War is hell!

Check the news! Everyday, killing in every part of the world is unceasing. This is because of war. Warriors go and fight prepared to kill and to be killed with  no fear. In the forests, in the streets - a lot of them are found dead bodies spread-eagled. Some are even mutilated. In the rivers, in the oceans - a lot of them are found floating if not eaten by the hungry sharks.

Check the global news and allow me to ask the question: but what about those innocent lives who are just victims of war atrocities? Are they prepared to die in such a horrible state? It is sickening to realize that those people a re killed within just a flick of a finger by those war-oriented people - people who are compensated and trained to kill. More often, we can check the news about numbers of people dead and injured caused by building and street bombings, chemical  poisonings and nuclear power testings.

Killings, yes, there will be always be killings. The Super Powers are (again) in a race to put as many weapons as possible into their allies' hands. The Arm producers are urged and more encouraged to make more weapons and explosives. As the Great Powers never stop intervening in these small countries' affairs, there will be more casualties.

Isn't it much better for them to help the Third World Countries economically than supplying them with these weapons and teaching them how to use them and kill each other?

How many more innocent lives shall we find scattered in the streets? How many more of them will be seen floating in the open seas with shattered bodies? And how many more young and old people will be buried innocently leaving their loved-ones to suffer pain and extreme grief?

War is hell! The world has had enough! And it seems, that natural disasters are not yet enough!

Peace be with us!

Vacation from God?

My column in Mindanao Daily, BusinessWeek Mindanao and Cagayan de Oro Times.

I am still staying at my hiding place - just 2 more days. A lonely beach. Just relaxing. Next week: back to school. New enrollees are waiting. Back to the office. Clients are asking for appointments already.

Yes, from to time, I need a refreshing pause. Vacation comes from the Latin word "vacare", which literally means, to be empty, to render oneself inoperative. Vacation is freedom or release from tension and pressure of work. It is the rest from some occupation, business or activities.

Strictly speaking, vacation concerns those who are in school or studying in colleges and universities. For professionals, however, furlough would be the appropriate term. 

Why we take a vacation? "All work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy". Remember it? There is always a limit to psychical as well as mental activities. We are not robots nor are we slaves. Neither should we be workaholics, so goes the modern term for those who work themselves to death. We are persons endowed by God with free will and intelligence. The will to work should always be tempered by the intelligence to rest awhile to acquire new energy.

That's what I am doing 4 or 5times a year. 

Speaking about God: Is there a vacation from God? Of course not. There is no such thing as vacation from God of from our religious activities. One of the best known religious poems in English is "The Hound of Heaven". It was written by Francis Thompson who tried to run away from God. He wanted to have a vacation from Him. He compares God to a hound chasing his soul. In reality, it is a story of Thompson's own life.

As a boy, he had in ended to become a priest, but he was lazy. So his father enrolled him in a medical school where the young Francis contracted the opium habit which almost wrecked his mind and body.

He became a beggar, slinking through the slums, his means of survival earned by shining shoes, selling matches and holding horses. Through the kindness of a poor girl, Francis met he couple Meynell, who recognized his talent an inner goodness. Through them, he has "caught" by God's love.

How Thompson tried to run away from God, and how God "hunted" him, how divine love caught up with him - shows clearly the fact that in this world, we can have a vacation from physical and mental activities, but never from God.

ComVal supports Salugpungan Suspension

NABUNTURAN, Compostela Valley, July 19 (PIA) - - Compostela Valley Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy is supporting the order from the Department of Education XI (Deped) suspending schools operated by Salugpungan Ta Tanu Igkanogon.

 According to the Deped Compostela Valley, 15 out of the 55 schools suspended are located in the province.

 In a statement, Governor Uy stressed that for ten years of existence in Compostela Valley, the administration of the Salugpungan schools had not consulted the local government in the province.

“As Governor and former Chair of the Regional Peace and Order Council XI, we also received complaints on the failure of these schools to secure free, prior and informed consents (FPIC) from the communities where they operate, as mandated by the Indigenous People’s Rights Act,” the governor said.

Governor Uy hoped that the issues surrounding the suspension will be cleared up, following a free and unbiased inquiry.

