Sulong Pikit

Advice to Miss Anonymous

2010-12-05T14:25:00.000-08:00

Dear Doc: Lahat tayo nagpapakita ng suporta sa violence against children... pero, paano po ba makapamuhay ng maayos at masaya ang taong naging biktima ng violence nung bata pa... rape and sexual harassments at that! I’ve been living in misery and trying to live as normal as I could be, but I couldn't... “Ms. Anonymous”

Dear Ms. Anonymous,

For a very traumatic experience like yours, it requires a lot of guts, determination and resolve to get back to the so-called ‘normal life’. Foremost, the haunting experience will keep lingering at the back of your mind. For how long? No one can tell.

I have some few things in mind, which I hope will help you: 1) a psycho-social therapy might help but the most effective therapy is still your ability to unload the baggage that you’ve been carrying through. 2) It would also help if you find a gentleman who will love you sincerely despite what had happened. This is not impossible. 3) And you should not forget the power of prayer. When everything else seems failing us, it's time to turn to the Lord and give up ourselves to Him in complete submission and prayer. The Lord's hand works in mysterious ways and nothing is impossible with the Lord. He is the best Comforter and He is our final destination. The most exalted in the eyes of God is one who is most righteous.

Finally, you should also begin to realize that life's worth is not only in being able to imitate the lives of ‘normal’ people. Each one of us has our own abnormalities which manifest in different ways. Also, not all those who believe they are miserable are completely handicapped. There's a saying which goes this way: "If you want to see how fortunate you are, look at people who are more miserable than you." Example: if you had been complaining of sore eyes and you think that you are the most unglamorous person around, look at the uncomplaining blind who does not even enjoy the beauty of the world around him.

I really hope and pray that you will be able to get out of the miserable world you are currently in. There's a lot more space that you can occupy in the normal world if you are willing and determined to get out of your miserable world.

I sincerely wish that you get your visa to the ‘normal world’ very soon.

Yours truly,

Dr. Mosaid

D.O.T.A.

2010-11-30T04:12:00.000-08:00

(Defense of the Ancients, or DotA for short, is an Aeon of Strife-style custom map created for the game Warcraft 3. Originally developed for Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos, the map was later unofficially ported into the Warcraft 3 expansion pack, The Frozen Throne. Currently, several variants of the map exist under the name of DotA.)

When I was addicted to this game, I once said that my studies were destroying my dota games. Words that I don’t want to recall anymore.

It was my last year in high school and I promised once more to stop playing dota. But like my previous promises, they were all broken. This was specially broken when a girl, my friend and classmate (and crush!) asked me to teach her the particulars of the game. Frankly, I was hesitant to teach her as I had promised to quit the game for good but she was simply irresistible to me. Besides, it was a good opportunity to be with my ‘crush’ for most of the time. My heart was freakin’ happy and pumping wild like jumping acrobatics for joy!

In no time at all, she had learned the rudiments of the game faster than I expected. It pays that she was a computer enthusiast. Days and months passed and we were confidently close to each other. She was also improving a lot in her games that she has already beaten me one time. By this time we were starting to challenge more experienced dota players around town.

Meantime, our closeness had grown more intimately. We play, dine and go home together. We were already the subject of the grapevine as in ‘mag-syota na raw kami’. The truth of the matter is we are not, though from my side of the issue, we are almost there.

The hands of time had moved faster until I realized that it’s already the month of March, and suddenly, my fear that our happy moments would end after high school had started to set in. The fear of being separated was aggravated by the fact that I did not pass the entrance exam in the state university where she passed.

“And now, may we call on the graduates to come on stage to receive their diploma”! Oh my.. was that wrong ‘gramming’? Wow, today is graduation day. How time flew so fast. I had mixed feelings of fear, anxiety, apprehension, and what have you. And then the graduation ceremony was over. Everybody was happy. It’s picture-taking time here, there and everywhere. I don’t feel that I’m happy. After the milieu she approached me and invited me to her ‘despidida’ party as she will be leaving in the next few days to go to Manila and enroll in one of the country’s premier state university. Even if I had passed the entrance exam my parents’ income would not allow me to go with her.

That night I did not sleep well. That ‘despidida’ thing kept haunting me. I hate to imagine that she’s leaving our town very soon. These thoughts sustained me till dawn until I heard that the neighbor’s fighting cocks are starting to cuckoo.

I didn’t want to rise from bed. I went to sleep again, woke up, sleep and then woke up again. This time I was imagining what to say to her when we are gathered for her ‘despidida’. Then the big day came. As I was entering their house, I saw that everybody was enjoying the party. There was drinking, shouting, laughing and dancing from every corner of the house. I’d like to shout and say “WON’T YOU STOP PLEASE! YOU SEE, MY BELOVED IS LEAVING AND WHY ARE YOU SO HAPPY!??

I was met at the front door by a beautiful lady. Oh she’s the one; I didn’t recognize her as she became more beautiful with the lights changing colors. While we were entering the big receiving room, I felt that time had run slow while my heartbeat had run faster. After eating (I did not drink wine), I was trying to rewind our happy moments together especially while playing dota and hoping against hope that she might change her mind and would not leave.

I dragged her politely to a corner so we can talk more intimately outside the hearing distance of the other guests. While we were sitting down, no words would come out of me; something that I did not understand. Then she was forced to break the silence. She was telling me many niceties and thanking me again and again for making her a great dota player until she stopped when I interrupted to tell what I truly feel for her. I said “I love you and I’m serious about this feeling.” I repeated it twice, thrice but she didn’t say a word. Deep within me I wanted to shout and tell her, “why can’t you say I love you too!” She looked at her watch, stood up to leave and said, “let’s go, they might be looking for us by now.”

