Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy represents Muslim Filipinos to US-Islamic World Forum in Qatar
text HADER GLANG

CONVENOR of the Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy (PCID) and former presidential adviser on youth affairs Amina Rasul will represent the Muslim Filipinos to the four-day US-Islamic World Forum, which formally kicks off on Friday, February 17, in the host country Doha, Qatar.

Ms. Rasul, also columnist of the Manila Times, will speak at this global forum that will be participated by dignitaries and journalists from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Britain, France, Malaysia, Egypt, India, Palestine, Indonesia, Sudan, Syria, Pakistan, Jordan, Nigeria, Azerbaitan, Lebanon, Turkey, and the Organization of Islamic Conference.

Main topics for the four-day global forum includes the State of US-Muslim world relations and the Middle East five years after the 9-11 attacks, security relationship, women leading change, concerns of Muslim minority communities, potential space for Muslim minority communities to assist more positive relations between the US and the wider Muslim world and bridging the divide: Muslim minority leaders.

The Next Generation: Youth and the Future of U.S.-Islamic Relations; the media effect: the US-Islamic world journalism, including biases by media, and journalists role to help bridge the chasm of misunderstanding between the U.S. and the Muslim world as well as developed in partnership with the international youth foundation, and policy, faith, and change in an age of globalization are the other topics in the forum.

The speakers at this forum are Peter W. Singer, Director, Project on U.S. Policy Towards the Islamic World, Saban Center at Brookings, US; Mohammed Abdullah Mutib Al Rumaihi, Assistant Foreign Minister for Follow Up Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Qatar; Shibley Telhami, Professor, University of Maryland;

Senior Fellow, Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution, United States; David Brooks, Columnist, The New York Times, US; Daniel Yankelovich, Chairman, Public Agenda; Viewpoint Learning, Inc., US; Khalil Shikaki, Director, Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research;

Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Qatar; Martin Indyk, Director, Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution, US; Syed Hamid Albar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia; Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister, Turkey;

Karen Hughes, Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, US; Abdel Ilah Khatib, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jordan; Stephen Cohen, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution, US; Mohamed Jawhar Hassan, Chairman and CEO, Institute of Strategic and International Studies, Malaysia;

Hassan Al Ansari, Director, Gulf Center of Strategic Studies, Qatar; Max Boot, Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations; Columnist, Los Angeles Times, US; Edward Djerejian, Director, James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University, US; Asad Durrani, Former Director-General, Inter-Services Intelligence;

Robert Kagan, Senior Associate, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Columnist, Washington Post, US; Rami Khouri, Editor, The Daily Star, Jordan; Carlos Pascual, Vice President and Director of Foreign Policy Studies, The Brookings Institution, US; L. Michael Hager, President Education for Employment Foundation, US;

M. Shafik Gabr, Chairman, Arab Business Council; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Artoc Group for Investment & Development, Egypt; Awais Sufi, Director of Business Development, International Youth Foundation, US; Saleha Abedin, Vice-Dean of Academic Affairs, Dar Al-Hekma College, Saudi Arabia;

Ali Babacan, Minister of State for the Economy, Turkey Soumia Belaidi Malinbaum, CEO, Specimen, Algeria/FranceRifat Hisarciklioglu, President, The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges, Turkey; Musa Hitam, Chairman, Kumpulan Guthrie; Former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia; Mohammed Ibrahim, Chairman, Celtel, Sudan;

Samer Salty, Partner, ZOUK Ventures, United Kingdom; Saad Eddin Ibrahim, Chairman, Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies, Egypt; Shibley Telhami, Professor, University of Maryland; Senior Fellow, Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution, US;

Gamal Al-Banna, Fawziyya and Gamal El-Banna Foundation for Islamic Culture and Information, Egypt; Sadig al-Mahdi, President, National Umma Party; Former Prime Minister of Sudan; Khurshid Ahmad, Chairman, Insititute of Policy Studies, Pakistan; Hossam Badrawi, Former Chairman, People's Assembly Education, Scientific Research Committee, Egypt;

Elizabeth Cheney, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs and Coordinator for Broader Middle East and North Africa Initiatives, United States; Steven Cook, Douglas Dillon Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations, US; Marwan Muasher, Former Deputy Prime Minister, Jordan;

Jillian Schwedler, Assistant Professor, University of Maryland; Chair, Middle East Research and Information Project, United States; Robin Wright, Diplomatic Correspondent, The Washington Post; Visiting Fellow, Saban Center at Brookings, United States; Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan’s People Party, Former Prime Minister of Pakistan;

Joan Spero, President, Doris Duke Foundation, United States; Surin Pitsuwan, Former Foreign Minister of Thailand; Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, Masjid al-Farah; ASMA Society, US; Muqtedar Khan, Professor, University of Delaware; Non Resident Fellow, Saban Center at Brookings, US; Hady Amr, Co-President, Arab Western Summit of Skills, US;

Salam al-Marayati, National Director, Muslim Public Affairs Council, United States; MJ Akbar, Editor, The Asian Age, India; Hakim El Ghissassi, Founder and Director, Sezame; La M�dina, France; Iqbal Sacranie, Secretary General, Muslim Council of Britain, United Kingdom; Zafar Siddiqi, CEO, CNBC Arabiya, UAE;

Margaret Warner, Senior Correspondent, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, on PBS, United States; David Aaron, Director, RAND Center for Middle East Public Policy, US; Faisal al Kasim, Host, Al Jazeera, Qatar; Bambang Harymurti, Editor, Tempo, Indonesia; Rami Khouri, Editor, The Daily Star, Jordan;

Eric Larson, Senior Policy Analyst, RAND, US; Carol Saivetz, Research Associate, Davis Center at Harvard University, United States; Mohd Annuar Zaini, Chairman, Bernama, Malaysia; George Atkinson, Science and Technology Advisor to the Secretary of State, US; Mohammed Ibrahim, Chairman, Celtel International, Sudan;

Michael D'Arcy, Lecturer, King's College, United Kingdom; Salman Ahmed, Junoon, Pakistan; Jane Alexander, Actress and former Director of the National Endowment for the Arts, US; Cynthia Schneider, Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy, Georgetown University, US; Bader ben Hirsi, Film Director-Felix Films, Yemen Nusrat Durrani, Senior Vice President, MTV Global;

Nasser D. Khalili, Founder, The Khalili Collections; Chairman, The Maimonides Foundation, United KingdomJoan Spero, President, Doris Duke Foundation, US; Amy Tan, Novelist, US; Muna Wassef, Actress and UN Goodwill Ambassador, Syria; Akbar Ahmed, Ibn Khaldun Professor, American University; Visiting Fellow, Saban Center at Brookings, US;

Akram Durrani, Chief Minister, Northwest Frontier Province, Pakistan; Chris Seiple, President, Institute for Global Engagement, US; H.R.H. Prince El Hassan bin Talal, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; Peter W. Singer, Director, Project on U.S. Policy Towards the Islamic World, Saban Center at Brookings, US;

Muhammadu Buhari, All Nigeria People’s Party, Former Head of State of Nigeria; and Elmar Mammadayarov, Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General, The Organization of the Islamic Conferences.

Washington-based Brookings Institution and the State of Qatar jointly sponsor the Forum, which seeks to serve as both a convening body and a catalyst for positive action.

