70 Youth Volunteers Attended COP and Teambuilding Seminar Workshop

SOCSARGEN Peace Network invited 70 youth volunteers from various schools, organizations and tribes mostly in General Santos City to attend the Culture of Peace (COP) and Teambuilding seminar workshop on June 7, 2012 at a military camp transformed to a peace camp of the 73^rd IB named Fort Santiago.

                                       LEARNING TEAMBUILDING THROUGH PLAY

Fr. Angelo Buenavides facilitated teambuilding through play like “breaking records” and “theory of evolution”.  The learnings after the plays were shared by participants who were further processed by the facilitator. The concepts and values learned include the value of having good strategies before going to an activity, unity, and excellence.

                                          

APPRECIATING PEACE THROUGH SONGS

MSU-Kabpapagariya Ensemble, the official performing arts group of the Mindanao State University – General Santos City, perform acoustics and entertained the participants peace and environment songs like “Kapayapaan” and “Bathala”.

DEFINING PEACE

Participants were asked to find an object that will symbolize peace.  Some get balls, stones, slippers, broom stick and some plants and construct a peace symbols.  Some themes that surfaced include playing football introduces peace to the children, peace is unity.

Facilitators Nova Masoco and Gina Misoles gave an input on peace.  They shared that “PEACE means stillness and calm, a sense of well being. Harmony and cooperation.  A reality when societies are just and fair to all.  It exists in the society when conflict are resolved non-violently and when there are practical efforts to satisfy the basic needs of people in a fair and reasonable manner”.

TECHNOLOGY AND PEACE BUILDING – SOCIAL MEDIA

Danny Sabino of SOCSARGEN Peace Network, shared how technology and social media contribute to peace building like introducing and re-enforcing various peace advocacies.

Social media was defined -“Social media includes web-based and mobile based technologies which are used to turn communication into interactive dialogue among organizations, communities, and individuals.”

Social media offers a good platform for the youth to converge… knowing that majority of the populace is youth.  The platform offers a good venue to share good practices of volunteerism, generate informed decisions and get immediate feedback.

“But at the end, it is also good to shut down the computer and meet people personally.”  says the speaker.

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE: RESOLVING PREJUDICES.

Youth Volunteers were grouped by Tribes.  The composition resulted to groups of Illonggo, Cebuano, Ilokano, Tagalog and Maguindanaon. Each tribe will be asked to put positive and negative traits which they observed to other tribes.  Participants were then asked to explain why they write those traits and asked each tribe to comments on the traits that were given to them.  After the activities, the tribe somewhat lay down their prejudices.

Nova shared that “Culture is the way people think and behave.  This includes the way they dress, the type of food that they eat and the language they speak.  Example, Muslim eat halal meat, women cover all parts of their body.”

Furthermore, the facilitator shared “Prejudice is a baseless and usually negative attitude toward members of the group.  Common features of prejudice include negative feelings, stereotyped beliefs, and a tendency to discriminate against members of the group.

RESOLVING CONFLICTS

Seven volunteers were asked to hold each other with arms crossed.  Everybody thought of a spot without talking to each other.  The workshop resulted to a tug-of-war scenario where everybody wanted to go somewhere else and movements were chaotic.

For the second round, the volunteers were allowed to talk to each other and plan where they want to go. The result were happy and harmonious movement where they plan to go.

The facilitator then gave an input, “That, conflict is natural.  An on-going and dynamic process.  That conflict can result to a positive change and that conflict is embedded in all types of relationships”.

COMMUNICATION.

A message relay was conducted.  Participants formed 4 lines with equal members each.  The workshop were processed and consolidated with an input  that “There is a good communication if one’s thoughts, feelings, and needs to others are clearly understood.  Communication is sending and receiving of messages.  A dialogue is knowing where you stand and meeting each other and seeing what we can do together. “

“Negotiation was introduced as a problem solving tool and MEDIATION is a satisfactory solutions through facilitation of third party”.