Back in the company of the other guests, I realize that it’s time for her to bid goodbye to everyone as it was already getting late. And then she was giving each one a sweet embrace. I was last on the line. While she was approaching me for my most awaited embrace, I felt that time went slow while my heartbeat went faster. I embraced her tightly and tighter as if there was only the two of us in an uninhabited island. Then I said again, “I love you so much”. This time she responded with “I love you too” - words that I had been longing to hear from her. Then I continued to say “Dota was just my means to get close to you, to keep your company, to know you better, and then to express what I feel for you. I don’t mind if this is the last time we can be together. The more important thing to me now is to let you know that I love you. Goodbye my dear, and please take care wherever you are .” Then our embrace started to loosen but I refuse to let her go. She was frisking me away but I held her firmly on one hand and she was shouting at me with my name. She was repeatedly shouting my name until this had grown so loud, it was already irritating to my ears.

When I opened my eyes, still embracing my favorite pillow, I saw that it was my mother calling my name and saying, “bumangon ka na iho, magtatanghali na’t di ka pa nag-almusal.” Ahaays.. bumangon na lang ako sabay bulong.. “nay naman.. sarap ng panaginip ko!”

Thoughts on the Peace Concerns in Mindanao (or peaceful thoughts)

2010-11-15T18:55:00.000-08:00

I am posting here some thoughts on the peace concerns in our beloved hometown of Pikit, in particular, and Mindanao in general. These were taken from our correspondence with some friends from cyberspace, more particularly, facebook - the most popular social network in the internet today.

1. Yes my friend.. praying is one of the least best things that we can do for our hometown, and yet, it is better than passing the blame around. Take a look at Cotabato City. It's leaders have come and go, yet the kidnappings, killings, carnappings, drug trafficking, etc. had persisted. We can put the best and the most intelligent person to lead us in our hometown and these crimes will continue as it is in many other places around the world. But of course, let me say that there should never be any excuse to un-peace and under-development.

Unfortunately, some would rather paint a gloomy, if not monstrous, picture of our hometown. If I choose to, I can paint a gloomier picture for Metro Manila and Chicago than Pikit. But here we are, who see the night and day in Pikit as they went by, who say that there are still many, many more good things happening here than what the criminals are doing. I repeat Pikit is very much livable as evidenced by the fact that a lot of your relatives and friends are some of our good neighbors.

The last time we had the Search for Miss I Love Pikit Web Society and the Rock Band Competition, all held at night, they were jampacked by the Pikitenos. The dragnet that we put up to deter hold-ups and carnappings were praised by the people as they say it has effectively served the purpose for which it was intended. I cannot write about all the bad things just as I cannot write about all the good things that are happening here.

Let us be true (not pseudo and elitist) peacemakers by 'converting' people to thread the right path and showing them the way to Godliness. I envy some NGOs that I knew, who silently do their thing on the ground and are slowly but surely 'convert' people and give them hope. They are better peacemakers. Kuya Butch, a former MNLF commander, is one of them.

We do not have to kill the troublemakers and those who disturb the peace for they will all die anyway. But let us make sure that they are replaced by a more responsible generation whose upbringing is how to value life, love and respect every human being, and God-fearing.

2. The people that you mentioned are all very intelligent and I am pretty sure that they are preoccupied with a lot of things. This is the reason why it's quite difficult to assemble people of this caliber.

I am sorry brod but I have my reservations. I believe that I cannot lead over that many intelligent people. Besides, from the looks of it, I am afraid that we might just consume much of our time vying with each other for impressions on one hand and finding cracks in each others' opinion on the other like what had already happened to Valli and Luvin. Good for you and me because we can quarrel a lot of times and nobody would seem to be affected. But when some people are leaving, or would like to leave, even at our formative stage then I think there is a need to reconsider things. I can't imagine for one moment that a cause as noble as this seems not to catch fire, and I pray not otherwise ire. Frankly, I feel that we should consider strategizing first before moving forward.

We can move stones and produce ripples even without too many intelligent people with us. In fact, a lot of achievers on the ground are very simple people yet very dedicated to their cause. I see what church-based organizations are doing and they are very productive. I am amazed by the will power behind these organizations that inspires them to move. Maybe because most of them lead by example and they are not afraid to mingle with the meek and the lowly.

We are not the only ones searching for the elusive peace in Mindanao. Several peace advocates and institutions have started far way ahead of us and yet we see and feel the same problems of un-peace and under-development in Mindanao. They are very intelligent like the people who compose the GRP and MILF peace panels. But why is it that the change that we desire and kind of life that we aspire for have not shape up to this day.

Something must be wrong somewhere!

3. Thank u for recommending this book (of Ms. Gail Ilagan) Cat. I think it is one dimension of the Mindanao conflict that we should consider. I am now obliged to get a copy of this book.

I have always been interested to know the many dimensions of the conflict (war?) in Mindanao as it keeps me puzzled no end on why the problem seems to defy solution despite so many people and institutions who had involved themselves in finding a lasting solution. I have a copy of the book "Questions and Answers on the Mindanao Conflict" by Prof. Rody Rodil - former member of the GRP panel which negotiated with the MNLF and the MILF. We know the victims very well but we have only very scant knowledge as to who/what the real culprits were/are.