Last July 12, Deped XI Regional Director Evelyn Fetalvero issued a suspension order to the Salugpungan schools and gave them until July 17 to submit to explain why the permit to operate and recognition granted to the school be fully revoked.

 The deadline was later extended to July 22 upon the request of Salugpungan Executive Director Eugenia Nolasco.

Governor Uy also underscored that the provincial government will exert its efforts to ensure that the indigenous peoples (IP) communities have access to quality education.

 In a Bayanihan concept, two schools serving IP children opened last June 3 at sitios Side 4, Barangay Mangayon and Puting Bato, Barangay Ngan, all in Compostela town.

 With a vision of keeping every child in school, the provincial government with the help of public and private stakeholders will construct another five schools in geographically isolated and depressed areas.

 Aside from the governor, the province’s Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Board Member Datu Felipe Masambo also disclosed that the Provincial Tribal Council has received reports that lessons in the Salugpungan schools include ideologies of the communist group.

 The tribal chieftain also said that parents have expressed concerns that their children will be utilized to fight against government forces.

 “Ang gusto lamang sa mga ginikanan na pagkahuman ug eskwela, makatabang sa ilang panginabuhian; dili kay makig gira na hinuon,” he said. (What the parents wanted is after schooling, their children will help them in their livelihood; instead of them, going to war.)

 Datu Masambo noted that the tribal council’s submitted a resolution to the Provincial Peace and Order Council in a meeting last January 25, 2019 for the closure of the Salugpungan schools. (PIA11, Michael L. Uy)

Photo:

(PPOC pdrmc)

Comval Gov Tyron Uy presides over the joint Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) Meetings on July 17, 2019at the provincial capitol. (maryel lasaca/id comval)

 A school gymnasium is turned over in Brgy. Panibasan, Maco with Comval Gov Tyron Uy gracing the ceremony on July 20, 2019. (maryel lasaca/id comval)

Compassion for Refugees?

My column in Mindanao Daily, BusinessWeek Mindanao and Cagayan de Oro Times

Is the European Union  (EU) choosing self-interest over compassion for refugees? A very interesting question asked by German TV-commentator Bernd Riegert. And it seems, he is already able presenting his answer: In the EU's game of "refugee bingo," far-right Italian Interior Minister Minister Matteo Salvini can only win. He has little reason to give in to states looking for lasting migration policy.

 "Miserable" was the word German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer used to describe the current situation for migrants fleeing to Europe from Libya. It's a reference to "refugee bingo," cynical jargon for the game the European Union plays whenever a private rescue ship saves dozens of migrants on the Mediterranean Sea and brings them to Italian shores. The EU commissioner for migration gets on the phone with interior ministers from around the bloc, cajoling them to take a handful of people. Then the merciless haggling begins - as Bernd Riegert and many others describe the present situation at the south border of Europe.

Yes, being very honest: the process has become a rallying cry for Italy's far-right interior minister, Matteo Salvini, who has achieved domestic political success by stoking anti-refugee sentiment and presenting himself as the unyielding protector of Italian interests. Close the ports, deter the migrants, problem solved — that's Salvini's populist recipe. And several other opinions go into the same direction.

Fact is: refugees sent to Libya under EU deal face 'catastrophic' conditions. A few EU member states, notably France and my home country Germany, have had enough of this game. They want a lasting arrangement that determines which country takes in how many migrants.

We can probably thank the courageous ship captain Carola Rackete for Seehofer's support in finding a solution. Her daring landing on the Italian island of Lampedusa made global headlines. It's even got German Challencor Angela Merkel's feuding government coalition seeing eye to eye.

If we take a closer look to Europe: no one taking responsibility. Really sad to say.

Yet the today's Helsinki meeting has made clear that nothing will change in the near term. An agreement will have to wait at least until September. Until then, the miserable game continues, largely because Italy and those countries ready to do more cannot agree on one point: Other member states are only willing to accept migrants with a good case for asylum. The rest, accounting for at least 70 percent of all migrants, would have to stay in Italy.