The first meeting of the Forum was in January 2004 where over 165 leaders from the U.S. and 37 states in the Muslim world convened for three days of discussion and debate.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and Sheikh Hamad delivered the keynote addresses. The 2005 Forum sought to build upon these foundations, bringing together 160 leaders from the U.S. and thirty-five Muslim countries, from Senegal to Indonesia. (ZS)

IMAGE OF THE DAY

Vice Admiral Datu Mat-Rabi Bin Abu Samah, chief of staff of the Malaysian Armed Forces, salutes the Filipino troops during an arrival honor ceremony at the Southern Command headquarters. The visiting Malaysian military official is escorted by Brig. Gen. Francisco Callelero, Southcom deputy commander. (HADER GLANG)

Malaysian chief of staff visits Southcom
text HADER GLANG

A top Malaysian military official has been visiting the southern Philippines, where the International Monitoring Team (IMT) is supporting the peace process between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Malaysian chief of staff Vice Admiral Datu Mat Rabi Bin Abu Samah arrived in Zamboanga City Thursday morning and met with top military officials at the Southern Command headquarters led by Brig. Gen Francisco Callelero, Southcom deputy commander, in Camp Navarro, Upper Calarian.

“I’m here with my team to visit the IMT here. This is a routine visit for me to interact with members of the monitoring team station in Mindanao,” Samah told reporters in a press conference at the Southcom-based IMT’s office.

Asked what his assessment, Samah said that the peace process is moving in a very positive manner where both parties (GRP and MILF) seemed to be very eager to sign a peace agreement and that the ceasefire they have been monitoring is taking place very well.

“They are moving toward their objective. The parties told me they would be able to sign a final peace agreement before the end of the year,” he said. “There is no formal commitment yet, but I’m sure there are a lot of OIC member countries waiting for this final peace agreement.”

MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said the next round of talks is slated to take place next month in Malaysia and the Parties will discuss the implementing guidelines of the Ancestral Domain Aspect of the Tripoli Agreement of 2001.

Kabalu said after this, they will proceed to hammer out details of the negotiated political solution to the Bangsamoro Problem, which in 1997 was what the MILF had submitted as agenda of the peace talks.

The IMT, composed of soldiers from Malaysia, Indonesian, Brunei and Libya, is keeping an eye on the implementation of cessation of hostilities between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the MILF rebels. It has been in Mindanao for over a year now.

Earlier, Malaysian officials together with some members of the MILF visited a Madrazah (Islamic school) in barangay Tigtabon, Zamboanga City and Muslim-dominated villages in the city to see the real situation of the people in the area. (ZS)

IMAGE OF THE DAY


Allies. An American security officer and
a Filipino soldier guard during the arrival
of US engineering equipment and logistics
at a wharf in Jolo, Sulu for the joint RP-
US Balikatan Exercise. (HADER GLANG)

Community leaders join hands with
gov’t to sustain peace in Zamboanga Sur

Community leaders, religious elders and government officials recently signed a peace covenant to pursue peaceful resolution of conflicts in Zamboanga del Sur through open dialogue.

“We want peace not only in our families but in the whole community,” said Ustadz Camar Dagadas of Dinas Municipality, one of the signatories to the covenant.“We want to help settle conflicts in our communities through peaceful means.”

The other signatories were Datu Tucan Dacula VI, Datu sa Sibugay (Prince of Sibugay); Sheik Esmail Calalagan, president of the Association of Islamic Development-Philippines; Sultan Comie Gandawali of Pagadian City; and Naguib Mantolino of Mabait Multi-Purpose Farmers’ Cooperative.

Zamboanga del Sur Gov. Aurora Enerio-Cerilles also signed the covenant together with Dr. Vizminda Serrato of the Department of Education; Tarhata Daligdigan, provincial director of the Office of Muslim Affairs; Hadji Abcede Asjali, provincial director of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG); and James Ali Abdul of the Government’s and United Nation’s ACT for Peace Programme.

The mayors and other officials of the province also supported the initiative. “With the peace covenant, the Muslim leaders become partners of the Government in settling conflicts in their communities,” DILG Provincial Director Asjali said.

The Provincial Council of Elders for Peacebuilding was also created following the signing of the covenant. The Council, whose members include community and religious leaders of the province’s 21 municipalities, is assisting the provincial government in resolving disputes in the communities, particularly family-related feuds that could result to damages on lives and properties.

“The Council of Elders mediates the settlement of conflicts through community-based mechanisms that are familiar among conflicting parties,” Asjali added. “This helps in fast-tracking the resolution of rows in the community.”

The Council and the provincial government are also supporting the incorporation of peace curriculum in all madaris (Islamic schools) and elementary schools in the province to develop the children’s abilities to peacefully settle conflicts.

According to 2000 Census of the National Statistics Office, about half of the 1.3 million population of the province were below 18 years old. Zamboanga del Sur, the most populated among the three provinces in Western Mindanao, is home to Subanons, Maguindanaoans, Kalibugans, Tausugs, Samals, Badjaos, Maranaos and Visayans. (MEDCo)

IMAGE OF THE DAY
Believe me or not. This old woman, Ummay Salama, who belongs to the Muslim Tausug tribe in Parang, Sulu, claims she is 167 years old with 21 children and 300 grandchildren. Her husband passed away a year ago at age 177. She said she can still read the Holy Qur’an and travel with the help by an aide. Asked what she thought about her longer life. She said she “always take or chew betel nut (Areca Catechu) mixed with kava leaves (Piper methysticum).” And she said that she prefers taking the plants everyday than eating food. “I feel better everytime I take the plants.” In an interview, the old woman advises the people in the new generation to strengthen their faith to God and take betel nut with kava leaves to keep their life longer. (If Ummay Salama’s age is proven by the Guinness World Records, she would have to become the oldest person alive ever, superceding the current holder of the Guinness’ World’s Oldest Person, Maria Ester de Capovilla of Ecuador, 116-year old (born September 14, 1889). (HADER GLANG)

ARMM conducts forum on education policy reform

A two-day Forum on Basic Education Policy Reform in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has been conducted by Creative Associates, Inc., through its Education Quality and Access for Learning and Livelihood Skills (EQuALLS) program for basic education policy in Davao City.

Dubbed as “Renewal of Commitment”, the forum gathered all top educators of the ARMM in crafting educational policy changes in the region to address the pressing issues affecting the educational problems that have been confronting the Department of Education in the region.

ARMM Exec. Sec. Oscar Sampulna said that the forum was not only timely but also realistic because of the fact that ARMM consistently lags behind in terms of access to and quality of education is concerned.

He urged the participants to work together in order to come up with a concrete and doable plan of action to address these concerns.

It can be recalled that Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Puti Uy Ampatuan during his State of the Region Address emphasized that education will be one of his administration’s major thrusts and there is a need to review the present educational system and policies in order to introduce new reforms to make education more responsive and effective.

DepEd regional secretary Udtog Kawit said that education is also the highest priority of the present regional government and stressed his commitment to support the policy reform.

“We need to strengthen the foundation of our education because it is the very foundation of development,” he said.

According to Marcial Salvatiera, deputy chief of Party of Creative Associates, the education policy changes that will be introduced will focus on 3 important areas such as increase learning opportunities, strengthen capacity for teaching English, Math and Science and reintegrate out-of-school youth.

The policy forum, being the first of a series of awareness and advocacy campaign initiatives of EQuALLS, intends to build a constituency committed to education policy reforms in the region and to seek support from legislators in the Regional Assembly (RA) and other leaders particularly those in the Local Government Units (LGUs).

For his part, the chief of USAID’s office of education Thomas Kral assured the regional government of his support to this endeavor. “You have our support and commitment,” Kral said.

The 2-day forum was participated in by the region’s schools division superintendents, assistant schools division superintendents, district supervisors for English, Math and Science, Alternative Learning System (ALS) and Madrasah and key officials of the DepEd-ARMM.

