Tri-people Hold Mindanao Peace Summit

By JULIE GANTES

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Dec.14PFM)—Convergence of the officials and representatives of the tri-people of Mindanao will be held today dubbed as Mindanao Peace Summit 2015 Lumads, Muslims and Christians in pursuit of Peace, Unity and Development to be held today (Dec. 15, 2015 Tuesday) at the Garden Orchid Hotel, this city.

The gathering is sponsored by the World Philosophical Forum (UNESCO) and the International Movement for Peace and Reconciliation.

Shariff Ibrahim Albani, lead convenor and founding chairman of the International Movement said the historic event will be attended by Mindanao multi-sectoral organizations and cause-oriented groups from all walks of life coming from different regions of Mindanao and the NCR. National as well as international guests and dignitaries will also grace the event at the Orchid’s Convention Center at Camins Road.

Albani, who hails from Mindanao said that the summit will be presented by all stakeholders and inhabitants from all different sectors and will reach out to a wide spectrum of society and build a broad-based popular movement for peace, unity and progress.

“Without this involvement from the grassroots component, our socio-economic and political efforts cannot succeed,” Albani disclosed.

He said one way to promote peace and development is to encourage inter-community dialogue and cross-cultural inter-action by the inhabitants of Mindanao.

“We believed that the solemn and keen understanding of religion, culture and tradition as well building mutual respect and cooperation can be formidable instrument in the pursuit of harmony and peace,” Shariff also said.

The Summit is aimed to promote interfaith harmony, respect, cooperation and understanding; identify causes of problems in the different sectors of society which are often economic or political in nature rather than religious issues; to harness mutual cooperation and good social relations among the tri-people; to build trust and confidence; and to break down the barriers and stereotype, which lead to distrust, suspicion and bigotry.

He said Mindanao is rich in natural and human resources as it is strategically located in the heart of Southeast Asia, hence, making the regional economic potential quiet immense and needed to be tapped for  benefits  of its inhabitants.

 “Indigenous Peoples (IPs), Muslims and Christians have an indispensable role to play in the development of the region. However, he emphasized that peace and unity are pre-requisites to the progress and development.

He appealed to the participants to grasp the importance of peace and unity through continuous dialogues and interactions, so that a sustainable if not permanent development can be established in our regions for the sake of the new generation and those that yet to come.

An open forum and signing of manifesto of support and commitments and cooperation to peace and unity will be forged by the participants, according to organizers. (With reports by Bernie Concepcion)

5th ASIAN Organic Rice Conference successfully held in Dumingag

 Butch Cabilan, Municipal Administrative Officer

By JONG CADION

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur --- To strengthen the networking among the organic rice farmers, farmers to producers and farmers to consumers relationship was agreed upon during the 4-day 5th ASIAN Organic Rice Conference 2015 held in the nearby town of Dumingag in this province on December 1-4, 2015.

Butch Cabilan, Municipal Administrative Officer said the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Dumingag expressed his gratitude to all sectors in the municipality for their cooperation and support in the intensive preparation that resulted in the successful hosting of the international activities.

Cabilan said the 5^th ASIAN Organic Rice Conference 2015 was a very successful events participated by 117 Organic Rice Famers, 20 visiting LGU Officials from different municipalities of Bislig, Surigao; Bindoy, Negros Oriental; Daran, Samar; General Nacar, Quezon; Goa, Camarines Sur; Iligan City; Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte; Lanao del Sur; Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte and the 26 municipalities of this province in the country and from the South Korea.  

Cabilan also said that out of the expected 20 ASIAN countries only South Korea delegations were able to attend the conference after their Embassy granted the LGU of Dumingag letter of appeal due to Travel Ban Advisory because of security issues in Mindanao.  .

 

Mayor Nacianceno Pacalioga, Jr.

