Kalinga sa Bayan ng Maigo in unison “YES TO PEACE, NO TO WAR”

Kalinga sa Bayan ng Maigo in unison “YES TO PEACE, NO TO WAR”

By PHIL PA-ALAN

MAIGO, Lanao del Norte (March 1, 2015 ) – A two-day  Kalinga Sa Bayan ng Maigo undertaking was initiated  jointly by the 15th Infantry “Molave Warrior” Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, Philippine Army, the Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation, Lanao Development Team, and the Local Government Unit of Maigo (LGU-Maigo), Lanao del Norte,  in cooperation with the  Department of Education (DepEd), and the Philippine Drugs Enforcement Administration (PDEA).

The 2-day Kalinga Sa Bayan Maigo  event, held at the  Maigo School Gymnasium at Barangay Poblacion, Maigo, Lanao del Norte aims to train the school children to become responsive, responsible, useful, and productive citizens to be able to contribute largely  in the development of the communities as change agents. It was  participated in by some 600 school children from various schools in  the municipality with ages ranging from 5 years old to 18 years old, both males and females as well as pre-schoolers.

The first day (Feb. 28) of the Kalinga Sa Bayan Ng Maigo event included activities like facilitators training involving 91 youth leaders and 10 army soldiers; Getting to Know You Activity; Bayanihan Race, Empowerment Talk  by  Gawad Kalinga on the theme  Lakas ng Pagbabago; lecture on Imternal Peace and Security Program (IPSP) Bayanihan; Pulot Basura Inside the Venue, briefing on Bihis Bayani, Choreography for Bihis Bayani, Film Showing, an educational video / audio visual presentation; Kalinga Night involving Audio Visual Presentation on the Philippine Army Today and Video for peace.; Bihis Bayani  and Jambayani, a  time for music  on peace and unity dance with the Molave Warrior Band providing the musical sounds.

The second day (March 1) included activities such as Wake Up Call, Human Peace Sign, Panalangin para sa Kapayapaan, a prayer, and songs,” Let There be Peace on Earth,” and “Habang May Buhay” with the Molave Warrior Band, morning exercise, fire hose bath, consolidation of the youth participants including youth from the other municipalities, and Lakad para sa Kapayapaan (walk for peace), participated in by Mayor Rafael Rizalda, LGU-Maigo employees, Sangguniang Bayan Members, Barangay Captains of Maigo, Lt. Col. Joemar Jose M. Doctolero, commanding officer of the 15th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, military personnel, school heads of the various schools in Maigo, teachers, school children and parents and youth participants from Kauswagan, Munai, Tangkal, and Kolambugan, Gawad Kalinga staff, among others.

The parade went around the barangay poblacion from  the Maigo school ground and back to the school gymnasium. The youth participants were carrying placards shouting for peace.  Some of the placards read, “Yes to peace, no to war;,”, “We support Peace.”. “We love Peace”. “We want Peace”, “Allout Peace”, “Isulong ang Kapayapaan’, “Allout support for Peace”, “Kapayapaan para sa Kaunlaran”, and “Ang giyera ay di solusyon sa kapayapaan”. 

The parade was followed by the opening program at the school covered gymnasium.  In her welcome remarks   Mrs. Felda Abugan Cuevas, School Principal of the Maigo Central Elementary School. welcomed the participants, guests and visitors of the Kalinga sa Bayan ng Maigo.

Lt. Col. Leomar Jose M. Doctolero

In his message, Lt. Col. Leomar Jose M. Doctolero, commanding officer of the 15th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army  expressed thanks to those who joined the Kalinga sa Bayan ng Maigo  especially the Youth for Development, Gawad Kalinga, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA),  as he said that Kalinga is for peace and development of the communities.  He also acknowledged the presence of the special guests from Negros Oriental who are here to help.  He said “We love Maigo” as he added, “We want to show our love to the people of Maigo, especially the children.”   He said “Ang kabataan ay ang pag-asa ng bayan”  He said many school children are supporting the Kalinga activity in Maigo, children from far away barangays in pushing forward for peace and development in our communities. He said, “We will do everything we can to prevent the unfortunate incidents in the past from happening again.”  He said, “We have to be united” as he thanked all those who joined the Kalinga sa Bayan ng Maigo.

A small kids stressed that “Peace should be in the Heart”.  An intermission number was contributed by school children from Maigo Central Elementary School in a form of a dance presentation to the delight of school children, guests and visitors.

