AMIN launched Serbisyong Alay nAMIN

The Office of Anak Mindanao party list Representative Mujiv S. Hataman launched last October 18, 2008 its “Serbisyong Alay nAMIN” project for Zamboanga City at the Don Gregorio Elementary Memorial School, Sta. Catalina, Zamboanga City.

Present during the Project Launching were Rep. Hataman, AMIN National President Prof. Moy Edding, Serbisyong Alay nAMIN National Coordinator Ms. Jazmin Teodoro, Sta. Catalina Kagawads Belman Malandi, Padil Amil, Fidel Milan, Noel Bazan, Jimmy Villaflores and Rowena Posadas, Don GEMS OIC Principal Ms. Trinidad Serra, and Samahan ng mga Muslim at Christiano para sa Kaunlaran (SMCK)-Kababaihan President Mr. Boy Arabi, and SMCK-Kababaihan President Ms. Wilma Manuel.

The Serbisyong Alay nAMIN project has three components – Micro-Livelihood Services, Scholarship and Health Services.

Under the Micro-Livelihood Services, beneficiaries will be given financial assistance for the operation of Sari-Sari stores o Tindahan Natin Outlets. These stores will be authorized NFA rice dealers. During the said launching, four beneficiaries of the Micro-Livelihood Services were given their TNO Certificates. They were Angelita A. Doring of Barangay Ayala,

Nuhaila Arabi of Barangay Sta. Catalina, Sherida Sali of Barangay Sta. Maria and Kiram Cayda of Zamboanga del Sur.

The Health Services component of the AMIN project took off with a Medical Mission headed by Dra. Venus Serafin, Medical Specialist II from the Department of Health-Region IX. At least 700 individuals were examined and given medications for free during the medical mission at the said launching. Under the Health Services component, AMIN will give financial assistance to constituents for medical treatments. So far, AMIN has entered into Memoranda of Agreement with the Zamboanga General Hospital, Philippine General Hospital and the Philippine Heart Center.

For the AMIN Scholarship Program, at least 32 scholars were initially awarded with Certificates of Scholarship, which was accepted by one of the scholars, Ms. Amira Allian, of the Western Mindanao State University.

Also gracing the activity was TESDA IX Regional Director Zeus Ampuyas, who announced the agency's partnership with AMIN in giving TESDA scholarship especially to out-of-school youth and women.

sowing peace caravan & iNTERFAITH EidL fITR CELEBRATION

 October 2, 2008

About 30 motorcyclists and 12 vehicles carrying colored flaglets and banners of the Sowing Peace for Mindanao network drove through the streets of Metro Manila in a Peace Caravan that called for a more intensified campaign for awareness and solidarity for the growing number of people affected by the conflict in Mindanao. Escorted by MMDA mobile traffic enforcers and several media crew, the convoy—composed of members representing the different peace organizations, religious communities and interfaith groups-- assembled at the Miriam College parking lot in Quezon City, and traveled all the way to Maharlika Village in Taguig City.

Awaiting them at St. Joseph Catholic Church was a contingent of about a hundred parishioners from the community led by their parish priest, Fr. Victor Virtudazo. Joining together in a Peace March the two groups filled the streets to the beat of a local drum-and-lyre marching band, interspersed with Indian drumming and harmonium music, while everyone chanted, “Peace in Mindanao… Now!”-- as they made their way to the Blue Mosque. There, they were welcomed by the Muslim community led by young boys and girls who received the white flowers offered to them by their Christian neighbors and the visiting interfaith community.

Beside the mosque, everyone gathered under the sun in a circle where the interfaith manifesto for peace was read aloud and interfaith prayers for peace were offered by leaders and representatives from the Muslim, Catholic, Protestant, Indigenous, Hare Krishna and Hindu faiths. Concluding the ceremony was the planting of a “Tree of Peace” at the center of the circle around which each faith representative put a peg to fence the seedling —symbolizing the concerted effort of protection and continuous nurture that peace would require from each of the stakeholders.

Right after, a celebratory cultural program was held in a tent area nearby where everyone enjoyed musical entertainment from the Muslim community and listened to the solidarity messages and Eidl Fitr greetings from the different participating groups. Also held there was a symbolic offering of food from the Christian and interfaith community which was received by the Muslims led by their respected leader, Sultan Pangandaman.

