"building peace and upholding justice "

 

By: Cha Lavandero, AKMK Deputy Secretary General and Head, AKMK Young Women 

My thoughts are for my fellow Filipinos who had experienced nature’s wrath brought by the storm Ondoy. But as everybody else’s busy in helping out the victims of the typhoon Ondoy through our own Filipino way of helping, another storm has to be prepared on literally as the PAG-ASA announced that two more storms are yet to be expected to hit the country.

 

But aside from the nature’s catastrophe that we Filipinos must be prepared of, it is necessary to make forecast as well the developing political situation our country is facing. Just yesterday September 28, 2009 two American soldiers and one Filipino Marine got killed on a roadside bombing allegedly perpetrated (as what General Benjamin Dolorfino said)by Abu Sayyaf. So what would be the implications to this?

 

To further discuss this topic, there is the necessity to go back to one issue ten years ago. It is known that the Visiting Forces Agreement was made possible way back 1999 when the Senate ratified it.  A decade after, it is now been questioned and asked to re-negotiated VFA or terminate it (this was the Position of Senator Miriam Santiago) It is important to know that ten years ago, Senator Miriam Santiago was among the Senators who voted in favor of the Visiting Forces Agreement. Her argument when she asked the senate to review the VFA was it has some legal flaws, which was in fact seen and argued ten years ago. So what had transpired was a change in position to this agreement. A lot of analysis pointed out to the recent visit of the Philippine President to the United States last July, it is not about the very expensive dinner our president have had that we will detail in this letter (though that is really really something to get angry about) but the her purpose during the visits. There had been analysis that the president sought for White House blessing for term extension.

 

It is possible that this request was not given any positive response from the white house. Would the reviewing of the VFA have something to do with this? To put pressure on the US government?

 

Yesterday’s incident was the first time to have claimed lives of US soldiers. Thus, it had made more the argument (the recent) of Senator Miriam Santiago-of US soldiers involved in actual military combat more justified. What a coincidence!

 

The road side bombing is a tactic that is also been used in Iraq and Afghanistan. After what had happened in Sulu, would this make the US government (by the virtue of combating terrorism) help in an actual combat against the Abu Sayyaf ?  But of course this act should be legitimate. Therefore the option possible is to re-negotiate VFA where the US soldiers are now allowed to participate in actual combat. That is if the White House will give in to this “external pressure” Very tricky indeed!

 

 

 By: Cha Lavandero, AKMK Deputy Secretary General and Head, AKMK Young Women

Any individual is entitled of his or her right to actively participate in assemblies, and address their grievances. This would include also the right of a student to actively participate in political organizations, student unions and movements as the Philippine Constitution ensure these rights. In this sense, the mobilization organized by students in Mindanao State University (MSU) Main Campus with regards to the student’s budget is a legitimate act, and a legitimate issue to act for.

 

It is the right of the students to ask for transparency. Any act either from the University administration, government institutions or other groups to suppress this right of the students in any form like censorships in student publication, and student assemblies and mobilizations is violating the Philippine Constitution-a deliberate non-recognition of a democratic right in a Democratic Country!

 

Further, harassment on student leaders is a criminal act! Threats and the use of force are ultimately the act of terrorizing student movements! Threatening the student activist is a cowardly act! This would only show how violent the structure is-thus a negative example for the younger generations. This is enough justification for the youth to INTENSIFY MORE ITS RANK TO RAGE AGAINST THESE SUPRESSIONS!

 

Moreover, it is important that the whole studentry of the Mindanao State University (MSU) main campus must realize that any demands for change and transparency could not possibly be materialized if we will continuously LIVE BEHIND THE SHADOWS OF FEAR. We must therefore act collectively on the issue, BECAUSE OUR RIGHTS AS STUDENTS ARE NON NEGOTIABLE!

 

The younger generation is the hope of this world. The history of youth movement in the Philippines will not just be a piece of paper on history books. We will continuously rekindle the essence of being youth, of being student and of being the makers of our own History! And this History will live on. As long as there is the suppression of the very right of the students, and the violent responses of reactionaries-we will exist. The society will bear fruit young generations, and Universities will bear fruit of student movements.

