Thursday, February 21, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
“After EDSA: A Mindanaoan Indigenous Peoples Perspective” by Josephine C. Turner
22nd Year PEOPLE POWER CELEBRATION
“After EDSA: A Mindanaoan Indigenous Peoples Perspective”1
February 16, 2007 (Saturday, 2-4 PM)
Galing Foundation, Inc (GFI), AccessPhilippinesAtlanta.com
& Alpharetta Public Library
Background
Who are the Indigenous Peoples?
People who inhabited a land before it was conquered by colonial societies and who consider themselves distinct from the societies currently governing those territories are called Indigenous Peoples.
As defined by the United Nations Special Rapporteur to the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, Indigenous communities, peoples and nations are
…those which having a historical continuity with pre-invasion and pre-colonial societies that developed on their territories, consider themselves distinct from other sectors of societies now prevailing in those territories, or parts of them. They form at present non-dominant sectors of society and are determined to preserve, develop, and transmit to future generations their ancestral territories, and their ethnic identity, as the basis of their continued existence as peoples, in accordance with their own cultural patterns, social institutions and legal systems.
“Indigenous peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development”
Self-determination: The right of a cohesive national group (“peoples”) living in a territory to choose for themselves a form of political and legal organization for that territory.
Tribal Filipinos, also referred to as indigenous cultural communities (ICCs) by the 1987
Philippine Constitution and "indigenous peoples" by organized tribal Filipinos themselves, constitute at least 10 percent of the Philippine population; an estimated 6 million live in upland forest zones. They are found all over the Philippine archipelago, but are concentrated in the hilly regions of the country, particularly in Northern Luzon, the islands of Mindoro and Palawan, and the interiors of Mindanao.
Marcos Regime’s Implications Affecting Indigenous Peoples
Since 1972, with the declaration of martial law by the late President Ferdinand Marcos (which was officially lifted in 1981), inappropriate government policies, inadequate or non-existent basic social services, state-sponsored resettlement, missionary work, trade and commerce, militarization, and the encroachment into ancestral lands by lowland migrants, loggers, miners, ranchers and agribusiness corporations, have all combined to alter drastically the traditional relationships between the ICCs and their ancestral lands.
Land and the Tribal Worldview
In a 1977 seminar-workshop on "Tribal Groups and their Worldview" conducted by
Roman Catholic church workers in Mindanao with 54 representatives of 15 Mindanao groups, one of the questions discussed was: How do you view land? To this question, the answers were (Anonymous, n.d.; Cullen, n.d.):
1. Land is a gift from God which provides everything needed to sustain life. Land
is a source of life.
2. The earth is owned by God but since humans were created by God, they have
the right to develop the land and are therefore the secondary owners. When they
die, they return to the land.
3. Land cannot be sold or bought since according to one group, the Tiruray, land
is both mother and father.
4. Land cannot be divided, only the fruits of the land can be divided.
5. Land is plentiful and could be sold cheaply, that is, the steward rights may be
sold.
In another consultation conducted in Mindanao in 1985 by the Episcopal Commission on
Tribal Filipinos (ECTF) of the Roman Catholic Church, representatives of 11 Mindanao tribes responded to the question: What is your concept of land, its ownership and its use?
(Anonymous, 1985). The responses by the representatives from the ICCs were similar to those obtained during the 1977 seminar-workshop. The summary is worth quoting in full:
According to the tribal participants, land is a blessing and a giftfrom God and is, therefore, sacred. It is the source of life of the people, like a mother that nurtures her child. Consequently, ... land is life. Land is also seen as a symbol of identity. It symbolizes their historical identity because they see it as an ancestral heritage that is to be defended and preserved for all future generations. It symbolizes their local identity because they believe that wherever they are born, there too shall they die and be buried,
and their own graves are proof of their rightful ownership of the land. It symbolizes their tribal identity because it stands for their unity, and if the land is lost, the tribe, too, shall be lost. Ownership of the land is seen as vested upon the community as a whole. The right to ownership is acquired through ancestral occupation and active production. To them, it is not right for anybody to sell the land because it does not belong to only one generation, but should be preserved for all future generations.
The 1987 Philippines Constitution and
RA 8371 Provisions for the Indigenous Peoples
National Land and Resources Law viz. Tribal Filipinos
The 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that the state recognize and promote the rights
of ICCs within a framework of unity and development (Art. III, Sec. 22). The state shall also recognize, respect and protect the rights of ICCs to preserve and develop their cultures, traditions and institutions and shall consider these in the formulation of national plans (Art. XV, Sec. 17). Furthermore, the State shall protect the rights of ICCs to their ancestral lands to ensure their economic, social, and cultural well-being and may provide for the applicability of customary laws governing property rights in determining the ownership and extent of ancestral domain (Art. XII, Sec. 5).
The intent of these Constitutional provisions is to recognize the rights of ICCs as
communities. As yet however, more than 4 years after the ratification of the Constitution, there has been no legislation to provide for the official documentation and registration of the ICCs' ancestral lands or domains. One explanation for this inaction is the dominance of a legal mindset that refuses to acknowledge the validity of land and land ownership concepts other than those already entrenched in the national legal system; the latter in essence recognizes only private individual land ownership, both documented and demarcated.
Refusing to accept indigenous concepts of land and land ownership, government officials
point to the Constitution's convenient endorsement of the Regalian Doctrine, by which all lands of the public domain, waters, minerals, coal, petroleum, forests or timber, wildlife, flora and fauna are owned by the State and that all resources, except agricultural lands, shall not be alienated (Art. XII, Sec. 2). They cite other laws all of which have their roots in Philippine colonial history and have been uncritically carried over into Philippine Constitutions, national laws and degrees.
The 1997 Republic Act 8371 otherwise known as the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA), elaborates and defines institutional mechanisms for the implementation of these rights. Other pro-indigenous constitutional provisions were elaborated by IPRA, which thus serves as a legal framework for indigenous peoples' rights that was absent in earlier legislation. It was however received with mixed reactions – with strong objection from powerful corporate lobbies, to full support from the churches, academe and some rights advocacy groups, to guarded optimism and even rejection by many grassroots indigenous organizations. Pro-mining groups challenged IPRA's constitutionality twice before the Supreme Court, invoking the Regalian Doctrine (a principle in law which means that all natural wealth - agricultural, forest or timber, and mineral lands of the public domain and all other natural resources belong to the state). Both instances produced a deadlock. Hence, key legal questions persist even as the law remains in effect.
Aside from legal inconsistencies and ambiguities in IPRA itself, there are political factors that weaken the law and hamper its full implementation. As a President-appointed implementing body, the NCIP is crippled by the lack of electoral mandate from indigenous constituencies, on the one hand, and a lack of political support from the Chief Executive on the other. Meanwhile, other executive departments have been more aggressive in implementing laws with contrary provisions, such as the Revised Forestry Code and the 1995 Mining Act.