A simple but harmonious feast was shared as a general feeling of hope filled the air and the promise for peace has been planted in each one’s heart through this fresh, new kind of interfaith Eid celebration that has been started.

On behalf of the conveners of Sowing Peace for Mindanao network (Anak Mindanao, Binhi ng Kapayapaan, Inc., GZO Peace Institute, Center for Peace Education - Miriam College, The Peacemakers’ Circle Foundation, Inc., Balay Rehabilitation Center, Mindanao Solidarity Network, Interfaith Center for a Culture of Nonviolence), we heartily thank all groups and individuals who have participated and contributed to the success of the event: Aksyon para sa Kapayapaan at Katarungan (AKKAPKA), International Initiatives for Dialogue (IID), Motorcyclists Assoc. of the Phils., International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), SangHabi, Inc., KaliPiMu Inner Dance group, Environmental Broadcast Circle-PeaceComm., Third World Movement Against the Exploitation of Women, St. Joseph Parish,

Check out news videos on this event from the web:

http://www.gmanews.tv/video/29475/'Peace-Caravan'-urges-govt-MILF-to-continue-peace-talks

http://www.gmanews.tv/largevideo/latest/29457/QTV-Christians-Muslims-join-peace-caravan-in-Taguig

PRIVILEGE SPEECH

“FINDING PEACE IN THE MIDST OF WAR IN MINDANAO”

                              Delivered on: September 29, 2008 

The month of September has always been a significant month for this nation as it is the month marking the beginning of Philippine’s darkest history after the end of colonization, the Declaration of Martial Law.

After 9/11, September has become a worldwide phenomenon, its consequence rearranging the very paradigm of nations and democracy as the world’s superpower vowed to avenge its fall on that fateful day of September 11, 2000.

 
    This year, the month again bore the darkness of blood as another war is waged in Mindanao. So far, in the span of one month, this War, has claimed the lives almost a hundred people, and caused the displacement of more than half a million individuals.

    Mga kasama, giyera, digmaan, labanan - madaling pag-usapan, madaling ipanawagan. Madaling ideklara, lalong lalo na ng mga malayo sa aktwal na pinangyayarihan ng giyera. Nag iisang solusyon para sa mga taong malayo sa ingay ng putukan, mga pamilyang masaganang nagsasalo-salo sa hapag kainan at hindi pumipila at nang lilimos ng konting pantawid gutom man lang.

 
    Giyera, isang mabilis na sagot para sa mga taong tahimik ang tulog sa seguridad ng kanilang mga pribadong tahanan, at hindi nakalagak sa lamig ng semento sa mga evacuation centers, nagsisiksikan, o di kaya’y nakaratay sa ilalim ng buwan na ang tanging banig at kumot ay dahon ng saging lamang.

Kung digmaan ang pag uusapan, mayaman po ang Mindanao sa karanasan ng digmaan. Mula pa sa panahon ng kolonisasyon, ang mahigit tatlong daang pakikidigma ng mga mamamayang Moro laban sa mga Kastila, hanggang sa pakikidigma nito laban sa mga Amerikano.

          Ngunit sa kabila ng lahat ng ito, sa kabila ng daan-daang libong buhay na nabuwis sa digmaan, nananatiling bingi at bulag ang karamihan sa atin sa aral na itunuturo ng kasaysayan.

 
          Perhaps, it is hard for us to learn the lessons of what occurred hundred years ago. But we need not look far behind. Even recent history is written in red with blood of soldiers, revolutionaries, civilians who died in the name of War.

          Mula po 1970 hanggang 1996, mahigit isang daan at dalawampu’t libong tao ang namatay sa mga giyera sa Mindanao. Kung susumahin, sa loob po ng dalawampu’t anim na taon, humigit kumulang sa limang libo ang namamatay bawat taon. Isang daan dalawamput libo… Isang ordinaryong numero para sa karamihan sa atin na hindi ama, ina, asawa, anak o kapamilya ng mga kabilang sa istatistikong ito. Ang isang daan dalampu’t libong buhay na hindi pinahalagahan kahit man lamang upang kapulutan ng aral.

