May 1 Labor Day Celebration

COVENANT IN SUPPORT TO THE PASSAGE OF THE
P125 WAGE INCREASE FOR LEGISLATION PENDING IN CONGRESS
May 1, 2007
Iligan City Public Plaza


We, the workers, members of the Civil Society Organization Forum For Peace (CSO-FP), a multi-sectoral network organization and the Congressional Candidates for Iligan City and 1st district of Lanao del Norte, are united to celebrate the Labor Day, this May 1, 2007;

We recognize that we belong to the working force, a prime mover of the economy in the country though in varied endeavors as stakeholders to benefit the P125 wage increase for legislation;

We respectfully recognize the five (5) congressional candidates in this simultaneous national and local election on May 14, 2007, who vowed to represent the dreams, aspirations and will of the people in Iligan City and 1st district of Lanao del Norte, such as supporting the passage of P125 wage increase for legislation in congress for the welfare of the workers;

We believe the abolition of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) that composed of representative from Labor, Management and the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) which did not benefit the workers;

We therefore, affix our signatures as stakeholders of this covenant on this 1st day of May, 2007 at Iligan City, Philippines.

Iligan opens week of peace

Written by Violeta M. Gloria / MindaNews
Monday, 26 March 2007 10 17 48

ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews/25 March) – The city’s peace advocates spruced up their vehicles with white balloons in a motorcade from the city plaza to Linamon in Lanao del Norte and Dalipuga and back to the plaza for the program to open this year’s Iligan Week of Peace. "This is a celebration of peace," declared Juanito Enriquez Jr., chair ofCivil Society Organization Forum for Peace (CSOFP), a network of non-governmental and individual peace-builders in Lanao.This initiative to mainstream peace-building is in its third year now andtakes roots from community-based and organizational stand against war. Its theme today is "duyog sa pagpanday sa kalinaw” (join us in building peace). "War affected the lives of innocent civilians. Inspite of these, Iligan citymaintains its image as a peace zone," said Enriquez.As a peace zone, the city council passed Resolution No. 04-58 declaring every last week of March as "week of peace in Iligan City."The resolution states that Iligan is a zone of peace in Mindanao and an important refuge and sanctuary for displaced communities from both Muslims and Christians.Ted Juanite of Pagsabua sa Kalasan (PSK) Inc., read separate statements of Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Alexander Marohombsar Lacawa from the National Unified Command of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)."Peace is achieved when there is genuine de-escalation of violence and there is ultimate ceasefire when police forces become police civilian in character," Murad said.Lacawa's statement mentioned "that MNLF has organized itself as a unified command. With peace agreements, we are compelled to fight war against war and for sustainable peace." "As we renew our ties, we also celebrate this week of peace in friendships with Mindanawons, " Lacawa further stated.Abel Moya, program manager of Pakigdait Inc. which focuses on the Balik Inudaran campaign, said on peace-builders as a minority group: “We may be few who took the road less traveled by but we must continue embracing the challenges of culture for peace against violence and threats.""We may be different but we have the same objective: to achieve peace," said Engr. Alejandro Rondez, barangay councilor and vice chair of Iligan Barangay Councils (ILBACO).Forming into a circle, the participants at the plaza sang “Let there be Peace" as they released the white balloons.At 12 noon, peace advocates joined a hundred participants in the first Joint GRP-MILF Peace Advocacy and Information Drive at Elena Tower Inn. The Advocacy "tackled basic orientation on the ceasefire mechanisms."This day-long peace drive is primarily directed to 103rd Brigade soldiers to educate them about the ceasefire mechanism," said Brig. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino, chair of the government peace panel in the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG).The meeting also discussed the functions of the CCCH, InternationalMonitoring Team, Local Monitoring Team, AHJAG, and of the comnunity-based Bantay Ceasefire."“Soldiers and MILF rebels around will also have solidarity night for them to get along with each other towards strengthening the ceasefire structures,” he said.Also part of the week of peace celebration was the opening at 2 p.m. at the city plaza of Laro ng Lahi or indigenous games;The week of peace will end with a civil society general assembly on March 30.The week-long activities are being supported by the city government, Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) and VSO Peace Mindanao.


(with thanks to MindaNews)

POLITICS , PUBLIC RELATIONS AND PROMISES

by Samira Gutoc

Campaign speeches are now hitting the airwaves and aired in public functions too. Here in Lanao, in weddings where the elites and their angkan converge, politicians maximize their presence and make sure they are heard during the wedding proper. Maranao politics is one of the most colorful – add a 4th to the criteria of guns, goons and gold and you get another element to win – the girls or the women who are the most effective but low-key campaigners of their husband or their boss or whatever their relationship may be. The cost of vote-buying here is appalling – in one suspected town where drug-money flows, mayoralty candidates are supposedly courting voters for at least 250 US dollars per head.