 

 

MILANMO CAMP

[Spreading Culture of Peace

among the tri-people youth and the Community

through continuous Dialogue and Immersion

in the present Mindanao context]

 

The peace situation in the Philippines, particularly in Mindanao, has been like a vicious cycle. Many sectors have lost hope, but for the Alyansa ng Kabataang Mindanao para sa Kapyapaan [AKMK], it is a situation that needs to be challenged. The struggle for peace in Mindanao has become a life-basis to live with for the AKMK. It is this quest for Peace, based on justice that is pushing the AKMK to take the less travelled- path of making it happen. 

Presently, member organizations of AKMK are increasing and getting wider and wider all over Mindanao. The five (5) clusters of AKMK in Mindanao [SHAKAMAGCOT–Sharif Kabunsuan, Maguindanao, Cotabato], [ZAMPEN-Zamboanga Peninsula], [MILANMO-Marawi, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental], [GDA-Greater Davao Area, CABUCAM – Caraga, Bukidnun, Camiguin], are performing its tasks in sowing the seeds of peace and making alternative systems towards the gradual realization of a truly peaceful Mindanao.

 (MILANMO CAMP VENUE)

Specifically for its part, The MILANMO Cluster of AKMK gathered last July 25, 2009 for a youth-sharing and discussion concerning different issue that concerns the youth, particularly the issues of peace in the Lanao provinces. During this occasion, the youth participants become more united and a high spirited level of solidarity was raised. It was decided then to have a Youth Peace Camp this coming September 25-28, 2009 at GERONIMA CABRERA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, Barangay Riverside, Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte, in order to reach out more youth in its cluster and mobilize them towards the struggle for Peace in Mindanao. This year's MILANMO Camp will be made possible through a major partnership with Lanao Aquatic and Fisheries Center for Community Development (LAFCCOD) through its Youth Empowerment and Advocacy Program (YEAP).

The said Camp will be a venue for the youth in the MILANMO Cluster for them to express their thoughts and insights on the Mindanao Peace, Youth Issues and Environment and at the same time collectively formulate doable immediate solutions to the challenges of peace. Also, the activity will be an opportunity for the youth to experience the daily lives of the local community which could strengthen their resolve to help these communities with their own everyday struggles for a peaceful life. Truly, this activity would be a value-moulding activity to make our youth today become better individuals to prepare them to be good future leaders of tomorrow. 

 

 

The Nagkahiusang Kabatan-onan Alang sa Tuburan sa Kinaiyan (NAKATUKI) is a youth organization in Baybay, Tubod, Lanao del Norte. NAKATUKI organization welcomes youth from ages 14 and above, as long as the individual is still single. They respect the differences of the individual’s culture & religion. Everyone is welcome to join as long as the person is willing and open to face changes that will answer the organization’s objectives.

Established in July 9, 2005 with 15 members only. Presently, the number of members of this organization is dynamically increasing. With the determination of their newly elected chairperson who is Mr. Roderick Acebron, the organization continues to exist to go on with their goals, vision and mission.

They seek to build a new tri-people community that portrays peace & solidarity. Their aim is to develop the total person to have a quality life and mostly, challenge the youth to preserve and respect our natural environment to have a better place to live.

Last October 7, 2006 the NAKATUKI youth initiated a COASTAL CLEAN-UP DRIVE in their barangay at Baybay, Tubod, Lanao del Norte as a support to the International Coastal Clean-up Drive last month of September. However, it was quiet late due to financial difficulty but the NAKATUKI continued the activity and invited other organization such as LAFCCOD, inc.-Lanao Aquatic and Marine Fisheries Center for Community Development, a non government organization based in Maranding that extend services for the capability development and empowerment of the small fisherfolk sector and their communities. Other people’s organization like BAYWATCH-Baybay Women’s Association for Transformation and Change also helped the clean up drive in their coastal areas. In fact, some of their parents were also members of the said women organization. They started at exactly 6:00 in the morning and end up at 9:00 a.m. After the clean up drive, there was a short program until 11:00 a.m., to express gratitude to everyone who became part for the accomplishment of this activity.

By their humble cooperation, NAKATUKI and other organizations that were invited helped restore the cleanliness of the coastal areas in their barangay.

Through this activity, the NAKATUKI youth showed to everyone especially the youth in Tubod the essence of Unity, Solidarity, Love and Respect to our environment.

 

By: Anjo Jagape

AKMK, Lanao

The need to give an effective venue for the youth in Lanao, community and student youth alike, where awareness raising, community exposure, and get-together rolled into one paved the way for the AKMK members in Lanao to organize an activity called “One Stop Shop” in the coastal village of Dableston, Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte Last summer of this year 2006.