 
          Mula Enero 1997 hanggang Hulyo 1998 lamang, naitalang tatlong daan apatnapu’t tatlo (343) ang namatay sa mga engkwentrong militar sa Mindanao, at pitongpu’t lima (75,000) ang mga nagsilikas.

 
          Ipinagmamalaki po ng dating Pangulong Joseph Estrada ang kanyang All-Out War laban sa Moro Islamic Liberation Front noong taong 2000. Ngunit ano po ba ang kinahinatnan ng giyerang ito maliban sa kamatayan ng mahigit sa dalawang daang tao at ang paglikas at paghihirap ng halos isang milyong inosenteng mamamayan?

 
          For the past seven years after Estrada’s all-out war, Mindanao continued to be ravaged by war. In 2001, a total of 202, 842 were displaced in Basilan and Sulu; in 2003, several ceasefire violations resulted to the displacement of 23, 650 Mindanaoans. The 2003 Buliok War is considered one of the major armed conflicts of recent times, causing the displacement of no less than 452, 258.

 
The morning of February 1, 2005 found the dead bodies of 2 government soldiers and 3 civilians, including a pregnant woman in Maimbung, Sulu. This again paved the way for another War, which resulted to the displacement of around 80,000 in the province.

Then last year, after the ambush or misencounter between government troops and alleged MILF forces, and the barbaric act of mutilating the bodies of our soldiers, War was declared. However, to this day, the truth behind that incident has not been established. The only clear outcome was the displacement of more than 50,000 people in the provinces of Sulu and Basilan.

 
          This year, after the failure of the signing of the MOA-AD between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, another War is going on in Mindanao. And so far, the death toll has reached to almost a hundred and the displaced, more than half a million.

          Ladies and gentlemen, mga kasama, sa paanong paraan ba namin maipababatid ang katotohanang walang kahihinatnan ang digmaan maliban sa kamatayan at paghihirap. At habang humahaba ang ating listahan ng mga naaapektuhan ng giyera, lalong humahaba ang listahan ng mga kadahilanan upang magpatuloy ang labanan.

 
          Hindi po kami bulag sa mga karumaldumal na gawain ng ibang mga grupo na nagtatago sa lehitimong pakikibaka at nananawagan din kami para sa hustisya ng kanilang mga biktima. Nang lusubin ng mga grupo nina Kumader Kato at Kumander Bravo ang mga bayan ng Lanao del Norte, Sarangani, Midsayap sa North Cotabato, nagkaisa po tayong lahat, Muslim, Kristiyano at ibang pananampalataya, sa pag kondena at panawagan ng Hustisya.

Ngunit ang pagpataw ng hustisya ay hindi sapat na dahilan upang ang hustisya ay ipagkait sa iba, lalong lalo na kung ang magiging biktima ay yaong mga inosente at walang malay. Hindi makatarungan na sa pagtugis sa iilan, daan daang libo ang napipinsala at nasasaktan.

 
          Isang malinaw na patotoo dito ang nangyari nitong September 8, 2008 sa Datu Piang, Maguindanao. Sa kabila ng mga panawagan at deklarasyong paggalang sa buwan ng Ramadhan, nagkaroon ng insidente sa naturang lugar kung saan anim na sibilyan ang namatay, ina Daya at Vilma Manunggal; Aida Mandi, 18, buntis; Kim Mandi, 7; Adtaya Mandi, 7; Faiza Mandi.

 
          The aerial attack was allegedly in retaliation of the rebels firing at the AFP plane. However, the Commission on Human Rights said that the result of its initial investigation on the said incident showed that the attack was not provoked by the MILF, there was no exchange of gunfire and in the words of CHR Chair Leila de Lima, witnesses told the investigating team that all they heard were “two loud explosions which were not preceded by any gunfire.”

 
          Sadly however ladies and gentlemen, this incident have not received the same degree of attention, condemnation and demand for justice from mainstream society. Which is ironic because why, in instances where civilians become victims of atrocities committed by rebels, there is a loud uproar among us. Halos hindi tayo makapaniwala na kayang gawin nitong mga rebelde ang mga karumaldumal na gawain. Ngunit hindi nga ba’t kaya rebelde ang tawag sa kanila?