For his part, Municipal Mayor Rafael C. Rizalda expressed his warmest thanks and gratitude to the 15th IB, the faculty, the neighboring LGUs of  Tangkal, Bacolod, Kolambugan, the children, guests and visitors, the media men, Board Members Bongcawil and Macas for supporting the peace initiatives in Maigo through the Kalinga sa Bayan ng Maigo.  He said  , “We want to show the people  that we are for Peace.”  He said our children are shouting, “Yes to Peace, No to War.”  He said “War is not a solution to our problem” He said war has caused the loss of thousands of precious lives, as it also adversely affected the lives of the civilians.  He said the towns in Lanao del Norte are united for peace.

Maigo Mayor Rafael Rizalda

He said the government is instituting policies with consultancy groups from the US and Japan.  He said these policies should be followed as there are new ways to attain peace in Mindanao.  He said the local leaders support moves for peace, as he hoped that peace will be attained in Maigo and Mindanao.  He said, “We pray to God that we will be kept away from harm.”  He said the Muslims and Christians in Lanao del Norte are united in seeking peace for Lanao del Norte and for the entire Mindanao area.”

Other activities of the Kalinga sa Bayan ng Maigo include Paraisong Pambata which consists of distribution of slippers, batang bayani (Larong Pinoy Kids), story-telling, film showing for kids, kids football clinic, dance workshop for kids, and distribution of slippers, ice cream and balloons.; youth forum for the  youth  conducted by Dennis Caballero at the MSU HRM Building; Island greening consisting of mangrove planting and tree planting; Clean-up Drive of the Maigo park, plaza, nearest schools; drug forum conducted by Ms. Rosemarie A. Bajao of the PDEA; closing program consisting of testimonials from the youth, distribution of certificates, inspirational messages from the GK Lanao del Norte, Mayor of Maigo, DepEd, and the 15th IB, Walang Iwanan Lecture conducted by GK personnel, and Jambayani with the Molave Warrior Bang featuring the songs: Diwa ng Bayanihan, Awit ng Kabataan, Walang Impossible, Kapayapaan and Sugod mga Kapatid. The  film showings carry  morale values and lessons for the youth to learn from.,

The mangrove planting was done at Barangay Barra, Maigo with about 100 school children participating.  Some 500 mangrove propagules were planted by the school children, while the clean-up drive was also participated in by about 100 school children to clean up the Maigo park, plaza and the nearest schools in the poblacion.

The youth forum participated in by over 80 school children were briefed by Prof. Caballero to provide them knowledge on human aspects such as reproductive health,  vices, such as smoking, drinking, illegal drugs, as well as suicide, attempted suicide, violence, and  harassments, among others.  Caballero said 3.9 million Filipinos are engaged in illegal drugs. He said Regions 7 and 9 are heavier drinkers than Region 10.  He said 95% of children are against abortion. He said exposure to sex videos among Region 10 children has greatly reduced.  He said 1 out of 4 children are exposed to sex video; 1 out of 100  children had sex experience, and 6 out of 100 male children are indulged in phone sex.

The school children enjoyed most of the activities, especially the distribution of the servings of ice cream provided by the organizers of the program, as the activities are aimed at educating and capacitating them for personal development to become good citizens of their respective  communities.

In the drug forum attended by over 85 school children who are 14 years old and above, Rosemarie A. Bajao of PDEA made a power point presentation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 which was signed on June 7, 2002, published on June 19, 2002 and took effect on July 4, 2002, and which provides a more concrete course of action for the national anti-drug campaign and provides for heavier penalties to offenders.  She also stressed the role of PDEA in enforcing the drugs law, which is to reduce illegal drugs supply as well as reduce illegal drugs demand and embark on a campaign of advocacy and help in the rehabilitation of the illegal drugs users. 

Ms. Bajao said that the illegal drugs market in the country is estimated to be a P4 billion industry.  She added that more than 5,000 drug patients are in rehabilitation centers and still increasing.  She said that 70% of brutal/heinous crimes are drugs related.  She said to avoid temptations, the children should remember the following: Don’t even think about it; Resist Negative Peer Pressures; Use Healthy Alternatives; God is the answer; and Say No (to illegal drugs). She said that 70% of illegal drug users have no control of themselves; that 45% of the users have been fired from their jobs; and that 50% of the drug dependents ended up in separation with their spouses. She said drug dependents include movie actors, like Christopher de Leon, basketball players, like Jojo Lastimosa and Norman Black,  ordinary office workers, school children, among others.  A film showing on the negative effects of illegal drugs was presented and viewed by the school children.

Certificates of appreciation were distributed to the individuals and organizations who have helped in making the affair a resounding success. A similar program had been conducted earlier by the organizers in Munai, Poona Piagapo, Tangkal, and Kolambugan,  all in Lanao del Norte. (with reports and photos by Malyne Gungob)