Also present were the chief of Party-Creative Associates, Inc. Jon Silverstone, Philip Purnell, Training and Research Director of SEAMEO-INNOTECH, Dr. Jess Mateo of DepEd national office, Atty. Benedicto Bacani of the Institute of the Autonomy & Governance and officials of the Creative Associates. (BPI-ARMM)

IMAGE OF THE DAY

Muslims in Basilan stage protest against the move of the mayor of Isabela City to demolish the mosque in their village. They also condemn the Danish caricatures of Prophet Mohammad. (HADER GLANG)

Basilan Muslims protest Isabela City
mayor’s move to demolish mosque

HUNDREDS of Muslims staged Monday a protest against the move of Mayor Luis Biel to demolish a mosque in Isabela City, Basilan as they joined the Muslims throughout the world in condemning Danish caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad.

The demonstrators were led by tablighs (spreaders of the words of Allah), including residents near the Ihya Ussunna Mosque (Islamic Center) in Bulwagan, Port Area. They marched through the main thoroughfares and gathered at the Dr. Jose Rizal plaza.

Some marchers carrying anti-Biel banners struck the main gate of the mayor’s residence with placards before proceeding to the city’s main square. Fully armed security of the mayor tried to block angry protesters.

Later on, a rowdy protest was held at the city’s main square. A battery of speakers warned Mayor Biel of the consequence once the mosque is demolished as the crowd chanted Allahu Akbar (God is great) and waved their placards.

“You destroy the mosque, you destroy Islam, you destroy our life, you destroy peace.We will remain patient so long the mosque is intact. We will guard the mosque until you say you will never demolish it…Muslims are ready to die for Islam. Demolition team are you ready to die like us?” some of the placards said.

One of the speakers, Manny Muarip, told the crowd that the lot where the mosque is located is not within the development plan and no longer needed by the Philippines Port Authority (PPA).

“This means that we have applied this area. We even got another certification from the DENR stating that the parcel of land covering an area of 621 square meters situated at barangay (village) Port Area is an alienable and disposal area.”

“Even the Bureau of Land gave us survey plan from the ministry of natural resources staff. So we are not squatters because we are paying taxes to the city. If we are squatters these government offices wont issue us certifications.”

But a local official, who requested anonymity, told Zamboanga Southwall that Mayor Biel is only enforcing the rule of law as the property belongs to the city government.

“The mayor’s move is based on the court order for demolition. The court already awarded the area to the city government during the time of former Mayor Ben Valencia,” the official said.

Muarip also expressed outrage over Danish caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad, saying that Muslims in Basilan are united with the stand of the Muslims around the world condemning the government of Denmark for such blasphemous action.

“We call on our Muslim brothers and sisters around the world to stop from buying the products of Denmark or Danish. We feel very bad that a country like Denmark approved such a caricature to be published in the newspapers,” he said.

Under Islamic tradition, any depiction of the prophet, favorable or otherwise, is forbidden to prevent idolatry. But Danish published cartoons in September, triggering anger among Muslims who knew about the tradition. It re-ignited last week after Saudi Arabia recalled its ambassador to Denmark. (ZS)

OPINION
DURIAN
text AMINA RASUL, Former Presidential Adviser on Youth Affairs

Making democracy work in Muslim communities

GLOBALIZATION, modernity and the increasing secularization of our communities have brought tensions that have moved Muslims to strengthen their faith in defense of the entry of “un-Islamic influences.” Tensions have recently found release in the outrage over the extremely offensive Danish cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him). Unfortunately, violence has accompanied the outrage. Many have been hurt and property damages are estimated in the millions of dollars.
The European media, in self-righteous indignation, justify their offense by crying “freedom of expression.” Surely they must have anticipated the resultant fury. We recognize the importance of free speech. What about media’s responsibility and accountability to the community, beyond increasing sales? Especially today when suspicions between the West and the Muslim world run high and the need for mutual understanding is great. It is discouraging that while some tirelessly advocate mutual respect and compassion, others willfully stir up hostilities.
Early this week, Islamic scholars and Muftis (most learned ulamas who can interpret sharia and give fatwas, or religious edicts) gathered for a 3-day forum on peace and democracy organized by the Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy (PCID). They condemned the vilification of the Prophet but at the same time called for restraint. Their statement reads: “We caution the ummah [the Muslim community] in the Philippines against the use of violence as a way of protesting this insult to our faith. The teaching of sharia condemns all forms of unjust and unreasonable use of violence, for Islam is the religion of peace and the Prophet [PBUH] condemns all such forms of violence especially those done in His name.”
Muslim faithful in Cotabato City and Manila have protested the insult in nonviolent demonstrations. Most Muslims live in communities very different—many would say “closed”—from that of the West. Will Muslims jump with alacrity out of their set ways to embrace the freedoms of the Western countries? As my teenage son would say, with all the incredulity he could muster, “Duh! [Translation: you must be kidding].”
Muslims have to learn to live in this rapidly globalizing, continuously modernizing world. Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, member of the Thai Parliament and former Thai foreign minister, spoke of the need for Muslims to adapt, adopt and innovate as the forces of globalization enter our neighborhood.
Dr. Pitsuwan, a force for progressive thought and democracy, has been the keynote speaker of two PCID regional forums. He also warned against the Western belief that Muslims will jump at the chance to don the garb of the modern West in pursuit of democracy. Democracy must be home­grown. Dr. Pitsuwan believes that “majority Muslims are inventing, restructuring, redesigning the system in order that the state system would become vehicles for the promotion of the values, of the identities, and the interests of the larger ummah.” Hence, Muslims ought to “come up with effective systems and frameworks that would be enabling to the mainstream Muslim majority in order to maintain, promote and protect their own way of life and their own interests.”

How do we participate in the democratic framework, without compromising our values and identity as Muslims? (Some ask whether democratization means being less Islamic or whether being Islamic means less democracy.) Democratization, in all of its facets—participation, justice, liberty, equity—still remains the key to neutralizing violent radical movements, whether Muslim or Christian.
We must recognize that the Muslim communities around the world and in the Philippines have distinct cultural and environmental contexts. Thus, we face the challenge of building social, political, economic institutions within our communities that would allow for multiple views: between different Muslim groups and from people of different religions. As such, the dynamics of democratization will inevitably vary from one Islamic community to another. More importantly, the challenge of creating social, political and economic institutions that are just need to be addressed, if we are to find relevant solutions to the estrangement of Muslims and the resultant radicalization.

Danish cartoons do not help. Danish pastries, maybe.

EHEM!
Corruption in the Philippines is very serious.
Be sensitive! Be bothered! Be involved! Ehem!

The "FIERY" Cartoon Row

We are witnesses to the "fire" that continues to burn, because of the publications of the Cartoons on the Prophet Muhammad...For many people, especailly in the West, the frenetic and fiery responses coming from the Islamic communities seemed incomprehensible...I am re-printing a short commentary of Karen Armstrong - a well known woman author on Islam. Her two famous books are Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet and The Battle for God: A history of Fundamentalism... Both books are very good reading to begin to understand the complex movements in the world of Islam. Jun Mercado, OMI

Karen Armstrong says... Each side needs to appreciate the other's point of view. I think it was criminally irresponsible to publish these cartoons. They have been an absolute gift to the extremists - it shows that the West is incurably Islamophobic. It sends a very bad message.