The members of the negotiating panels (GRP & MILF) are very intelligent people who were carefully selected by their respective principals. It is mind-boggling why they can't craft an intelligent, fair and acceptable solution. Of course, they can.. but so many people are afraid to even try this solution (the case of the MOA-AD) and even if it gets way into implementation very few people are sincere and honest-to-goodness implementation is almost nil (the case of the Final Peace Agreement with the MNLF).

We can get to know all the dimensions of the conflict and identify solutions, but if the key players are not sincere and honest in implementing the solution, then we will reap more frustrations than satisfaction. At the end of the day, we have only more guaranteed failures than success. The true solution to this conflict lies in our attitude as a people. "Allah will not change the people's lot unless they themselves change it" (Holy Qurán).

4. The way I look at it, one of the root causes of the conflict is that fundamental differences in culture and our covert ignorance which our leaders conveniently choose to ignore over and over. We don’t really know each other’s culture and beliefs and that ignorance lead to distrust, misunderstanding, stereotyping, bigotry, and even hatred in some cases. Education is the only way we can lift ourselves out of the pit that we unfortunately dug ourselves into. Education is the first way to break the cycle of war because when people are educated, they can think for themselves and they can shed the group-think mentality.

Our leaders (and elders) failed us in this regard. We do not have common goals and aspirations as people. Some of us don’t even have hope and so the thinking is what is there to lose when we fight? Ask the supposed legitimate fighters of the political organizations; ask them what they are really fighting for. I wonder how many can give us a sensible answer.

That said, we do have leaders/elders who find it profitable to keep their constituents ignorant. Knowledge is power, you see and therefore it is much easier to control people if they don’t have the ability to think for themselves. For example, these NPA sympathizers who are screaming “Ibagsak ang Kapitalismo” has probably no idea what capitalism is all about. Worse, they don’t have a clue of the impact of socialism on their lives (From my Friend Cat).

5. You do have a good grasp of the so-called Mindanao Conflict. Now, if there is no one single root cause of the conflict and the effect had been multifarious then we should start looking at several solutions to address each one of them.

I think this is one of the basic flaws in the solutions that so many intelligent people had been searching for. They thought that the GRP-MILF panels could address all of them. But first, let us put our trust in these peace negotiators and government instrumentalities should do an honest-to-goodness implementation of what they have to implement. Private institutions should do the same. They might hit the solution to some of these root-causes of the conflict along the way.

Finally, in our diversities as a people of Mindanao or Mindanawons, let us learn to love sincerely and relentlessly. If all men and women of the universe can love their fellow being there will be no trouble, no conflict, no war and no terror in the land.

A Chat with Maria..

2010-11-12T02:32:00.000-08:00

(November 10, 2010)

Maria Stella de Sequerra-Kreikenbeek was my classmate from the elementary grades to high school. She is a practicing Doctor of Medicine in Hawaii, U.S.A.

(maria)7:18pm..hi mau

(me)7:19pm..hello maria.. its 7:20pm here

(maria)7:20pm..good evening :)

(me)7:20pm..is it good morning there?

(maria)7:20pm..yup 1:11 am

(me)7:21pm..omg! what keeps u awake?

(maria)7:21pm..doing some odds and ends. i am used to working 24 hours

(me)7:22pm..don't overwork yourself, u don't need that..

(maria)7:23pm..re your political future...i think you will be a great statesman, congressman or senator :)

(me)7:23pm..Hehe.. like i said , it’s more of a joke at this time

(maria)7:23pm..hahaha..just write the laws of the land..see you have impressed me so much with all your writings

(me)7:24pm..i will know if i have to be serious about it by the end of the mayor's third term which is 2016..

(maria)7:25pm..i think you will be great!!...just do not limit yourself to pikit :)..ni bilib na ko nimo mau! bitaw....no pressure..but i still think you will be a good politician... :)

(me)7:26pm..ikaw ray bilib nako maria, hehe..i think we have enough good laws..our problem is more of implementing these laws

(maria)7:27pm..agree...due to a few good men left

(me)7:28pm..yes.. unless our tribe multiplies fast to dominate the world of politics here..we can only do so much..i agree that good men should be involved in politics..sometimes we can only effect the desired change if we call the shots

(maria)7:30pm..sad to say ...that is the reality...all the best to your future..you are very rational and astute and you will do what is best..just think of mau, jas, family first then you can give to the community

(me)7:32pm..yeah, my family is primordial..this is the simplest that i can do to better the lot of society..to make sure that my family- the basic unit of society - is raised well.

(maria)7:32pm..correct!!!..in medicine if there is an emergency..we always instruct patients to put oxygen on them first..then help everyone around them..you have done so well!!

(me)7:35pm..you too.. i know you are so good

(maria)7:35pm..i am still trying everyday to do a good deed..i am sure whatever you decide in the future..you will do very well as well.

(me)7:36pm..thank u maria.. u r next to believe in me, my wife was first, hehe

(maria)7:36pm..Hahahaha.. see? you have 2 fans already and counting..ok dear classmate...i have to catch some zzzzz's now.

(me)7:37pm..ok i'll let u go, that’s good 4u, take care, talk 2u again next time, sleep well, bye

(maria)7:38pm.. thank u.. regards to jas and family...talk to you later.. gud nite

(me)7:38pm..ok.. gud nite.

A Chat with Mercy

2010-08-24T12:27:00.000-07:00

(Mercedita delos Santos-Aquino was my classmate in high school from Notre Dame of Pikit, Class 1971. We chanced upon each other online one very early morning and she buzzed me to chat.)

