BACK!

Just finished my news release for the 8th TIICTD Cluster Meeting of BIMP-EAGA, the event that brought me to Palawan.

It was one of the toughest topic I had to write about. Even if I spent three to four days sitting down in various working group meetings, even if I took pictures of the slide presentations, I still cannot fully consolidate all the topics discussed. My major problem is, after all the reports, I still cannot identify the final output of the activity. Well, I'll be receiving feedback days from now. I just hope it's not that bad, to make them regret their decision for sending me there.

Despite my anxieties before the trip, I ended up still grateful and relieved. First,  gave me chance to bond with four of my officemates, who I never interacted with while we were at the office. Second, I had an almost 5-star experience in the hotel where we were staying. It's the newest hotel in Puerto Princesa, and is considered to be the "5-star hotel" there. New as it is, the service is also in its start-up stage, which spells INEFFICIENT. But I really saw the efforts of the people there to be as polite as they can be to compromise the bad service. 

Talking to the delegates felt like Rarejob all over again. Contrary to my perception, they are actually very friendly, and are even comfortable sharing some of the personal details of their lives with other people. I actually dread the part when they start talking about technical things about the forum, because it means I'd have to pretend I know what they are talking about. But, as usual,  bluffed my way out, again. It's somehow refreshing to be able to see the human side of these business executives, handling their respective lucrative jobs.

The Chairman of the Cluster shared that he has been traveling for two weeks straight, and he just wants to go home, go nowhere. And I thought: "Wow, the Chairman yearns for some bumming session, too." I've also talked to a Malaysian guy, from the Ministry of Transport.  We were also able to agree that we don't necessarily need to love a degree to finish it. There was one night when I sneaked out from a dinner event, because I badly wanted to explore Palawan already. While I was in their "tiangge" I saw one of the participants there (almost didn't recognize her in her casual wear). I smiled and asked why she didn't attend the dinner. She said: "Nah, we're too tired, we want to go shopping instead." Yeahright. Wish I could call my errand as "shopping", too.

Well, these simple encounters inspired me. The world can be connected in so many ways. Differences are close to nothing if everyone starts a conversation with friendship and kindness in mind. In fact, effective intercultural communication need not always be about breaking the barriers, sometimes it could simply be forgetting that there are barriers.

Nothing beats spontaneous and honest conversations with (nice) strangers, one of the things I love about travelling! 

Be careful of what you wish for.. :)

I’m going to Palawan this weekend. Palawan. Palawan! Puerto Princesa Palawan!

During my first interview in this office, the panel asked me about how I feel about traveling... a lot. I answered with a smile, and said I love traveling. I didn’t want to sound too excited so I said it lifelessly.

They even tried to scare me that I might be sent to the remotest areas of Mindanao to follow-up, launch, or cover a project. I still smiled, but part of me was already scared. One reason why I never pursued a career in broadcast communication is my lack of bravery and aggressiveness (which is mainly required from field reporters), and it seemed like it was what they were asking from me.

On my first few weeks here, almost all of the staff from our department were already traveling. One went to Manila for the IFEX Expo, the other to Lanao del Norte for a project turnover, and another one went to Kidapawan. I was assigned to some events too, but they were only around the city, as you may see in the previous posts.

I was completely fine with that, but I was also hoping for some out of town travels. With out-of-town, I was imagining Kidapawan, Surigao, Zamboanga,General Santos, anywhere near.

Last month, they told me that I might be sent to Palawan for a BIMP-EAGA event, since the rest of them need to attend a wedding on the schedule of the event. I didn’t take it seriously. The event was still a month away when they said that, so many things can change.

I received my iterinary and e-ticket yesterday. Departure date: June 19, 11:50am. Arrival date: June 25: 09:50am. My mind screamed WTF.

My friends are apparently excited for me. I should be, too. But everything’s still so surreal. I have always wanted to travel alone, and now that the opportunity is hugging me already, I’m freaking out. Well, being alone in Palawan is not a very bad idea. I’m more scared of staying in Manila for a night, first time and alone. I don’t know if I’ll survive like the others.

