuation camps… many who are very affected were

pregnant women.

Tri-Youth Volunteers Conducted Psychosocial Interventions in MAKIMA Area

Tri-Youth Volunteers conducted psychosocial interventions in

MAKIMA area of Sarangani Province on February 27,

March 10, 14, & 26, 2009.

Bringing Hopes

For many volunteers, it started as a way of spending time with barkada, visiting new places, tasting new experience, eating food but it turn out to be more than just fun.

The psycho social intervention we have conducted in different elementary school has been a light that keeps the hope of children, parents, teachers in the conflict affected areas alive. The sudden outpouring of warmth and enthusiastic smiles from visiting volunteers has kept them off balance from the daily burden and boredom of their life in the conflict affected areas. More than the foods and toys, school supplies that we brought, it was the time spent together in the classrooms and in the fields that makes the school community a true haven for friendliness. Indeed the school exudes the spirit a child friendly school.

Yet it was not only the community’s hopes that were rekindled. For the young volunteers, even the little they have contributed as individuals has imparted a sense of hope for our nation. Many have spoken in the silence of their hearts the necessity of the spirit of volunteerism as a concrete expression of their hope for peace in Mindanao. Yes, the little they give if put together creates a wave of hope that will create bigger waves of hopes.

Giving Smiles

Hope is not hope unless there is joy in the heart. The concrete expression of this joy is the giving and receiving of smiles. Mother Teresa of Calcutta in her expression of peace said “Peace begins with a smile”. Children smiles are beautiful gifts that the volunteers received as they share stories with fellow volunteers on the way home after the psycho social intervention.

The children too showed appreciation to their ate’s and kuya’s in their generous warm smiles and hugs as we celebrated the culmination of the activities. As our vehicles moved out in the area, children smiling and waving their hands to us are manifestations of joys.

Listening to stories

We are a people who like stories. Only now, the horror of armed conflict and terrorism has dominated the pages of our newspapers, the screen of our television, and the minds of our people. Are there not enough good stories around us? Hope happens when good stories are shared. Hopes happens when we dares to create new stories of heroism among us.

That is exactly what we have done in the schools that we have visited. That is what we have done in the children we played and learned with as we make interventions in their life. We thought we are there to make them happy, to tell them stories instead they give our young volunteers stories of their life. How they have persistently pursued their studies despite setbacks brought about by armed conflict.. They tell us stories of poverty and hunger but also stories of surviving together thru sharing of their goods. They tell us their experience as they were held hostage of a fleeing armed men pursued by the military. The stories of endless gunfire’s and helicopters hovering their communities as it fired machine guns.


Notwithstanding the stories of gunfires, evacuation, fear are also stories of heroism…caring hands of teachers guiding and assuring them of their presence in their terrifying ordeal, stories of well meaning people who give not out of publicity but out of a deep sense of brotherhood and connectivity. They tell true stories of how they continually nurture friendship among them as Christians, Lumads and Muslims living together despite the bad publicity in the mass media.

Yes, we know they will tell our stories as we gather together in one day praying, singing, dancing, painting, sharing our talents, foods, resources. They will tell our stories of giving and receiving one another. Good stories enkindled hope to our children, to our people.


Rekindling Friendships

Hope grows stronger as we continually create bonds of friendship. Yes as the Christian teaching will say “there is no greater love than these, to lay down one’s life for one’s friend”. Gratuitous to say that the interventions we made have opened hearts and minds among our volunteers, the children as well as the military.

Never before have it spoken so strongly that as our military entered into the classrooms and joined in the make a child happy day, they too were surprised with the warmth they have received afterwards from the children. Affirmations, friendship have been opened because everyone unarmed itself with their biases. Guns are silent, a new way has been rediscovered, only time can establish if we continue creating bonds of friendship.

Revisiting dreams

What is beautiful in life is what we have the freedom to dream and to make those dreams come true, says an unknown author. Hope continues because we dare to dream big dreams.

Yet it terrifies us to know that our children in conflict areas dream only of bearing arms in the near future as they harbor thoughts of revenge. It terrifies us to discover that even among children in the same classrooms, they dreams of separate ways in the near future some wanting to become soldiers while others member of the revolutionary movements. It disheartened us to know that many stop dreaming because they are occupied with the necessities of survival.
Dreams are free, so let us make big dreams and pursue it. One day with children, we are wrong on our first impression as for as we share deeper into their life, they dream of peace, of secure community. They dream of a good school with the basic infrastructures and books available. They dream of a bountiful harvest in their farms, of fathers, brothers handling plowshares instead of arms. They dream to become a doctor, a teacher, an engineer, a good politicians. They dream to be one day a peacemaker for they too have had enough share of violence and politicians who bigmouth.

Yes, many lessons have been learned, ,hopes enkindled, smiles given and received, stories told, friendship created and dreams revisited. We continue to journey for peace in our land.

Medical Mission at Tampakan, South Cotabato

TAMPAKAN, SOUTH COTABATO, January 9, 2009. The Tri-Youth Voulunteers and Hearts & Brains youth organizations assisted the doctors, dentists, and pharmacists in accomodating Tampakan Parishioneers in the Medical/Dental Mission sponsored by KKC and Doctor's Hospital. It was known that some parishioners that came from the mountains slept overnight with their relatives and friends in the town just to avail the medical & dental services.