Current Central Issues Affecting the Indigenous Peoples of the Philippines According to the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA)
This section takes up issues that are of importance to the indigenous peoples in the Philippines:
Human Rights Violation
Militarization
Development Aggression
Land Titles
Poverty, health, education and gender issues
1. Human rights violations
Indigenous communities and organizations all over the country are being ravaged by worsening militarization and human rights abuses, especially with the relentless and nationwide political killings that started when President Macapagal-Arroyo took power in 2001. This trend has worsened with the recent declaration of all-out war by the government against the Left, which includes a wide range of organizations suspected of being "legal fronts" for insurgent groups.
According to documentation from KAMP (a national federation of indigenous organizations) and KARAPATAN (an independent national human rights alliance in the Philippines), there have been around 33,000 indigenous victims of human rights abuses, of which 747 are victims of political killings, indiscriminate firing and massacres. As of September 9, 2006, 96 cases of killings had been committed against indigenous peoples in the Philippines during the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (i.e. since January 2001).
In its latest report "Philippines, Political Killings, Human Rights and the Peace Process (August 2006)", Amnesty International concluded that the killings in the Philippines are politically motivated. For the many victims, human rights organizations and advocates, the pattern of killings is clearly linked to Oplan Bantay Laya (Operation Plan Freedom Watch), which is the presidential administration's 5-year counter-insurgency program. It took off in January 2002 and is programmed to culminate in 2007 with a view to: 1) immediately defeating the Abu Sayaf ; 2) actively containing the Moro Islamic Liberation Front secessionists; and 3) halting the growth of the communist movement.
Increasingly, under the Oplan Bantay Laya, military death squads have targeted not merely rural villagers suspected of harboring insurgents but prominent indigenous leaders and elders. They include Nicanor de los Santos, secretary-general of the Makabayang Samahan ng Katutubong Dumagat (killed in December 2001) and Markus Bangit, a regional officer of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (killed in June 2006). The serious concern over the Oplan Bantay Laya is that it does not make a distinction between legal, aboveground, unarmed political dissent and armed rebellion. It does not distinguish civilians from combatants.
2. Militarization
Every Philippine president from Marcos onwards has declared their own version of a "Total War Policy" against rebel groups such as the Communist Party of the Philippines, the New People's Army and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Many indigenous areas are seen as popular bases for the rebels and subjected to large-scale, intensive and sustained army-police operations. Among the indigenous territories, Mindanao and Northern Luzon were the most militarized from 1972 to 1986. Since1986, despite peace talks, one indigenous area after another has reeled from such operations. Particularly vulnerable are localities where planned or ongoing mining, energy and similar projects have been met with strong popular resistance.
Militarized indigenous areas are awash with relentless human rights violations, including: bombardment, burning and forced re-concentration of villages; imposition of food blockades and "free-fire zones" on certain areas; extrajudicial killings, abductions, torture, and sexual molestation; illegal searches and looting of homes and offices; violent dispersal of legitimate protests; and psychological war types of intimidation. Most of the victims are non-combatant civilians, including leaders of legitimate organizations, tribal elders, women and children.
In 2005, a detailed Armed Forces of the Philippines manual, entitled Knowing the Enemy, explicitly identified indigenous areas as "guerrilla bases" and thus targets of massive troop deployments. The Armed Forces of the Philippines recruits paramilitary forces from among indigenous communities. These units are notorious perpetrators of human rights abuses and criminal activities, even as they assume the deceptive guise of "indigenous armies", such as the Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army in the Cordillera, and Alsa Lumad and Alamara in Mindanao.
Apart from the direct victims of violence, militarization disrupts many aspects of indigenous life, from routine farm work to the conduct of rituals. It erodes community cohesion, fuels armed feuds among tribes and clans, and hastens the influx of vice, criminality, prostitution and other forms of abuse against women. Indigenous organizations and human rights advocates have filed tomes of documented complaints with government and non-government agencies, including United Nations bodies, but few have culminated in legal action.
3. Development aggression
Through laws such as the Public Land Act of 1902, the Revised Forestry Code of 1975, the National Integrated Protected Area System Act and the 1995 Mining Act, vast untitled areas have been classified as inalienable public lands, and the natural resources declared as state-owned. Hence, the state and big business have treated indigenous areas largely as a resource base for "national development". They have denied pre-existing native rights over these lands and resources, making indigenous peoples "squatters" on their own lands.
Indigenous peoples' territories are rich in natural resources and vital minerals such as gold, copper and silver. The state has consistently granted big companies easy access to timberlands, mineral lands, agricultural land and even national parks through patents, licenses, permits, concessions, long-term leases and eco-tourism or biodiversity schemes. Government projects in these areas are geared towards providing the infrastructure, power, finance and labor needs of such businesses.
Some examples: of the government's 23 priority large-scale mining prospects, 18 are located in indigenous peoples' territories. The indigenous land area covered by mining applications totaled 14, 498,526 hectares as of February 2001, or 48.3% of the Philippines' total land area. To date, there are seven mega-dams built on indigenous peoples' territories and more dams are planned.
Large-scale extractive and commercial operations typically conflict with indigenous peoples' land rights, livelihoods and ways of life. Many indigenous communities have been dispossessed of and dislocated from their ancestral lands; most remain uncompensated to this day. Indigenous access has been greatly restricted, even for merely traditional subsistence activities such as hunting, gathering, swidden farming and small-scale mining. Mineral, timber, wildlife and soil resources are being depleted, and watershed areas destroyed. Mined-out areas are left un-rehabilitated. River systems, on which indigenous peoples greatly depend for fresh water needs and as an additional food source, are polluted by mine tailings and depleted by deforestation.
Opposition to what is being referred to as 'development aggression' is strong among indigenous peoples who not only fail to benefit economically but who also bear the brunt of environmental degradation. The website of the Philippine Indigenous Peoples Link (PIPLinks) provides further information on these issues.
4. Land titles
Under the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA), several tribes have received Certificates of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT). But, in general, the ancestral domain (AD) titling process has been slow, cumbersome and prone to problems, while corporate interests encroaching on ADs enjoy more legal protection. In early 2005, the Ancestral Domains Office of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) issued a claim book outline. The claim book is the basic document, which the NCIP studies and deliberates upon to decide whether or not a CADT is to be awarded. Feedback from assisting organizations is that, ironically, the NCIP's attempts to clarify procedures have resulted in further bureaucratization of the process, to the detriment of traditional concepts and practices. In other words: titling has not been made easier for indigenous communities. Many indigenous communities have thus become disappointed with IPRA and decided to explore other avenues for asserting their land rights.
5. Poverty, health, education and gender issues
Most indigenous communities remain poor, and the spread of a cash economy has pushed up the prices of basic commodities in the interior villages. In far-flung rural areas in particular, the state has largely neglected the need for alternative livelihoods and the delivery of social services such as health, education and community infrastructure. This is made worse by the privatization, commodification, under-funding and increased cost of such services, the impact of which is felt most in the least accessible areas, where most indigenous peoples live.
