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MEDIA EDUCATION IN UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO
University of Mindanao,
Matina Campus, Davao City, Philippines
20 January 2009
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Aided by the Kinaiyahan Unahon Collective, philosophy and anthropology class headed by Prof. Randy Ponteras of College of Arts and Sciences, University of Mindanao Davao City, gathered yesterday on a special screening of ‘Electronic Storyteller: television and the cultivation of values and Advertising and the End of the World’ - two films created by the Media Education Foundation.
Clustered into four classes, two in the morning and two in the evening, around 130 students (1st year to 3rd year) of different backgrounds, gender and courses analyzed and discussed the issues tackled in the films. In relation to the local media context, participants also expressed their own perspective and agreed to write a reaction paper as their requirement. In addition, a 5-minute film about the on going struggle of farmers and communities affected by the ‘Aerial Spraying’ practiced by various banana plantations (http://dirtybananas.org/) around Davao region was also shown to inform and engage the students .
Click on the links below to know more about the works of
Media Education Foundation
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ALTERNATIVE THERAPY WORKSHOP
INFOSHOP
Buhangin, Davao City, Philippines
11 January 2009
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The Kinaiyahan Unahon Library and Social Centre have recently held an ‘Acupuncture and Reflexology’ workshop last January 17-18, 2009. The skill sharing workshop was hosted by Benjie of the KATRIBU Art Collective – an artist, acupuncturist who had more than 8 years of healing experiences in both rural and urban areas all around Mindanao. This 2-day alternative therapeutic workshop was attended by eight participants including volunteers and friends of K.U. collective who paid a very low amount for the training kit, needles and other important materials and expenses.
In this significant event, trainees have learned the basic technique in acupuncture and acupressure. During the 1st day session, all participants were given the chance to do the actual acupuncture procedure which will eventually help them develop their alternative treatment ideas and skills. On the 2nd day, constructive discussions on non-commercial, non-industrial therapy has completed the training.
If you happen to need a space and want to organize an event, drop us an email.
Click here
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ALTERNATIVE RESOURCE AND LEARNING CENTER OPENING:
INFOSHOP
Buhangin, Davao City, Philippines
11 January 2009
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The Kinaiyahan Unahon Library and Social Centre finally opened last Sunday January 11, 2009. It was successfully done with the help of friends and visitors from around Davao City. Cultural art groups, academic professors, parents and children from the neighbors, and different NGO’s all participated in the much awaited event that was doggedly prepared for two weeks. Through donations and gifts given by friends and sympathizers, the collective has managed to provide the necessary things to accomplish the activity: paint, wood, kitchen utensils, food etc...
During this event, different programs have been presented by various art collective and performers. Some of which are poetry reading, acoustic music, children dance and fire dancing. The collective have also given the participants the opportunity to raise questions and concerns about the centre and the punk counterculture. Meaningful conversation between the collective and the participants halted the merry celebration for few minutes and ideas for strategies exchanged. In the end, differences in opinions and lifestyle was openly expressed and accepted
In this wonderful day that all of us have waited for so many months another opportunity has dawned and opened up for us to continue creating meaningful moments for our lives. With this, we would like to give our greatest gratitude to all of the people who helped us in making these things possible. We all want to build and live in a decent, humane, and compassionate world and we are all desperate to make it happen. Nothing can stop us!!!
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RESOURCE AND LEARNING CENTER RENOVATION
December 2008
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After more than a year of struggling, we finally got the infoshop. With the help of some friends in Davao, Cebu and Europe, we're starting to renovate the space and will soon open.
Front View and Side view of the Centre
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CAMP AGAINST AERIAL SPRAYING
November 10-29, 2008
Cagayan De Oro City, Philippines
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Outside the building of the court of appeals in Cagayan de Oro, group of residents of Davao City are camped out. Mainly farmers from the barangays around Kalinan, they are communities affected by the continuing spraying of pesticides by the banana companies near to their homes and farms. Maybe you remember that in January 2007 Davao City Council signed an ordinance prohibiting aerial spraying within the city boundary. But the banana companies protested and they got a temporary injunction, and ever since then the court has delayed and delayed making a final decision.