CULTURE OF PEACE.

The whole day activity was highlighted with an input on Culture of Peace (COP). “Culture of Peace is the wholeness of life where every persons can live with dignity… where there is an appreciation and respect for the integrity of all person.  A way of life that promotes the well-being of all human beings, regardless of different cultural backgrounds and historicity… where the group of people grow in dignity, self determination, service and solidarity with their fellow human beings.

After the seminar workshop, Lt. Sumbong of 73^rd IB Community Extension Officer, allowed the participants to move around the camp where peace messages abound the landscape of the camp, bonsai can be seen all over the place, and at an elevation and good angle, you can see the panoramic view of Sarangani Bay and the mountains of Maasim.

Football players from the participants played with the soldiers while waiting for the transportation.

The venue of the seminar was offered free by 73^rd IB.  LGU of General Santos City  through the office of the city mayor,  shuttled the participants from General Santos City to Maasim and vice versa.

VOLUNTEERS FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT SHARED BEST PRACTICES

Volunteers from various sectors and individuals gathered at NDDU Auditorium on June 20, 2012 to share their best practices on volunteerism for peace and development.

Culture of Peace (COP)

“Propagation of COP is everyone’s shared responsibilities”, says Ms. Lambac of Kalinaw Sarangani. A home grown module includes deeper understanding of history, self transformation, conflict resolutions, etc.

Col. Espuelas of 73^rd IB found COP trainings helpful in helping solve the complex problem of insurgency (which is usually rooted to socio economic problems) in Mindanao. This transformed their soldiers as peace advocates, transforming the camp to a “Peace Camp” and engaged in various voluntary works from donating blood to helping in emergency reliefs, medical missions and construction of infrastructures.

Addressing Children’s Nutritional Deficiency

Dr. Cagape had been advocating the right nutrition for the children in his various feeding programs in the far flung area of SOCSARGEN. Feeding the children will always be the priority activity in his volunteerism, working side by side with his medical mission and some livelihood programs.

Other best practices includes propagation of “Kasfala” and Barangay Justice Advocates for restorative justice, Tindahan sa Kalinaw, Child Friendly Activities, Interfaith/Intercultural faith dialogues, gardening, bridging the gaps of MILF combatants to a multi-donor agencies,

Attributes/Learnings from Volunteerism.

To be a volunteer, you have to the 4Ps: – Be programmatic, Be professional, Be patient, Be a peace advocate as shared by Mussolini Sinsuat Lidasan of Life of a UNV in Peace Development.

Ernesto Casiple shared that best volunteer must be S.T.R.O.N.G. Being (S)teadfast, (T)rustworthy, (R)eliable, (O)ptomistic, (N)oble, and (G)otchy.

NDDU student volunteer shared his best practices as a volunteer:

1. Time management. Balancing studies and volunteering activities

2. Creative and being simple as funds on activities are limited

3. “Food on the Table” – even simple food bring volunteers together across cultures

4. Having passion and commitment

5. Smile

A workshop was conducted to make resolutions: “Future we want as volunteers for peace and

development”. Below were some output:

1. Making community productive

2. Shaping a strong family foundation

3. Developing culture of peace through sports – football

4. Education and resource utilization and livelihood program for remote communibities

5. Promote good governance – accountable, responsive, transparent

6. Preservation of natural resources, responsible waste management

7. No religious discrimination

8. Gender responsive

9. Give education to Indigenous People

10. Discourage bullying

11. Re-use, Reduce, Recycle

12. Personal conversion

13. Continue the strong alliance among volunteers to sustain peace and development initiatives in SOCSARGEN

14. Youth and woman empowerment – capacity building

15. Education for the out of school youth

16. Discover the spirit of volunteerism in every individual

17. Continue planting trees

18. Develop habitat for animals

Father Angelo Buenavides of SOCSARGEN Peace Network challenged the volunteers on the recent reality of “comodification” of values .