Statistics thus consistently show that human development indicators are lower, and poverty indicators higher, for indigenous areas. Particularly high incidences of morbidity among indigenous women and children are due to malnutrition, poor sanitation and lack of access to health care, aggravated by militarized or internal-refugee conditions.
Literacy rates are lowest in Mindanao's Lumad areas and among the Negrito groups, again due to poverty, lack of school facilities and the insensitivity of most school curricula to indigenous language and culture. Long-standing distortions of history and culture in school curricula, textbooks and the mass media have not been rectified, thus allowing misconceptions and discriminatory attitudes against indigenous peoples to persist. Valuable aspects of indigenous culture are being lost, or distorted and commercialized, thus undermining the cultural integrity of indigenous peoples.
Indigenous women are typically hit the hardest by poverty and militarization, both of which tend to fuel more violence against women. Due to worsening poverty and a lack of livelihoods, a growing number of indigenous peoples (mostly women) are turning to overseas contract work; it is estimated that more than 50,000 indigenous women are now working abroad.
Sources:
http://www.iwgia.org
http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/edumat/studyguides/indigenous.html
Ponciano L. Bennagen.Tribal Filipinos. Center for Holistic Community Development, Inc. Quezon City, Philippines
“After EDSA: A Mindanaoan Indigenous Peoples Perspective”1
February 16, 2007 (Saturday, 2-4 PM)
Galing Foundation, Inc (GFI), AccessPhilippinesAtlanta.com
& Alpharetta Public Library
Background
Who are the Indigenous Peoples?
People who inhabited a land before it was conquered by colonial societies and who consider themselves distinct from the societies currently governing those territories are called Indigenous Peoples.
As defined by the United Nations Special Rapporteur to the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, Indigenous communities, peoples and nations are
…those which having a historical continuity with pre-invasion and pre-colonial societies that developed on their territories, consider themselves distinct from other sectors of societies now prevailing in those territories, or parts of them. They form at present non-dominant sectors of society and are determined to preserve, develop, and transmit to future generations their ancestral territories, and their ethnic identity, as the basis of their continued existence as peoples, in accordance with their own cultural patterns, social institutions and legal systems.
“Indigenous peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development”
Self-determination: The right of a cohesive national group (“peoples”) living in a territory to choose for themselves a form of political and legal organization for that territory.
Tribal Filipinos, also referred to as indigenous cultural communities (ICCs) by the 1987
Philippine Constitution and "indigenous peoples" by organized tribal Filipinos themselves, constitute at least 10 percent of the Philippine population; an estimated 6 million live in upland forest zones. They are found all over the Philippine archipelago, but are concentrated in the hilly regions of the country, particularly in Northern Luzon, the islands of Mindoro and Palawan, and the interiors of Mindanao.
Marcos Regime’s Implications Affecting Indigenous Peoples
Since 1972, with the declaration of martial law by the late President Ferdinand Marcos (which was officially lifted in 1981), inappropriate government policies, inadequate or non-existent basic social services, state-sponsored resettlement, missionary work, trade and commerce, militarization, and the encroachment into ancestral lands by lowland migrants, loggers, miners, ranchers and agribusiness corporations, have all combined to alter drastically the traditional relationships between the ICCs and their ancestral lands.
Land and the Tribal Worldview
In a 1977 seminar-workshop on "Tribal Groups and their Worldview" conducted by
Roman Catholic church workers in Mindanao with 54 representatives of 15 Mindanao groups, one of the questions discussed was: How do you view land? To this question, the answers were (Anonymous, n.d.; Cullen, n.d.):
1. Land is a gift from God which provides everything needed to sustain life. Land
is a source of life.
2. The earth is owned by God but since humans were created by God, they have
the right to develop the land and are therefore the secondary owners. When they
die, they return to the land.
3. Land cannot be sold or bought since according to one group, the Tiruray, land
is both mother and father.
4. Land cannot be divided, only the fruits of the land can be divided.
5. Land is plentiful and could be sold cheaply, that is, the steward rights may be
sold.
In another consultation conducted in Mindanao in 1985 by the Episcopal Commission on
Tribal Filipinos (ECTF) of the Roman Catholic Church, representatives of 11 Mindanao tribes responded to the question: What is your concept of land, its ownership and its use?
(Anonymous, 1985). The responses by the representatives from the ICCs were similar to those obtained during the 1977 seminar-workshop. The summary is worth quoting in full:
According to the tribal participants, land is a blessing and a giftfrom God and is, therefore, sacred. It is the source of life of the people, like a mother that nurtures her child. Consequently, ... land is life. Land is also seen as a symbol of identity. It symbolizes their historical identity because they see it as an ancestral heritage that is to be defended and preserved for all future generations. It symbolizes their local identity because they believe that wherever they are born, there too shall they die and be buried,
and their own graves are proof of their rightful ownership of the land. It symbolizes their tribal identity because it stands for their unity, and if the land is lost, the tribe, too, shall be lost. Ownership of the land is seen as vested upon the community as a whole. The right to ownership is acquired through ancestral occupation and active production. To them, it is not right for anybody to sell the land because it does not belong to only one generation, but should be preserved for all future generations.
The 1987 Philippines Constitution and
RA 8371 Provisions for the Indigenous Peoples
National Land and Resources Law viz. Tribal Filipinos
The 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that the state recognize and promote the rights
of ICCs within a framework of unity and development (Art. III, Sec. 22). The state shall also recognize, respect and protect the rights of ICCs to preserve and develop their cultures, traditions and institutions and shall consider these in the formulation of national plans (Art. XV, Sec. 17). Furthermore, the State shall protect the rights of ICCs to their ancestral lands to ensure their economic, social, and cultural well-being and may provide for the applicability of customary laws governing property rights in determining the ownership and extent of ancestral domain (Art. XII, Sec. 5).
The intent of these Constitutional provisions is to recognize the rights of ICCs as
communities. As yet however, more than 4 years after the ratification of the Constitution, there has been no legislation to provide for the official documentation and registration of the ICCs' ancestral lands or domains. One explanation for this inaction is the dominance of a legal mindset that refuses to acknowledge the validity of land and land ownership concepts other than those already entrenched in the national legal system; the latter in essence recognizes only private individual land ownership, both documented and demarcated.
Refusing to accept indigenous concepts of land and land ownership, government officials
point to the Constitution's convenient endorsement of the Regalian Doctrine, by which all lands of the public domain, waters, minerals, coal, petroleum, forests or timber, wildlife, flora and fauna are owned by the State and that all resources, except agricultural lands, shall not be alienated (Art. XII, Sec. 2). They cite other laws all of which have their roots in Philippine colonial history and have been uncritically carried over into Philippine Constitutions, national laws and degrees.