3:32amMercedita: hi maugan.. good morning..
3:33amMe: hello mercy.. what keeps u awake.. fb.?? hehe
3:34amMercedita: just woke up..slept early last nigt..
3:35amMe: kme.. just eaten our early breakfast (sahul) for the ramadhan fasting..
3:36amMercedita: ah..this early?
3:38amMe: yes, before 4am until 6pm we refrain from taking in anything, not even water
3:38amMercedita: kaya ninyo?
3:39amMe: all Muslims are doing it, it’s one of the five pillars of Islam
3:40amMercedita: ah.. ok..
3:40amMe: it’s one of the toughest test of the Faith, so we have to.. dapat kaya
3:41amMercedita: impressive..
3:42amMe: exempted are the sick and the wayfarers; ok, lets talk about ndp (Notre Dame of Pikit)
3:42amMercedita: ok..tuloy ang reunion next year?
3:43amMe: yes, tuloy na tuloy..r u coming for next year's reunion? visit "I Love Pikit" fan page.. they give updates from time to time
3:44amMercedita: plano ko. want to meet you and the rest of our classmates; yes, am monitoring, i love pikit
3:45amMe: nga mga tiguang na?? hehe.. joke lang mercy.. no one is too old to be seen!!
3:46amMercedita: dili lang sa pagkatigulang, but how successful are all of us in different ways
3:49amMe :yeah, its not in growing old, it's in growing wise and with essence in life..
3:50amMercedita: correct ka jan..
3:51amMe: i miss the tsika-tsika, of yesteryear's life escapades.. of noranians and vilmanians time.. hehe
3:52amMercedita: hahahaha...
3:52amMe :alam ko.. noranian ka noh??
3:52amMercedita: yes..
3:53amMe: unya ang mga vilmanian grupo nila tessie dimaano.. kabalo ko noh?? hehe
3:53amMercedita: Hala grabe, kabalo jud diay ka no? how's tessie diay, naa siya Pikit?
3:55amMe: i was silent but very good listener, mao nga mag-top ko sa spanish, history ug math.. (modesty aside)..Si tessie? naa man sa pikit
3:56amMercedita: very silent, including your lovelife..hehe..wala man siya ka attend sa reunion last time, 2001 ba to when you were the speaker?
3:58amMe: year 2000.. maolaw cguro dai..naminyo dayon after our graduation
3:59amMercedita: mao ba?
3:59amMe: gwafa man gud;
3:59amMercedita: really? as in gwafa jud?
4:00amMe: Mora’g wla nakahuman eskwela.. dili ko sure
4:01amMercedita: dili man na mo matter for as long as you are living a good life..
4:01amMe: dapat ganun.. pero others would think that way
4:03amMercedita: we didn't talk how we live, puro lang high school days ang topic..like who were our crushes, mga kabuang sa high school.. hahahaha
4:05amMe: hehe..makahinumdum ko pagpangawat namo'g star apple.. gigukod mi'g tabas sa tag-iya..hahahaha.! bad influence man gud sila gabriel ug prudencio.. joke lng
4:06amMercedita: hahaha.. diin mo nangawat? hahahahaha..
4:06amMe: sa likod sa may garden area..
4:06amMercedita: hehe, lingaw kaayo ko sa ila, i think kabuang ra to.. where are they now?
4:07amMe: nagsundalo man cguro to sila..
4:07amMercedita: so sila na ang mo gukod sa mga kawatan?

4:08amMe: ambot lang.. basi mahimo pa silang boss sa mga kawatan.. hehehe
4:08amMercedita: hehehe..no comment..
4:08amMe: ang matsing, damitan mo man matsing pa rin..
4:08amMercedita: korek ka jan..
4:09amMe: joke lang.. i believe they have the ability to transform naman like us.. hehe..like u and me to be more specific
4:09amMercedita: kaya ako, tumanda man maganda pa rin.... ang puso..
4:10amMe: korek ka jan.. parang ako rin.. hehe
4:10amMercedita: tayong dalawa...hahaha..

4:10amMe: yes magaganda inside and out..
4:11amMercedita: mau, I will do my morning rituals.. logout sa ko. Till next time..Good morning!!
4:11amMe: ok mercy, nice chatting with you, pls attend 2 ur morning chores, back 2 sleep muna ako.. thanks, c u bye..
4:12amMercedita: bye..
(Note: posted by Dr. Maugan P. Mosaid)

The Hidden Issue in the 'Hayden e-Show'

2009-06-01T21:53:00.000-07:00

By Maugan P. Mosaid, Ph.D.

Someone says, "The issue, really, in the Hayden Kho sex scandal is about the consent to take the video; there was no mutual consent."

Really? Is this what it was all about? Consent? And privacy? All these questions and issues are just glib mis-directions. Is it just privacy and consent at stake here? Or is it the act itself that is condemnable and detestable?

Then another one questions the intention of the Senate in dipping its power of inquiry into this whole mess. As always, it is being done "in aid of legislation." And exactly what law they may have in mind right now is not clear to most of us. However, if they are thinking that we don't have good privacy laws, then there may be room for a more detailed privacy law.

Then the third one asks, "Is sex still viewed as sacred these days?"

My view is that sex is so sacred that it should not be indulged in for sheer fun without the blessings of the sacrament of matrimony.

Still, others say "if nothing was taken on video, nothing could have been distributed." This is just like saying promiscuous sex is alright for as long as it is not captured on cam.