Another source of apprehension is the event itself. My Chief trusted me to cover the event, and it’s relatively huge and highly technical. Right now, I’m just worried how to capture it the way I’m expected to. How to provide a Palawan-trip-worthy story when I come back. *gaaaaaaasssshhhh*

Finally, I’m a little depressed about probably missing the Underground river tour because of other tasks assigned to me.  I might be at Brooke’s Point on the same day that the tour will happen. Brooke’s Point is definitely not the best that Palawan can offer. Oh well, guess we can't just have it all.. :(

Will definitely be providing updates here next week!

We have so many identities

Yesterday, I attended the first 'workshop' of our department. Workshop = Serious Meeting.


It was another intellectually stimulating moment for me. I missed discussions like that. I miss attending discussions about things I am passionate about - communication, planning, public relations. 


The main concern that transpired from that workshop is the tedious job that our division needs to do in order to re-position the image of Mindanao Development Authority to our public. The problem with this agency, aside from relatively being new, is the many identities it carries. 




How do we really want the public to see us?


First, MinDA should be seen as the BIG Brother of all other organizations (LGUs, NGOs, CSOs, and other private and public sectors).
Second, we should be seen as the "THINK TANK" of Mindanao. We should have the answers, the information, the decisions. 
Lastly, the Mindanao Champion. The sole and largest representative of Mindanao to the nation. 


These are heavy projections, OBVIOUSLY. But, this is also where strategic messaging and communication planning comes in. We need to come up with unique strategies that will work for every target audience. Right now, the current strategies that the division is using are more apt for the business and government sectors. 


However, our main concern really is the awareness of the general public about the existence of this institution. Before cascading the development to other people, we should start with the people from Mindanao themselves who have been yearning for development in their respective areas as well, or the Mindanaoans who are still stuck with the negative perceptions that have been made about Mindanao. That mere awareness can already go a long way. Knowing that the grassroots are aware and looking up to this agency might even motivate this organization to further contextualize its projects, policies, and researches. At the same time, people would gain even a slight sense of confidence to be in Mindanao, and to know that there is one specific government agency that is dedicated to the development of Mindanao.


We need to empower the youth, assist them in gaining appreciation for their own island. They should be able to defend their own origins, through their own perspectives and resources,  and the rest of country can go on with their prejudices.  


We need to assist the SMEs and recognize their remarkable contributions to our economy. 


We need to be keen in the investments that are coming in, to avoid exploitation of Mindanao potentials.


We need more stories that can depict Mindanao's rich and unique culture and beauty.


The donors, NGOs can only pour so much in a given time frame, then they leave.


MinDA stays. MinDA sustains what have been started - or at least it should.  


 

Lessons from the Mindanao Peace Education Forum

"Peace is not the mere absence of war" - Dr. Rey Tan

"Development agencies are just catalysts for development, they can't be there forever, you would have to sustain it by yourself, eventually" -a point taken from the Forum's facilitator.


"You cannot assist people forever."

The Ripple Effect

Daddy, Don’t Play with Guns

While most parents would succumb to the demands of their young sons to buy robots and toy guns, a certain area in Cotabato City is replacing all the students’ toy guns with seedlings.

The J. Marquez School of Peace in Cotabato City implemented the Kids no to Toy Guns program as part of their peace education system. Toy guns have been a favorite toy of most young boys for several years; however the peace educators recognize that this mere fascination of their students for such toy is an unhealthy start for them, given the erratic peace and order situation in their community.

One teacher shared that dead bodies can be seen randomly in some communities. Almost every family, regardless of economic status owns a gun. The younger generations are already witnesses to the number of violence and killings in their area. Even the students are violent, themselves. A petty fight between students involves blood most of the time.

Teacher Marge, who has taught Grade 1 to Grade 6 pupils in the said school, recalled that time when she was called inside a classroom where a fight between two Grade 6 students. She saw one student with a table on top of his head, with blood dripping on one side of his temple. According to her, students were not afraid to inflict any form of physical pain to their fellow students.