The 1997 Republic Act 8371 otherwise known as the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA), elaborates and defines institutional mechanisms for the implementation of these rights. Other pro-indigenous constitutional provisions were elaborated by IPRA, which thus serves as a legal framework for indigenous peoples' rights that was absent in earlier legislation. It was however received with mixed reactions – with strong objection from powerful corporate lobbies, to full support from the churches, academe and some rights advocacy groups, to guarded optimism and even rejection by many grassroots indigenous organizations. Pro-mining groups challenged IPRA's constitutionality twice before the Supreme Court, invoking the Regalian Doctrine (a principle in law which means that all natural wealth - agricultural, forest or timber, and mineral lands of the public domain and all other natural resources belong to the state). Both instances produced a deadlock. Hence, key legal questions persist even as the law remains in effect.
Aside from legal inconsistencies and ambiguities in IPRA itself, there are political factors that weaken the law and hamper its full implementation. As a President-appointed implementing body, the NCIP is crippled by the lack of electoral mandate from indigenous constituencies, on the one hand, and a lack of political support from the Chief Executive on the other. Meanwhile, other executive departments have been more aggressive in implementing laws with contrary provisions, such as the Revised Forestry Code and the 1995 Mining Act.
Current Central Issues Affecting the Indigenous Peoples of the Philippines According to the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA)
This section takes up issues that are of importance to the indigenous peoples in the Philippines:
Human Rights Violation
Militarization
Development Aggression
Land Titles
Poverty, health, education and gender issues
1. Human rights violations
Indigenous communities and organizations all over the country are being ravaged by worsening militarization and human rights abuses, especially with the relentless and nationwide political killings that started when President Macapagal-Arroyo took power in 2001. This trend has worsened with the recent declaration of all-out war by the government against the Left, which includes a wide range of organizations suspected of being "legal fronts" for insurgent groups.
According to documentation from KAMP (a national federation of indigenous organizations) and KARAPATAN (an independent national human rights alliance in the Philippines), there have been around 33,000 indigenous victims of human rights abuses, of which 747 are victims of political killings, indiscriminate firing and massacres. As of September 9, 2006, 96 cases of killings had been committed against indigenous peoples in the Philippines during the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (i.e. since January 2001).
In its latest report "Philippines, Political Killings, Human Rights and the Peace Process (August 2006)", Amnesty International concluded that the killings in the Philippines are politically motivated. For the many victims, human rights organizations and advocates, the pattern of killings is clearly linked to Oplan Bantay Laya (Operation Plan Freedom Watch), which is the presidential administration's 5-year counter-insurgency program. It took off in January 2002 and is programmed to culminate in 2007 with a view to: 1) immediately defeating the Abu Sayaf ; 2) actively containing the Moro Islamic Liberation Front secessionists; and 3) halting the growth of the communist movement.
Increasingly, under the Oplan Bantay Laya, military death squads have targeted not merely rural villagers suspected of harboring insurgents but prominent indigenous leaders and elders. They include Nicanor de los Santos, secretary-general of the Makabayang Samahan ng Katutubong Dumagat (killed in December 2001) and Markus Bangit, a regional officer of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (killed in June 2006). The serious concern over the Oplan Bantay Laya is that it does not make a distinction between legal, aboveground, unarmed political dissent and armed rebellion. It does not distinguish civilians from combatants.
2. Militarization
Every Philippine president from Marcos onwards has declared their own version of a "Total War Policy" against rebel groups such as the Communist Party of the Philippines, the New People's Army and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Many indigenous areas are seen as popular bases for the rebels and subjected to large-scale, intensive and sustained army-police operations. Among the indigenous territories, Mindanao and Northern Luzon were the most militarized from 1972 to 1986. Since1986, despite peace talks, one indigenous area after another has reeled from such operations. Particularly vulnerable are localities where planned or ongoing mining, energy and similar projects have been met with strong popular resistance.
Militarized indigenous areas are awash with relentless human rights violations, including: bombardment, burning and forced re-concentration of villages; imposition of food blockades and "free-fire zones" on certain areas; extrajudicial killings, abductions, torture, and sexual molestation; illegal searches and looting of homes and offices; violent dispersal of legitimate protests; and psychological war types of intimidation. Most of the victims are non-combatant civilians, including leaders of legitimate organizations, tribal elders, women and children.
In 2005, a detailed Armed Forces of the Philippines manual, entitled Knowing the Enemy, explicitly identified indigenous areas as "guerrilla bases" and thus targets of massive troop deployments. The Armed Forces of the Philippines recruits paramilitary forces from among indigenous communities. These units are notorious perpetrators of human rights abuses and criminal activities, even as they assume the deceptive guise of "indigenous armies", such as the Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army in the Cordillera, and Alsa Lumad and Alamara in Mindanao.
Apart from the direct victims of violence, militarization disrupts many aspects of indigenous life, from routine farm work to the conduct of rituals. It erodes community cohesion, fuels armed feuds among tribes and clans, and hastens the influx of vice, criminality, prostitution and other forms of abuse against women. Indigenous organizations and human rights advocates have filed tomes of documented complaints with government and non-government agencies, including United Nations bodies, but few have culminated in legal action.
3. Development aggression
Through laws such as the Public Land Act of 1902, the Revised Forestry Code of 1975, the National Integrated Protected Area System Act and the 1995 Mining Act, vast untitled areas have been classified as inalienable public lands, and the natural resources declared as state-owned. Hence, the state and big business have treated indigenous areas largely as a resource base for "national development". They have denied pre-existing native rights over these lands and resources, making indigenous peoples "squatters" on their own lands.
Indigenous peoples' territories are rich in natural resources and vital minerals such as gold, copper and silver. The state has consistently granted big companies easy access to timberlands, mineral lands, agricultural land and even national parks through patents, licenses, permits, concessions, long-term leases and eco-tourism or biodiversity schemes. Government projects in these areas are geared towards providing the infrastructure, power, finance and labor needs of such businesses.
Some examples: of the government's 23 priority large-scale mining prospects, 18 are located in indigenous peoples' territories. The indigenous land area covered by mining applications totaled 14, 498,526 hectares as of February 2001, or 48.3% of the Philippines' total land area. To date, there are seven mega-dams built on indigenous peoples' territories and more dams are planned.
Large-scale extractive and commercial operations typically conflict with indigenous peoples' land rights, livelihoods and ways of life. Many indigenous communities have been dispossessed of and dislocated from their ancestral lands; most remain uncompensated to this day. Indigenous access has been greatly restricted, even for merely traditional subsistence activities such as hunting, gathering, swidden farming and small-scale mining. Mineral, timber, wildlife and soil resources are being depleted, and watershed areas destroyed. Mined-out areas are left un-rehabilitated. River systems, on which indigenous peoples greatly depend for fresh water needs and as an additional food source, are polluted by mine tailings and depleted by deforestation.
