President Fidel Ramos was chosen as the Lifetime Contributor Arwardee

Photo taken during celebration of Germany's National Day of Unity in New World Hotel in Makati City

Former President Fidel Ramos was chosen as the Lifetime Contributor awardee by the Board of Judges of Asia CEO Awards 2019.

Fidel Valdez Ramos was the 12th President of the Philippines and is widely regarded as one of the most effective leaders of the nation’s history.  His term of government was characterized by rapid economic progress and political stability despite dealing with communist insurgencies, Islamic separatists and the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis.

FVR was educated at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and at the University of Illinois. He joined the Philippine army and served in Korea and Vietnam. He was appointed chief of the Philippine Constabulary in 1972 by President Marcos and responsible for enforcing martial law when it was imposed later that same year.

After the 1986 elections, Marcos claimed victory despite allegations of wide-spread fraud.  Ramos and defense minister Enrile supported Marcos’ opponent, Corazon Aquino. Their defection sparked the “People Power” movement that forced Marcos into exile. During Aquino’s presidency Ramos served as military chief of staff (1986–88) and secretary of national defense (1988–91).  He suppressed several military coup attempts against the government.

FVR was elected to succeed Aquino in 1992. He purged the national police force of corrupt officers and reached peace agreements with long-active guerrilla insurgencies.

He liberalized the Philippines’ protected economy to spur fast prosperity growth enabling the country to weather the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis that crippled other economies across the region.

Borrowed life

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

OPINION

By KLAUS DORING

 September 27, 2019

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SWEET words are easy to say; nice things are easy to buy; but good people are different to find. Life ends, when you stop dreaming; hope ends, when you stop believing; friendship stops, when you stop sharing. A good friend of mine sent me this quotation. I commented back: So very true and very well said!

When this paper hits the roads, I am still in Manila attending several important diplomatic meetings and celebrating Germany's National Day of Unity on October 3. Especially this celebration let me always think back. 20 years ago, 30 years, even 40 years ago... .

Fact is: our life is borrowed - from God. No rental charges are collected from us. Many of us have forgotten this and live life at his fullest. Our life is equal to a book from a library that lends one. But how insatiable and unbearable are we in disdainful acting towards life and therefore to ourselves? Remember: life is just a loan!

Life seems to be nothing, just being ready to riddle one with bullets. Life seems to be nothing, just being broken through the indifference and unreliable and immoral behavior. Life seems to be nothing for those people who don't understand cries from the heart of other people around them - cries for their hearts and families, for justice, cries for peace and for many other things.

Life with all its ups and downs, is just a loan, but for many of our fellow creatures it just seems to be nonsense to be littered like dump. And, if people try to survive, especially during these days, and if they just experienced (once more!) indifference, arrogance, ignorance or cheating by whomever - they will give up!

I can assure you that every one of us can at first help in prayers and, in reading the bible. "Proverbs" is the probably most down-to-earth book in the bible. Its teachings prepare you for the daily life, the street and the market place, but not for the schoolroom. The book offers warm pieces of advice you get; practical guidance for making your way on earth. Proverbs covers any kinds of questions you might have right now. Anybody can relate to the generalities of Proverbs, because this book simply tells how life works most of the time.

While writing this piece, I observed that more and more people struggle through life: tired, hopeless, experiencing their rock-bottoms, believing in fallacious "people" around them. I also observed a lot of people living a thief life, as if it it has been giving them without limitation.

"Let's enjoy every single loophole in law!" What a sad and fatal attraction!

Comval celebrates “United Nations International Day of Peace Commemoration in Pantukan

Compostela Valley Province---The provincial government of Compostela Valley celebrates the “United Nations International Day of Peace Commemoration” at Pantukan Sports Complex, Pantukan, Comval Province on September 21, 2019 with the theme: "Tapang at Malasakit para sakapayapaan." 

Sparked with the early morning sunshine of Pantukan’s Municipality, the United Nations International Day of Peace started with the registration of Participants at 5 o'clock comprised with Local Government Unit (LGU) Officials, 11 IPs of the eleven municipalities, Barangay Captains, Women's Group, Barangay Officials of Pantukan, PPDOC Comm. Member, PNP and the AFP and directly followed by the "Peace Walk" at 6 in the morning. 