The point is (and this is the real issue) there should be no justification for illicit and immoral sex. We seem to forget that the act itself (of Hayden Kho and his women) is detestable. And that was the original sin followed by the videotaping and finally - the distribution.

If there was another interesting thing that this sex scandal brought about, it was how media and the moral psyche of the Filipino people were unearthed by the incident. Obviously, there was much criticism of the recording and distribution of the immoral act more than condemning the act itself. If this is the way our moral psyche goes as a people, then we are moving fast towards unlearning our moral values and norms.

Another danger is that our moral psyche as a people may be dragged into accepting the seemingly moral statement used again by Dr. Kho here: that society should "condemn the sin, not the sinner.." This is idiocy in the highest order. How can you separate the sin from the sinner?!! Shabu can proliferate in the market but if there are no users, it can do no harm and wrong. Promiscuous sex are mere words if nobody does it.

Frankly, my real fear is, when the society no longer abhors promiscuous sex and take it as moral for as long as it is done in utmost secrecy and in our most secluded privacy. Is this one clear symptom of a decaying moral order? Lord of the Heavens! Please come down and enlighten us once more.

The Lakas-Kampi Merger: For Better or Worse

2009-05-30T18:50:00.000-07:00

We have yet to see that the merger of the two dominant administration parties (Lakas & Kampi) is more to its advantage than otherwise. For now, one thing is certain though – that this political marriage seems to be between couples only (Puno & Prospero) minus the relatives. At any rate, it is expected that the maxim - "in unity there is trength" may still hold true here.

(Picture courtesy of http://midfield.wordpress.com)

For example, in the case of North Cotabato, Rep. Lala Talino Mendoza (of Kampi) and Vice Gov. Manny Pinol (of Lakas) are now all poised to go against each other for the gubernatorial post here. From all indications this is unstoppable.

Several other instances of Lakas local candidates pitted against Kampi local candidates happened in the 2007 elections. In most cases the rivalries reached such magnitude and intensity that they might have created wounds that even this merger could not heal.

In a situation where the political marriage between Lakas and Kampi was possible only at the top, there is a loose pseudo alliance at the local level which can be exploited by the opposition to its advantage. What may have been acheived by the merger was creating a body with one head but having split tail whose whips do not synchronize. In that situation, former Pres. Ramos was right in saying that the merger was done with undue haste and I would add lack of grassroots consultation within the party heirarchy.

PaLaKa (Partido Lakas Kampi) boosts of more than 70% membership from Governors and Mayors across the country but how they would react, or act, to this merger especially with respect to the coming presidential election is something interesting and could baffle political analysts.

Creating Space for LGU Participation in the Peace Process

2009-05-20T23:25:00.000-07:00

By Maugan P. Mosaid, Ph.D.

If we look back to the failure of the MOA-AD, observers and critics were one in saying that the main culprit has been the lack of consultation at the grassroots level. What happened was we had a high level GRP-MILF peace negotiation that was not well-grounded as it lacked one of the most important ingredients to the recipe of the peace process - the citizen’s input.

Speaking of citizen’s input to the peace process, the MLGUs are the frontline government instrumentality who can spearhead this kind of activity by initiating community dialogues. An LGU-led consultation is a new approach to the peace process or even the settling of community-based disputes.

Giving space for an LGU-led initiative to solicit citizen’s input is a pioneering effort as far as the peace process is concerned. Since 1975 when the formal peace negotiation between the GRP and the MNLF started, no LGU was ever involved, much more, consulted.

This is expected to be a breakthrough in the peace process. However, the LGUs cannot just be poked right away into taking on this new role without considering their capabilities to undertake such initiatives. Certainly, they would need some sort of capability building in terms of conceptualizing the whole thing and equipping themselves with the appropriate tools and techniques to generate substantial inputs and ensure success.

Realizing the importance and significance of all these things, the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), an international NGO based in Washington DC, has come to the fore to enable some selected LGUs in the conflict-affected areas of North Cotabato, South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat, all of Central Mindanao, along the aspects of initiating, facilitating, mediating and resolving conflicts whenever possible at the community level. Some fifteen (15) MLGUs from these provinces were invited to a designing workshop in Davao City on May 13-15, 2009 to run them through the whole process of conflict management and peace negotiation and find out where they would need immediate interventions.

The NDI-sponsored (and supported by the UN Multi-Donor Act for Peace) seminar workshop was aptly titled: “LGUs Creating Space for Citizen Dialogue on Peace and Security: A Designing Workshop”. It basically started with the question: “What would be the constructive role of the LGU in the peace process?”

Taking off from there, we were given a rundown of the presentations of Prof. Rudy Rodil (member of the defunct GRP negotiating panel) on “How Peace Became and Continues to be Mindanao’s Most Compelling Challenge”. We were presented with the root-causes of the so-called Mindanao conflict from its historical perspective. Now, the conflict had grown and expanded from its local and national dimensions to something international since the Organization of the Islamic Conference became interested in helping to resolve the conflict.

The next presentation was that of Director Alex Umpar of the Office of the Presidential Assistance on the Peace Process (OPAPP). It gave us a rundown of the government’s efforts in addressing the issues of peace and security outside the confines of the negotiations. In the interactions with the participants that followed, it was noted that raising the “peace fund” from local source, as for example, the internal revenue allotment, is quite sketchy in terms of its legal basis, unlike the calamity fund which is fixed by law at 5% of the IRA.

