Once upon a time in the Philippines (I)

Exploring Mindanao 1989: Mawab, Monkayo, Diwalwal etc.

Soldiers donate blood to help save lives

Davao de Oro --- Soldiers belonging to the operating units of the Army’s 71st Infantry (Kaibigan) Battalion have participated in a bloodletting activity held at the battalion headquarters in Barangay Nueva Visayas, Mawab, Davao de Oro on July 8, 2020.

 

The initiative is part of the soldiers’ continuing humanitarian efforts to help sustain the adequate blood supply in the blood banks that could save more lives during emergencies.

 

“We are not only ensuring the safety of people and securing the land but also saving lives,” 2nd Lt. Kim Carlos of 71st IB said in his brief message during the activity, dubbed, “Dugo mo, Alay sa Kapwa mo. Sa Pagtulong at Serbisyo, Kaibigan: Makiisa Tayo”.

 

The event was spearheaded by Lt. Colonel Sonny E. Gonzales, 71st Commanding Officer and made possible in partnership with Kiwanis International, Local Government Unit (LGU) of Mawab, Philippine Red Cross of Davao de Oro Chapter, and Office of the Governor thru Provincial Tourism Office.

 

A total of 45 blood bags were collected from 50 soldiers and will be used in case of emergency.

Prior to the bloodletting, some children received Jollibee food packs and toys as they attended a children’s party organized by the army on the afternoon at the same day.

 

Carlos also emphasized that this humanitarian effort is part of their campaign in peace and development program and commitment to achieve the objective of the Executive Order (EO) 70 which is to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) in the countryside.

 

The areas of coverage of the army’s 71st IB are the municipality of Mawab, Maco, Mabini, Pantukan in Davao de Oro and Tagum City in Davao del Norte. (Rheafe Hortizano, ID Davao de Oro,) (Photo courtesy of 71st IB)

Conquer Compostella Valley in Mindanao

Compostela Valley is a province of the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao - also one of my favourite spots while travelling in Mindanao. The province, called COMVAL for short, used to be part of Davao del Norte, until it was made independent in 1998. The province borders Davao del Norte to the west, Agusan del Sur to the north, and Davao Oriental to the east. To the south west lies the Davao Gulf.

Compostela Valley is subdivided into 11 municipalities namely Compostela, Laak (San Vicente), Mabini (Dona Alicia), Maco, Maragusan, Mawab, Monkayo, Montevista, New Bataan and Pantukan.

The capital town of Nabunturan is only a two-hours drive from Davao City. There are also several privately owned airstrips in the province, mostly owned by multinational companies.

Come and conquer COMVAL!

+++ 

(My deepest gratitude to Miss Fe Fuentes Maestre, PGO Comval Province!)