But, more seriously, it is letting ourselves down. We trumpet abroad about what a compassionate culture we are. But these cartoons depicting Muhammad as a terrorist are utterly inaccurate, feeding into an Islamophobia that has been a noxious element in Western culture since the time of the Crusades. It can only inflame matters at this very crucial juncture of our mutual history.

On the other hand, in a secular Europe, freedom of speech has developed as one of our sacred values. We fought hard for it, but we have to remember it carries responsibilities. For example, do we have a right to say whatever we want even if it is false and dangerous?

More importantly, however, freedom is as sacred a value for us as the Prophet is to Muslims. We are seeing here a clash of two different notions of what is sacred and this is part of the modernising process. Modernisation and secularisation has this bumpy ride where people at different levels of modernisation are clashing. In other parts of the world where modernisation is not yet complete it is not regarded as a crucial as other sacred realities.

And now we are all living in this multicultural society cheek-by- jowl with one another, not even within a single country but we are linked to one another in our global village. We have to learn to live side by side better than this.(EHEMgroups)

Muslim Tausug women
attending a pro-Balikatan
rally in Jolo, Sulu. (HADER GLANG)

Facts concerning U.S. service
members visiting the Philippines

RECENT reports in the Philippine media have raised issues regarding rules of behavior for members of the U.S. Armed Forces traveling to the Philippines to participate in the joint military exercise "Balikatan 06."

All U.S. military personnel participating in joint U.S.-Philippines military exercises and activities in the Philippines are made fully aware of Philippine culture and sensitivities and their obligation to obey Philippine law.

Orders to visiting U.S. military personnel regarding sexual conduct and prostitution are unequivocal: soliciting a prostitute is a crime and a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the foundation of military law in the United States. Solicitation of prostitutes by any U.S. military personnel visiting the Philippines is strictly prohibited.

No liberty or annual leave is authorized to U.S. Armed Forces personnel participating in “Balikatan 06.”

General Order Number 1 for all U.S. military personnel participating in "Balikatan 06" joint exercise states, "Each participating American citizen is an informal ambassador in the Philippines, representing the United States. U.S. personnel will treat others with appropriate military courtesy whether on or off duty, in or out of uniform. U.S. personnel will be considerate of Philippine customs and will not engage in any behavior, wear any clothing or make any statement which may offend a Filipino."

Mutual respect and shared commitment to the protection of the national interests of our two nations is the foundation for the long-lived, excellent cooperation between Philippine and U.S. military and security forces.

During "Balikatan '06" and all such exercises, the U.S. will continue to assure that its service members obey Philippine law and respect Philippine dignity and sensitivities. (PRESS RELEASE)

IMAGE OF THE DAY

Followers of Sultan Sharif Pulalun of Sulu and North Borneo stage a pro-Balikatan (shoulder to shoulder) rally in downtown Jolo on Saturday. About 250 US soldiers and a thousand Filipino troops are participating in the joint military exercises set to start next week. (HADER GLANG)

Sultan Pulalun’s pro-Balikatan

rally in Jolo draws a thousand
text HADER GLANG

Some 1,000 Muslims have gathered in the capital town of Jolo to support the joint US-Philippines anti-terrorism exercise, which will formally kick off on February 20 simultaneously in the islands of Sulu, Cebu and Luzon.

The gathering, led by the influential Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo, Sharif Ibrahim Ajibul Mohammad Pulalun, urged for full support to the holding of Balikatan Exercise 2006 in the troubled island province.

The demonstrators carried banners with “Welcome America” markings. “Welcome and Mabuhay!!!RP-US Balikatan 2006…the answer to peace, progress and development in Sulu!!!” a large banner said. “Balikatan give more humanitarian support to Sulu and the people,” another said.

They marched from a youth center in Jolo to the in frontage of the town’s police station, where they held a brief rally. Many marchers, particularly the women, were clad with traditional Tausug attire and carried Philippines and American flaglets.

Sultan Pulalun at the scene declared his full support to the Balikatan as he appealed to every Muslim in the province, young and old to welcome their American visitors and support the joint military exercises.

“Let us show to the world that we are peaceful citizens. We ask for nothing in return, but I humbly appeal to them to help our poor people and give them access to basic services on proper education and health services,” he said.

Lt. Col. James McAllister, head of the Joint Task Force-Philippines based in Sulu, thanked Sultan Pulalun’s warm welcome for US troops. “It is an honor and we are very glad that the people of Sulu are supporting the annual bilateral exercise.”

But the US’ humanitarian mission and civic activities in Sulu have come under fire by the Suara Bangsamoro group and its allies since the spate of killings early this month that happened in the villages of Patikul and Jolo towns.

The Suara Bangsamoro, which has been vocal against the presence of US forces and staged an anti-Balikatan last week, said the coming of US forces in Jolo only created more conflict in the island province, where killings happened almost everyday.

Sulu is a known stronghold of the extremist Abu Sayyaf. Just Friday, the group beheaded a man and gunned down a police agent, reportedly one of the security escorts of a foreign journalist covering the Balikatan exercise, in downtown Jolo.

Authorities tagged the brother Anni and Itting Sailani as behind the killings. The two were also implicated in the killing of a Filipino photojournalist Gene Boyd Lumawag in Jolo island in November 2004.

US military forces were credited with helping Filipino troops decimating the Abu Sayyaf group that had bombed several areas in the southern Philippines, killing scores of people and wounding hundreds. – (ZS)

Sulu Sultan to lead pro-Balikatan rally

Sulu and North Borneo Sultan Sharif Pulalun

THE influential Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo, Sharif Ibrahim Ajibul Mohammad Pulalun, will lead a rally on Saturday in Jolo town to prove to the world that his province supports the RP-US joint military exercises, which will formally start on February 20 simultaneously on the islands of Sulu, Luzon, and Cebu.

In a press statement, the Sultan announced that he would hold a rally in the capital town of Sulu together with his followers and several groups who welcome the joint anti-terrorism military exercises in the province.

“We call on our people to support the Balikatan humanitarian project in our province. Let us welcome our American visitors with open arms,” Sultan Pulalon said.

Contrary to what other people in Sulu have claimed that Balikatan would only worsen the critical situation in the province, the Sultan believes the joint exercise would do good than harm.

He continued to praise the coming of the US troops in Sulu. “There is nothing wrong with the presence of Americans in our province because they are here to help poor families, especially those who have no access to basic services such as health and education.

This year’s Balikatan exercise will be structured to further develop the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in crisis action planning, enhancing its ability to effectively conduct counter terrorism operations, and promote interoperability between two participating countries.

It will provide humanitarian and civic assistance, which will improve RP-US military civic action cooperation, and train civil-military personnel to work together with a focus on civic assistance.

Approximately 250 US personnel will participate in the joint multiple medical, dental, veterinary and engineering civic action projects as part of “Project Bayanihan.”

But the Suara Bangsamoro Partylist and the Union of Muslims for Morality & Truth insisted that US forces used humanitarian missions as an alibi to rationalize their presence in the province.

“Their presence might provoke more tension in a province already wracked by violence and poverty,” Cocoy Tulawie, councilor of Jolo town and vice president of the group Suara Bangsamoro, said in a press statement.

“The Moro people have been witnesses to the direct and active participation of US soldiers in last year’s military offensives in their communities, despite the US official’s assurances that they were merely doing socio-civic actions in the communities.”