The ceremony proper was opened by the welcome message of the Mayor of the Municipality of Pantukan, Hon. Roberto Yugo highlighting the importance of peace that should root in our hearts leading to listening and whole-heartedly forgiving others.

The United Nations International Day of Peace Commemoration envisions to bring together multi-sectoral groups such as civil society, religious groups, youth organizations, security sectors and others in a common activity where the international celebration will promote awareness in peace issues and showcase peace initiatives.

Compostela Valley Provincial Women Development Council (PWDC) chairperson Sholai Lim was set as the ambasdor of the International Women's Peace Group (IWPG). "My goal is to foster friendship among nations, to share and find consensus in the various issues the world faces today and hopefully restore our faith in humanity," said Lim.

Peace Consuls of Mindanao and other dignitaries attended the event namely Lt. Gen. Felimon Santos of AFP the Commander Eastmincom, BGEN Marcelo C. Morales Director Police Regional Office II and Emmanuel Manny Fantin Pinol the Chairman of MNDA. 

Highlights of the event were the turn-over of balls from Maharlika Sports and Football for Humanity and the Launching of the Solidarity Garden. " Dako akong pasalamat sa paghatag sa amua ug mga bola kay magamit namo sa among practice ug tournament. Sa Futsal nako nakuha ang akong kalipay ug puhon posible nga makaeskwela ko ug libre tungod sa futsal," said Jean Templanza, a member of the Pantukan Futsal team. 

The Solidarity Garden is a joint project of the Provincial Government of Comval and the LGU Pantukan and will be opened for the public soon. #YEStoDavaoDeOro (Justeen Abella, ID Comval) 

Kahimunan Festival in Laak

Gov Tyron Uy joins the celebration of the 9^th Kahimunan festival in Laak on September 21, 2019 with other guests and officials. (M. Lasaca/ID Comval)

Heroes in Action ...

... at the Bayanihan Sa Paraalan 2019 Build in Comval held

Compostela Valley Province--- Bayanihan sa Paaralan 2019 School Build took its official starting day on its estimated 22-day duration in the 3 municipalities in the province, Compostela, New Bataan and Pantukan.

The simultaneous kick-off ceremony to the construction of classroom buildings commenced on September 20, 2019 in various school sites identified as geographically isolated and depressed areas (GIDA) in Pagsabangan, New Bataan, Barangays Panansalan and Side 4, Mangayon in Compostela, and Sitio Sapanglubog, Brgy Tibagon, Pantukan.

Again, following the Bayanihan concept, the provincial government through its different offices led the building of the classrooms along with the municipal and barangay LGUs, national agencies and other private partners. One of which is at Purok 3, Brgy. Panansalanan, Compostela were the Provincial Administrator’s Office under Provincial Administrator Virgilia Allones, Provincial Human Resource Management Development Office, Compostela Valley Scholarship Program, CVPH Laak partnered with LGU Mawab, LGU Compostela and the Department of Education to build the 1 unit-2 classroom building.

Department of Education-Comval represented by Mr. Ruben Reponte thanked the provincial government under Gov. Tyron Uy, the LGUs and the rest of the partners as well as the volunteers for supporting the program.

Panansalan, with its green, lush and mountainous surroundings is also a big challenge in the part of the students living in Purok 3 as most of them will have to walk more or less 8 kilometers to reach the nearest school.

“Mas nindot na ang sistema sa edukasyon sa karun kay makita man gyud nato ang tabang sa gobyerno.” said  Madonio Jacinto, Purok-3 Chairman of Panansalan.

He added that the community has about 39 households with farming as their means of livelihood where residents raise chickens, goats, pigs and plants vegetables for consumption and to generate income for their daily needs.

"Nindot kay makatabang ang bag ong eskwelahan nga mahimo pinaagi sa Bayanihan Sa Paaralan 2019 Build. Dako ang matabang ani sa amua ilabi na ug Sabado ug Dominggo kay makatabang amung mga anak sa uma kay makauli man dayun kumpara sa una nga layo ang eskwelahan.  Ug karun nga naa nami bag ong eskwelahan, possible kaayo nga makahuman amuang mga anak sa high school kay dili na maproblema ug kwarta pambalon, ang importante kaon nalang amuang atimanon," explained Marah J. Magno, a resident of P3 Panansalan.  (Jasteen P. Abella, ID COMVAL)