Vol. XVII No. 2 http://zabida.org Zamboanga City March 2017 NewsFeature: ZABIDA observes 10 years of empowering communities for Human Security It has been a decade since 2007, that ZABIDA has been embodying its goal to provide inter-partner program service interventions in collaboration with stakeholders to increase human security for the marginalized sectors in Zamboanga City and Basilan. To make it more meaningful, ZABIDA gathered about 360 representives of partners and project beneficiaries in their 7th Annual Partnership Forum conducted at Royce Convention, Grand Astoria Hotel. Held on March 23, the joint showcase of products Participants and Representatives of sectoral groups by project partners and beneficiaries and a photo including the Local Government Unit Sector, Youth exhibit was witnessed by the partners who joined Sector, Women Sector, Indigenous People, Religious Sector, the forum. Security Sector, and Education Sector were present in the 7th Annual Partnership Forum. Moreover, the event was filled with a unified energy as selected partner representatives from the Women Sector, the Local Government Unit Sector, the Youth Sector, the Children and the IDPs overwhelming shared their success stories with ZABIDA. Said Datu Nasir Ismula of Simariki Island Sama Banguingui Association (SISBA), “Because of ZABIDA, dumami yung partners namin, more assistance given to us, school, sa tubig, engines para sa bangkas, at livelihood assistance for agar-agar, among others...” SISBA is but one of partner-organizations and beneficiaries of ZABIDA to which they ZABIDA President Fr. Angel C. Calvo, CMF, Dr. Grace have provided a total of 85 houses after the Rebollos and Executive Director Ms. Esperancita conflict in Zamboanga’s coastal area of Simariki in Hupida together with its Administrative Staff, Program September 2013. (Deorenzie Frances Carreon) Coordinators, and Project Staff. zabida.org 1 ZABIDA celebrates International Women’s Day Through the years of ZABIDA working with its communities, the Women from different sectors have shown their dedication and par- ticipation towards peace and development. On March 9, 2017, a workshop on the “Role of Women in Peace-Building and Security Reform” took place and brought together about 250 participants. This was composed of 95% women and 5% men. This initiative was in partnership Partner-Barangay Representatives of ROOF during with Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) the workshop for their activity and project planning for and the ProPolitICS Project. women in their respective communities. Joining them is its partner Barangay Local Government Units and Sector Representatives for the Youth. With the support of Institute for Autonomy and Governance and ProPoltICS Project, the participants were enlightened by the talk on “Mindanao Women and the Peace Process: A Critical Analysis (Strengths and gaps on the engagement of women in peace and security) given by Ms. Ma. Lourdes Tiquia, Founder/CEO of PUBLICUS Asia, Inc. Thereafter, Dr. Grace J. Rebollos, ZABIDA Board of Director, shared on “Peace Tables as a mechanism for women participation in Peace and Security”. (Deorenzie Frances Carreon) Newsfeature: ‘Teach Peace’ Book A Guide For Peace To Students T If the mood of the recent book launching entitled Teach Peacehe long was wait to have is finally a theme, over it willand have let’s thiscelebrate phrase. peace! After several revisions and editing done in gathering of peace education coordinators of the 34 partneredthe book itpublic was secondaryfinally launched schools in ofa simplePeace Advocates Zamboanga (PAZ). Fr. Angel Calvo, CMF present the Teach Peace (a “It is very memorable to us because what we are doing compilation of Peace Education Lesson Exemplars for is very unusual to us,” happily shared by Mrs. Jawiya G. secondary level) to three Education Supervisors. (From Left Adjirul, one of the secondary school coordinators who to Right) Janet N. Recamara, Ed.D (ESP), Aida Coyme, Ed.d (Araling Panlipunan and Hilda Frando, Ed.d (Filipino) stood up in the podium to share her experience while working for the peace module. Mrs. Adjirul is the coordinator for the Araling Panlipunan (Social Studies) of Arena Blanco National High School. For how many years now, PAZ in partnership with the Department of Education—Zamboanga City which will be a guide for the classroom teachers of the secondary schools in the integration of the CultureSchools ofDivision Peace (COP)Office in and the other lessons. noteworthy partners were trying to work out for a peace module The book contains a compilation of lesson exemplars from the teachers are