Allow me to quote Riegert again: Salvini wants to see all of the migrants sent elsewhere, immediately, and not be left with the hopeless cases. He knows that it can be difficult to deport them back to their countries of origin. Other receiving countries, such as Germany, know that deportation is now off the table for those who don't stand a chance at asylum. That would explain why they are sticking to the rules as they are: Migrants are registered in the arrival country, in this case Italy, which decides who deserves asylum protection and who doesn't. That can take months, then more months until other EU members agree to actually take those asylum-seekers.

Even if a time-limited redistribution of the relatively few people brought in by rescue ships is agreed to, the larger problem remains. The EU's asylum system needs reform that redefines responsibility and quotas — a huge step for a hopelessly divided bloc that has been negotiating for years and remains far from a solution. The EU's eastern states, along with Italy and Austria, have been the biggest obstacles of all.

Incoming German - European Commission President elect Ursula von der Leyen says she wants to untie this Gordian knot. But she'll only enjoy a very, very little  little success so long as Salvini-like populists in Italy, Hungary and Poland are in charge. Migration is the ongoing European crisis they can repeatedly pick up votes with, no matter that, in absolute figures, the number of people coming to European shores keeps dropping dramatically. So why change course? Is it  a matter of putting self-interest before compassion for refugees and migrants? I can't answer this question at this moment now. Future will show.

Vice Governot Maricar Zamora appointed as Adviser for External Affairs

League of Vice Governors of the Philippines appoints Vice-Governor Maricar Zamora as Senior Adviser for External Affairs

 By: Gerne Boja

Vice-Governor Maria Carmen S. Zamora was appointed by her peers as Senior Adviser for External Affairs of the League of Vice-Governors of the Philippines (LVGP) last July 12, 2014 during their 76th National Assembly last July 12-14 at Sofitel Manila.

 “I am very happy to be part of a strong linkage and network with passionate advocacies in policy and legislative reforms.”, Vice-Governor Zamora said.

 During the 3-Day assembly, the LVGP inducted its members, including Vice-Gov. Maricar Zamora into the League’s vision of effecting changes for local and national development.  The legislator’s also underwent series of activities for the continuing refinement of the local legislative process.
“We look forward to enhancing our skills for the office even as the League offers to build the capabilities of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan” Vice-Governor Zamora shared.

 The LVGP is a non-stock, non-profit and non-government organization composed of the heads of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of each province in the country. The League strives to build a strong advocacy group, to be “one voice” in policy and legislative reforms.

Photo Caption: 

Vice-Governor Zamora with the other Vice-Governors of the different Provinces during the 76th National Assembly of the  League of Vice-Governors of the Philippines.  

SP ComVal eyes ISO Certification

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Compostela Valley is gearing towards getting its ISO accreditation. This is what Vice-Governor Maria Carmen S. Zamora revealed during the Monday Convocation, July 15 at the Capitol Lobby.

“It has been a dream, not only mine but also our governor for our provincial government to be ISO certified… I am happy that I’m taking part in this initiative,” Vice-Governor said.

 In preparation of this undertaking the provincial government of Compostela Valley signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) Program to establish a Quality Management System in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Certifiable to ISO 9001-2015.

 “Before we can think of innovating process para sa ating mga mamamayan, This (Quality Management System) is a necessary first step,” Atty. Engelbert C. Caronan, Jr., MNSA, DAP president said.

 With this partnership, The National Government through DAP has set aside 10 Million Pesos to be used by the Legislative and Executive Branch for a series of training and Capacity Development activities to which they will facilitate.

 As the new legislative building nears its completion, Vice-Governor Zamora motivated the staff under the legislative branch to improve on the efficiency of delivering outputs.

“To complement with the new building; that we have, as a ‘hardware’, I hope we can also improve our ‘software’… I need you to step forward to deliver with efficiency and to meet the demands of legislation,” Vice-Governor Zamora challenged during the SP maiden Session.

The lady vice-governor also added in her maiden speech that she plans to utilize the new facility for empowering Vice-Mayors and Sangguniang Bayan members.

 “I envision this to be a venue to capacitate our legislators through trainings and seminars,” she said.