“It is ironic that it is the heavily armed US soldiers who will hand out the sewing machines and hospital equipment and construct infrastructures in our communities, knowing that these same people are the ones who trained to kill all those who looked like Bin Laden, their trained terrorist-turned-enemy.” (ZS)

PGMA allots P500m for roads; P100m for Zambo


President Arroyo leads the groundbreaking ceremonies
February 8 for the proposed historical marker at the
site where Dr. Jose Rizal disembarked from the boat
that brought him to exile in Dapitan, Zamboanga del
Norte on July 17, 1892. The landing site project has
a total cost of P15 million. With the President in photo
are (from left) Zamboanga del Norte Governor Rolando
Yebes, Rep. Cecilia Jalosjos Carreon, Vice Governor
Francis Olvis and other local officials. (OPS-NIB)

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Wednesday ordered the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to release immediately P500 million for various road projects in the country, including P100 million or one-fifth of the entire amount, to fund the completion of the long delayed Zamboanga-Pagadian national road project.

The President issued the directive during her meeting with members of the various publications and radio stations at the Natalia Hall of the Camila Hotel here.

"I have instructed the DBM to release P500 million today for the completion and repair of major roads," the President told some 100 reporters and guests.

She pointed out that the new allocation and the other funds released early this year are part of her administration’s P35 billion outlay to pump prime the economy.

She added that funding for her pump priming projects was made possible because of the renewed investor confidence in the country, stability of the economy, good governance and tax reforms, particularly the Reformed Value Added Tax (R-VAT) Law.

The President also pointed out that the recent favorable investment rating of the country by the consultancy firm CalPERS (California Public Employees' Retirement System) was a contributing factor to the improved economy. (OPS)

GRP, MILF optimistic of progress in peace talks

PORT DICKSON -- Exploratory talks here between representatives of the Philippines government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to end a 40-year armed conflict in the southern Philippine region of Mindanao ended on an optimistic note Tuesday.

At a news conference at the conclusion of two days of talks, Philippines government delegation leader Silvestre G. Afable said he expected the two-year-long peace talks "to be conclusive before the end of the year".

He said he was deeply satisfied not only with the ongoing talks but also the whole range of talks for the past two years arranged by the Malaysian government.

"We see growing popular support in Mindanao and international support" for the talks, he said.

He was also encouraged by the very strong commitment of Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for the peace talks.

Afable said the Philippines government was committed to achieving a just peace in Mindanao and "very happy that MILF had responded with the seriousness and commitment and very good representation" and with all these factors they would reach their goal sooner than expected.

MILF delegation leader Mohagher Iqbal said their hope of achieving a just, comprehensive and durable peace in Mindanao was "getting nearer and nearer."

He said among the issues to be discussed was a political solution between both parties.

A joint statement issued at the end of the 10th round of talks by the two sides said four consensus points on the ancestral domain issues were reached.

It said the consensus points agreed upon included a joint determination of the scope of Bangsamoro homeland based on the technical maps and data submitted by both sides and measures to address the legitimate grievances of the Bangsamoro people arising from their unjust dispossession and marginalisation.

The other two points were Bangsamoro people's right to utilise and develop their ancestral domain and ancestral lands and economic cooperation arrangements for the benefit of the entire Bangsamoro people.

The two sides also agreed to conduct joint advocacy drives on the ancestral domain issues to broaden public understanding and support for the peace process.

"To achieve this objective, a joint committee was formed to draw up the guidelines, plan the advocacy campaign and seek the participation of non-government organisations, people organisations and civil society groups in advocacy activities," the statement said.

Both sides reaffirmed the need to intensify capacity building programmes with the assistance and support of the international community and donor institutions, and they agreed in principle to the establishment of a Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institue in Cotabato City as a capacity building centre for emerging leaders and professionals.

Also present at the news conference was Datuk Othman Abdul Razak, the adviser of the Prime Minister in the peace talks. (MNNA)

IMAGE OF THE DAY

Beautiful enough to write sonnets about. The end of the day sets in a fiery kaleidoscope of colors over the Moro Gulf in Zamboanga City. (HADER GLANG)

Patal Elementary School: How
persistence changed a Tausug village

KARUNGDONG, Bongao, Tawi-tawi – The spotless, chalky bungalow-type building seems like an anomaly amid the rustic and grimy terrain. Its dirty-white paint appears whiter with all the russet colors of the earth, scanty huts and coconut trees surrounding it.

A single flagpole stands erect in front of the building, pinned to the ground by the scarlet concrete and the unbreakable resolve of the young children to sing the national anthem much louder than the others.

Assorted garden flowers enfold the building, daring to separate the structure from the hard earth but only managed to break the uniformity of shades by the bright colors of its blooming buds.

From the distance, the school building dominates the whole view, holding the sky, earth, and houses together like glue. Village elders here conceded that almost overnight, the school became the community’s plaza, where children converge to play and adults congregate to talk, and occasionally scold a naughty child or two.

This is Patal Elementary School, home to over 200 poor Tausug school children, sons and daughters of farmers, fishermen, carpenters and bums; where family incomes are not measured by how much but how often food is placed on the table-- bringing another dimension to the term “hand-to-mouth” existence.

The school’s development is a testimony to the Tausugs’ tenacity and persistence, especially to Siliperlma Jurakman -- one really stubborn volunteer teacher.

A modern Moses

Just five years ago, the circumstances here were very different. The primary school then stood on a small patch donated by one of Jurakman’s uncles, the under brushes stunted by the brutal sun.

It was just a crude structure of jagged timbers, cracked plywood, and torn nipa for its roof, measuring less than the average classroom. The walls were bare, exposing the children to all the elements, and so was the floor. There were no chairs, only dilapidated lumbers that served as benches.

The school’s design was understandable since it was constructed by the village’s own rudimentary hands. Jurakman rounded up the able-bodied men, for almost all of the 1,000 residents in this village are related by one degree or the other, and practically ordered them to build a school.

When the rains come, the whole class splits because of a big hole in the roof while Jurakman stood in the middle like the Biblical Moses parting the Red Sea.

“When the bare floors got muddy, the children raised their feet to avoid getting wet,” she recalls in Tausug.

Twelve-year old Silina Ipari, who was one of the pioneer students of the school, remembered the difficulties they endured then when attending classes.

“We write on our laps or on the backs of our classmates,” she said.

Ipari said their teacher had to give them scratch papers and torn textbooks for their notebooks for lack of money to buy for their own.

“But now, it’s easier to learn because we have chairs and blackboards,” she said. Ipira is a consistent honor student.

Standing a shade above 5 feet, Jurakman always has a ready smile. Out of shyness, her anxious hands subconsciously cover her mouth when she laughs.

Her healthy girth, long straight hair, and short stature give the appearance of carefree and indolent attitude, belying an immovable spirit that transformed the lives of her whole community.

Change is coming

In the early months of 2003, a representative from the Japan Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects, along with the Philippine Business for Social Progress, conducted an ocular inspection of the area paving the way for the donation of one school building.

Several problems emerged: for one, the school then rested on a rocky terrain, which would make it difficult for the workers to dig the foundation; second, they have no site to transfer the school. They were sitting on donated land in the first place.

Jurakman mentioned their dilemma to her uncle, Salim Mutalib, who readily donated almost all of his land to the school.

He now lives in a parcel of land, about 500 meters away from the school, where he grows vegetables, corn, and raise livestock.

Speaking in a mixture of Visayan and Tausug, Mutalib explained that he never had the opportunity to finish elementary, as most of his contemporaries, because of the hard life.

“That’s why I donated this land so my grandchildren, grandnieces and nephews can go to school unlike us,” he said.

But the problem did not end there.Jurakman had to process the papers required by the organizers before the donation of the school. That means visiting government line agencies located in Bongao central, some 10 kilometers away.

