Wednesday, February 25, 2009

What's in the Biggest Flag









(Photos from Cocoy Sexcion/ Sarangani PIO)
The largest Philippine flag ever made (Guiness World Record in 2007) visited Sarangani (February 26) and will stay in the Province until February 28. Students, business and private individuals, police and military, Provincial officials and employees, advocates among others joined hands in the unfurling of this giant flag that measures two hectares.

The flag was so awesome... thanks to the patient hands of those who made the flag. On the other hand, the flag reminds me of three things:

1. 111 years of freedom from Spanish rule,
2. six decades of freedom from American and Japanese colonization, and
3. exactly 23 years of freedom from Martial rule.

Like the flag that was unfurled in the Province, the above three points were 'symbols' of independence... and yet they remain symbols.... The continuing struggle for genuine peace and development... to gain GENUINE FREEDOM is bigger and larger than the largest flag ever imagined even not unfurled.

It is however very ironic to note that we Filipinos can be easily gathered in symbolic events like this (without neglecting its necessity) yet very difficult to be gathered in occasions of dialogues where real freedom is felt. For many of us, dialogues are boring..speeches are not even counted.... We always consider the symbolic instrument of the occasion as the star of the event. We forgot one thing...it is our gathering...our coming together....

Power hug to that... peace!


Saturday, February 7, 2009

Women Call for Female Perspectives to be Heard in New Administration



January 15, 2009
By Shari Abrams, Hunt Alternatives Fund
www.hks.harvard.edu
(This article is from the website of Haravard University's Kennedy School of Government. My Professor and mentor, Rufa Guiam, is one of the women peace advocates invited during the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum)

Women peace activists from Sudan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and the Philippines spoke about the importance of including women’s perspectives in security decisions and shared their personal stories during a panel discussion at the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum on Wednesday (Jan. 14).

The four panelists were among 19 participants at the Harvard Kennedy School’s 10th annual Women and Security Program. Although the panelists come from widely differing backgrounds, they agreed that there is more to security than bombs or bullets.

“Women bring a different definition of security,” said Orzala Ashraf, founder and senior adviser of Humanitarian Assistance for the Women and Children of Afghanistan. “For women it’s not about military solutions.”

Marini de Livera, a national project coordinator for the UN Development Programme in Sri Lanka, noted that although her country has seen female presidents, these women rulers are leading a patriarchal society.

“Ahimsa, nonviolence, is the theory, but violence is the practice,” she said.

De Livera’s point was echoed by Rufa Guiam, director of the Center for Peace & Development Studies at Mindanao State University in the Philippines.

“It’s not enough to have a woman [leader]; it doesn’t necessarily follow that she will reflect women’s concerns,” said Guiam.

In the Philippines, she explained, substitutions are allowed on ballots as long as the replacement candidate’s last name is the same. This means that women in positions of power are often replacing their husbands or fathers.

Ambassador Swanee Hunt, Eleanor Roosevelt lecturer in public policy at the Kennedy School, moderated the panel. She told of two female Swedish senators who found that when the number of women in the Swedish parliament increased, there were noticeable changes in the way they acted, spoke and dressed.

“There is a huge difference between being a woman at the top of a male hierarchy and being a woman who is part of a group that is 30 or 40 percent women,” said Hunt.

The panelists also had some advice for President-elect Obama. Josephine Abalang, deputy director of public relations in the Office of the Vice President of Southern Sudan, noted that President Bush is extremely popular in Sudan for the role he played ending the country’s civil war in 2005 and the incoming administration brings with it a degree of uncertainty. Abalang said she wonders whether the Obama administration will help with critically important issues such as the administration of elections.

Similarly, Ashraf worried that the new administration will spend much energy adjusting the level of U.S. military intervention in Afghanistan.

“Please, please, please listen to Afghans,” she said. “People hear Kandahar and think it is a dangerous city, but come meet Rangina [Hamidi, founder of an organization that provides economic opportunities for women], who works in Kandahar, who knows what women need, who knows what people need.”

The event was sponsored by the Women and Public Policy Program and Executive Education as part of the Women and Security Executive Education Program.

AIM-World Bank Mindanao Bridging Leaders Programmme (MBLP)

AIM-World Bank Mindanao Bridging Leaders Programmme (MBLP)
CLICK ON PIC FOR LINK: The overall objective of the program is to build a cadre of Bridging Leaders in Mindanao, who can address issues like peace, education, health, land conflicts, poverty, and poor local governance, among others. The MBLP is implemented by AIM Center for Bridging Leadership.

Bamboo Craft

Bamboo Craft
South Cotabato is proud of its bamboo craft. Please call ProTech Center for orders: 083-228-9738 or DTI SC at 083-2282659

B'LAAN INDIGENOUS NITO PRODUCTS

B'LAAN INDIGENOUS NITO PRODUCTS
Let's help B'laan Communities in Tampakan earn additional income by buying their products made of nito. Products include plates, baskets, hats, and others. Call directly the Municipal Agriculture Office of Tampakan at (083) 227-2902.

SWEET, SPICY AND CRUNCHY

SWEET, SPICY AND CRUNCHY
Mommy Juling's Atsara of BKR Foods continue to increase productivity, hence increasing its job generation and income. On its launching of its expanded processing plant on Oct. 23, BKR reported that it has increase its production from 60 kgs a month in the late 2008 to 600 kgs a month in 2010. Mommy Juling's Atsara is available at Gaisano Mall, KCC Malls, ACE Centerpoint and other convenient store. See its processing plant at Bayan, Polomolok, South Cotabato. Rona Ortiz will be happy to hear and know from you through (+63) 0919-461-0152.

CORN HUSK NOVELTY ITEMS

CORN HUSK NOVELTY ITEMS
Help protect environment, help our rural women and out-of-school youth from Surallah. Buy Novelty items for Christmas and any occasions (souvenirs and corporate giveaways) to Pag-Asa Youth Association of Centrala, Allah Valley Crafters Association and Neza's Novelty Items. Text or call (+63) 0917-347-0832.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS! CLEANSE TO A HEALTHY LIFE

HEALTH AND WELLNESS! CLEANSE TO A HEALTHY LIFE
Food supplements are never expensive and should never be. What we need now are 100% natural products (no synthetic materials or foreign bodies and no artificial preservatives added). For Jong Bajunaid of Tupi, South Cotabato helping others is very important. Her advocacy of natural healing and remembering old ways of healing and bring that to present scenario is never old. Buy mangosteen tonic, papaya cider, and coco-papaya vinegar from JNB Industries in Tupi, South Cotabato. Mam Jong will be happy to share her knowledge on the wonders of natural healing. She is a Gawad-Saka Awardee (farmer-scientist). You can reach her through (+63) 0916-795-3154.

BDS

BDS