Opposition to what is being referred to as 'development aggression' is strong among indigenous peoples who not only fail to benefit economically but who also bear the brunt of environmental degradation. The website of the Philippine Indigenous Peoples Link (PIPLinks) provides further information on these issues.
4. Land titles
Under the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA), several tribes have received Certificates of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT). But, in general, the ancestral domain (AD) titling process has been slow, cumbersome and prone to problems, while corporate interests encroaching on ADs enjoy more legal protection. In early 2005, the Ancestral Domains Office of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) issued a claim book outline. The claim book is the basic document, which the NCIP studies and deliberates upon to decide whether or not a CADT is to be awarded. Feedback from assisting organizations is that, ironically, the NCIP's attempts to clarify procedures have resulted in further bureaucratization of the process, to the detriment of traditional concepts and practices. In other words: titling has not been made easier for indigenous communities. Many indigenous communities have thus become disappointed with IPRA and decided to explore other avenues for asserting their land rights.
5. Poverty, health, education and gender issues
Most indigenous communities remain poor, and the spread of a cash economy has pushed up the prices of basic commodities in the interior villages. In far-flung rural areas in particular, the state has largely neglected the need for alternative livelihoods and the delivery of social services such as health, education and community infrastructure. This is made worse by the privatization, commodification, under-funding and increased cost of such services, the impact of which is felt most in the least accessible areas, where most indigenous peoples live.
Statistics thus consistently show that human development indicators are lower, and poverty indicators higher, for indigenous areas. Particularly high incidences of morbidity among indigenous women and children are due to malnutrition, poor sanitation and lack of access to health care, aggravated by militarized or internal-refugee conditions.
Literacy rates are lowest in Mindanao's Lumad areas and among the Negrito groups, again due to poverty, lack of school facilities and the insensitivity of most school curricula to indigenous language and culture. Long-standing distortions of history and culture in school curricula, textbooks and the mass media have not been rectified, thus allowing misconceptions and discriminatory attitudes against indigenous peoples to persist. Valuable aspects of indigenous culture are being lost, or distorted and commercialized, thus undermining the cultural integrity of indigenous peoples.
Indigenous women are typically hit the hardest by poverty and militarization, both of which tend to fuel more violence against women. Due to worsening poverty and a lack of livelihoods, a growing number of indigenous peoples (mostly women) are turning to overseas contract work; it is estimated that more than 50,000 indigenous women are now working abroad.
Sources:
http://www.iwgia.org
http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/edumat/studyguides/indigenous.html
Ponciano L. Bennagen.Tribal Filipinos. Center for Holistic Community Development, Inc. Quezon City, Philippines
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Filipino Children's Summer Camp to read: "Sandosenang Sapatos"
Galing Foundation, Inc. presents Filipino Children's Summer Camp in June to read: "Sandosenang Sapatos", an award winning book, written both in English and Tagalog.
More details will follow.
Lucbanin Kids Artwork at the Beijing Summer Olympic Art
by Marianne Araneta
by Bernadette Oblea
Photo (l-r) Conrad Gutlay, NaFFAA Region IV (National Federation of Filipino American Assoc.), Toni Daya-Luetgers, GFI (Galing Foundation, Inc.) and Linden Longino, IPP (International Paint Pals, Youth Art Connection Boys & Girls Club of Atlanta)
January 18, 2008
Atlanta, GA---Galing Foundation, Inc. has submitted 50 pieces of artwork to International Paint Pals Linden Longino and witnessed by Conrad Gutlay of NaFFAA. Created by children from Lucban, Quezon, under the Foundation, were works reflecting the ideals and spirit of the Olympics. Many pieces clearly expressed peace, friendship among all nations and love.
"We do have a great selection, so Philippines will be well-represented in Beijing." Longino says.
International Paint Pals (IPP), a worldwide youth cultural organization brings children together through the universal language of art. For the past eleven years IPP has held art exhibitions in many countries for the United Nations, The Olympic Games, and other global institutions. Over 100,000 young artists in 50 countries have participated in their programs on various themes of international interest and concern.
To learn more about International Paint Pals, visit: www.paintpals.org
Special thanks to:
GCIV (Georgia Council for International Visitors)
Christon Daya of GFI Lucban, Quezon
Trinita Barreto Cantos of SPCQhs83 & Cathay Pacific
Marilyn Doromal of NaFFAA R4
www.galingfoundation.com
"We believe that every child has a potential to become GREAT!"---Galing Foundation, Inc.
CONGRATULATIONS to all who submitted artwork for the Beijing Olympic Art:
