Cover Story CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) through Talakayan sa PIA on 12 July 2017 shares that they are optimistic that the core of Maranao culture will be preserved despite the crisis in Marawi through involving the youth in crafts making.
Adelina Suemith, head of SocioCultural Working Group of BIMP-EAGA region and National Commission for Culture and the Arts’ (NCCA) Chief of Program Monitoring and Evaluation Division said that they are planning a program to involve the Maranao youth, once the rebuilding of Marawi will take place, in a cultural livelihood to make Maranao crafts. This is one way of preserving Marano culture and arts and at the same time source of income for them.
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Meanwhile, Engr. Marites Maguindra, executive director of the Bureau on Cultural Heritage of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) said that understanding culture is one way to attain peace. There has been a lot of stereotypes about the Muslim culture, but if only people could understand and appreciate then we can live in harmony, she said. She also added that ARMM has also planned to build a cultural center
in Marawi once the crisis is over. This way, all the craftsmanship of Maranao culture will be displayed in one place. Further, Lordelie Enjambre of Mindanao Development Authority (MinDa) shared that culture is within us, embedded since birth. No war or crisis can take that away. This is why NCCA is spearheading a Mindanao culture and arts festival dubbed “Budayaw” in General Santos City on 20-24 September 2017. Philippines is the first ever member nation of BIMP-EAGA to host this event. Budayaw will showcase the diveristy of creative expressions of cultural masters and artisits in Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-MalaysiaPhilippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) as well as raise awareness and foster appreciation on the landscapes, life-scapes and aspirations of peoples of the region. The goal of this event is to raise appreciation of the different cultures
of BIMP-EAGA nations and seek the unity in diversity. According to Nestor Horfilla, head of Festival Organizing Team and Artistic Directors’ Team of Budayaw 2017, even though we are different nations, we have commonality particularly in the origin of the language and how we do things. Although it has evolved through the years but still the core is there. Meanwhile, Dr. Pila Torres Banaag, vice-head of the National committee on Communications of NCCA explained that Mindanao has been preparing to participate in this event through its various cultural groups. This festival is a combined efforts og NCCA, MinDA, Department of Tourism (DOT), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), ARMM, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Province of Saranggani, General Santos City and Mindanao State University - General Santos City. (JMOR/PIA10)
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Richness of Mindanao Culture to be showcased at 1st Budayaw Festival CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The rich culture, heritage and artistry of Mindanao and Palawan will be in the spotlight as the Philippines will host the first-ever Budayaw: The BIMPEAGA Festival of Culture and the Arts, from 20 to 24 September 2017, in General Santos City.
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A collaboration among different agencies and institutions including the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Mindanao Development Authority, Department of Tourism Region XII, the city
government of General Santos, the provincial government of Sarangani, and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Budayaw will showcase the diversity of creative expressions of cultural masters and artists in
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the Brunei Darussalam-IndonesiaMalaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) as well as raise awareness and foster appreciation on the landscapes, lifescapes and aspirations of peoples of the region. The festival will feature different lectures, workshops, performances, shows, exhibit and other activities and events, which will foster understanding and solidarity among the multi-cultural populations of the BIMP-EAGA. During the five-day festival, visitors can view iconic landscapes and cultural markers of the BIMP-EAGA in an interactive exhibit, which will be accompanied by lectures and fora to discuss the tensions of tradition and modernity embedded in the images. A specially designed pavilion will be put up, serving as the shared domain of invited master weavers, who will show visitors how context shapes mastery of techniques over our natural resources. Visitors will also experience the beauty of indigenous musics with performances using native musical instruments such as gongs, bamboo instruments, lutes and plucked-string instruments. Moreover, they can witness performing groups showcase the best of contemporary theatre, dance and music highlighting the threats and triumphs of communities on the road to peace, development, and resilience. Visual artists will display outdoor
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installations as well as other works. To make the Budayaw experience more immersive, there will be special tour packages for the visiting guests and tourists to explore the richness of Mindanao culture as well as its touristic destinations. Aside from showcasing the diversity of cultures of countries of the region, the Budayaw festival will train the spotlight on the beauty of Mindanao, affirming and safeguarding its being wellspring of creativity and resilience. To know more about Budayaw, contact Adelina M. Suemith, chief of the NCCA Program Monitoring and Evaluation Division, through telephone number 527-2192 local 601 or email amsuemith@yahoo.com. For more information, please contact Rene NapeĂąas, head of the Public Affairs and Information Office, through 0928-5081057, 527-2192 loc 208 or through email address ncca. paio@gmail.com.(NCCA)
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Sports limited: Dealing post traumatic stress, invisible wounds thru games, conversations
ILIGAN CITY – The Ecosystems Work for Essential Benefits (EcoWEB) has engaged some evacuees, affected by the May 23 Marawi siege, hosted in Iligan city in sports, arts, music, conversations and listening to help ease their tensions and feelings.