          Ngunit bakit, tulad ng nangyari sa Datu Piang kung saan mga bata at kababaihan ang naging biktima, hindi ng mga rebelde, kundi ng mga alagad ng batas, ng mga nanumpang tagapagtanggol ng mamamayan.. walang maingay na pag kondina ang narinig, walang malawakang panawagan para sa hustisya o pagtugis sa mga may sala.

 
          Nitong nakaraang linggo rin po ay nailunsad natin ang CARE (Caravan and Relief) for Peace sa mga lugar na apektado ng giyera. Isa po sa ating mga kasama ay dumating ngayon lang at naipaabot sa atin ang balitang sa Piagapo, Lanao del Sur may isang evacuation center na hindi naisasama sa listahan at hindi naaabot ng mga relief at assistance. Base sa report ng CARE for Peace, may 2000 pamilya sa evacuation center na ito at, sa nakalipas na tatlong lingo, may limang bata nang namatay dahil sa malubhang karamdaman.

At nitong Biyernes lamang, September 26, 2008, isang engkwentro na naman ang naganap sa pagitan ng MILF at mga sundalo ng gobyerno. Ito po ay naganap malapit mismo sa Gumbay Elementary School, isang evacuation center sa Datu Piang, Maguindanao. Isang sibilyan ang namatay at pito nasugatan. Itong mga biktima ng crossfire ay wala po sa daan o sa kanilang mga tahanan. Sila po ay nasa loob ng evacuation center. Ngunit wala kahit sino sa kampo ng MILF at gobyerno ang nais umako ng responsibilidad sa pagkamatay at pagkasugat nitong mga biktimang sibilyan. Kapwa sila nagtuturuan, nagsasabing hindi mga sibilyan ang target ng putukan. Ngunit ang tanong, bakit mga sibilyan ang naging biktima?

 
          Ito ay isang realidad na kailangan nating pag-aralan. Mga kasama, ang Digmaan sa ating panahon ay naiiba sa Digmaan nang unang panahon. The wars of today are fought not in battlefields, but amidst civilian communities. The battle zones now are villages and towns, and in this case, even evacuation centers, with civilians being caught in crossfire and ending up as mere casualties of war or collateral damage. The International Committee of the Red Cross People on War Report explained that, “the fundamental shift in the character of War is illustrated by a stark statistic: in World War I, nine soldiers were killed for every civilian life lost. In today’s wars, it is estimated that ten civilians die for every soldier or fighter killed in battle.” 

          Malimit nating marinig sa mga ordinaryong mamamayan na laging naiipit sa gitna ng labanan, na kung sana, tulad noon, magharap na lang itong mga naglalaban sa isang lugar at kahit magkaubusan pa sila, wala tayong pakialam, dahil yun ang gusto at pinaghandaan nila. Ngunit hindi tulad noong unang panahon, ang mga Digmaan ngayon ay nagaganap hindi sa mga battle zones na malayo sa mga sibilyan, ang Digmaan ngayon ay hindi lamang sa pagitan ng mga combatants na may mga armas.

 
    Itong pagbabago sa mukha ng Digmaan ay nangangailangan ng katumbas na pagbabago sa ating pananaw dito. Sa panahon natin ngayon, hindi na maaaring maging solusyon ang Digmaan sa pag resolba ng mga hidwaan o bilang hakbang upang tugisin ang mga may sala sa lipunan. Ito ay magdudulot lamang ng mas malawak at paulit ulit na karahasan.

 
    Sa puntong ito, sana ay mamulat tayo at baguhin na ang ating pagtingin sa Digmaan. At kabalikat nitong pagbabago ng pananaw sa Digmaan ay ang karampatang pagbabago ng pananaw natin sa Kapayapaan.

          Marahil, isa sa mga kakulangan natin ay ang maling pang-unawa sa tunay na diwa ng Kapayapaan. Sa maraming pagkakataon, ang Kapayapaan ay nananatili lamang isang alternatibo sa Digmaan. Nananawagan lamang tayo ng Kapayapaan kung may nagaganap o may banta ng Digmaan.