Besides creating laws and ordinances, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is the keeper of records of all policies from provincial and local legislators. It is crucial to standardize the internal management of records to efficiently access information.

The Legislative Branch is targeting to transfer to the new building by October 2019. (Gerne Boja)

Photo Caption:

Vice-Governor Maricar S. Zamora, MNSA with Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) President Atty. Engelbert C. Caronan, Jr., MNSA during the Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with the DAP to establish a Quality Management System in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Certifiable to ISO 9001-2015.

Comval holds another "Oplan Pagbabago Tunol Serbisyo"

The province of Compostela Valley under Governor Jayvee Tyron L. UY holds another  "Oplan Pagbabago Tunol Serbisyo" program in the far-flung and conflict affected areas at Purok 4, Barangay Rizal, Monkayo Comval on July 12, 2019.

More than 500 beneficiaries of the said Barangay availed of the different types of government services offered by the different participating National Agencies, private stakeholders and the Provincial and Municipal Government.

The programs and services offered are the distribution of fingerlings by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), consultation and support program for crop insurance by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), turnover of SLPA PAMANA project amounting to Php 300,000.00, facilitate and addressed queries relative to Pantawid Pamilya Program, and information dissemination of DSWDs AICs by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The Department of Agriculture (DA) also turns over 1 unit rice harvester, as well as the conduct of  information dissemination and mobile registration of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), information education campaign for integrated pest management and master listing of farmers by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), and provided ready to eat food samples product by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

On the other hand, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) conducts training needs assessment profiling and free haircut services, while the Department of Education (DEPED) provides schools supplies from kinder to grade-1 students. 

The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) offered libreng tsenilas for school children, libreng gupit and feeding program as well as the Medical and Dental Services by the AFP.

Another services availed by the beneficiaries are the free legal consultations, notarization of documents, late registration and other documents by the Provincial Attorneys Office (PAO). 

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) also conducted information education campaign and student permit application while the Deapartment of Labor and Employment (DOLE) conducted a rigestration program for rural workers association and orientation of livelihood program and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) conducted distribution of fruit bearing trees.

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) conducted orientation on child protection policy for parents and group dynamics for children ages 5-12 years old. 

The private partners joined the program are the Sumiftu which they augmented three nurses and conducted information and education campaign and distributed ripe bananas to the beneficiaries, while the Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative (DANECO) conducted a free membership seminar, received electric bill payments and catered queries of their consumers.

The Oplan Pagbabago Tunol Serbisyo program of the province is another strategy in response to the Executive order no.70 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte for the whole of nation approach to deliver government services to the Geographically Isolated and Depressed Areas (GIDAS) in Comval. Last July 5, the same Tunol Serbisyo was also given to the beneficiaries in Brgy. Araibo, Pantukan. #YestoDavaoDeOro  (Rey Antibo, ID Comval)

Be your own coach!

My column in Mindanao Daily, BusinessWeek Mindanao and Cagayan de Oro Times

Maybe, you're a guide, a commander or a conductor? Maybe, you're  a leader, who really knows how to play the first card in the team? Do you know how to direct, to persuade or to precede?

I found a very nice quotation shared by Dr. John C. Maxwell, the leading authority on leadership, who says, "A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way!" 

"Nearly all men can withstand adversity. If you truly want to test a man's character, give him power", stressed already Abraham Lincoln. Character is what you are doing in the dark. By the way, nowadays, I wouldn't only mention "men"  alone when it comes to leadership. There are innumerable women holding their own. And that's good so... . 

Remember and look around: in the past and at present, one can observe someone at any corner offering us to lead our way. Politicians compete for our vote of confidence. Athletes and entertainers show us their pictures of success. A lot of different religious leaders pledge, promise and bind in flock gathering.

Well, what are some of the traits that a great leader must have or develop character? Is character really enough? How about integrity? Are you, my dear reader, a leader? Is what you are saying AND  DOING, the same? Are your followers wholeheartedly convinced of your integrity?

Albert Einstein, one of my favorite idols had said, "Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with the important matters!"