Brgy. Karungdong is a small upland community, measuring about 1.7 square kilometers, mostly planted to cassava and coconut. It can be reached by motorcycle from Bongao poblacion in 30 minutes.

That means shelling out P40 daily for her transportation fare alone. By that time, her monthly allowance had ceased along with her contract with the local government unit for her teaching services.

“I go there and process the papers, most days I don’t eat lunch and walk all the way home,” she said.

To survive, she had to sell native rice cakes by daybreak then rush to the school to teach her grade 2 students afterwards. “Then I end the class early so I can go to Bongao to process the papers,” she said.

Bearing fruit

Her efforts were not wasted, however. In April of 2003, construction for a three-classroom school building began, owing to the P1,645,593.97 grant provided by the Japan Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects.In September of that same year, the new school building was launched.

About 134 grade school pupils enrolled in grades 1, 2 and 3, all taught by one regular teacher supported by three volunteer teachers.

It came equipped with chairs, blackboards, chalks, desks, educational paraphernalia and textbooks.

A parallel program on livelihood for 50 members of the Parents-Teachers-Community Association (PTCA) was implemented last year, which is aimed at providing them additional skills for gainful employment.

The school also welcomed its new principal, Hamad Asmad, who was very familiar with Jurakman since she approached him several times for help while processing the required papers.

The changes in the community are palpable. Village elders and parents here consider the school as their own, even designating some to guard the school from vandals and the occasional wandering goats to maintain its cleanliness.

The village’s actions are not surprising because the Tausugs, despite their reputation as a fierce people, place a very high value on education, Asmad said. “The educated among us has a high place in the community.”

The school has also been harvesting awards in athletics, dominating the 100 and 500-meter dash, lambatan (sepak takraw), badminton, chess, and volleyball.

Asmad bared that the school ranks 4th in academics among the seven elementary schools in Bongao II District, including Pababag Elementary School; Tongsina Elementary School; Yusup Dais Elementary School; Mohasali Elementary School; Pag Asman Elementary School; Sanga-sanga Elementary School and Salip Angkaya Patal Elementary Group Schools.

Scholarships, too

All of the children here are PBSP scholars, which entitles them access to uniforms, raingears, and school supplies. Even with the new building and facilities, the poor situation of the community forces parents, whose family income range from P1,000 to P1,500 monthly, to put premium on food rather than education.

Textbook assistance was also provided to increase the textbook to pupil ratio to 1:3. In 2004, for example, teachers had only three textbooks to work with for the first three grade levels.

Lessons and exercises were usually written on the board while students crammed to copy them.

The principal credited Jurakman’s efforts for whatever success the school is reaping today. “She was really instrumental in the building of this school,” he said in English.

Ironically, for all her heroic efforts, Jurakman has yet to receive an item from the Department of Education in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), absorbing her into its roster of regular teachers.

“But at least now, I’m probationary and considered to be given an item,” the ever-smiling Jurakman, who is now the grade 6 adviser, said.

The teacher went back to her new classroom followed by a throng of her female students, or perhaps her nieces. One of them tugged at the edge of her slacks, her face constricted in enthusiasm. Jurakman hugged her.

Outside, children play their own version of a volleyball game, where one team has two extra men. Nobody seemed to notice, or nobody seemed to care.

A group of girls huddle in the corner, their delightful screams rising and ebbing to the trajectory of the ball. In the opposite corner are the elders animatedly conversing, their mean-looking scythes hanging by their sides as the staccato of foreign words melt in the air along with the thick cigar smoke. (PBSP)

ARMM governor orders tight security
in Lanao del Sur to avert political row

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor Zaldy Ampatuan has ordered the ARMM police force to employ a tightened security measures in Lanao del Sur to prevent any untoward incident that may happen as a result of the political squabbles among local officials in the province.

This, after 30 mayors of the 45 towns of Lanao del Sur filed recall election proceeding against Provincial Governor Aleem Bashir “Mustaqbal” Manalao, who took over the governorship by law of succession following the death of Governor Mamintal Adiong in 2004.

"We don't want any trouble to happen in the province because of this political conflict so we directed the police to make necessary measures to maintain law and order," Ampatuan said in a press statement.

He made clear that the leadership of the ARMM is taking a neutral position and not in any manner siding with any particular group in the Lanao del Sur recall election issue. “The move is purely an initiative of some political leaders and their supporters in the province who may not be happy with Governor Manalao.”

The petitioners have already gathered 30,000 signatures from the voters of the province and filed their complaints before the Commission on Elections against Manalao, who has just assumed his post after a 90-day preventive suspension order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman.

The mayors said they have already lost their trust and confidence to the leadership of Manalao.

"If the recall election will be materialized and the people of Lanao del Sur will choose their new leader in a legitimate and legal process, then we will respect their decision. The most important thing here is we don't side with anyone in this political squabbles," Ampatuan said. (BPI-ARMM)

IMAGE OF THE DAY

Dance for peace. To the beat of Latin music, exuberant dancers release a dove during street dance competition in Zamboanga City. (HADER GLANG)

Sex workers flock to Jolo for US troops

LURED by the prospects of earning more from American soldiers participating in the joint Philippine-US humanitarian mission here, commercial sex workers have arrived in this conservative Muslim province, officials said Thursday.

Acting Mayor Alkramer Izquierdo said the presence of prostituted women here had been observed as early as December last year following media reports about the planned Balikatan mission.

"It has become our greatest concern. My office is being flooded with complaints and petitions from residents near the military camp," Izquierdo told the Inquirer.

He said the complaints had been investigated and found to be valid.

Videoke bars featuring scantily dressed women have suddenly sprouted near the camp, where the American soldiers would be staying, Izquierdo said.

About 200 US soldiers will be participating in the month-long humanitarian mission starting this month.

"I support the Balikatan, but we also fear the negative impact of prostitution in our town," Izquierdo said.

Retired Army Major Roberto Parayno, president of the Tabak village association, said that from 21 in November, the number of commercial sex workers here increased to about 100.

"Some of our female teenagers were being mistaken for prostitutes and our teachers could no longer make their lesson plans at night due to noise coming from the videoke bars," Parayno said.

He said it was a sad thing that instead of curbing the trade, several military personnel were even acting as pimps for the sex workers.

"Most of these women came from Pagadian City, Dipolog City, and Zamboanga City and the majority of them are very young," Parayno said. (PDI Mindanao Bureau)

32 Zambo sex workers positive of STD
text HADER GLANG

AT least 32 sex workers were found positive of sexually transmitted disease (STD) during a surprise raids in various nightclubs of the city, local health officials here said.

Police rounded up 134 female entertainers who were found working without health certificates during a routine inspection last Friday night, Dr. Rodel Agbulos, city health officer, told reporters.

“Thirty-two of them were positive of STD. Those found without health certificates were given time to comply with the requirements while those positive were ordered to submit themselves for treatment,” he said.

The city health office has been tracking down a male and female who are reportedly positive of Human Immuno Virus (HIV). The two were spotted roaming around the city and were said to have arrived here from Sabah, Malaysia recently.

“We called on the public to adopt measures to protect themselves from HIV,” Agbulos said. “Sexually active individuals should always be careful and practice safe sex to prevent from being infected with STD,” the health official said.

Early last year, health officials here confirmed to have registered four cases of AIDS, one of them died at a hospital in Manila. They said the AIDS carriers acquired the disease from neighboring country in the backdoor, like Malaysia.

Everyday, about 14,000 new HIV infections are being reported worldwide. In the Philippines, the first known case was reported in 1984 and has reached to 2,176 registered cases as of October 2004.

