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RCED launches
book on Higaunons
The Resource Center for Empowerment and Development, Inc. (RCED), on
the occasion of its ninth anniversary today, April 27, 2009, launches the book “Lumadnong
Pagkinabuhi Ngadto sa Kalinaw.” The book contains stories of
survival of the Higaunons in some parts of Misamis Oriental and
Bukidnon. This is a result of a study conducted by RCED a few years
ago, with its researchers and development workers climbing up remote
mountains to talk to Higaunons. The book, in both English and
Cebuano versions, was published with the help of the Deutsche
Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH - German
Technical Cooperation. The PDF copy of the book can be downloaded
here -- English,
Cebuano.
(Warning: These are big files, about 5mb each.) The print versions
will be available in the next few days.
A
Decade of a Continuing Journey
RCED's Charmaine Mae “Xx”
Dagapioso-Baconga reminisces her brief encounters with lawyers Bob
Gana and Caloy Ollado, who perished in a plane crashed 10 years ago
in the mountains of Misamis Oriental, on their way to Cagayan de Oro
to help out the Sumilao farmers.
The
Story of 'Naabat Gaop'
Since time immemorial the name “Naabat” designates to a truly
revered place for the Higaunon people. It serves as one of the
earliest known “safe haven” of the tribe where around 40 to 50
pure Higaunon families peacefully dwell. It is the same sanctuary
where Buuya Binu-aya, the legendary tribal warrior recognized as “the
greatest alimaong” who ever lived in the history of Higaunon
ancestors, comes from. Binu-aya is known for his grand courage,
honor and his being a remarkable disciplinarian in the record of
Higaunon tribal defense of the “walu ha talugan” (eight
talugans).
The
Higaunons’ Sayuda daw Buntola
Sayuda daw Buntola is a Higaunon term that refers to a gathering of
the Higaunons in order to discuss concerns, resolve issues and
conflicts. For the past year, three gatherings were conducted in the
areas of Sangalan in Gingoog City, Simbalan in Agusan del Norte and
Pulangui Talugan in Bukidnon. The get together of Higaunons from
different gaops and talugans signifies camaraderie
that despite the political division amongst them, they still want to
strengthen their tribe.
An activist deals with the
military
RCED’s Charmaine Mae
Dagapioso-Baconga writes about how her views of the military changed
as she deals with them face to face in a series of seminars on
peacebuilding at the Balay Mindanaw Peace Center. From an activist’s
standpoint critical of the military, Xx (as Charmaine is called at
the Balay Mindanaw group of NGOs) finds out that the soldiers are as human as she is, sincere in
their dealings with fellow human beings, who care about their family
and friends, who also long for peace. Xx helped facilitate the “Operation
Peace Course” for the 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division of the
Philippine Army on Feb. 21-24 and Feb. 27 to march 2, 2007.
Rising
after the fall: The story of TAWA
If we were to list down the life incidents we like best to talk
about, recounting our failures will definitely be nowhere near the
top of our list. It is because we always take in failures as
“dreadful” moments, reminding us of our weaknesses, negative
emotions and setbacks. And more to that the conclusion that we are
not capable of doing things we plan or want. But
as it is also said that every failure has two possible effects --
either you inhibit yourself from doing some things for fear of
another failure, or forces you to do better next time, trying other
approaches to achieve better next time. For the latter, it’s the
opportunity to do things again, in a more intelligent manner, to sit
back and examine where one has failed, and make the proper changes
for a better outcome. (See Jasper Llanderal's blog entry about TAWA here.)
Dapitan’s
TANCSDI holds first general assembly
About 70 participants from the academe, religious sector, senior
citizens, cooperatives, and people’s organizations gathered at the
former RMI Auditorium last September 23 for the first general
assembly of the Transparency & Accountability Network of the
Civil Society in Dapitan, Inc. (TANCSDI). The
assembly adopted the theme “Revitalizing Sectoral Commitment to a
Sustained Advocacy for a Transparent and Accountable Governance.”
Civil society organizations share
experiences on community peacebuilding
Around 100 participants from various people’s organizations,
non-government organizations, academic institutions, and government
agencies in Mindanao gathered for a three-day forum entitled “The
Third CSO Forum on Community Development Approaches in Mindanao”
last September 19 to 21, 2006 at the Marco Polo Hotel, Davao City
and shared experiences and reflections on community peace-building.
The said forum -- with the theme “Championing and Celebrating
Community Best Practices for Peace and Development” -- showcased
efforts of successful people’s organizations (POs) in managing
root causes of conflict, improving human security, reducing poverty
and enlarging chances for lasting peace in conflict-vulnerable and
deprived communities of Mindanao.
Promoting
peace among the youth the hitech way
Linking the youth in Mindanao and Luzon using modern communications
technology as a means towards building peace has come its way to the
University of Southern Mindanao (USM) in Kabacan, North Cotabato.
With video conferencing, the youth of USM and the University of the
Philippines (UP) in Diliman, Quezon City can listen to the stories
of the panelists, all survivors of armed conflict, poverty,
discrimination and prejudice. This cost effective and practical way
of using technology can make the youth’s voices heard, and they
can discuss the cause and consequences of conflict through story
telling.
From mere printed plans to
effecting ventures in Camiguin
Five identified beneficiary
people’s organizations (POs) in Camiguin were recently granted
soft loan financial assistance thru RCED-PACAP’s joint vigor
project to support their own business endeavors. The Pos, including
their respective LGUs, could not believe that after quite some time
of rigid planning, trainings and follow through activities, they’d
be able to head out five of the many priority projects they’ve
listed on their BDPs after a Participatory Rural Appraisal conducted
two years ago.
A
significant change in the life of Mrs. Lerion and her fellow members
of the Cooperative
During the Savings Mobilization Seminar at Balbagon
Multi-purpose Cooperative (BMPC) held last March 16, 2006, where
many of the active cooperative members were present, a commitment
setting between members was held just after the said seminar.
Pledges, dedications and assurance of full support very soon came
out smoothly and naturally from the lips of each member.
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