Gov. Antonio Cerilles

The LGU of Dumingag request was granted to proceed with the hosting of the 5th ASIAN Organic Rice Conference 2015 with the assurance of security measures to be implemented during the activities.

South Korea is one of the Organizers of the activities after it hosted last year 2014 the 4^th ASIAN Organic Rice Conference, he said.  

The hosting of 5^th Asian Organic Rice Conference Cabilan said is in coordination with the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movement–Asia (IFOAM-Asia) and Organic Producer Trade Association of the Philippines (OPTA Philippines).

This is the second time that the LGU of Dumingag under the leadership of Mayor Nacianceno Pacalioga, Jr. hosted the international gathering, he said. The first was the hosting of week-long Organic Leadership Course for Southeast Asia (OLC-SEA) being spearheaded by the IFOAM on September 20 to 28, 2014.

Cabilan disclosed that the Asian Organic Rice Conference has developed from the annual exchanges among organic rice farmers in Asia (Philippines, India, Indonesia, Bhutan, Malaysia) as the farmers realized the importance of sharing their knowledge on organic rice production and techniques.

In the recent conference, topics expanded to include biodiversity, food security, climate change, community building, environmental preservation, seed saving and exchanges and preservation of the values of traditional farming, Cabilian said.

He added that the 5^th Asian Organic Rice Conference hosted by the local government of Dumingag wherein Mayor Pacalioga, Jr. won the prestigious One World Award in 2012 by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) of which Mayor Pacalioga, Jr is now IFOAM ASIA Honorary Board of Director.

For almost 10 years, Cabilan said the Dumingag Municipality embraced organic agriculture as its main strategy to effect positive changes among others in the local policy, planning and investments, poverty and economic development, values transformation and education and cultural development.

The Asian Organic Rice Conference has three Objectives: First, to promote exchanges among organic rice practitioners in Asia and other parts of the world on production, processing, marketing and trade, guarantee and certification, policy development and support, research and development, financing and investment and others; Second, to present local innovation on different organic practices related to seed preservation, inputs preparation using indigenous materials, farming systems in the lowland and upland areas establishment of organic villages, extension and training by official village leaders, community based trading and marketing and farmers participatory guarantee system and third to showcase organic products and services by the Barangays or villages of Dumingag Municipality and other local players from the government, business, academe, people’s organizations, cooperatives and non-profit organizations.

IFOAM ASIA President represented by Patrick Belisario, OPTA Board president during the conference expressed his gratitude to Mayor Jun Pacalioga for his enthusiasm and commitments to making successful hosting of the international gathering for the promotion of organic farming and for giving high moral support to the farmers in the community for bringing them into a global perspective.

Gov. Antonio Cerilles in his speech was amazed and proud of Mayor Pacalioga’s fulfillment of his mission and vision in joining global activities of promoting environmental-friendly farming.  

November is deemed a month of Special Events in Dapitan City

DAPITAN CITY (Nov.5, 20`15) -- November is deemed a month of Special Events in Dapitan City which is not only popular for being the Shrine City of the Philippines, a Heritage City and City of Stars, City Tourism Officialo said.

City tourism Officer Apple Marie Agolong said Dapitan City is not only known as a Heritage City and City of Stars but also a city of festivals with 6 festivals being celebrated yearly in order to push its bid to maintain its stature as one of the vibrant tourist destinations in the Philippines.

The first to take center stage is the “ULANG FESTIVAL” in Barangay Opao every November 6 and 7 which is to be participated in by the Barangays along the riverbanks. It is the 5th Festival of the city.

Agolong said services and entertainment will be brought there by the Local Government Unit (LGU) as well as various contest and competitions with the main purpose of showcasing the abundance of our river and that there is a need to protect those species found therein.

The second big event Aolong said is the Search for Ginoong Dapitan 2015, now in its 3rd Year with the main purpose of showcasing the sculpted bodies of men achieved through exercise, body building and a lot of discipline which is believed to be Datu Pagbuaya's physique as well as that of his men.