Beside me at the Mamainte-Lucman wedding at Marawi Resort Hotel was MNLF Bangsa Bai and former assemblyman Zenaida Bubong. I ask her if MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari is serious about running for governor of Sulu, where politics is also pre-conditioned and the poor candidate without chance. She confirms Nur did file for candidacy but suspects this is just one of Malacanang’s patronage programs (to appease his followers).

We hear speeches from the candidates or their closest of kin who campaigned for them. Bubong rolls her eyes over the rewind of projections, public relations and promises made by the candidates who had a heyday last Wednesday and Thursday, stopping traffic to parade to the COMELEC office to file their candidacy. Here in the streamer city of the South, the trees are pinned overwhelmingly with smiling faces and names of party-list, senatoriables and consuming more space - the local candidates. In one speech in the wedding, it was refreshing to hear one gubernatorial candidate cite all the names of his closest rivals rather than attack them, as is the usual scenario. But expect a heated exchange between the closest of rivals to begin once the numbers in the surveys roll in. After all, it is a close fight in Lanao del Sur, thus the free zone declaration by Malacanang which means it is hands-off in endorsing just ONE CANDIDATE.

Each gubernatorial candidate here can claim bailiwicks, while having a loyal constituency and machinery to back them . There’s the incumbent governor – Aleem Bashier Manalao whose claim to fame is his charisma as a preacher and cult of women religious followers; Congressman Benasing Macarambon, a former MNLF commander and President’s closest ally here for standing by her in the impeachment trial; Marawi Mayor Omar Solitario Ali, another former MNLF commander, who aggressively gave the city a road system face-lift; and Engr. Mamintal “Bombit” Adiong, son of the former governor, who reportedly has more than 50 % of the votes of Lanao’s 39 mayors during a LAKAS-NUCD meeting in Davao City . May the best man win.

But please oh please, without the COMELEC under-the-table hanky panky, special operations coming in Marawi to make magic in favor of senatorial or party-list candidates, election harassments and killings. Just last month, a brother of a mayoralty candidate, who was vying against his brother was shot allegedly by followers of the brother. In this case, blood is no longer thicker than water. Power is. Bloody dangerous.

The good news is, a vigilant force is striving to drive away the criteria of 4 g’s to another g – good governance . On TV, while obvious politically-funded programs are aired, the discourse is about what is good governance and what the candidate can offer. It was great to see the internal revenue allotment (IRA) being discussed. In a dysfunctional society like this which has no media, public discussion and transparency thus silencing any form of dissent, the space for patronage politics is widened because political families can no longer claim to control the ira alone.

The majority poor have a unique opportunity to say no to vote-buying. Refuse that envelope distributed in kandori masquerading as good-will money. Refuse that envelope in the precinct. Hello, merong kapalit yon noh. What’s 300 pesos or 13,500 in exchange for paralysis of services during a full 3-year term of a mayor or governor ?

How do we combat corruption? The women beside me in the wedding had a strong suggestion – remove the ira., appoint not elect officials . It’s good we are speaking about this at last, without fear of reprisal or threat of harrassment. I hope these voices become louder so that we see a different future constructed ahead of us.

Party List (for Fun)

The following appeal was forwarded by a top Philippine broadcaster:

If you're planning to vote for a PartyList group in May, please consider your vote carefully, as only the right votes will be counted.
We need partylist groups who will truly fight for our needs as a people instead of their own vested interests or that of the formerly-wealthy elite. A partylist group that is not red, or yellow, or black and white. People who will truly have the well-being of the Economist and the Rule of Lawyers at heart!

It is in this light that we humbly submit to you a list of the PartyList organizations that we hope you will remember come May 14. We present to you... our M-R-P, our Most Recommended PartyList groups:

AAAAAAA - Alyansa ng mga taga-Alabang, Angeles, Apalit, Antipolo at Aklan na kamag-anak ng mga Arroyo (7A!)
Nominees:
1) Aaron Arroyo
2) Abel Arroyo
3) Ace Arroyo

AAAAAA - Asosasyon ng mga taga-Alaga ng Aquarium, Aso at Alimango ng mga Arroyo (6A!)
Nominees:
1) Adrian Arroyo
2) Agnes Arroyo
3) Alice Arroyo

AAAAAABA - Aktibong Atletang Atenista, Assumptionista At iba pang Alalay ng Barangay Arroyo (ABANTE ARROYO!)
Nominees:
1) Amy Arroyo
2) Anthony Arroyo
3) Arthur Arroyo

This appeal is brought to you by your tax pesoses, Comelec Chairman Ben Abalosses and most importantly, the Presidential Office of External Affairs... Guiding Worthy PartyList groups to Eternity and Beyond Since 2004!

Don't forget our slogan! "Team Unity, Totally Arroyo!" (T.U.T.A. all the way!)

p.s. Kung sakaling nalito po kayo sa mga ads ng aming mga kandidato, gusto lang po namin linawin na HINDI PO tumatakbo si Boy Abunda. Baka po sa 2010...