1. Mariane Joane D. Araneta - 4th Grade, 10 yrs. old
2. Cecil Empamano -
3. Fatima Dana D. Elloso - 1st Year, 13 yrs. old.
4. Bernadette Oblea - 6th Grade, 12 yrs. old
5. Arnold I. Gaelo
6. Nico C. Eleazar - 1st Year, 13 yrs. old
7. Joyce E. Molines - 1st Grade - 7yrs. old.
8. Johnsel D. Deapera - 1st Grade, 8 yrs. old
9. April Faller - 2nd Year, 14 yrs. old
10. Don Jeffrey A. Daya - 9 yrs. old
11. Kryzel B. Brillon - 1st yr.
12. Jessa Lyn B. Brillon - 5th Grade
13. Gerald Jetro Abuyan V. - 3rd Grade
14. Mayka G. Imperial - 5th Grade, 11 yrs. old
15. Ma. Patricia P. Laguador - 10yrs. old, 5th Grade
16. Dorysell D. Deapera- Grade 5, 11 yrs. old
17. Maria A. Elloso - Grade 5, 11 yrs. old
18. Rodelyn C. E. - 6ys. old
19. Mark Aeron H. Roy - Grade. 3, 9 yrs. old
20. Juan Miguel D. Elma - 6 yrs. old, kindergarten
21. Kent R. Gacute - grade 1
22. Hannah Rose V. Elloso - grade 3, 9 yrs. old
23. Christian Ryan Imperial - Grade 5, 11 yrs.
24. Eric John P. Usua, Grade 2, 8 yrs. old
25. Julie P. Dean - 2nd Yr. , 14 yrs. old
26. Princess Mae P. Laguador
27. Ghiaxyrill Daya - 5 yrs. old, Nursery
28. John Lloyd Christopher Mandal - Grade 3
29. Gerard Xylique Daya - 6 yrs. old. kindergarten
30. Paolo Miguel D. Elma - 8 yrs. old, Grade 2
31. Hannah Gin. B. Macasero- Grade IV
32. Mackenly Hoven A. Daya - 6 yrs. old
33. Piolo V. Elloso - Grade 1
34. Anarea Vonne A. Daya - 11 yrs. old
35. Emmanuel G. Daya - 1st yr., 13 yrs. old
36. Harlene Bhea Elloso - Grade 1, 7 years old
37. Arbi G. Imperial - Grade 6, 13 yrs. old
38. Rem Mark I. Babista - 11 yrs. old, grade 4
39. Arthur John P. Nojeca- 9 yrs. old, Grade 2
40. Annesel D. Deapera - Grade 3, 9 yrs. old
41. Naomi Gwyneth E. de Leon - Kindergarten, 6 yrs. old
42. Winona A. Palentinos
43. Nicole A. Palentinos
44. Jerry P. Dean - 2nd yr. 14 yrs. old
45. Pamela Bianco G. Imperial - kindergarten, 6 yrs. old
46. Alyssah Grace P. Elloso - Grade 1, 7 yrs. old
47. Dorcas D. Elloso - Grade 2, 7 yrs. old
48. Jared D. Elloso - Grade 3 , 11 yrs. old
49. Rodmar C. Eroles - 8 yrs. old, Grade 3
50. Abbygale H. Roy- Grade 4, 10 yrs. old
END
Friday, January 25, 2008
Thank You Letter from BDCA
click the image for a larger view
Jan. 23, 2008
Electronic message:
Hello Toni!
Attached is the thank you letter from the school-in-charge (Mr. David Pandato) of the Blaan Dalel Christian Academy for the recognition of the receipt of GFI boxes sent last year.
FYI,
arjho
Friday, December 21, 2007
Filipino Community with Honorary Consul General Ray Donato and Galing Foundation, Inc. awards Omar Ragheb as 2007 Youth Leadership Honoree
December 17, 2007 Smyrna, GA
Filipino Community with Honorary Consul General Ray Donato and Galing Foundation, Inc. awards Omar Ragheb as 2007 Youth Leadership Honoree
Mr. Omar Ragheb
Honorary Consul Donato and Arjho Turner, GFI Director awards Mr. Ragheb
The Ragheb Family with HonConGen Donato and Toni Daya-Luetgers of Galing Foundation, Inc.
click here for more photos
http://www.shutterfly.com/pro/tluetgers/Filipino/2007YearEnd
The Filipino Community in Atlanta couldn't be prouder to award a well deserving young member of the community as its first Youth Leadership honoree. HonConGen Donato affirms that our youth like Mr. Ragheb is "the young role model" with so much potential. Arjho Turner, Director of Galing Foundation, Inc. and Jane Rolen of Soc. Security Administration presented the US Savings Bond of $400 to Ragheb.
Turner emphasized not only the academic achievement of Ragheb but most importantly his significant contribution to the local community, proclaiming him as "Galing" (Great) person and great giver. She (Turner) also gave a brief update on GFI's continuous successful outreach in the Philippines, sending educational resources and basic essentials to impoverished Filipino indigent children.
Aside from recognizing Mr. Ragheb and his family during the annual Year End Dinner, HonConGen Donato acknowledged the presence and support of the various leaders of the community. Present were Dr. Joe Porquez, Dr. Mike Tan, Dr. Abe Magat of the Philippine American Center in GA, Eleanore Pascual and Pam Peterman of Fil-Am Association of Greater Atlanta, Anita Granada and Lilia Hagler of the Philippine Nurses of GA, Peggy Espinda and Ana Blackburn of Philippine American Chamber of Commerce, Esther Wilson of Philam Northwest and Varinee Sangmalee of the Asian Pacific American Council and Thai World Association.
Donato mentioned all the highlights of the Year 2007, from a successful visit of GMA Network crew featuring Filipino Americans in the South, Georgia Council International Visitors Gala, Ambassador Gaa and Former Pres. Ramos' visit, "New Members Orientation", Independence Day celebrations, Philippine Ambassador's Tour, Pasko at Fiesta and others.
He hopes that members will continue to support the various events and efforts that strengthens the community.
Members of the Filipino Community congratulates the board of PACG for the acquisition of Philippine American Center in Georgia.
Special thanks to Susan Namgeanfar and staff of Siam Square and Dr. Mike Tan.
Filipino Community with Honorary Consul General Ray Donato and Galing Foundation, Inc. awards Omar Ragheb as 2007 Youth Leadership Honoree
Mr. Omar Ragheb
Honorary Consul Donato and Arjho Turner, GFI Director awards Mr. Ragheb
The Ragheb Family with HonConGen Donato and Toni Daya-Luetgers of Galing Foundation, Inc.
click here for more photos
http://www.shutterfly.com/pro/tluetgers/Filipino/2007YearEnd
The Filipino Community in Atlanta couldn't be prouder to award a well deserving young member of the community as its first Youth Leadership honoree. HonConGen Donato affirms that our youth like Mr. Ragheb is "the young role model" with so much potential. Arjho Turner, Director of Galing Foundation, Inc. and Jane Rolen of Soc. Security Administration presented the US Savings Bond of $400 to Ragheb.
Turner emphasized not only the academic achievement of Ragheb but most importantly his significant contribution to the local community, proclaiming him as "Galing" (Great) person and great giver. She (Turner) also gave a brief update on GFI's continuous successful outreach in the Philippines, sending educational resources and basic essentials to impoverished Filipino indigent children.
Aside from recognizing Mr. Ragheb and his family during the annual Year End Dinner, HonConGen Donato acknowledged the presence and support of the various leaders of the community. Present were Dr. Joe Porquez, Dr. Mike Tan, Dr. Abe Magat of the Philippine American Center in GA, Eleanore Pascual and Pam Peterman of Fil-Am Association of Greater Atlanta, Anita Granada and Lilia Hagler of the Philippine Nurses of GA, Peggy Espinda and Ana Blackburn of Philippine American Chamber of Commerce, Esther Wilson of Philam Northwest and Varinee Sangmalee of the Asian Pacific American Council and Thai World Association.
Donato mentioned all the highlights of the Year 2007, from a successful visit of GMA Network crew featuring Filipino Americans in the South, Georgia Council International Visitors Gala, Ambassador Gaa and Former Pres. Ramos' visit, "New Members Orientation", Independence Day celebrations, Philippine Ambassador's Tour, Pasko at Fiesta and others.
He hopes that members will continue to support the various events and efforts that strengthens the community.
Members of the Filipino Community congratulates the board of PACG for the acquisition of Philippine American Center in Georgia.
Special thanks to Susan Namgeanfar and staff of Siam Square and Dr. Mike Tan.
Omar Ragheb, 2007 Youth Leadership Nominee
2007 Youth Leadership Award is presented by Galing Foundation, Inc. in cooperation with The Office of the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Atlanta.
Nominee's Name: Omar Ragheb
Service:
Omar served as a little helper for his 1st Grade teacher. He was the assistant teacher (tutoring his classmates who doesn't understand ) when he was in 2nd Grade. In 3rd Grade, he worked as a homework checker. In 4th Grade, he got a Certificate of Award in Physical Education for being one of the Field Day Helper. And in 5th Grade, Omar got a Certificate of Award for serving as a Safety Patrol in their school. He has volunteered his time, talent and books for Galing Foundation, Inc.'s community outreach at the Asian Cultural Experience, Ball O Fun & Fil-Am Picnic.