“If we are to speak. Our words must come from the bottom of our hearts. My dear young people the crisis of our time is not so much that we do not have choices in life but we choose not our heart’s deepest desire. The result we become sad people. We choose what is dictated by the market. There is a commodification of our desire.

Volunteerism is our contribution to rediscovering our heart’s deepest desire. Thought we give ourselves for the service of our people and nation, volunteerism help us also discover the joy of service, the romance with life, the fire of passion that makes life worth engaging and living.

Yes, to be a volunteer means Masaya na mahirap, mahirap na Masaya. In the creative tension of our giving, we contribute to the building of the soul of our nation.”, says Fr. Angel.

He shared and sung a a tagalong song “Hamon ng Panahon” (Challenge of the Times).

Sa mundo ngayon di tunay ang ngiti

Turing sa bawat isa’y isa lamang katunggali

Ano ang hahawakan, ano ang susundan

Sino ang gagawa ng unang hakbang

Ang hamon ng panahon ngayon nasa ating harapan

Naghihintay ng isang tugon, nagpapakita ng daan

Piliin ang pag-ibig, buhayin ang pag-asa

At mula sa ating sarili baguhin ang mundo ngayon

Bawat isa sa atin may nasang marating

Kalayaang magbigay mataas ng hangarin

Ano ang pipiliin, ano ang susundan

Sino ang gagawa ng unang hakbang

Mayor Darlene Antonito of General Santos City shared her hope that peace is still achievable in Mindanao through respect and giving importance to each other, putting important value on peace, knowing that everyone has a vital role to make things better and working for peace passionately.

Notre Dame of Marbel University and NDDU Peace Center hosted the workshop. Ms. Princess Fernandez was the master of ceremony.

Abe Akiko of United Nations Volunteers (UNV) spearheaded the event which ended in the signing of resolutions for the future the volunteers want for peace and development and will be sent to an on-going conference at Rio+ 20 in Brazil.

Related details can be read on: http://pec.nddu.edu.ph/nddu-peace-education-center-in-partnership-with-unv-philippines/

Be My Apostle Movement, partnering in School Supplies Distribution at Sitio Kapanal

“Bong Salamat” – thank you very much!, echoed in the community SItio Kapanal (T’boli Community) as they were visited by SOCSARGEN Peace Network’s partner – Be My Apostle Movement (BMAM) on June 2, 2012 bringing their timely donations of school supplies, bags and medicine kit for the opening of classes next week for almost 300 pupils and teachers of Kapanal Elementary School.  They also brought materials to repair the lone bridge made of wood, volleyballs and basketballs for the community and bibles.  Some sponsors donated books and pledges for tuition fees of some students in high school.

The volunteers assembled early 4:30 AM in General Santos City and take their breakfast at Sito Lao, Brgy Gasi , Municipality of Kiamba before heeding to Sitio Kapanal at 8:15AM. 

Right after arrival, BMAM volunteers prepared lunch for the whole community while the rest helped clean the school and the surrounding.

After cleaning, child friendly activities were led by the Tri-Youth Volunteers.  They had games, dances, and songs.

Wena Tampan of BMAM lead the distribution of school supplies and turned over materials for the repair of the bridge, bibles, medicine kits, starter kits for the 3 teachers, and sports equipment.  Jed turned over books from Shalom Crest Wizard Academy - parent donor.

There was a community lunch – “boodle feast”. 

BMAM and volunteers took a plunge in the nearby rivers and enjoyed diving in cold and clean water with the community children.

The team were composed of 25 persons from Be My Apostle Movement lead by Wena Tampan and Raph Kintanar, 16 persons from  SIMS and TAMRAS Mountaineering lead by Art and Tonton, 13 persons from 73^rd IB – Headquarter and Charlie Company led by Sgt Putol and 20 persons from SOCSARGEN Peace Network/Tri-Youth Volunteers led by Fr. Angelo Buenavdes.