Compared to other countries in Asia, the Philippines is described as "low and slow" as far as the infection of HIV-Aids is concerned, according to local health officials. ”This very small as the spread is not rapid here.”

Most of the reported cases of Aids in the country, originated from abroad with Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are its carriers. Based on breakdown, 30 percent of the current total number of Aids cases in the Philippines, were discovered from these workers.” (ZS)

5 Muslim students in Zamboanga get US study grant

Five out of twelve third year high school student regional finalists from region 9 were awarded scholarship grants to the United States under the Youth Exchange Study (YES) Program of the American Field Service (AFS) Philippines for one year starting September 2006 to June 2007.

The awardees are Milaluna Muksan Said of Zamboanga City High School - Main, Rajeev Bantiancilla Omar of Zamboanga City High School - West, Alhasin Mabbol of Don Pablo Lorenzo Memorial High School, and Noemi and Salma Saphie of Basilan National High School from Isabela City, Basilan. Bai Hasmin Canapia Brah of Zamboanga del Sur National High School - Main in Pagadian City was named alternate awardee in case one of the five awardees opts not to go.

This third batch of YES Program beneficiaries will leave for US on August, this year, for a one-year full scholarship program and will have the opportunity to live with a foster family and be part of the community services abroad. This initiative hopes to open opportunities for young people who will become future leaders and decision makers to learn, work, understand and respect cultural differences as well as cherish other individuals to promote peace and justice. There are currently eight students from the region studying in the US under the program.

The Philippines, as one of the participants of the YES program, has been allotted 50 slots for 2006 prioritizing Muslim or tribal communities, indigents and differently-able persons.

The criteria for the study grant are: a student must be a Filipino Citizen, 15-17 years old, in good health and should be enrolled as a third year high school student in a Department of Education accredited school. Scholastic performance is also part of the criteria, with the applicant being part of the top 10 percent of the third year level, should demonstrate leadership potential and proficient in English language. The student should be willing to return to the nominating school to finish secondary education upon completion of the scholarship program.

Ms. Rahiema Bagis-Guerra, AFS Program Manager, Mr. and Mrs. Rodolfo Quetua, both AFS-Philippines returnees and Mrs. Eleanor M. Reyes of NEDA IX conducted interviews and detailed orientations of the program to the parents and relatives of the grantees through home visits last Dec. 12. The purpose of the interviews and home visits was to aid AFS-Philippines in the preparation and assessment of corresponding match of foster families in the US for the above-named grantees. (Press Release)

US Embassy mourns death of Fil-Am soldier

The U.S. Embassy expresses its deep condolences to the family of U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Ruel Garcia. He was a dedicated pilot who tragically was killed while on duty with the U.S. Army’s 1st Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, in Taji, Iraq.

Chief Garcia will receive posthumously the Bronze Star, which is the fourth highest U.S. military award for gallantry in action, as well as the Purple Heart medal and the Air Medal, which is awarded to pilots who have distinguished themselves in aerial flight.

As these medals demonstrate, his bravery in the field, professional aviation skills, and devotion to his adopted country will always be remembered. Chief Garcia made the ultimate sacrifice so that his fellow man can live in peace and freedom.

The U.S. Government will provide full military burial honors to Chief Garcia in his family’s hometown of Valenzuela, Luzon. U.S. Brigadier General Richard W. Mills, who is Commanding General, Special Operations Command, Korea (SOCKOR), and a Funeral Honor Guard from the 8th Army Korea will be present at the services to honor Chief Garcia and his next of kin, along with U.S. Embassy Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Scott Douglas Bellard.

Chief Garcia was born in the Philippines on August 24, 1971. He moved to the United States in 1987 and later joined the U.S. Air Force and then the U.S. Army as a helicopter pilot.

He is survived by his wife, Apple, of Harker Heights, Texas; his parents, Resendo and Cynthia Garcia, who reside near Manila; his brother Ramisis, also in the Philippines; his sister, Eden; and his grandfather and step-grandmother, Nick and Gloria Garcia, of Waipahu, Hawaii. (Press Release)

IMAGE OF THE DAY
This Japanese-made cable crane, slowly being swallowed by soft ground and deep into the swolwen Ala River is one such of equipment thus far damaged in Rajah Buayan, Maguindanao, a few kilometers from a natural gas exploration site in Barangay Tukanakuden in nearby Sultan Sa Barongis town. In spite prospect of fresh revenues from gas find, heavy crop damages due to perennial flooding have reduced households of the two municipalities to sheer poverty, according to the Philippine National Anti-Poverty Commission. (NASH MAULANA)

Water brings life to a ‘lumad’ community in Maguindanao

SANIAG, AMPATUAN, Maguindanao - Water is life, a reason why around 200 Teduray, Manobo and Muslim families in this mountainous village have to flock along the bank of Cauran River, which, in the past, did not only provide them drinking water but also a "market for viand" -a source of fish.

The vanishing of the fishes is a reality that has long been accepted by the natives, many of them still worship huge trees and rocks, but pointing at Cauran, as culprit of "serial killings" that victimized mostly children and aged was difficult for the villagers to accept.

In 2002, 49-year-old Ungga Anggay recalls having difficulties in convincing fellow natives to share their labor to construct a potable water system that would tap water from two spring sources some 3-5 kilometers uphill from this village. "Many would not believe that Cauran had been killing children," Anggay, now chair of the Saniag Teduray, Manobo Ancestral Domain Claimant Organization (STEMADCO), relays in an interview.

A baseline survey of a Cotabato City-based non-government organization, the Kadtuntaya Foundation Inc. (KFI), that produced a health profile setting morbidity and mortality rate of 36 for every 1,000 live births, was but an "empty figure" for many of Anggay's constituents.

The survey further concludes: "Death tolls are usually attributable to waterborne diseases, measles, tuberculosis, typhoid fever and dengue. Waterborne diseases are due to the inaccessibility of clean and safe water," yet, despite this, some villagers, adds Anggay, were not bent on abandoning their one-foot-deep open wells dug along Cauran's bank.

While this belief of the natives hindered STEMADCO from mustering 100 percent community support in the construction of two water impounding units designed to gather pressure required to transfer water from the impounding ponds to two reservoirs, the eagerness of those who shared their labor to finish the project enabled them to complete the construction two months ahead of the six-month completion target as stated in the project proposal the KFI submitted to the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), the conduit of the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project (GGP) that shelled out around half a million pesos for the potable water system project. Salido Panalon, a member of the Project Management Team the STEMADCO and KFI created to oversee the implementation of the water system project, describes the post construction obligation of every family-beneficiary to be "very simple and easy," but, at first, he adds, "not all would cooperate." He enumerated the obligations as: 1) to help in the maintenance and cleanliness of the water system project, and, 2) to pay P5 per month for the wear-and-tear of the project.

Three months since the potable water system was operationalized in June of 2002, STEMADCO Secretary Orlando Santos' record shows a "significant decline" from five to 10 occurrences of waterborne diseases per month to 0-2, a reason he cited for the increase of active members from 112 to 167 families.

Anggay, Panalon and Santos were already contented with the "value of the consolidating effect" of the project to their organization, but they said they were more grateful with the coming of what they describe as "another premium beyond our expectation"-the decision of their women members to form their own organization, the Umfongay de Libon Tagna Tao d'be Saniag g'ne (ULTAS), a Teduray phrase which means Organization of Lumad Women in Saniag.