Leadership:
Omar is a straight A's student from Pre-K up to present (6th Grade). He received from President's Education Awards Program a Certificate of Award for Oustanding Academic Excellence. He also got another Certificate of Award for being excellent in French. He has been recognized and rewarded with Scholarship Award ($1,000 Trust Fund), and a medal for Oustanding Academic
and Humanitarian achievement by Carson Scholars Fund, Inc.
He made a lemonade stand one summer and contributed the money
to Katrina's victims. He represented his class in Spelling Bee Contest last year.
He has been selected to participate in the SIGMA Math Competition at Sutton Middle School for 2007-2008.
Character:
Omar is quiet but a smart six grader. He is very kind, helpful, and polite. He never gets into any trouble because all the people (kids/adults) around him really respect his excellent attitude toward others and great achievement in school. He is a great role model to all the kids according to his teachers. He got a Citizenship Award in recognition of his exemplary behavior
and valuable services rendered in school. He also got another Certificate of Award in recognition for an Outstanding Attendance Record. He sets a positive example for students by getting involved in Orchestra (playing violin in both elementary/middle school), Choir (elementary), French Club ( elementary/middle
school), Math Club (middle school), soccer (YMCA Select-Buckhead Blue FC).
Submitted by:
Grace Ragheb
Tel. No. (404) 786-77-28
Email Address: gracer127@yahoo.com
For more information, please visit us at www.galingfoundation.com
Monday, December 17, 2007
Letter from Sr. Gloria dela Cruz of St. Anthony Parish School in Misamis Oriental
Dec. 17, 2007
Galing Foundation, Inc. received a letter of acknowledgment from Sr. Gloria de la Cruz, SPC of St. Anthony Parish School of Manticao, Misamis Oriental.
A copy of the letter was sent to Ms. Barbara Knapp of Friends of Roswell Public Library, donor of children's books.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
GFI Box Nos. 56 & 57 on its way to Mindanao
November 25, 2007
Doraville, GA - GFI Box Nos. 56 & 57 are on its way to Mindanao to Blaan Dalel Christian Academy.
The children of the Blaan tribe will be receiving children's clothes, toothbrushes, toys, books, soap & school supplies donated by Mrs. Sandrel Jackson and the Hosea Feed the Hungry Foundation,
supporters of the Blaan Evangelistic Mission c/o Pastor Nonobert Malit & Soneta Malit.
The shipment may be tracked online via www.monluusa.com with invoice no. 12050.
Thanks to our donors and volunteers.
Salamat sa Manila Mart & Monlu Forwarders
GFI Box 55 on its way to Lucban, Quezon
Last Sunday, Nov. 25 in Doraville, GA GFI Box No. 55 is on its way to Lucban, Quezon. The shipment included children's books, gently used school supplies and children's clothing and some dry oatmeal.
You can do an online tracking via Monlu Forwarders website at www.monluusa.com (enter) Invoice No. 11101
Many thanks to our donors & volunteers:
Annalee Carter & Family of Charleston
Christine Schweitzer of Alpharetta
Lauren & Melissa Luetgers
Arjho & Bernard Turner
Salamat sa Manila Mart & Monlu Forwarders
Christmas Greetings from Blaan Evangelistic Mission
"All of us join in saying thank you for your support and in wishing you a happy holiday season and a blessed new year."---Pastor Nonobert & Soneta Malit and Blaan tribe of the Philippines
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Galing Foundation, Inc. Thanksgiving Drive for Filipino students
GMA Network reports that 180,000 Filipino students in public schools still are unable to read. (Please click link below
http://www.gmanews.tv/largevideo/related/13073/180000-public-school-kids-still-can't-read
Galing Foundation, Inc. announces its Thanksgiving Drive, to help poor Filipino children learn how to read in today's competitive world.
We are collecting new and gently used:
Children's books
Encyclopedia, Dictionary, Atlas
School supplies (crayons, pens, pencils, notebooks, eraser, rulers etc.)
Children's clothes
Children's shoes
Personal supplies (new toothbrushes, toothpaste, bars of soap)
Drop off anytime at:
1050 Wilde Run Court
Roswell, GA 30075
When dropping off goods, please include your name and contact information for recording purposes.
We will be shipping donated items on Sunday, Nov. 25 at Manila Mart in Doraville.
Your donation will be shipped to GFI beneficiaries:
1. Lucban, Quezon
2. Mulanay, Quezon
3. Tanauan, Batanggas
4. St. Paul Medellin, Cebu
5. St. Paul Monticao, Misamis Oriental
6. Maligo Elementray School- Brgy. Maligo, Polomolok, South Cotabato
7. Blaan Dalel Christian Academy- Amgu-o Village, Landan, Polomolok, South Cotabato
8. Kipalkuda Elementary School - Brgy. New La Union, Maitum, Sarangani
Many thanks to our donors and partners:
- Annalee Carter & family
- Christine Schweitzer & family
- Monlu Forwarders
- Manila Mart
For more information, please call 770 410-7653 or visit our website at www.galingfoundation.com
Marami pong salamat,
Galing Foundation, Inc.
posted by Toni at 2:52 PM | 0 Comments
http://www.gmanews.tv/largevideo/related/13073/180000-public-school-kids-still-can't-read
Galing Foundation, Inc. announces its Thanksgiving Drive, to help poor Filipino children learn how to read in today's competitive world.
We are collecting new and gently used:
Children's books
Encyclopedia, Dictionary, Atlas
School supplies (crayons, pens, pencils, notebooks, eraser, rulers etc.)
Children's clothes
Children's shoes
Personal supplies (new toothbrushes, toothpaste, bars of soap)
Drop off anytime at:
1050 Wilde Run Court
Roswell, GA 30075
When dropping off goods, please include your name and contact information for recording purposes.
We will be shipping donated items on Sunday, Nov. 25 at Manila Mart in Doraville.
Your donation will be shipped to GFI beneficiaries:
1. Lucban, Quezon
2. Mulanay, Quezon
3. Tanauan, Batanggas
4. St. Paul Medellin, Cebu
5. St. Paul Monticao, Misamis Oriental
6. Maligo Elementray School- Brgy. Maligo, Polomolok, South Cotabato
7. Blaan Dalel Christian Academy- Amgu-o Village, Landan, Polomolok, South Cotabato
8. Kipalkuda Elementary School - Brgy. New La Union, Maitum, Sarangani
Many thanks to our donors and partners:
- Annalee Carter & family
- Christine Schweitzer & family
- Monlu Forwarders
- Manila Mart
For more information, please call 770 410-7653 or visit our website at www.galingfoundation.com
Marami pong salamat,
Galing Foundation, Inc.
posted by Toni at 2:52 PM | 0 Comments
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Southern Luzon Polytechnic University's new public library, a beneficiary of Galing Foundation, Inc.