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EcoWEB sees the significance of introducing sports, even in limited circumstance, to bring balance in the psyche and mental health of evacuees. It said volleyball and other indigenous games are approaches to decrease post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among survivors of violent conflict. Its a creative coping mechanism to combat trauma and reduce the immeasurable level of anxiety among survivors. These are little ways to bring them back to smile and the feeling of camaraderie with the rest of coevacuees. Those who are exposed to severe psychological and emotional risks including those rescued trapped civilians; those whose elders are circumstantially abandoned at the height of evacuation; those who were held hostaged; those who escaped from conflict zones; those women and children exposed to vulnerability; those whose houses are burned; and, those whose family members who died out of this conflict are likely to suffer post traumatic stress disorder. Authorities in Marawi city directly
dealing with evacuees reported that there are women who are already exhibiting PTSD in the evacuation center. Ecoweb cited that scholars on psychiatry pointed that those who are found with PTSD will suffer a long term and cascading effect that will have consequence to their behaviors. Those that are severely afflicted with PTSD will suffer diminished productivity, physical health problems, possible resort to unhealthy behaviors, and may have mental health issues. Further, EcoWEB believes that these are the hardest matter to deal because these are the invisible effects of violence. Albeit limited space and time, Ecoweb has pushed that these should also be prioritized by both experts and non-experts but are nonetheless trained on psychosocial healing matters. Listening to evacuees’ stories is also an opportunity that can contribute offer a relief from their unsaid stresses, anxiety, and pain. The quality of psychological and emotional health for evacuees need extraordinary care, increased attention, and coordinative services, the Ecoweb emphasized. (Ecoweb)
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DOH keeps track on nutrition of pregnant, mother, children inside evac centers ILIGAN CITY – As the 39th day of Marawi siege marks today, the Department of Health (DOH) continues its task by closely monitoring the health and nutrition of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) especially the pregnant, mothers and children inside the evacuation centers, or where they are sheltered.
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1-15 July 2017 DOH Region-10 Nutrition Cluster led by Telesfora Madelo and Millorina Osorio conducted Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) and Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF). The Nutrition Cluster also gave Micronutrient Powder (MNP), determination of Moderately Acute Malnutrition (MAM) and Severely Acute Malnutrition (SAM), among IDPs in evacuation centers in Buru-un School of Fisheries and Buru-un gymnasium, Sta. Elena, Tibanga, Maria Cristina— including those who are staying with relatives and friends outside Marawi. Lactating mothers and their kids aged 24 months and beyond also received daily supplemental feeding. Children were given MNP; daily complementary food; and ORS with zinc if with diarrhea. Iron drops and MUAC were performed and reassessed among six to 59 month-old kids to find out if there are indications of moderate or severe acute malnutrition. Children also availed of dental cleaning and weight and height
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assessment services, while expectant mothers received Iron Folic Acid and pre-natal services. They (pregnant mothers) were also required to attend the IYFC counselling and screenings. Health and Nutrition workers’ assessment done in five evacuation centers showed that out of 361 toddlers and children aged six to 59month old screened of MUAC, three were found to have MAM. Records also showed that out of 53 pregnant women screened of MUAC, two were found to be acutely malnourished. Likewise, based on health and nutrition assessment conducted in more than 300 home-based IDP toddlers and children in Barangay San Roque, three were found to have MAM and one underweight. Those children found to have MAM were given weeks supply of Mongo Rice blend and MNP. (Paola Gaabucayan, IMT-DOH 10/RLRB, PIA 10-Bukidnon)
DA, CMU hybrid rice techno demo project commence
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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The 100-hectare hybrid rice techno demo farm project of the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO-10) and Central Mindanao University (CMU) took off on 27 June 2017, along the foot zones of Musuan Peak, Maramag town, Bukidnon.