Sally Bansigan, 27, mother of three kids, said that organizing ULTAS, which now has 67 members, was thought of in one of the informal for a they had. "Because of the potable water system project, we did not only prevent more children from dying but it (project) also made household chores easy and fast for us housewives, so, we have enough time to discuss how we mothers could help improve ours and that of the community's welfare," Bansigan says.
Again, because of the water system project, the ULTAS decided to implement a Food for Work Gardening Project at a one-hectare land, tapping water for watering the plants from the pipes traversing through their vegetable garden that earn P800 a month for each of the women members involved. The organization has considered expanding the gardening project. For both STEMADCO and ULTAS, those they have mentioned are the only benefits they could identify from the project, but KFI Monitoring Officer Joel Dizon has a list of other equally important premiums. "They have been taught how to prevent tuberculosis, proper garbage disposal, personal hygiene, mother and child care and we have lined up trainings on sustainable agriculture and environment preservation and protection training workshops for them," he says. (PBSP)

IMAGE OF THE DAY

Conserve water. It is essential to life on earth. We need water to grow food, keep clean, provide power, control fire, and last but not least, we need it to stay alive! (HADER GLANG)

ARMM, Zamboanga top seaweed producers

THE Philippines is one of the world's leading producer of Eucheuma seaweeds, next to China and Japan, and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, particularly Tawi-Tawi and Sulu, and Western Mindanao (Zamboanga Peninsula) are top producers of seaweed.

The Philippines produces mainly food grade carrageen. Bulk of the processing plants is located in Cebu while four processing plants are in Mindanao, three in Zamboanga and one in Davao.

Of the estimated 116,000 seaweed farming families in the country in 2003, approximately about 60% are based in Mindanao or around 69,600 families. Raw seaweeds and carageenan dominated the country's exports.

Europe is the country's largest market for raw seaweeds (70%) and carrageen (55%). Specific country buyers of raw seaweeds include France, Hong Kong, Spain, USA and Denmark.

Carageenan buyers include UK, France, Denmark, USA and Netherlands. In a Seaweed Industry Cluster plan as presented by Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) XI Director George Campeon, chair of Seaweed Industry cluster and Ma. Belenda Ambi, division chief of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Campeon said seaweed is largely cultured in Mindanao accounting to about 54% of the national output in 2003 with total area planted in about 160,000 hectares, according to the Philippine Information Agency.

Of the 30 major exporters of seasweeds in the country, 10 are Mindanao-based. Of the total 30, twenty-two export dried seaweed; 10 semi-refined carageenan; and five refined carageenan.

In 2000, recorded export value for raw seaweeds was US$23 million, for semi-refined US$80 million and for refined US$26 million.

Among the regions in Mindanao, Davao region has the lowest utilization level of its potential seaweeds area. It only contributes a measly 0.12% of the total Mindanao production in 2003. Between 2003 and 2004, a growth of 80% in terms of production volume was recorded.

This growth level needs to be increased and sustained in view of the establishment of a seaweed processing plant in Davao City, which would have a maximum capacity of 1,000 metric tons per month if fully operational. (Press Release)

6 killed, 2 hurt in Sulu massacre

text HADER GLANG

SIX people, including an 8-old month girl, were killed while two others wounded in another strafing Friday midnight in the southern town of Sulu province, where Philippine and US soldiers are set to conduct a joint anti-terrorism exercise later this month.

Five unidentified gunmen strafed three houses in barangay (village) Palar, Patikul, an adjacent town of Jolo. They fled immediately after killing three men, two women including a Muslim woman married to a Christian, and the baby girl, a report over state-owned Radyo ng Bayan said.

Survivor Jeniffer Pontanilla, 22, confined at the Sulu provincial hospital for minor wound, said prior to the shooting, one of the gunmen clad with fatigue uniform knocked their doors and asked if they were Christian or Muslim.

“The gunmen who were speaking in Tagalog roused us from sleep and then minutes later fired their guns. They ran right away when we screamed for help,” she said in Tausug dialect in an interview over Radyo ng Bayan station.

It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack, the second of its kind since Jan. 28, when unidentified gunmen strafed a mosque in barangay Busbus, wounding 20 people, all Muslims residing in the area. In that incident, one victim expired in the hospital.

The incident occurred on the eve of the congressional inquiry by the House Special Committee on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity into the November 2005 renewed hostilities between government forces and MNLF fighters and the reported involvement of some American soldiers.

Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, one of the panels in the public hearing, condemned the latest massacre, saying that the spate of violence in Sulu may be part of the rundown to the impending arrival of US troops in the province this month.

He blamed the military for the killings. He said the community, where the massacre occurred, “is surrounded by military forces and is in fact very near the 3rd Marine Brigade camp.”

Marine Brigade commander Col. Juancho Savan, denied Ocampo’s accusation in an in interview over Radyo ng Bayan, saying that no marines can do such inhuman act. “This people just want to destroy the peace and then put the blame on us.”

Military officials at the Armed Forces Southern Command could not be reached for comment on the motive of the attack, but authorities in Sulu said a clan war may have caused the strafing of a Muslim community. (ZS)

Settling conflict. Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Sec. Jesus Dureza (2nd from left) proposes a formula to end the ongoing military and MILF fightings in the towns of Shariff Aguak, Mamasapano and Datu Unsay in Maguindanao to ARMM Regional Gov. Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan (Right) and Maguindanao Governor Datu Andal Ampatuan (Left) while 6th ID Commanding General Major General Agustin Dema-ala listens. (BPI-ARMM)

Fighting in Maguindanao threatens GRP-
MILF peace talks, ARMM speaker warns
text & photo HADER GLANG


MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ibrahim

RENEWED hostilities between Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels and government forces may scuttle the peace talks in the southern Philippines, a senior official of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) warned as fighting continues in Maguindanao.

Eight members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units (CAFGU) and at least 6 MILF fighters were killed and several others injured after inter-clan fighting over land and supremacy in Lepok, Mamasapano, and Tapikan in Sharif Aguak towns at the weekend.

Chairman of the MNLF’s Central Committee Hatimil Hassan, who is also the regional speaker of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), has asked the feuding groups to exercise restraint to save the fragile negotiations between the Philippine government and the MILF.

Peace talks is set to resume this month in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to resolve the remaining issues on ancestral domain aspect of the Tripoli Agreement of 2001 before both parties proceed to discuss the final agenda of the negotiations.

MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said the fighting in at least three towns in Maguindanao had ceased Wednesday although tensions remained high. He claimed Cafgus backed by troops from the Army’s 7th Infantry Battalion attacked Tuesday two MILF positions in the said areas.

But the military denied CAFGU initiated the renewed skirmishes, saying that the MILF fighters ambushed soldiers on routine patrol and that rido or clan/family grudges as the origin of the armed conflict, forcing government troops to step in.

About 2,000 people from the villages of Bagung, Kuloy, Tapikan, Nabundas and Delumbong in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao had been displaced since the firefight started over a week ago, a report from the provincial social welfare said.

Efforts by members of the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team (IMT) and the GRP-MILF local ceasefire groups to reconcile the warring groups are proving to be futile as the fighting in Maguindanao has not been halted.

Meanwhile, ARMM Speaker Hassan called on the GRP-MILF peace panels and the IMT mediating in the Maguindanao conflict to contain carefully the problem so it will not escalate into a fully blown conflict and spread out to other parts in the autonomous region.

Also calls for immediate truce in some embattled towns of Maguindanao province, especially by refugees, has been rising since the recent skirmishes erupted few days ago, a latest report over the MILF’s official website said.

The 12,000-strong MILF has been waging a rebellion for a separate Islamic state in the southern Philippines since 1978. It has signed a ceasefire pact with Manila and is negotiating a political settlement that has been going on for far too long. (ZS)