60 AFP, PNP personnel attend cultural
awareness orientation in Basilan

NCCA-Yakan Cluster head Ammalun Salahuddin (right), KELUARGA Pres. Ahmad Al-amin & PEACE People Organization President Ms. Hamsiya Durapan together with participants from the Philippine Army, SAF and PNP personnel from the provincial headquarter-Basilan last February 16-17, 2016.

 

About sixty participants from the Philippines Army based at 104th Brigade in Tabiawan Special Action Forces (SAF) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have attended a two-day cultural sensitivity awareness orientation in Isabela City, Basilan Province.
Sponsored by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the orientation is in partnership with the Provincial Government of Basilan through the joint effort of PEACE AND KELUARGA ASS’N, a people’s organizations.
The cultural awareness activity dubbed as “Recognizing cultural diversity towards PEACE; A paradigm to development and a peaceful co-existence and harmony," was held at the Provincial Women Peace Center in Barangay Sumagdang, Isabela City last February 16-17, 2016.
Different topics such as: the respect for culture: key to peaceful co-existence, community involvement: promoting cultural sensitivity awareness to sustain culture of peace, Yakan Culture Society and  recognizing beliefs and practices of Yakan Culture, values in Islamic perspective, were discussed by the series of lecturers on the two-day
informative and educational activity.
Ammalun Salahuddin, the Yakan cluster head and the NCCA representative in the forum, explained the importance of the conduct of cultural sensitivity program not only to one sector but to the different group if only to reverse the ethnocentric perception of non-indigenous peoples of Indigenous People's cultures, which are often stereotyped,
folklorized and treated with biases.
The Cultural sensitivity awareness program is one of the important activities of the NCCA that must be conducted in the different local communities particularly in the area where there are diverse cultures to promote understanding, peace and harmony among local populace and/or in the IPs ancestral communities Salahuddin said.
Col. Tom Donato, Deputy Brigade Comdr of the Philippine Army's 104th Brigade based in Tabiawan, Isabela City, who was representing the Brigade Commander, Col. Rolando Bautista, expressed thanks and appreciations to the sponsor of the cultural orientation for the timely conduct as it is necessary for everybody.
"Specially soldiers who are newly assigned in any area must be oriented and familiarized with the local cultures and idiosyncrasies of the people in the area to avoid misunderstanding and differences between them and the people in the community where they are assigned," said Donato.
The deputy brigade commander, likewise, welcome the idea of re-echoing the same cultural sensitivity orientation to the different municipalities and other stakeholders in the province so that concerned individual may be exposed and familiarize with their own cultures and practices.
He said the Philippine Army is always ready to support the program as it is also included in the operational guidelines of the armed forces of the Philippines to be mindful of the local political situation and cultures.