Metrobanks's Purple Hearts Club Charity Activities with T'boli/Blaan Children of Datal Salvan

They chooses a community of children that can hardly afford to buy even a notebook... they chooses a place seldom visited by people who supposedly will give basic community services... they still visit knowing they have vacate the comforts of their air conditioned cars to a "weapon vehicle" - gripping a nylon rope for security... Purple Hearts Foundation of Metrobank.

Who cares for the Education of the IPs: Dedicated Teachers at the Remote Area of Datal Salvan, GSC

Visiting Datu Salvan Elementary School is an oppurtunity to meet innovative and dedicated teachers for the IPs.... they harness wind and sun to electrify their schools - computers, classrooms. They give potable water to the community through their simple hydro technology. Much have to be done....used tarpaulins covered Grade 7 make shift classrooms.... dedicated teachers reserved a space in their classroom - making it their "class homes"... children look chubby but were malnourished (they ate cassava, camote and other root crops which have toxic contents)... Teachers go down for their families once a week - every friday for a P150 habal habal ride.

GENSAN VENDORS ORIENTED ON POSSIBLE FUND ASSISTANCE

SOCSARGEN Peace Network invited CEMCDO through LGU of General Santos City to orient vendors/small and informal businesses in the city at SOCSARGEN Peace Network Office on February 11, 2013  Here’s the highlight of the orientation:

FUNDING

A.      Individual Application

1.       Qualifications

a.       No existing loan from FRAME or other LGU-led agency

b.      With existing business

c.       With Business Permit or Barangay Business Clearance

d.      Permanent Residence of General Santos City

e.      No pending criminal case

f.        Attendance to Orientation

2.       Allowable Loan

a.       Less than P10k- payable in 6 months

b.      P10k to P50k – payable in 12 months

3.       Interest Rate

a.       5% per annum

4.       Business Plan

5.       Payment scheme depends on the business cycle—weekly, bimonthly, monthly

6.       Co-maker

B.      Priority Development Assistance Fund

1.       By group of not less than 10 (informal)

2.       Endorsement by the Congressional office

3.       Maximum of P 50,000 per group 

4.       Starting Business or expansion

5.       Business Plan

Kag. Beth Bagonoc of LGU Gensan also assisted the orientation with Fr. Angelo Buenavides of SOCSARGEN Peace Network.

-          Documented by Ma. Luz V. Go /Photos by Dasoy

MWOP Highlighted Culture of Peace Through Sports

The 2^nd day of the celebration of Mindanao Week of Peace (MWOP), November 30, highlighted Culture of Peace through Sports at Rajah Buayan Air Station. 

“We honor RESPECT, DISCIPLINE and TEAMWORK” is the main mantra of all kids participating in creating culture of peace through football.  

Almost 300 boys and girls consisting of 15 teams aged 8 to 15 years old participated in the games.

The program started with a tri-people (Muslim, Christian, Lumad) prayer.   Col. Jonathan of Rajah Buayan Air Station  welcomed the participants while Fr. Angelo Buenavides gave the rationale of the program. Founder of GenSan Sarangani Football Club, Retired Col. Diego Laguna gave the mechanics of the game.

Every registration of the participants gave way to donation of various sports equipment such as balls and metal frame for the goals to selected “poor school” in the area. Schools beneficiaries were given free football clinic and/or soccer balls and goal posts.

Generous sponsors supported the advocacy:

Pediatrica, Inc. donated bottles of “Growee” vitamins to all the kids.  They also selected “poor” players by donating soccer socks and “shields”.  

The Air Force hosted the event. 

JTF Gensan and 1002^nd IB provide transportation and security of the players. 

GenSan Sarangani Football Club facilitated the training and acted as referees. 

SOCSARGEN Peace Network Youth volunteers prepared the program and gave logistical support.

The team participated were from Fatima, Alabel High School, Alabel Elementary, IBED – Lagao, ND Siena, GSC School for the Arts, J. Catolico, SPED, West Elementary Teams A, B, C, Conel Elementary, Conel High School, SKC and Buayan Elementary.

Mindanao Week of Peace 2012 Kicks Off at GSC School for the Arts

GSC School for the Arts hosted the Mindanao Week of Peace (MWOP) 2012 on November 29, 2012. It opened with an authentic Lumad prayer followed by a Muslim and Christian prayers by the pupils in the host school. 

Indigenous dances were presented by the pupils – B’laan “courting” dance and a folk dance.

Various peace partners gave messages of peace, partnership and collaboration to the community.  Peace Partners present were SOCSARGEN Peace Network, JTF Gensan, 73^rd IB, NDDU Peace Partners, MSU, YCSC, Kabpapagariya Ensemble, BLGU of Dadianags North, City LGU, Medical Group of Dr. Torre, and RMMC.

MSU Kabpapagariya  Ensemble filled the air with peace songs… its rhythm made the community dance and sing together with the group.

Students were given materials to make a kite while peace songs were being played.  Peace partners coached the pupils how to make a kite.  They made to fly the kites as their personal wishes and our common wish for PEACE were send to the ‘sky’.

Simple lunch wrapped in banana leaves were served after the flying.

Mindanao Week of Peace is annually celebrated every 4^th Thursday of November until the 1^st Wednesday of December.  Various activities set by the peace partners were set starting November 29 to December 3, 2012.   

A Glance from the life of the rebel returnees.

In one time, they ceases to LOVE... they ceases to embrace their FAITH... and PEACE is no where to find.  Poverty tempted them to accept "offers" from armed groups.  Their lives were always on hiding and threatened.  Our session gave them HOPE... and that they don't want it to lose...

May the society help rekindle their candle of HOPE so the candles of LOVE, FAITH and PEACE will be lit again.

STEWARDSHIP & CONVERGENCE : Planting Trees and Cleaning the Silway Riverbanks

More than 600 volunteers coming from various sectors converged near the Silway riverbanks of  Brgy. Dadiangas North on September 29, 2012 to plant additional trees, cultivate the existing trees previously planted and clean the riverbanks.

Mostly bamboos, narra, acacia and banana were planted in the area.

The riverbank stretches about 17 hectares and through convergence and volunteerism, this area is targeted to be transformed into a mini forest within the city.  This will also prevent the soil erosion and possible flooding during rainy seasons.

Schools participated were Shalom Crest Wizard Academy, Dadiangas North Elementary/High School, Dadiangas East Elementary School, and Girls Scouts of the Philippines – Paopao Elementary School, Holy Trinity College/High School.

Private organizations also participated - The Kiwanis Club - Synergy Gensan and Metro Bank (in the celebration of their 50^th Anniversary),

The military group secured the place and shuttle the volunteers to the venue.  JTF-Gensan, PNP, and the Philippines Army participated in the activities.  JTF-Gensan donated more than 500 seedlings.

In partnership with the barangay, the trees will be monitored and will be taking care of. 

SOCSARGEN Peace Network, a network of various organizations for peace and development, will continue to sustain the activity by inviting groups or individual to participate in the tree planting and cleaning every month as a simple contribution of being the stewards of the environment.

photo documentation details: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.493855657304910.112688.300156283341516&type=1

TREE PLANTING AND CLEANING UP ACTIVITIES

SHALOM CREST WIZARD ACADEMY

DADIANGAS NORTH HIGH SCHOOL

GIRLS SCOUT OF PAO-PAO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

HOLY TRINITY COLLEGE/HS

KIWANIS CLUB - SYNERGY GENSAN

METROBANK

JTF GENSAN