Being tools for social reform, the teachers from the J Marquez School of Peace were more than determined to initiate a program that can save at least the younger generations from notorious practices when they become adults. There is always a point in a child’s life when they dread the teacher more than their parents. “Teacher” is always right. Parents even use teacher’s name just to make their children do an assignment or project. This image of an educator was a salient contribution to the smooth implementation of the programs.

Toy guns brought inside school premises were confiscated by the teachers. But this rule was not imposed arbitrarily. Everything was done through a gradual, child-oriented process. In every grade level, peace values are richly integrated in subjects like Hekasi, Values Education, and even Mathematics (hands down!). Through this, the teachers were confident that the students understood clearly why they were prohibited to play with toy guns.

The results of the Kids no to Toy Guns program are justly inspiring. Teacher Merge testified that their then-notorious children grew more aware and cautious of their behaviors. The best part is, the children themselves are alarmed when they see their father hold a gun. Every parent knows how influential a child can be, especially when they start talking like “Ayaw gamit ug baril, Pa. Bad man na. (Don’t use a gun, Pa. That’s bad).” 

One parent admitted that he was really embarrassed when his child said that. 

Kids no to Toy Guns have gone tremendously far. Indeed, it is easier to mold someone (for the better) if their innocence is still intact. Children are clean slates. They take in whatever you feed them, and this has been the greatest edge of the program.

This program is but a minute component of the entire Peace Education system in Mindanao, implemented by the Action for Conflict Transformation for Peace program. However, this kind of strategy is among those that are very likely to create a ‘ripple effect,’  and yet not getting the attention it deserves.

During my brief interview with teacher Marge, I lost my cynical self. Now, I’m starting to think that if only all teachers, parents, and government officials see things the way Teacher Marge and her colleagues does,  we can have peace and development  in our hands, through tiny yet strategic steps – and maybe, just maybe, box it in so we won’t lose it again. 

"If we think beyond ourselves, we become better " -Dr. Eligio

Firsts..

President Aquino took a short visit to Davao last May 18. One of his major activities here was to be the keynote speaker of the 104th Philippine Medical Association’s Annual Convention at Grand Regal hotel. I was sent to cover the event. Alone. The doctors and media started anticipating his presence at 9:30 am. More than his presence, people were very eager to know or to hear him talk about the RH Bill in front of all the doctors who were apparently supportive of the bill.



The president arrived at past 10am. I was expecting him to walk side by side with MinDA Chairperson, Secretary Luwalhati. Their picture together was all I needed. Unfortunately, he was escorted by the PMA President, and Secretary Lu walked behind Mayor Sarah Duterte. Fail.



Meanwhile, the eagerness of the media to have their own stories on RH Bill was starting to be infectious. I was getting excited to hear it from Ninoy, too... l-i-v-e. He didn’t fail his audiences, though. He really took the opportunity to further push the bill during his speech. Everything he said were already reported in the past, so there was really nothing stirring for my mind. I also cannot create a story out of that because it would completely be irrelevant to the expected output (from me). Finally, debates on RH bill is already getting boring. The opposing parties are running out of sane rebuttal of the bill.



The only memorable part of this first experience was the exposure to the actual struggle of the media people. I have never wanted to be like them, but I never ceased admiring them. I admired their aggressiveness, their endurance, and their competitiveness. When you are a journalist, you have to be proactive and quick -everything I'm not. This is one of the few instances that I am really certain about myself. I was there, bloated with inferiority, for two main reasons: I was using a point-and-shoot camera, and I was a nobody in that scene while the rest of them were fairly acquainted. THAT is very memorable. It's been ages since I last felt any form of inferiority. I used to be highly self-assured. 

In fact, this new job in general is all about being planted back to the ground. Deeper than usual. This is all about realizing how empty my cup has been. This is about figuring out how to fill that up, before I run out of energy and motivation.

There. The President of the Republic of the Philippines marked my first experience as a newbie - in my workplace, in Journalism, and in Mindanao.