The team departed past 4PM and arrived in General Santos City past 6PM with a smile in their heart.

Kids’ Football Training: Venue for a Partnership, Dialogue and Teambuilding with B’laan Community at T’murok

Football coaches and Tri-youth volunteers braved more than 4 hours ride (in a dump truck) and hiking from General Santos City to a small B’laan village in T’murok, Malapatan, Sarangani Province last May 28-30, 2012 to bring the culture of peace through football.

PARTNERSHIP.

“I learned how to appreciate the simple comforts at home – having electricity, food to eat 3x a day, warmth of my blankets, etc.” “ I learned to cook and to be with a team”.  “I appreciate the simple joys of the children – in playing, conversing, receiving candies, etc.”  “I learned to appreciate nature… this is my first time to climb a mountain”.  “…  appreciated the B’laan dances and costume”. 

These were some feedbacks of the coaches and volunteers during the first  sharing session.  Fr. Angel highlighted the “partnership” experience – "there are no beneficiaries and benefactors here… we trained the kids in football, give them equipments, share  our food, give school supplies, bibles, rosaries; … but we also get something from them that can’t be bought – the learnings and life’s realizations... and that is the essence of partnership."

DIALOGUE.

The training gave way to cross cultural and faith dialogues.  The community and the visitors learned each other language, costume and dances.  From time to time, a tri-people prayers (Lumad, Muslim and Christians) were recited before and after the games, programs and meals.  Various activities experienced the interactions  across  ages – kids and adult.

TEAM BUILDING.

The group learned the teambuilding skills.  Each group experienced how to be a server – preparing the food, washing plates, feeding the children … making the members comfortable.  During trekking the groups were divided into three – the lead, the middle and the” sweeper”.

FOOT BALL TRAINING.

Boys and girls enjoyed the new experience they had with the football coaches.  They learned how to warm up/down and the basic of kicking and passing the ball.  In their last game, the kids won over the volunteers at the score of 4-0.  It was also noticed that both sexes were eager to play football and they were good kickers and runners.  The training lasted two days though.  The Gensan Sarangani Footbal Club headed by Coach Ralph Kintanar trained the kids and donated soccer balls for the community.

MOUNTAIN CLIMBING.

The group and the community had their first time to climb the Mt. Magulo or T’murok mountain.  Children led the climb.  It was almost a 70 degree ascend on a humus ground.  Climbers has to crawl up and slide down.  One side of the mountain owned by B’laan community is still a dense forest… the other side owned by “Bisayan” settlers were almost denuded and planted with cash crops such as cabbages, carrots, potatoes and corn.

 Many of the climbers had bruises during their slides and had an itchy experience while accidentally touching the “bulan bulan” leaves.  The B’laan kids offer a plant found in the forest to cure the itchiness.

AN EXPERIENCE TO BE CHERISHED.

Experienced a chilling cold of less than 20 degrees celsius.

Talking a quick bath in an ice-cold water.

Seeing the fog all day with the fireflies at night.

Learning to greet in B’laan language.

Instant joy with the kids during plays and eating.

Walking uphill and downhill for hours.

Cross cultural entertainments during the second night.

Both partners briefly bonded together in just three days.  Children were so excited everyday as they woke up in the morning and waited for their coaches to play soccer and to have fun with their “Ate’s and Kuya’s” in their various Child Friendly Activities (CFA) led by Princess Fernandez. 

On the last day, the children walked an extra kilometers to be with their "Ate’s and Kuya’s" .  They had an emotional bidding of goodbye’s in the a crossroad where the coaches, volunteers and the kids had to depart ways.  They  brought with them the experience… the genuine love…  as they heed toward home – T’murok and Gen. Santos City.