The presentation of Mr. Kaloy Manlupig, President of Balay Mindanao, gave us a clear view of how localized negotiation can be made possible by relating to us their experience in negotiating with the RPMM (Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa sa Mindanao), a breakaway faction of the CPP-NPA which operated in Northern Mindanao. It gave us the message that small victories can be won at the community level in the presence of a credible mediator who has mastered the art of transformative mediation.

I have appreciated the non-conventional approach to peace negotiation that was employed. The conventional approach has been the cycle of 1. CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES 2. NEGOTIATION 3. SIGNING OF AGREEMENT, and then 4. ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM. The non-conventional approach used in this particular negotiation was 1. CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES 2. EXPLORING THE ROOTCAUSES OF THE CONFLICT 3. EXPLORING SOLUTIONS TO THE CONFLICT 4. TRANSLATING THEM INTO TALKING POINTS 5. NEGOTIATION 6. SINGNING OF AGREEMENT 7. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT, and 7. MONITORING AND FEEDBACKING. The advantage of the latter is that the benefits of negotiation can already be implemented along the way even without the benefit of signed formal agreement. The latter is dependent on the so-called “peace dividend” or the benefits of negotiation is addressed at a much later stage.

Finally, we were given the presentation of Prof. Saturnina Rodil about “Finding Solutions to Complex Problems”. We were made to understand that somehow there is an interconnection between and among existing problems. One may be the cause or effect of the other/s. Then, given the nature and magnitude of the issues or problems, why do we have to dialogue? We need to – because different individuals and groups have different perspectives and appreciation of the issues or problems.

The strategies, solutions and recommendations could vary according to the nature and magnitude of the conflict. We realized that not all conflicts or security concerns can be resolved at the LGU level. Somehow, the LGUs must do something to address the peace and security issues in their respective localities.

Our last activity was the designing workshop which primarily focused on conceptualizing the conduct of community dialogues. At the onset, we were cautioned to do causal look-back so that dialogues can lead to the root-cause of the problem rather than the symptom.

All community dialogues must be issue-based. Before the formal talking starts, there should be substantial leg-working and communication until mutual trust and acceptance are established with respect to the issues, processes and people involved.

After all was said and done, I must confess that the result of the three-day designing workshop to create space for LGU participation in generating the citizen’s inputs to the peace process is very encouraging. When every LGU is able to manage, contain and resolve issues of conflict, peace and security in their respective areas – who needs a high level national or international negotiation. The sum of the parts is greater than the whole.

Putting the Client at the Core of Public Service

2009-05-03T19:06:00.000-07:00

The crusade against red tape and inefficiency at different levels of governance may be considered a gargantuan task because it requires drastic change of a mind set and culture which has been so well-embedded in the government bureaucracy. But with the coming into law of RA 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007, it is expected that this bureaucratic problem shall be fully addressed in due time.

The law requires all government agencies and LGUs to process applications for permits and licenses at the shortest time possible or within five (5) days for simple transactions and not more than ten (10) days for more complex transactions. The spirit and intent of the law is to put the clients at the core of public service provided by the different government instrumentalities, the public being the very reason for which they exist.

This LGU responded in time to come out with its own performance standards and service pledges as contained in the so-called citizen's charter promulgated by the different Offices as a consequence of a series of workshops conducted which started with the orientation by the Civil Service Commision sometime in the early part of March this year (2009). It is expected that by June this year, the complete copy of our citizen's charter, with all its pertinent attachments, shall come out in booklet form.

Below is our sample service pledge and citizen's charter from the Mayor's Office:

SERVICE PLEDGE

WE, the Officials and Employees in the Office of the Mayor, this Local Government Unit, in deference and reverence to our “Bayan Muna Citizen’s Charter” below, do hereby pledge and commit ourselves to do the following:

Serve with utmost courtesy and politeness in the discharge of our duties;
Utmost fairness in dealing with everyone;
Lay down all the accurate information on the procedures, fees, charges and other requirements of the services we are duty-bound to provide;
Train ourselves to be effective and efficient in the delivery of the services enumerated hereunder;
Acknowledge mistakes and take immediate corrective measures; and
Note at all times that the clients are one of the primary reasons for the existence of this Office.

PIKIT HOSTS MOBILE PASSPORT SERVICE

2009-04-24T14:41:00.000-07:00

To cater to the increasing public demand for passport, the local government unit of Pikit sponsored the conduct of mobile passporting on April 18-19 this year. This was undertaken in partnership with the Regional Consular Office of the Department of Foreign Affairs in General Santos City.

Mr. Daniel Te and seven of his staff came over to personally handle the whole activity. It is to be noted that the municipal government under Mayor Sumulong Sultan paid for the expenses of the DFA personnel as the LGU counterpart.

Before the processing of the applicants’ papers, a 30-minute orientation on the requirements for the new machine-readable passport was conducted. The requirements are as follows:

A. PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS FOR FIRST-TIME APPLICANTS:
1. Personal Appearance is required.
2.. Duly accomplished application form.
3. Birth Certificate (BC) in Security Paper (SECPA) issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) or Certified True Copy (CTC) of BC issued by the Local Civil Registrar duly authenticated by NSO.
4. Three (3) colored photos of the applicant taken against a royal blue background. Applicant should be in decent attire with collar. Photo must be of good quality, and must have been taken within the last six (6) months. Photo size: 4.5 cm x 3.5 cm. Facial image size: Not less than 3 cm. DFA has the right to reject photos that do not comply with specifications and international standards.
5. Proof of identity / Supporting documents indicating full name, date and place of birth and citizenship
6. Other Supporting documents as may be required.