Agolong added that this event will also inspire young men and women to go to the gym or just do their exercise and do away with booze and vices.

Most importantly, the winner of our Ginoong Dapitan will have a chance to compete in the National Level giving us a chance to showcase our talents and pride. Among the judges is a Dapitanon who is successful in his chosen field, the President of RDH Entertainment, Mr. Richard Hinola and Actor/Model Mr. Johan Moriele Santos, she said.

To give us entertainment she added that during the intermission numbers is Actress/Model Ms. Christine Almaden together with other FHM Models.

Ladies and gentlemen, catch them live and be awed by both physical attributes and entertainment on November 25, 2015 at the Dapitan City Cultural and Sports Center! Agolong invited. (By JDC)

The Tausug, as a historic people should have representation in Congress: Shernee A. Tan

 

MS. SHERNEE A. TAN President, KUSUG TAUSUG,

daugther of Sulu VIce Governor ABDUSAKUR TAN,

calls for unity, peace, solidarity and strength for

the Tausugs through congressional representation.

(Photo by Bernie Concepcion)

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Nov. 2, 2015,MPF News) - The first Tausug Summit held in Zamboanga City from 31 October – 01 November 2015 and attended by 300 delegates from all sectors of the Tausug society from Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and the Zamboanga Peninsula touched on wide-ranging issues as introspection of the Tausug as a historic people vis-à-vis the current situation.

The discussions and deliberations were more on the passionate rhetoric on the glorious past of the Tausug bringing into fore the call for the restoration of the Sultanate.

As the Keynote Speaker for the Summit, Ms.Shernee A. Tan, the President of the KusugTausug movement offered the most practical alternative and legally feasible option while awaiting resolution to issue (sultanate) raised at the summit.

Ms Tan, youngest daughter of Vice Governor Abdusakur M. Tan, in her speech said “We are setting our eyes on a larger picture; that of our people who are scattered all over the Philippines, or toiling in foreign lands. They are inclusive to the humble efforts we are pursuing”.

Ms Tan expounded further and cited old protocols and agreements documenting the territory of the Sulu Archipelago, in particular the Madrid Protocol of 1885 which sets territorial domain of sovereign Sulu.“The Archipelago of Sulu (Jolo), conformably to the definition contained in Article I of the treaty signed September 23rd, 1846, between the Spanish Government and the Sultan of Sulu, comprises all the islands which are found between the western extremity of the island of Mindanao on the one, and the continent of Borneo and the Island of Paragua on the other side, with the exception of those which are indicated in Article III. It is understood that the Islands of Balabac and of Cagayan-Jolo form part of the archipelago.” Paragua is the old name of Palawan.

“We are not out to reclaim the old territory and we recognize the present political and geographical delineation”, Ms Tan further said.

She said that the KusugTausug, while recognizing any legal rights of any quarters, is more concern on the state and condition of the Tausug who are residing in many parts of the Philippines and toiling in foreign lands.

She said that while the Tausugis represented through the congressional districts of the component provinces of the ARMM or through their respective LGUs, they will have no half-way institutions to make representations for them when they are outside of particularized areas.

“Hindi po naming sinasabi na ang mga local na pamahalaan na kanilang kinaroroonan ay hindi kayang ipagtanggol o ipaglabanan ang kanilang mga karapatan, subali’t higit pong mapagtuunan sila ng pansin if they have a representative of their own aside from the ones we mentioned, which are limited in scope”, she said.

In reply to questions in an open forum Ms Tan said that during the so-called Zamboanga Siege majority who were in the evacuation centers were Tausug and those who were in the local government, civic organizations and ordinary citizens in Sulu did their very best to send immediate assistance in any form and way possible to their brethren.

“Such a situation adds credence to the clamor that the Tausug should be represented and attended to wherever fortune may take them”, she said.

(By Bernie Concepcion and Jong Cadion)