Leaders in politics, leaders in clergy, leaders in business - many have been lacking this specific trait in the past, because, after all, what they said is not what they did.  A leader is someone with character, integrity, discipline, and the ability to influence others in a positive way.  A leader must be able to motivate his or her people around, rather than manipulate them or run away in times of difficult decisions... !

Albert Einstein claimed that he had no special abilities, only persistence. But that was enough to develop the General Relativity Theory. 

I learned from my Philippine mentor and book author (German-Philippine Relations), the late Monsignor Professor Dr. Hermogenes E. Bacareza already during the late 1980's: "It's important to become your own best friend. Be your own coach. Take to your inner self  as if if you were talking to another person you care deeply about. And, pray!"

Sweden's National Youth Football Association is coming to Davao!

By: Hope Militante Fernandez

Together with Football for Humanity Foundation, Maharlika Sports and Mindanao Peace Council, we will host the NYFA Sweden from July 6-12. Part of their visit is to conduct a 3-day classroom and field training certification course at Tionko Football Grounds and Ateneo de Davao University.

Read More: http://bit.ly/2XwQmf7

#DulaTaBai
#DavaoFootball
#WeLiveFootball

P.S. Watch Sweden vs England for 3rd/4th place playoff of the Women's World Cup this Saturday, 11pm. Championship match is between the US and the Netherlands this Sunday, 11pm.

SPORTANDDEV.ORG

Sweden's NYFA to visit Davao City | sportanddev.org

Copyrights: Football For Humanity Sweden's NYFA to visit Davao City Davao City in the Philippines will be host to international delegates of the National Youth Football Association of Sweden (NYFA) from 6 to 12 July, in partnership with the Football for Humanity Foundation led by founder and preside...

Climate Change ...

... Compounds Hunger and Conflicts

There are still people on this globe proclaiming that there is no climate change. It's useless to convince them any more. Fact is: the climate changed already massive and added to warfare worsening hunger and conflicts worldwide, according to one of Germany's largest aid groups. Welthungerhilfe has said many poor have "no more reserves or resilience left" when hit by extreme weather.
   
The world's southern hemisphere poor were bearing the brunt of climate change caused by rich, fossil-fuel consumers of the global North, Welthungerhilfe President Marlehn Thieme said in Berlin several days ago.

Presenting the Bonn-based organization's annual report for 2018, Thieme said climate change amounted to a "question of justice" in ensuring that resources — still sufficient worldwide to feed everyone — reached the poorest.

Hunger victims, often already cut off to outside help by conflict parties, no longer had livelihoods and sustenance as droughts, floods and storms wrecked their fields and eliminated their farm animals.

Yes,  climate change threatens peace efforts. Climate change is threatening the success of peacekeeping missions, according to a briefing by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) circulating on Tuesday. Eight of the ten countries hosting the biggest multilateral operations "are located in areas highly exposed to climate change," it said.

Germany pushes climate change as security risk. Floods, drought and mass migration: all factors why Germany has made the UN's response to climate change its priority at the Security Council. But political roadblocks at home and abroad could complicate action.

If we watch around, we can easily notice, that weather extremes are compounding plight. Citing Cyclon Idai, which in April ravaged Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe, President Thieme said weather extremes had become an additional "fatal link" hampering aid workers and restoration of communal nutrition.

Drastic declines in land and oceanic harvests amid rising average temperatures required answers in the form of early warning systems, weather insurance and drought-durable seeds.

Allow me to quote Welthungerhilfe's Secretary General Mathias Mogge. He said, "Coupled with warfare, in which conflict parties cut off entire regions from the outside world, extreme weather was a compounding factor".

The spiral of conflict is becoming more and more dramatic. Villagers are loosing their entire livelihoods. Resources like water and grazing land became scarce, leading to further conflict, in societies where people already had little to withstand emergencies.

Reporting on its 2018 efforts, Welthungerhilfe said it had spent €213.6 ($243) million on the fight against hunger and poverty last year. Public donors provided €155.4 milliion for project work. Private donations amounted to €54.9 million. The largest public donor was the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), which provided €38.6 million.

Hunger, thirst and conflicts because of climate change - meanwhile a never-ending story. Daily in our news. Global and local news. We can't keep our eyes closed any more.