SOCSARGEN’s MINDANAO WEEK OF PEACE: A Celebration for the Tri-People

The Opening.

Samboang-Ngilay High School of Brgy. Batomelong hosted the opening of the Mindanao Week of Peace. The SOCSARGEN peace network, a loose network composed of various sectors in the society like NGO’s, academe, police, army, religious groups and various organizations converged to highlight its peace advocacies. The school enrolled significant number of Christians, Lumad and Muslim students. The week long celebration started from November 25- December 1, 2011.

The Activities.

Many of the activities involved children. Child friendly activities like origami (for the peace dove), kite flying, and coloring were among their favorites. Sculptures, artists and bands highlighted the week long exhibit in the mall. Products of peace and development communities – the Sweet Peace Coco Sugar and the Saravia’s best coco vinegar and sinamak also joined the exhibit.

The Culmination.

The Fun Run and Walk for peace culminated of the weeklong celebration. It started in the oval plaza and ended at Camp Lira. The proceeds of the event will be donated to Samboang-Ngilay High School to help them fence their campus.

MWOP 2011 Culminates with a Fun Run

MWOP 2011: Art Exhibit Culminates

Peace advocates together with the children were introduced to peace dove making through paper folding as the Mindanao Week of Peace (MWOP) Exhibit ended on November 30, 2011 at the Robinson Mall.

KIte Flying For Peace

by Anthon Delizo

Bearing the theme “Common Word between Us and You: Love of God, Love of Neighbor”, the SOCSARGEN Peace Network held its Kite Flying for Peace activity, story telling and feeding program in line with the celebration of Mindanao Week of Peace on November 27, 2011 at Oval Plaza stage.

More than 100 persons had participated the event including the Kapayapaan Kapatid Council Tri-Youth Volunteers; Notre Dame of Dadiangas University clubs and organizations like Supreme Student Government, Voice Publication, Campus Ministry, RE116 class under Mr. Leopoldo Lacson and Mr. Jose Suizo, Teamlettes, SAC Club, Business College, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Education and Nursing, College of Engineering and Technology, Peace Partners and NDDU Core; Hearts and Brains Foundation; Youth Community Service Club; PeaceTech Ambassadors; Philippine National Police; Mindanao State University; and Joint Task Force Gensan.

Approximately forty children been invited on the event brought by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and PNP from Silway Fatima, Silway Talipapa, Silway San Juan and Dadiangas West.

Vincent Paul Hantulan, a student from Notre Dame of Dadiangas University, shared the rationale of the activity and the whole extent of the Mindanao Week of Peace celebration that “Ang adhikain ng SOCSARGEN Peace Network ay magkaroon ng magandang resulta at isang bagong paraan ng selebrasyon, isang paraan upang lalong mahikayat ang bawat isa at mabigyan rin ng kasayahan ang mga tao”, He, as a student also looking a forward for peace in Mindanao to last. “Naisip nilang magkaroon ng pagpapalipad ng sarangola. Ito ay dapat magsilbing tagapahiwatig ng kapayapaan at daan upang mapabuti natin ang relasyon sa bawat isa.”

Mr. Hantulan, Kristine Joy Liaro, NDDU Peace Partners member mentioned the history of kite. It was said that the festivity of kite is being celebrated throughout the world; it could be local or traditional.

Various kite colors and shapes from participating organization and invited children from DSWD fly the sky. The smile in everyone’s faces was remarkable while flying kites. Adult feel young and some of them fly a kite for the first time.

After the flying, the children was separated according to their age for the story telling. Ages from 6-9 was facilitated by the Mindanao State Universwity SSG led by Mocel Edrief Odango, a new volunteer, while ages from 10-12 was with Ibrahim Nilong and the other KKC Tri-youth volunteers.

“Natutunan ko kung paano ang tamang paghugas ng kamay”, said Irene, a 10 year-old girl from Silway Fatima. Stories told were full of knowledge; things that can help oneself improve his/her lifestyle in daily living.

Origami making was also introduced, a traditional Japanese art of paper folding that transforms a flat sheet of material into a finished sculpture through folding and sculpting techniques, and was facilitated by the volunteers. The kids as well as their parents enjoyed the event experiencing new stuffs.

“Masaya ako dahil masaya kong nakikita ang mga anak ko na nag-eenjoy sa inihanda niyong programa. Malaking tulong ang naibahagi niyo sa mga batang ito sa kanilang development stage tulad ng kite flying, storytelling at paper folding.” said one of the parents of three children who participated the activity.

Pastil, a steamed rice and shredded chicken wrapped with a banana leaf, a ready-to-eat Filipino food originated in Maguindanao, was prepared for children in the feeding program for their merienda.

The activity ended with a community peace song entitled 'Kapayapaan' while everyone helps clean out the trash in the venue.

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Peace Exhibit 2011: ‘Tagbuan sa Kalinaw” Opens

by Anthon Bartz Delizo

The SOCSARGEN Peace Network launched the Tagbuan sa Kalinaw: Retrospective of Arts & Peace Exhibit for the Mindanao Week Of Peace at Robinson’s Place – Gensan Atrium, November 26 - December 1, 2011. The exhibits included the “Portals for Peace: Coco Sugar and Vinegar Industries” which displayed the products of transformed MNLF combatants and tri-people in Brgy Saravia, Koronadal City.