Additional Requirements:

For married women who want to use surname of their spouse
1. Marriage Contract (MC) in Security Paper issued by NSO or Certified True Copy issued by the Local Civil Registrar duly authenticated by NSO.

For married women who would like to revert back to their maiden name
1. If already widowed: Death Certificate of the deceased husband;
2. If marriage is annulled: Certified true copy and photocopy of the first page and the dispositive portion of the judgment on annulment and NSO-issued MC with the annotation on the annulment decree;
3. If divorced: Certified true copy and photocopy of the first page and the dispositive portion of the judgment on divorce secured by foreign spouse authenticated by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate where the divorce is obtained.

For Minors (below 18 years old)
1. Personal appearance of either parent (if minor is of legitimate status).
2. Personal appearance of mother (if minor is of illegitimate status)

If minor is NOT traveling with either parent:
1. Original and photocopy of DSWD Clearance
2. Affidavit of Support and Consent

If both parents are abroad:
1. Affidavit of support and consent (must be authenticated by the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate General if not executed before a Consul).
2. Special Power of Attorney (must be authenticated by the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate General if not executed before a Consul designating the representative by name and authorizing him to apply for a passport on behalf of the minor).
3. Passport and photocopy of the passport of the traveling companion of the minor.
4. Identification Card and photocopy thereof of the duly authorized person.

For Muslim applicants; For those whose births were registered:
Please refer to requirements for first time passport applicants.

For those whose births were not registered:
1. Late registered Birth Certificate (BC) in Security Paper (SECPA) issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO)
2. Original and photocopy of Voter’s Affidavit or other supporting documents indicating date and place of birth and citizenship, identity and tribal affiliation.
3. Certificate from the Office on Muslim Affairs (OMA)

For converts:
1. Submit annotated Birth Certificate (BC) in Security Paper (SECPA)
2. Court Order granting change of name
3. Shari’ah Court Order
4. OMA Certificate of Conversion
5. Additional supporting documents may be required when necessary.

B. REQUIREMENTS FOR RENEWAL OF PASSPORT:

Brown Passport or issued prior to 01 May 1995
1. Old passport and photocopy of passport pages 1,2,3 (amendment). The pages showing latest Bureau of Immigration departure and arrival stamps.
2. Supporting document with complete middle name.

Green Passport or issued after 01 May 1995
1. Present passport and photocopy of inside and back cover.
2. The pages showing latest Bureau of Immigration departure and arrival stamps.
3. For illegitimate minor, personal appearance of mother is required.

C. PASSPORT FEES:
Regular Processing (14 working days) 44-Page = P 500.00
Expedited Processing (7 working days) Additional P 250.00
Replacement of Lost valid Passport 44-Page = P 700.00

D. LIST OF VALID SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
Marriage Contract
Voter’s Registration Record
PRC / IBP ID
Baptismal Certificate
Land Title
Seaman’s Book
Driver’s License
Income Tax Return (Old)
Government Service Record
Old SSS-E1 form/or digitized SSS-ID
School Form 137 or Transcript of Records
Other documents that show full name and birth details of applicant and citizenship
Note: any three (3) of the above supporting documents will do.

The 2010 Presidentiables

2009-04-11T15:11:00.000-07:00

L-R: Noli de Castro, Manny Villar, Loren Legarda, Chiz Escudero, Mar Roxas, Ping Lacson, Joseph Estrada, Miriam Santiago, Richard Gordon, Bong Revilla, Jojo Binay & Bayani Fernando ( in the order of survey ranking)

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This early, the 2010 Presidential hopefuls are starting to position themselves. Some are already going around some strategic places in the country to make their candidacy known, though still subtly and not yet announced in the open, but already obvious. Some disguised in such public appearances as speaking engagements in inaugurations, foundations, anniversaries, graduation ceremonies, etc.

As we try to scrutinize each one of them, we are constantly reminded by concerned nationalistic and moral groups to make the wisest of choice. The irony is that, except for one or two, our choices are limited to the traditional politicians that they are. So far, we are presented with 12 personalities to choose from though this is still open to changes as some of them may just settle for the Vice Presidency as the deadline for filing of candidacy draws near. Those who are most probably falling into this category are Chiz Escudero, Bong Revilla, Loren Legarda and Bayani Fernando. Still, others have some pending conditions that would compel them to run. Those falling into this category are Joseph Estrada, Miriam Defensor Santiago, Richard Gordon and Bayani Fernando. With this scenario, I would consider only five of them as the most serious aspirants to the Presidency. They are Noli de Castro, Manny Villar, Mar Roxas, Ping Lacson and Jojo Binay. I also count Sec. Gilbert Teodoro but KAMPI has yet to pick him as its standard bearer.

There are five variables that play around a candidate’s winning. These are 1) ranking in the surveys, 2) political machinery or dominance, 3) public demand, 4) name recall, and 5) the ability to mount and sustain a national campaign.

Survey

Survey ranking has been a consistent indicator except in the election where Fidel Ramos won despite trailing behind in fourth and fifth places in the surveys. In this area, we know that Noli de Castro and Manny Villar lead over the other aspirants.