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This is in response to the pronouncement of DA Secretary Emmanuel F. PiĂąol, instructing each region to allocate 100 hectares for the said project that will help contribute in the attainment of rice sufficiency of the country. The said project strengthens the partnership between DA, CMU, Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and the different hybrid rice seed companies. This will run for five years and it will showcase the performance of various technologies that hybrid rice companies are using that will help the farmers choose the right technology that will thrive in their respective areas. Likewise, the participants will look forward for the establishment of a solar powered irrigation system
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that will eventually irrigate the project area. Farm mechanization, pre and post harvest facilities in rice production will also be established in the area to help boost farmers’ yield and income. In addition to the package of machineries to be given to CMU, DA10 OIC-Regional Director Carlene C. Collado announced that the office will be providing seed storage amounting to P2.165 million and solar power irrigation project worth P10 million. The funds will soon be released to the institution to start the construction of the irrigation and postharvest facilities. Meanwhile, Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Judith Intong commends DA for choosing CMU as
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1-15 July 2017 partner in the implementation of the rice project. She emphasized that the government needs to move an extra mile to increase productivity in order to attain rice sufficiency and reduce poverty incidence in the country. With this project, she is optimistic that this will encourage the farmers to adopt the technologies that will help attain the ultimate goal of the government. PhiliRice Executive Director Dr. Sailila E. Abdula also informed that based on the data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), that in region 10, around 4% of the farmers are using hybrid rice seeds, 2.82% are using inbred seeds while others are still using the farmers seeds. He also emphasized that farmers planting inbred rice seeds will harvest around 4.8 tons per hectare while using hybrid rice seeds will provide them with 6.2 tons per hectare or 24% yield
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increment. “I am further encouraging the farmers to adopt the technologies for it will contribute to the increase in rice production of the country,” Abdula concluded. On the other hand, the participating hybrid rice seed companies such as SL-Agritech Corp., Syngenta, Seed Works, Bayer Seed Growth and Dosepco, and PhilRice, committed full support for the success of the project. Each seed company will have at least one hectare to work on to showcase their technology. It is expected that two demo sites of similar project will be established in the different provinces in the region. The hybrid rice derby in the provinces will enable the farmers to select the right variety that is suitable in their own field. (MGBS/DA10)
Engaging Maranao women on incomegenerating activities at evacuation centers
ILIGAN CITY – Women Maranao evacuees want to be busy with activities that can generate income.
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In response to this expressed need, the Ecosystems Work for Essential Benefits (EcoWEB) team sends an expert on skills management and alternative
livelihood at Maria Cristina evacuation center in Iligan City to train them on creative crafting of flower decors utilizing recycled materials. The products, if
1-15 July 2017 produced massively, can be sold at the market. The training-workshop was done in a half day with Remedios Maglangit of Iligan City Council of Women (ICCW) as the resource person of this initiative. “These women in the evacuation sites can also be taught of other possible income-generating activities to capacitate them economically despite this situation. It can also be part of the psychosocial initiatives to help them build on their positive strengths and rise from despairing situation,” said Renefe Padilla who has been working on organizing survivor-led response volunteers in evacuation and in-house bakwit centers. “Making rugs, from used and unused clothes, is also possible to be shared to them. This can be replicated with other self-help groups in the evacuation sites who will identify income-generating activities as among the needs to be responded to,” Padilla said. Some evacuees have already expressed possible economic crisis if the conflict situation in Marawi remains unresolved. “If only we can be financially supported for micro-economic activities like setting up sari-sari stores, then it could help us become economically resilient,” said Teresita Taob, a mother of three, and Melanie Ragmac, a former ice cream vendor in Marawi. Bulawan Wamilda, 56 years old evacuee who was selling vegetables in Marawi, thought, “maybe if we will be given a space where we can start and a
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small start up capital to put up a store, this can help us.” “Gusto ko pong magkaroon ng sariling pangkabuhayan, kahit man lang magkaroon ng maliit na bahay kasi po ako ang tumatayong tatay at nanay sa aking mga anak. May sakit po ang aking asawa at kahit trabahong panlalaki, ginagawa ko na para lang mabuhay kami at magamot ang asawa ko,” related Marivic Dallen Asum, a mother of six children. Macadato Imamlao, a lineman of Lasureco electric company, was worried what could happen if they’ll return in their place. “Umuupa lang kami ng bahay sa Marawi. Siguro, wala na kaming mababalikan. Dito na siguro kami makapagsimula ng aming buhay,” he said. “Sana nga lang magkaroon ng relocation kasi mahirap na po ang sitwasyon. Pa’no kung matagalan kami dito (evacuation site)? Wala na po kaming mapuntahang iba,” expressed Basher Acmad, a tricycle driver. When our place will be declared peaceful, then we can maybe go back home and start working again,” said Leticia Goles, a utility worker in Marawi, who maintains optimism. (Ecoweb)
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