Peasants, local folks, and various organizations carrying the banner "we are not pests, stop aerial spraying".
So now, these people, who still have to put up with the regular aerial spraying right over their houses, causing severe health problems and damage to fruit trees, have moved to outside the court. Because delaying the decision to them has the same effect as if there was no ban at all the spraying continues.
We went along to join their protest for a few days, to help out in whatever ways we could. We took a lift from IDIS, an NGO that has been heavily involved in the movement against aerial spraying. And when we arrived, we met around 20 people from Davao, from young people to 73 year-olds. Also supporting them were farmers from Sumilao, who had walked from bukidnon to Manila in their own struggle for access to their land.
The camp had already been going for a week when we arrived. We heard how they wanted to start with a powerful action, and so on the first day they tried to chain themselves to the front door of the court building. When we came the main priority was to raise the visibility of the struggle in Cagayan De Oro City, which meant long demonstrations every day around the city streets, informing people what was going on. Also we didn't want to let the court forget that we were out there, so we made noise each day with kitchen utensils right outside their door. There were also a few symbolic actions to attract media attention, such as shaving the heads of some of the camp participants.
Life was quite hard beside the road. While there was a food group cooking meals, just living and sleeping everyday in such a polluted place was quite tough, and definitely we could see that some of the people who had been there since the beginning were feeling the strain. Also the activities were non-stop. So for these reasons it's hardly surprising that people are really happy to welcome new visitors, they want and need new ideas to continue their resistance and to give them fresh energy.
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FREE FILM SCREENING:
The Corporation
Episcopal Mission Center, Matina, Davao City
Philippines
September 13, 2008 ( 12:30PM – 5:00PM)
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One of the most successful Canadian documentaries ever made was brought out from the shelves of the library to catarthicize the minds which subsequently sat foot to take the degree of local activism on another level – THE CORPORATION. Spearheaded by the Kinaiyahan Unahon Collective and a group of volunteers from Manila D.I.Y. community, with the cooperation of several individuals from the NGO’s IDIS (Interface Development interventions, Inc.) and SIMMCARD (Organic Agriculture Campaign), a screening of the film was successfully held at Episcopal Mission Centre, Matina, Davao City, Philippines last September 13, 2008. With the launching of a newly organized group, The Thinking Persons Davao Book and Film Club, people from various advocacy groups have gathered to see the film made by brilliant Canadian documentary film makers and authors Mark Achbar, Jennifer Abbott and Joel Bakan.
Though adversities occurred during the initial part of the program - technical problems, minimal number of attendees, delays etc. - the event still went out to be a triumph in terms of its desired goals – first is to broaden the awareness of the local people of what the giant transnational corporations has been doing since time immemorial, perpetuating its pursuit of profit and power at the expense of the people and the environment and second, to introduce a club that will initiate gatherings and stir political and environmental consciousness.
Hosted by Alter Picar (Kinaiyahan Unahon Collective/TTPDB&FC), the event brought together a total number of 35 participants from different sectors as follows: Art and Music clubs: Panan-aw Art group, Pintura atbp., People’s Organizations: Sunshine Philippines Movement, Partidong Manggagawa (Worker's Party); NGO's – Farm Coop, METSA Foundation, Kalitawhan Group for Biodiversity, Legal Rights Council (LRC), Interface Development Interventions, Inc. (IDIS), SIMMCARD; Academe – Philippine Science High School, University of Mindanao, University of the Immaculate Conception, Ford Academy of the Arts; the film screening was popping the cherry out of the locale's conventional activism.