Photo Documentations at:  
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Socsargen-Peace-Network/300156283341516

Dr. Cagape's Team heed the call to help CDO flood victims

In a short time of sending SMS for generous friends and network of Dr. Cagape here in General Santos City, donations of various kinds - clothings, medicines, food arrived at DXCP compound. The group will join the delegates of LGU-Sarangani Province to Cagayan de Oro tomorrow until December 24. More than 4 volunteers mostly registered nurses will help the medical team in assisting the flood victims in the area that killed more than 300 people and 400 more are still missing.

“PANAGTAGPU”: B’laan Tribe Gathering at Brgy. SInawal

More than 80 B’laans of Barangay Sinawal come together, “Panagtagpu”, at Brgy. Hall of Sinawal on December 19, 2011 facilitated by SOCSARGEN Peace Network to re-establish their relationships and current situation as Indigenous Peoples .

The” Panagtagpu” was started with a light activity of origami peace dove paper folding. The facilitator, Fr. Angelo Buenavides, shared some insights on peace, cooperation and teamwork on every fold of the paper. The participants also shared the lesson learned in this activity:

o Ang lider kay mahigugmaon. Kung walay gugma, dili matarong ang paglead.

o Tan-awon ang salinsing. Tan-awon ang silingan.

o Dala sa lider ang tanan nga problema. Dapat ang lider ay may pag-unawa at pagmamahal. Pinapakinggan din ng lider ang sinasabi ng mga mamamayan sa kanyang komunidad at pag-aralan niya kung kapaki-pakinabang ba ang mga suhestiyon ng nito para sa ikabubuti ng komunidad.

o Ang tagak ay isang simbolo. It represents the leader as well as its followers. Kung dili muangay ang mga miyembro sa komunidad sa lider, dili ibig sabihin nga dili siya lider. Dapat i-encourage ang lider. I-apply sa kaugalingon ang simbolo sa tagak.

o Kung naa kay amo, dili magpagamit sa amo. Sundon dapat ang batas.

o Tulad ng tagak, may kahinaan din an glider kaya dapat i-encourage ang lider.

o Tagak: shows submission ug pagsunod

o Ang mga tagak, dili nagalupad nga sila-sila lang. Naa silay porma nga makatabang sa ila sa pagsalo sa hangin.

Second Activity is a “Gladiator’s Fight”. An activity that each right hand of the partner clasp with each other and that the objective is to touch the partner’ shoulder as many as they can. Many of them gave a strong resistance and thus hardly anybody touches each others’ shoulder. It could have been very easy for them to touch the partner’s should they gave in as the instruction is just to touch the partner’s shoulder as many as they can. After the activity, the participants learned the following:

o Pwede man nga magpulihanay ug gunit sa partner kay wala man giingon nga punggan.

o Reason behind: competition, wala nagapalamang

o Solution: Cooperation para gaan ang kinabuhi kay kung naay kompetisyon, kapoy

o COOPERATION over competition

o Dapat healthy lang nga competition

The third activity is “Breaking the World Record”. Participants were given instruction how will they arrange themselves – according to height, number of children, etc. They were given time to talked about their strategy and constantly asked if they can still lower the record… or break their current record.

o Dapat kaila nimo ang imong kauban. MAGKAISA

o Makinig sa instructions

o Teamwork

o Cooperation

o May tiwala sa isa’t isa

o Isang lahi at kultura kaya dapat magkaintindihan

o Teamwork bag-o magwaldas ug kwarta

o Ang lider ay hindi makasarili, dapat marunong lumingon sa kasama

o Take ideas from others

o Mag-usap tungkol sa strategy/ies

§ Habang nag-uusap nagkakaroon ng panibagong pamamaraan na nagpapadali sa paglutas ng problema

The fourth activity is the untangling of connected hands to form a circle. The group was not successful in untangling the hands and shared their lesson learned.

o Kung ang tanan nag-isturyahanay ug walay nagapaminaw maong naay gubot nga mahimong away.

o Kung tanan magreklamo ug walay maminaw, magkagubot ang tanan

o Sa gamay nga bagay, importante ang istoryahanay

Concerns were also verbalized and confirmed by the communities such as:

1. Distribution of land

o Nagaaway ang clans

o ISSUES: ancestral domain

o Conflict within the clan

o Ginaguba ang mga balay nga gipatindog biskan sa ancestors nila ang yuta

2. Boundary conflict between clans

o Ayuhon sa malinawon nga pamaagi

3. Animosity among IP clan leaders

4. Intrusion of businessmen sa ancestral domain

5. Proliferation of guns in the area

o Can be solved through helping each other; cooperation

6. NCIP office acting as middle person on land dealings

o Dili magpadala sa kasuko

7. EDUCATION

o Ingnan ang kabataan nga mutabang sa Sinawal kung mugraduate na sila

8. Intrusion of banana and pineapple plantation

o Ok lang man ang development pero dili masinati sa mga pobre/ mga tao sa area ang mga pagkaon kay para man kini sa mga dato.

The barangay councilor ended the activity by saying, “Ang mga dula nga gibuhat ganiha ay may mga kahulugan kag kabuluhan. Dili lamang basta basta nga dula, naa niy purpose. Dili pabay-an nga mawala ang kultura sa Blaan lalo na karon nga naexpose na ang mga kabataang Blaan sa ubang Kultura”

Another peace dove paper folding closed the activities before the lunch to remind them of their common desires. Looking at their peace doves, they might remember the lessons learned and challenges their tribe are facing and handling this issues and concerns in a peaceful way.

The community wanted to have another session of “Panagtagpu” this coming January 2012.

Community ate their shared lunch packed in banana leaves.

MINDA celebrated Christmas with the IPs in Sitio Pao-Pao

Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) celebrated their Christmas Party with more than 400 children and 150 families mostly of the Indigenous Peoples in SItio Paopao, Brgy. SInawal, General Santos City. Sec. Luwalhati Antonino personally met the IP families and their children in Sitio Paopao Elementary School, Brgy. Sinawal, General Santos City on December 16, 2011 .

In a brief message, MINDA staff told the community that in this simple activity, they wanted to share the spirit of Christmas and that they wanted to tell that there is an office for them and there is a government to look for their welfare.

THE ACTIVITIES:

The volunteers of SOCSARGEN Peace Network facilitated the initial activities like origami or paper peace dove folding for grade 4 to 6 and adult IP families while Grade 1 to Grade 3 were being entertained with various Child Friendly Activities while waiting for MINDA to arrived.

As soon as MINDA arrived, they facilitated various activities simultaneously.

The adults were engaged in a technology seminar called “Liter of Light” to light their houses conservatively.

Kids ages 4-12 were grouped for a “Book Reading” facilitated by Jay Rosas.

Vitamin A were distributed to kids ages 2-6.

The teens were given various games and activities in the covered court.

Packed gifts were given to more than 200 pupils and Chrstmas food packages for 150 indigenous people families of B’laan, T’boli and Manobo.

A community lunch were prepared called a “boodle fight”, military style of eating where long tables are prepared and food are on top of the banana leaves. Viands includes bihon, pancit, adobong manok, and aprita. Rice ready to eat using bare hands, jugs of water are prepared on the side to wash hands before the "eating engagement”.

EXPRESSIONS OF JOY AND GRATITUDE.

Zenaida Oyog, 54 years old, Manobo mother expressed her gratitude to MINDA saying ”Bong Salamat”.

She wanted to cook the bihon immediately and invite her relatives to join her even it was not yet a Christmas day.

The principal, Mr. Lou Bernandino, together his faculty,

barangay officials and tribal leaders were very grateful that his school was the venues of MINDA’a Christmas Party. He was also visited by DEPEd School Division Superintendent’s Estrella Lariosa.

The place was full of joy and surprises especially for the children as they received various toys and candies.

Indeed, “It’s Christmas Time in Paopao with MINDA” as they decorate their stage.