Donated books being shelved in Southern Luzon Polytechnic University
President Dr. Cecila Gascon, SLPU (Southern Luzon Polytechnic University, Lucban, Quezon)
Thursday, November 15, 2007
GFI Box 52, 53 & 54 for Mindanao
The 3 GFI boxes shipped last October 24, 2007 will benefit the following partners per item:
1. HP Apollo P-2150U Printer - For the computer laboratory of the Provincial Youth Development Program of Sarangani Province which is the GFI local conduit regarding the artwork collection for the International Paint Pals exhibit for 2008 Oympics Game
2.HP ScanJet 2100C Scanner- For Mindanao GFI local area coordinator documentation purposes
3. Assorted toys and clothes - For the Maligo Elementary School, Barangay Maligo, Polomolok, South Cotabato (GFI assisted school)
Donors for the above items are Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Turner, Mr. and Mrs. Nick Hearsy, and Toni Daya-Leutgers and family.
For tracking purposes, please visit www.monluusa.com (Invoice No. 10273)
Reported by: Arjho Turner
GFI would like to acknowledge Manila Mart and Monlu Forwarders
Friday, October 19, 2007
World Bank on Educating Girls
Newsweek Oct. 1, 2007
Education
Of the world's 781 million illiterate adults, 64% are women. Their lack of education continually undermines their communities' level of health care and economic stability. Some U.S. grants have focused on women's education in places like Kazakhstan and Qatar; the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan drew attention to the frustrations of uneducated girls there.
"Educating girls yields a higher rate of return than any other investment available in the developing worlds." ----World Bank
Education
Of the world's 781 million illiterate adults, 64% are women. Their lack of education continually undermines their communities' level of health care and economic stability. Some U.S. grants have focused on women's education in places like Kazakhstan and Qatar; the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan drew attention to the frustrations of uneducated girls there.
"Educating girls yields a higher rate of return than any other investment available in the developing worlds." ----World Bank
Thursday, October 11, 2007
"Great" News
"Great" News
On behalf of Galing Foundation, Inc. we wish to thank all our supporters and donors from the Metro Atlanta community. We are delighted to annouce to you that copies of the 2005 and 2006 Income and Expense Records are available upon request. The 2007 Income and Expense Report shall be available by January 2008.
As of October 1, 2007, GFI has shipped a total of 51 balikbayan boxes since May 2005 containing books, school supplies, clothing and toys, all to benefit public schools and indigent children in the areas of:
1. Lucban, Quezon
2. Mulanay, Quezon
3. Tanauan, Batanggas
4. Medellin, Cebu
5. Monticao, Misamis Oriental
6. Lemblisong, Mindanao
7. Blaan & T'boli Tribes of Mindanao c/o Blaan Delel Christian Academy
For more details, please call us at 770 410-7653 or visit us at www.galingfoundation.com
If you wish to support our cause in any way, please let us know. We welcome suggestions and volunteers.
"Equip today's Filipino children for they are afterall tomorrow's leaders and stewards."
Yours truly,
Galing Foundation, Inc.
On behalf of Galing Foundation, Inc. we wish to thank all our supporters and donors from the Metro Atlanta community. We are delighted to annouce to you that copies of the 2005 and 2006 Income and Expense Records are available upon request. The 2007 Income and Expense Report shall be available by January 2008.
As of October 1, 2007, GFI has shipped a total of 51 balikbayan boxes since May 2005 containing books, school supplies, clothing and toys, all to benefit public schools and indigent children in the areas of:
1. Lucban, Quezon
2. Mulanay, Quezon
3. Tanauan, Batanggas
4. Medellin, Cebu
5. Monticao, Misamis Oriental
6. Lemblisong, Mindanao
7. Blaan & T'boli Tribes of Mindanao c/o Blaan Delel Christian Academy
For more details, please call us at 770 410-7653 or visit us at www.galingfoundation.com
If you wish to support our cause in any way, please let us know. We welcome suggestions and volunteers.
"Equip today's Filipino children for they are afterall tomorrow's leaders and stewards."
Yours truly,
Galing Foundation, Inc.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Members of Cross of Life Lutheran Church and Families of COL Christian Montessori School donated children's books and school supplies to Filipino.....
September 16, 2007
Members of Cross of Life Lutheran Church and Families of COL Christian Montessori School in Roswell donated children's books and school supplies to Filipino indigent children.
Received the following items:
1. 4 pcs. large used binders
2. 2 pcs. new binders
3. 3 pcs. mini bags
4. 6 pks. card games
5. 4 boxes usedd puzzle
6. 7 pcs. new sharperners
7. 29 boxes new (24 pcs.) crayons
8. 1 box (96 pcs.) crayons
9. 1 box (120 pcs.) used crayons
10. 4 pcs. ruler
11. 7 pcs. (5") scissors
12. 1 pc. used clipboard
13. 115 pcs. used children's books
14. 2 pcs. Scholastic Children's dictionary
15. 29 pcs. coloring booklets
16. 55 pcs. noteboks
17. 9 pks. coloring markers
18. 1 gallon full of used markers
19. 2 pcs. used pencil box
20. 1 pk. used stencil
21. 2 pks. water color
22. 1 pk poster paint
23. 1/2 gallon full of used pen & pencil
24. 6 pks. eraser
25. 80 pcs. pencils
26. 118 pcs. pens
27. 9 pcs. glue sticks
28. 8 bottles of glue
29. 1 package of sticky foam sheets
30. 6 pks. construction paper
31. 5 pcs. coloring pads
32. 6 pcs. primary tablet pads
33. 21 pcs. colored folders
34. 7 pks. colored pencils
35. 1 set alphabet floor matt
The above items were shipped on Sept. 28 at Manila Mart in Doraville, GA.
GFI Box. 49 - Fr. Reynie Paraon of Mulanay, Quezon
GFI Box 50 & 51 - Velma Daya of Lucban, Quezon
Monlu Forwarders invoice no. MM004 & MM005
Special thanks to Cindy Irons, Amy Corn and Kim Coleburn (www.crossoflifega.com)
For more information, please visit www.galingfoundation.com
"A Taste of Mindanao" at Fil-Am Picnic by Galing Foundation, Inc.
Alpharetta, GA
Sept. 22 at Jones Bridge Park, members and guests of the Filipino American Association of Greater Atlanta were treated for "A Taste of Mindanao" presented by Ms. Arjho Turner of Galing Foundation, Inc.
Other Galing activities included "Philippine flag" face painting & a pop quiz on Philippine history.
For more photos, please visit:
http://www.shutterfly.com/pro/tluetgers/Filipino/GalingatPicnic
Please visit www.galingfoundation.com
Special thanks to Galing supporters and to Fil-Am of Greater Atlanta
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