Commenced with the reading of Mr. Mark Achbar’s letter, the co-director and the executive producer of the film, the participants were apparently inspired by the man’s words. Some of the important things that he mentioned in his letter are as follows…
“With none of the resources of a Hollywood blockbuster, remarkably, this film has reached millions and millions of viewers: in film festivals, where it won dozens of awards; on TV as a three-part mini-series seen in over 30 countries; and on the internet where it's been downloaded over a million times. It is being used by thousands of teachers and professors in an astonishing range of courses. It was even a hit in commercial movie theatres in several countries. In Vancouver, British Columbia, where I live, The Corporation played for five months straight on the biggest screen in a downtown, 10-screen multiplex movie theatre. I cite these successes to give you a sense of the worldwide concern over the issues the film raises. If you find the film resonates with your sensibility and values, know that you are not alone. The Philippines are unique in many ways, but the challenges it faces from transnational corporations are universal....”
As the film went on, everybody was silent, engrossed and seemingly stunned by the less exposed truth of the corporation’s nature or capitalism in general. After an hour and 25 minutes, the film was put on suspension to distribute the vegetarian snacks prepared by the volunteers that seemed to energize the participants as the film digs deeper. While having a good relish for the food, most of the participants interestingly listened to the speech given by Mr. Mhel Cannonigo regarding the general information about the collective, Kinaiyahan Unahon, and its current project – the establishment of Resource and Learning Social Centre. It was followed by a conceptual speech for the ‘club’ delivered by Ms. Lia Jasmine Esquillo of IDIS. Moments later, a collaboration of local art group offered a simple yet astonishing musical and poem presentation.
After 20 minutes of refreshment and conscious entertainment, the film continued as the audience ponder having learned from different enlightening views and wisdom conveyed by different thinkers and contemporary critics interviewed in the film. For another hour, the audience was captivated and flabbergasted by the information and the film making splendour of the geniuses behind The Corporation project.
When the film ended, the most inviting part of the event came - the ‘feedback and brainstorming’ portion where the participants have evidently internalized the key points of the film. Analysis, subjective sentiments, objective observations, and local contextualization of the film’s message were discussed which resulted to an agitating but inspiring dialogue. Leaders and members of different groups gave short but rousing messages to each other and introduced various ideas for direct and subtle resistance to these detrimental transnational corporations. Among these ideas for actions are boycott, building alternatives, anti-corporate activism, promoting local community enterprise, encouraging organic production and consumption, and spreading a non-consumerist lifestyle. For the second time in the history, Canada’s ‘most astute and important political documentary film’ was shown in Davao City, Philippines. As one professor in a prominent catholic university in Davao City, The University of Immaculate Conception, puts it, “this type of film should be mandatory in every school curriculum”.
For more information about the film and the campaign, click the link below.
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STATE OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S ADDRESS
Toril, Davao City, Philippines
July 29-31, 2008
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As Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo delivered to the public the achievements of her government during her State of the Nations Address last July 28, 2008, IPs (Indigenous People), NGOs and POs of Mindanao have also gathered for the 3-day conference in Camp Alano, Toril, Davao City entitled “State of the Indigenous People’s Address” with the theme called, ‘IPRA and Beyond: Asserting Our Right to Self-determination.’
The activity was conducted by the Legal Rights and Natural Resources (LRC) / Kasama sa Kalikasan (Friends of the Earth) Philippines with the aim of delivering the IPs agenda of their historical struggle for the right to self-determination and genuine political recognition and to assess the implementation of IPRA (Indigenous People’s Rights Act) as it marks it’s 10th year anniversary this coming October, 2008.
It was attended by different participants from IP Organizations, NGOs, Legal Organizations, Academe, Church Groups, Local Government Unit, the Media and individual advocates and activists. During the 3-day activity, different kinds of programs have been carried out such as ‘tribal rituals, traditional music and performances, SONA presentation and people’s reactions, workshops, poster making, forums and exchanging of ideas and strategies for a better solution to such issues. Among the presentations that has been highlighted and tackled are the issues of ‘Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and its constitutionality, Coffee, banana, pineapple and Jathropa bio-fuel plantations, IP Women’s Rights regarding the security tenure of their ancestral domain and experiences in relation to the issue of development projects, Free and Prior Informed Consent, Engagement of International Legal Instruments, IP’s Traditional Justice and Customary, Charter Change which will profoundly affect IP’s interests, the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity and it’s implications on different IPs in Mindanao.