 
          In the absence of War, we do not call for Peace. This, despite the established appreciation of the fact that Peace is not just the absence of War. Peace is when the basic needs of the people are met – food, clothing, shelter, health, education, security. Peace is when people are not deprived of their Rights, their dignity, their self-respect, their Freedom. None of these is achieved by War. All of these are transgressed by War, resulting to the never ending, vicious cycle of hatred and violence.

          Ladies and gentlemen, this month, despite being the month of commemorating the tragedies of Martial Law and 9/11, offers another significant date - September 21 which is also, as declared by the United Nations, the International Day of Peace.

 
        And most importantly in a day or two from now, we celebrate the Eid’l Fitr or the Feast of Breaking the Fast, which is a day of forgiveness and a new beginning, a Day where we earn the rewards of our sacrifices during the Holy month of Ramadhan. May this Day therefore be a symbol and reminder that after all the sacrifices and turmoil that we face as a People, a Greater Day of Peace and Prosperity awaits. And the countdown to this Greater Day begins today, as we affirm our stand against War.

 
    And to better appreciate this call, we invite everyone, especially the Honorable Members of This House, to go to Mindanao on a Congressional Mission and see for ourselves the real situation and condition of our people there. As their Voice, it is our responsibility to echo their genuine sentiments and aspirations.

Lastly, we reiterate our conviction and call that Peace must not only be the FIRST option. Peace must be the ONLY option.

 
          Maraming Salamat Po! Kapayapaan para sa Mindanao, Kapayapaan Para sa Lahat! 

REP. MUJIV S. HATAMAN

CARE  for Peace          

( CAravan   and  RElief  for  Peace )

c/o Rm. 408 South Wing, House of Representatives, Batasan Complex, Quezon City, Tel. 931-6364

Peace in Mindanao has been so elusive that for centuries this  has been  the calls of its people .The ongoing  violence in five provinces is but a continuation  of  historic conflict and these  wars  might spread  and escalate once more  to  other  provinces. Can we imagine how much civilian lives will be affected even more  if  the present war and violence between the military and MILF  will not stop. 

Eversince we engaged in the civil society movements,  our paramount concern  is the attainment of lasting peace in Mindanao.  As peace advocates , we still believe  that  peaceful settlement  of the Bangsamoro question is still possible under  the atmosphere  of  shared responsibility  and  commitment  to peace of all stakeholders Muslims, Lumads  and Christians alike.

We in the ANAK Mindanao Party List, Bangsamoro People Solidarity for Peace (BANGSAMORO), Moro Human Rights Center (MHRC), Assalam Bangsamoro People’s Association (ABPA),  Mindanao NGO Forum and other like-minded organizations, maintain our  commitment  to push forward our collective actions to promote peace based on justice and fight all forms  of  injustices and discrimination against Mindanaoans such as Muslims, Christians and Lumads.

Towards that end,  we are  launching the CARE for PEACE ( Caravan and Relief Campaign for Peace) as our initial and immediate activity. The CARE for Peace campaign activity  will be held on September 12-15, 2008  and it  is  aim to;

1.      provide immediate relief assistance to evacuees in the affected areas

2.      educate  the  public on the real issues and concerns besetting the current realities in Mindanao

3.      Gather  support  from peace-loving peoples  across  the nation and abroad in support to

our quest  for lasting peace in Mindanao

It is in this light that  we in the CARE for Peace is  reaching out to  you and your organizations  to join us in this worthwhile endeavour. Your presence, active participation and support  are  enough  manifestation that  together,  we can continue our quest  for  peace no matter how elusive it would be. Attached is the breakdown of  expenses  of the campaign activities for your consideration. Kindly contact Mr. Jolly Lais or Ms. Norhaiya Macusang  for additional information and details of the campaign at  (02) 931-6364 or 0920-6283205 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Convening Organizations:

ANAK Mindanao Party List

Moro Human Rights Center (MHRC)

Bangsamoro People Solidarity for Peace (BANGSAMORO)

Assalam Bangsamoro People’s Association, Inc.  (ABPA)

Mindanao NGO Forum, Inc.

Participating organizations:

                        BALAY Rehabilitation Center

                        Binhi ng Kapayapaan

                        Mindanao Solidarity Network

                        Mindanao Peoples Caucus

                        Green Hills Traders Association