Around sixty dignitaries from different schools and universities graced the event in songs, tribal music, arts, and traditions of tribal people. Among the attending congregations were Notre Dame of Marbel University, General Santos Foundation College, Mindanao State University-GSC with their Chorale, Sociology students, Pinta Okir Visual Arts Guild and Kabpapagariya Ensemble, Philippines National Police, Kapayapaan Kapatid Council Tri-Youth Volunteers and other peace advocates.

Starting with Kulintangan, played by the Kabpapagariya Ensemble then the doxology sang by the Mindanao State University Chorale, the program progressed getting momentum and the shoppers’ attention. Rev. Fr. Angel Buenavides, SOCSARGEN Peace Network Convenor, gave an overview and explained the significance of the 4^th Mindanao Week of Peace deliberating its theme: “Common Word between Us and You: Love of God, Love of Neighbor”.

The paintings displayed were the outputs of the workshop conducted by Mr. Al-nezzar Ali last August 2011 in line with the 50^th Foundation Anniversary of Mindanao State University - General Santos City.

Below are some insights of the participants and spectators on the said exhibits.

“Bilang bahagi ng mga kabataan sa Mindanao, kami ay nakiki-isa sa pananaw para sa Kapayapaan upang ang ating lupang sinilangan ay makakamit ang Kapayapaan nitong inaasahan”, shared by Sociology students of MSU – GSC.

“We used cubism as a common technique which was originated and developed by Picasso and Baroque”, said one of the members of Pinta Okir Visual Arts Guild in an interview.

“It is a great privilege to share the talents God endowed us. It is a great joy to be given this opportunity to affect and influence people’s ideas,” said Ingrid Juele, a MSU student. “Showing what peace means as a youth in this generation through works of arts is a joy and an accomplishment for them,” she added.

Led by Cherry Albores, Tropical Depression’s ‘Kapayapaan’, a music which replicates peace in everyone, gathering the Filipinos of different religions and culture as one, was sang in the event enticing everyone to join in the mass singing of peace.

MWOP 2011 Opens at Samboang-Ngilay High School

Mindanao Week of Peace opens today, November 25, 2011 at Samboang-Ngilay National High School, Brgy. Batomelong, General Santos City with the theme: “Common Word Between Us and You: Love of God, Love of Neighbor”.

This event started with a parade participated by a band, guests, barangay council, PTA officials, Purok chairmen, participating sectors, faculty, staff and students followed by a Tri-Prayer. It was followed by various cultural songs and dances of the Christians, Muslims and Lumad students. Peace dove origami making was introduced by Al Nezzar Ali to all people who attended the event. 50 trees were planted during the event.

SOCSARGEN Peace Network spearheaded the activity – Kalinaw Sarangani, NDDU Peace Center, Non-Violent Peace Force, KBP-SARGEN, ABS-CBN Gensan, GSCPO-PNP, DXCP-CMN, HTC, MSU Kalimudan Culture and Arts, YADO, various schools and youth organizations. Shalom Crest Wizard Academy High School students joined the network for the first time and help facilitate the origami – peace dove making.

Common desire for peace may it be in personal level, communal, and environmental were common to various speakers – Sec. Luwalhati Antonino (MINDA Chair), Mayor Darlene Antonino (Mayor of Gen. Santos City) , Fr. Angelo Buenavides (Convenor of SOCSARGEN peace network).

The event ended with a community peace songs entitled “Sana” and “Kapayapaan” and community lunch wrapped in banana leaves.

- by Raymund

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MWOP 2011 SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

Child Friendly Activity and Feeding Program, A volunteer's reflection (by Anton)

The Child Friendly Activity and Feeding Program conducted by the SOCSARGEN PEACE NETWORK last October 30, 2011 at DXCP-CMN Compound, Lagao, General sSantos City served as an opportunity for us volunteers to expand our social circle and more importantly to help the less fortunate. It developed in us the sense of awareness to be of service to other people. It was an eye opener that changed our narrow, egoistic views to a broader, altruistic perception.

Over 50 school children from Dadiangas West Elementary School and Pedro Acharon Elementary School came over. The Barangay Dadiangas West took the responsibility of fetching the children to the venue.

The activity started with a prayer led by one of the chosen children. Meanwhile, other volunteers are busy preparing food for their breakfast.

The children were grouped together according to age. Ages 5 to 7 was handled by Anacelle Edulza, one of the volunteer teachers. Ages 8 to 12 was facilitated by Merajoy Tabal of NDDU Peace Partners. These two volunteers told stories to children about life, stories with moral lesson and health education. This activity is a good start to initiate health teaching on ways how to prevent spread of diseases to children while they are still young, ready to explore, learn, and practice.

The activity went fast paced as various parishioners gathered for a Sunday mass. After the mass, the feeding program happens. We had fed children who had participated the event and people who attended the mass as well. Some parishioners donated food items for the children.

After the feeding program, hand painting was preceded, imprinting children’s love, friendship, peace and hope which are represented by red, blue, yellow, and green paint respectively. Then, they were given school supplies for their school. After that, there were also bubble blowing represents the bubbles to our dreams to fly high that carries an amazing sense of liberty, weightlessness, and hope.

We are truly grateful for the opportunity of being a part of the said program. By God’s grace, KKC will continue its advocacy in reaching out and helping the community to become better and consequently it will be able to attract more volunteers and conduct more worthwhile activities in the future.

The activity was ended successfully with joy in every child’s face. We, the volunteers, are very happy knowing that everyone enjoyed the event. Though we were very tired with the event, we were fulfilled of joy and engulf of good service, and determined to serve those who are less fortunate.