On the last night of the conference, July 30, a solidarity night was successfully celebrated together with the launching of the book entitled “Negotiating Autonomy – case studies on Philippine Indigenous People’s Land Rights” edited by Mr. Augusto B. Gatmaytan. Artists and musicians from IPs and support groups shared their music and dances to express their thoughts and gratitude for the success of the program. On the last day, July 31, the 3-day activity has ended with the symbolical 30-minute solidarity march from Rizal Park to Freedom Park , Roxas and a meaningful cultural performances and presentation of the State of the indigenous People’s Address by selected community representatives.
For more information about this issue, click the links below.
http://www.lrcksk.org/sipa/about/
http://www.lrcksk.org/sipa/
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CORE GROUP ASSESSMENT, EVALUATION AND PLANNING
Camudmud, Samal Island
July 2008
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After several months of hibernation, the core group went to Samal Island to restructuralize the seemingly structureless group. Past project evaluation , philosophy and theory check, updates of individual project developments were discussed and organized for the resource and learning center. Things were a bit shaky in the past few months and so we needed to have a get together to refresh things out, have some party, go through all the things we did in the past, and figure out what we wanted to do in the coming months, particularly planning ahead of what will happen during the information center set up. Nonetheless, dash of fun, serious theoretical talks, sensitive and
careful planning was successful.
Click here to view more pix
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ANTI G8 INFO TOUR
Episcopal Mission Center, Matina, Davao City, Philippines
November 2007
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Held last November 2007, Anti G8 info tour from Germany and Japan, with Mindanao groups (NGO's, grassroots movements, etc.). The forum discussed the different impacts and effects the Group of 8 would bring to the modern world, its hidden agendas, and the different struggles of resistance groups in Europe, Japan. The end resulted to building up of an Anti-G8 solidarity network in Asia and Europe.
To know more about this, please click the link below.
http://www.web.net/acgc/issues/g8.htm#g8guide
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bUBE_tSZpQ
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PINAGHIUSANG LIKHA:
Creating an Alternative Lifestyle
Ananda Marga Research Center, Cabantian, Davao City
January 18-21 2007
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Three day eco-camping and vegetarian food serving in Ananda Marga Compound, Cabantian Davao City. Headed by Dada Ratna, Food not Bombs Davao, Katribu Art Movement, Hare Krishna Davao, KAUBAN and Kinaiyahan Unahon, approximately 100 participants attended the event.
The activity covered a wide range of topics including eastern spirituality workshops and discussions (yoga), consumerism and sweatshop lectures, cultural nights, group dynamics, martial art workshops (kali, arnis, escrima, Muay Thai Dance presentation), and many others.
For further info, contact: planeth69@gmail.com
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ANTI AERIAL SPRAYING / ANTI TOXIC SHOWER CAMPAIGN
Mindanao Wide Campaign
2006-2007 and still going on
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The campaign to ban the practice of Aerial Spraying in the uplands of Davao City was a long time effort joined by various groups in Mindanao including farmers groups, People's organization, NGO''s, grassroots groups, supported by the youth and several movements. The practice of aerial spraying adversely affects all life forms in the region. Disruption of ecological balance, water supply health and stability, local community health are some of the immediate major effects of the spraying.
For further details, open the link below
http://www/ditrybananas.org
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VEGETARIAN FESTIVAL
Caliclic, Island Garden City of Samal
December 2006, December 2007
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Three day camping at Caliclic, Samal Island. The first vegetarian festival spearheaded by Kinaiyahan Unahon, Kauban, As a whole collective and Hare Krishna's in davao city. Groups that participated in the event include Ananda Marga Yoga Davao, Masipag (Farmers and Scientist for Agriculture), Katribu Art Movement and many others. The three-day event covered a lot of workshops including glutten-making, asanas (yoga posture), and meditation. There were talks about vegetariansm in different perspectives, Genetically Modified Foods, film screenings, art group dynamics, games and many others. This is an annual event held every November.
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