Political Dominance

With respect to political machinery or dominance, Lakas has the widest network and has the most number of elected local officials followed by KAMPI. The Nacionalista, Liberal and UNO (United Nationalist Opposition) share the third spot among themselves. Lakas will have Noli de Castro for its standard bearer, Nacionalista has Manny Villar, Mar Roxas for Liberal, and Jojo Binay for UNO. I have a very strong feeling that, although KAMPI, Pres. Arroyo’s Party, is closely aligned with LAKAS, it will put up its own presidential candidate this time. Pres. Ramos, LAKAS’ founding Chairman, has distanced himself from Malacaňang and this was made more manifest when he expressed discontentment over Pres. Arroyo’s non-appearance during the EDSA Revolution anniversary last February. My best guess is that KAMPI will settle for Sec. Gilbert Teodoro.

Public Demand

By public demand, I mean the clamor of the majority for change no matter what givens and variables are we talking about. Pres. Obama won because it has come to a point where the Americans would consider anyone but Bush and his Party as the best choice. Pres. Cory Aquino won (though she was clearly cheated) because the Filipino people considered anyone but Marcos as the best choice. In this election, my gut feeling is that majority of Filipino voters would consider anyone but the administration candidate as the best choice. With KAMPI and LAKAS representing the Gloria Administration, there is the greater possibility that De Castro and Teodoro will be rejected by the voters. The Filipino people are fed up with issues of corruption under the Arroyo administration and its ineptness to manage the economy, handle the Moro problem and contain terrorism. With this one, Manny Villar, Mar Roxas and Jojo Binay shall be left as the better choices. Ping Lacson, aside from being a consistent loser in the presidential race before, suffers credibility with the issues of his involvement in the Kuratong Baleleng rub-out and Dacer-Corbito double murder case still looming over him plus his controversial human rights records while he was with the Metrocom which was largely thought to be one of the executioners of Marcos-Imelda devious martial law orders.

Name Recall

Narrowing the choices among Villar, Roxas and Binay, the two (Roxas and Binay) have relatively better public records than Villar who was accused by fellow Senators of designing a folly in the General Appropriations Act of 2009 to benefit his real estate business over the C-5 road projects. That was thought to have cost his Presidency of the Senate.

Now between Roxas and Binay, Roxas has a small edge on name recall from the illiterate voters because the name Roxas had become a household name from the time of Pres. Roxas to this day. Jojo Binay’s leveling advantage will be when he will be supported by Erap and Joe De Venecia. This is a very likely possibility especially if these two prominent political figures see UNO as the dominant opposition group. An Erap-De Venecia support for Jojo Binay will also make him at par with Mar Roxas with respect to the ability to mount and sustain a national campaign.

Ability to mount and sustain a national campaign

The Party and Candidates who will be able to mount a thorough national campaign are the following: Sec. Gilbert Teodoro if he becomes the official candidate of KAMPI; Noli De Castro of LAKAS; Manny Villar of the Nacionalista Party; Mar Roxas of the Liberal Party; Jojo Binay of UNO if Erap and Joe De Venecia support him; Erap may be limited by his physical condition; Ping Lacson, Miriam Santiago, Bayani Fernando, Richard Gordon and Loren Legarda are all dependent on the support that they can get from the business sector. I would like to believe that Chiz Escudero and Bong Revilla should better be seeking the Vice Presidency first. They are popular but they are not yet ripe for the Presidency. Popularity alone is not the absolute guarantee to the Presidency.

Thus all five variables discussed, we are now in a better position to make judgment on election day.

KPIP in Pikit

2009-03-26T15:33:00.000-07:00

For the first time since Pikit officially joined the PALMA Alliance, its turn to become recipient of the Kabalikat PALMA Infrastructure Project (KPIP) rolled into action on January 12, 2009. It is to be noted that the official signing between the PALMA Board and Pikit Mayor Sumulong Sultan took place on September 29, 2008 during the 59^th founding anniversary of the town of Pikit. With the entry of Pikit into the PALMA Alliance, it shall henceforth become PPALMA Alliance.

Under the KPIP concept, the 6-member LGU alliance share equipments and take turns in playing host. The host municipality takes to use all the available equipments for road maintenance and/or rehabilitation for 21 days subject to be extended when extremely necessary upon approval of the PPALMA Development Board. All the Mayors are members of the Board.

The KPIP in Pikit took action from January 12 to 31, 2009. This has enabled the municipal government to rehabilitate more than 80 kilometers of major farm-to-market roads at very minimal costs. Under the KPIP, a kilometer of road repair/maintenance costs only P40,000 as the host LGU spends only for fuel, lubricants, maintenance, Drivers and Helpers food and honoraria. The same program of work would cost P400,000 when undertaken by a private contractor. This cost-saving bayanihan project concept has earned for PPALMA national recognition when it was given the Galing Pook Award (an award given in recognition of LGU best practices) by the President.

Congratulations!! Go, PPALMA, Go..!

Sulong Pikit

2009-03-21T18:48:00.000-07:00

The title of this blogsite 'Sulong Pikit' is actually the development slogan of the municipality of Pikit, North Cotabato. This has been the political battlecry of the incumbent Mayor Sumulong K. Sultan when he first ran for the position in May 2007. Apparently 'sulong' - a Tagalog term for 'advance or move forward' was taken from the rootword of the Mayor's first name 'Sumulong'.

'Sulong Pikit' shall henceforth become the official blogsite of the LGU of Pikit, North Cotabato. It shall primarily become one of the major source of information for news-worthy events and activities undertaken or being undertaken by the municipal government, either solely or in partnership with higher level LGUs or non-governmental organizations (NGOs), national government agencies (NGAs) and foreign development institutions (FDIs).

Sulong Pikit..!

Welcome to this blogsite