Public High School Area Conference, Iloilo City, 17 October 2009

Students from Numancia Integrated School, Mina National High School, Bacolod City National High School, and Sum-ag National High School met at the Boracay Hall of the DepEd Regional Office VI to share their ideas on environmental management and education. These student leaders brought with them project ideas that were drawn discussed during their school conferences. Prior to the area conference, each school held meetings to identify and draw-up their respective project proposal for the environmental project that they would pursue. These student with the help of their science teachers developed their project proposals.

The projects discussed include the Mangrove Rehabilitation and Management in Purok Seawall, Barangay Taytay; Waste Management Proposal of Numancia Integrated School in Numancia, Aklan; and the Tree Planting and Environmental Education in Mina National High School, Iloilo.

As part of the area conference, the students selected Mary Ann Dela Cruz of Sum-ag National High School to represent the group to the forthcoming National Conference scheduled in February 2010. In this National Conference, delegates from other Area Conference will share their experience, selec the representative to the international conference, and help develop the Philippine Agenda that will be presented at the International Children and Youth Conference on Environment in Brazil (June 2010).

Mr. Warlito Rosareal, School Principal of Sum-ag National High school, Mr. Medsil Carillo, Principal of Numancia Integrated School, Ms Nely Garote from Negros, Ms. Ann Baldove, Cowa Gratuito and Dr. Ruben Z. Martinez of the Charter for Human Responsibilities facilitated the area conference.

Iloilo Area Conference in Preparation to the National and International Conference for Children and Youth on Environment. 16 October 2009

Iloilo Area Conference in Preparation to the National and International Conference for Children and Youth on Environment. 16 October 2009

Student representatives from 26 schools from the province of Iloilo, Antique, and Negros Occidental met to share their initiatives on environment. The conference is part of the preparatory process that will culminate in June 2010 with the International Children and Youth Conference in Brazil. The Iloilo Area Conference is the first of the Area conferences in the different parts of the country. A representative will be selected for each Area conference to represent the region in the National Conference in Quezon City. The National conference in turn will select the delegates to the International Conference in Brazil.

The Iloilo Area Conference was spearheaded by Rev. Exequiel F. Guanzon of the National Association of Secondary Schools of the Philippines (NASSPHIL) in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), UNESCO-Philippines and the Charter for Human Responsibilities – Philippine Facilitating Team.

Dr. Elsa Consibet of DepEd gave the welcome remarks and Ms. Lourdez Armada of Kaunlaran Learning Center Foundation (Miag-ao) discussed the private school initiative on environmental education. Ms. Ann Baldove, Youth Desk Coordinator of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources led the discussion on coastal and marine resources management. Dr. Ruben Z. Martinez discussed the preparatory process for the National and International Children and Youth Conference in Quezon City and Brazil in 2010.

Participants shared their ideas on how to manage the environment, and promote environmental consciousness. Through their initiatives, the student leaders hope to contribute in mitigating global warming, and enhance bio-diversity conservation of the rich marine and coastal resources of the Visayan Sea. There are lessons to be learned from the past such as the disaster brought in by typhoon Frank and the more recent Ondoy and Pepeng. Student leaders hope to sustain the project they initiated. Some of the proposed projects are already on-going activities which have been initiated by the student leaders, which they hope to continue and expand to engage more student to help in promoting environmental education.

The area conference was capped with the election of the representative to the national conference in February 2010. Blessed Bea Plondaya from Iloilo City was elected as their representative to the national conference. She bested four other candidates nominated by their respective groups. The other nominees are: Jesha Faye Abo-abo of Negros Occidental, Kalil Joshua Socobos of Filamer Christian College, Harjeet Jalaf of St. Anthony’s College, Reyna Fe Quilantang of Kaunlaran Learning Center.

The area conference is just the beginning of the student movement that would contribute to the advocacy for environment. Participants of this conference were inspired by the theme, Let’s Take Care of the Planet, Ating Kalikasan, Ating Pananagutan. Kilusan ng Kabataan, Alay sa Mundo.

'Gibo' plays Datu Sumakwel in Panay

Speaking in flawless Ilongo, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro wowed Panayanons when he addressed them during this year’s Binirayan Festival. In his message, he thanked them for inviting him to the festival as he also reiterated earlier pronouncements that he will submit himself to the selection process as the administration’s bet for the 2010 presidential elections amid queries of how his plans will take form.

While very much known as a son of Tarlac who speaks the dual language of his province, Ilokano and Kapampangan, Teodoro is rarely heard speaking visayan. Before a crowd at the Malandog Beach, in Hamtic, Antique, site where the 10 Bornean Datus first landed, Teodoro said his piece in their native tongue that surprised many of those present.

Teodoro gamely played “Datu Sumakwel” for this year’s festival by joining the “biray” with Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia as his “dayang-dayang.” That meant setting sail on a boat from the port of San Jose, Antique’s capital town to Malandog Beach in Hamtic town in a well decorated boat to re-enact the landing of the 10 Datus in Panay. Datu Sumakwel is the leader of the 10 Malayan Datus who fled from Borneo to escape the rude and tyrant Datu Makatunaw of the Shri-Visayan Empire and found a new home in Panay. Popularly know as the “Legend of the 10 Bornean Datus” but historians refer to as “The Barter of Panay”, the story says, it was here when the leader of the Aetas named Marikudo and his wife Maniwangtiwang gave up the land to the foreigners in exchange of a golden salakot and a golden necklace. It is thus from this legend that the Island of Panay had been dubbed “ the cradle of civilization” as from here on the foundations of governance such as the balangay was formed.

The presence of Secretary Teodoro with Governor Garcia gave rise to speculations that the two will be running mates in 2010. Garcia could only respond in jest when asked if she is Teodoro’s vice president in the coming polls. For his part, Teodoro says Gov Garcia will be a good running mate should such team-up take form.

Garcia was at the Binirayan festival to bring Cebu’s one million donation to the province of Antique as part of the sisterhood pact of the two provinces. The amount was meant to sustain cultural development activities of the province.@ (jmclemente)