 

The said activity was participated by more than 40 community and student youth from various organizations within the Lanao provinces. These organizations are the Pakighiusa Kabatan-unan alang sa Bagong Naawan (PAKABANA), the Democratic Youth League (DYL), Inagungan Movers Youth Organization (IMYO), LIHUK – Youth, the DUYOG of MSU Marawi, the Nagkahiusang Kabatan-unan alang sa Tuburan sa Kinaiyahan (NAKATUKI), and the DKMP – youth.

 

Within the duration of the activity, the participants were given inputs on the National Situation, the Farmers’ and  Fisherfolks’ situation and the Environmental situation. The participants were also given “interest time” for them to express their thoughts and insights in various mediums such as music, painting, poetry and the like. In coordination with Lanao Aqua- Marine and Fisheries Center for Community Development (LAFCCOD), Inc., an NGO based in Lanao del Norte and operating in the locality, the participants were able to hold a sharing session with different People’s Organizations in the locality. This sharing session was seen as a very effective strategyfor the young people to understand the life of the grassroots in the area.

 

At the end of the activity, most participants were able to relate the inputs they received to the realities of life experienced by the poor in the area.This realization made the participants believed that they should do something to contribute for the upliftment of the people’s situation and also protect their own interest as youth. Thus a week after the activity, the participants held a Protest Rally by marching around Iligan city while singing progressive and socially relevant songs and carrying banners and placards condemning the present system for neglecting the education sector and the welfare of the youth.

 

By: Che Lara

 AKMK Lanao

 

“TRADITIONAL T-SHIRT PRINTING WORKSHOP”

 

AUGUST 19, 2007

Barangay Tulatulahan, Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte

 

 

Ang Liga ng Makabagong Kabataan nagpahigayon og pagtuon kabahin sa pag print sa T-shirt o T-shirt Printing Making niadtong ika-19 sa Agosto 2007. Gitambungan kini sa 13 ka mga membrong mga batan-on nga nag puyo sa Tulatulahan, Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte, uban sa prinsinsya sa Barangay Secretary nga si Felipe Nadal sa maong barangay ug gitambungan usab kini sa mga AKMK coordinator sa Lanao nga si Joan Jagape ug Mario Pongase.

 

Tuyo niini nga pagtuon aron sa pagpakita sa kahanas ug sa walay kahanas kon unsaon pagbutang sa mga disinyo sa T-shirt. Tuyo usab niini aron adunay kahinguhaan ang mga batan-on panahon nga sila makat-on na kay halos ang mga batan-on wala na naka iskwela gumikan sa kawad-on nga gisagubang sa ginikanan.

            

Ang mga membro sa LMK Tulatulahan madasigun kaayong nagtambong ug nag tuon kabahin niini tungod kay ilang nakita sa ngadto-ngadto makahatag kini og dugang kahibalo ug pagkab-ot sa dugang nilang kinitaan taliwala sa ilang kapobrehon.

 

Samtang sa laing bahin usab malipayon usab ang ilang mga ginikanan nga nagtambong/nagsud-ong sa ilang mga anak panahon sa maong pagtuon kay ila usab nakita nga nakat-on na ang ilang mga anak bisan sa kamubo/kapit-os sa panahon nga gigahin sa maong pagtu-on, matud pa sa pipila sa ginikanan “kana pay eskwelahan nga dako man og gasto”.

 

Nakita sa mga ginikanan nga ang paghiusa sa ilang mga anak dako kaayo kini ug tampo tungod kay nagtuo ang mga ginikanan nga ang pagkat-on ug panaghiusa sa mga batan-on maoy dalan sa masanag nga ugma isip mga sumusunod.

 

Natapos ang maong pagtuon uban sa mga panghinaot nga ang ilang nakat-onan makatabang gayod sa pagpalambo sa ilang kaugalingon ug labaw sa tanan sa ilang kalisod kong naa na silay proyekto ug mga kostumer.

 

Naghinaot usab ang mga batan-on nga wala untay hunong ang ilang pagtuon nga adunay kalambigitan sa batan-on ug ang dagan sa katilingban karon.

 

 

Alang sa mga batan-on,

 

JIMMAY RA NITA A. ABALDE

LMK Tulatulahan Chapter

Chairperson