expected to be used for grades seven to 10 and it covers three subject areas namely: Araling Panlipunan, Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao (Values Education), and Filipino. Fr. Angel Calvo, CMF, PAZ President said, “We need to celebrate the participation of the Schools Division peace into the minds of the students. (Albert F. Arcilla/Peace Advocates Zamboanga) 2Office”.zabida.org He is also optimistic that the module will be a “point of reference” for the schools in inculcating NAGDILAAB highlights #WomenMakeChange Over 600 women from the Municipality of Maluso in Basilan Province for the first time Change”participated in the parade observing Women’s Month with this year’s theme“ Women Make The women marchers came in their colorful cultural attires, highlighting community diversity. The activity, held last March 15 in Maluso, was spearheaded by the Basilan based non-government organization Nagdilaab Foundation Inc. (NFI). NFI together with three other NGOs based in Zamboanga City namely: Peace Advocates Zamboanga (PAZ), Katilingban sa Kalambuan Inc. (KKI), and Reach Out to Others Foundation Inc. (ROOF) are members of Zamboanga Basilan Integrated Development Alliance (ZABIDA). Resource Speaker Prof. Jennifer Composa, RGC and Coordinator of Gender and Development for College ofThe Liberal event Artswas ofalso Western in partnership Mindanao with State the University Maluso (WMSU-Social Welfare CLA) presented Development a talk Office on Empowering (MSWDO). Women, Magna Carta for Women, and Violence Against Women and Children Act. The women participants are coming from the different partner barangays of Nagdilaab from Maluso and other areas. Part of the activity was the painting session wherein the participants were able to express their understanding about women empowerment through the use of canvass, paints and brushes. In al of these, women made change. (Leo Christopher Gaspar, ZABIDA Human Rights Advocacy Coordinator) Katilingban Home Owners’ Association Day Care Center holds 15th Foundation Day In continually empowering the community, former students, parents, teachers and KHOA community leaders joined current students and their parents in a meaningful 15th Foundation Day celebration of the Katilingban Home Owners’ Association (KHOA). The event showcased the talents of the students and its teachers. It also showcased the creative minds of the students as their work of arts were exhibited for viewing. Present were Ms. Ma. Jesusa Alvarez, CSWD Field Su- to exhibit which showed the Day Care Center’s various pervisor and Ms. Ruth Aquino of Barangay Sinunuc. activities all these years. Several alumni of the Day Then day care teachers Ms. Sharon C. Viray (the first day Care Center are has graduated in College just this care teacher) and Ms. Aila Ramos, also showed their March of 2017. support. Most of them left the forum bringing with them Alumni and students danced and sang songs, shared more inspiration to continue their efforts in stories of how it was as students and what they are peace and to brave the challenges in building and doing now as well as what kind of future they maintaining a harmonious community. envision. The highlight of the celebration was the pho- (Deorenzie Frances Carreon) zabida.org 3 MYDev - ZABIDA Program concludes 3 years of program implementation Mindanao Youth for Development (MYDev) Program is a development project of Education Development Center Inc. (EDC) funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which ZABIDA is the local NGO implementer in Zamboanga City. MYDev works with the LGUs in partnership with DepED and TESDA, other key government agencies such as DTI, DOLE, DILG, City Social Welfare, private sector, and civil society to address the significant challenges facing out-of-school youth (OSY). Also included are the National Youth Comission, Office of the City Planning, Office of the City Agriculturist, Youth Organizations, Hon. Jerry E. Perez, Association of Barangay Councils President. On March 30, 2017, the MYDev Program – ZABIDA concluded their program with its last set of graduates. A total of 238 completed certain trade programs all are Out Of School Youth. These technical skills courses were Automotive Services NC I (Batch 3), Automotive Services NC I (Batch 4), Beauty Care NC II, Computer System Servicing NC II (Batch 1), Computer System Servicing NC II (Batch 2), Computer System Servicing NC II (Batch 3), Electrical Installation and Maintenance NC II (Batch 3), Electrical Installation & Maintenance NC II (Batch 4), Hairdressing NC II and Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Services NC II. The MYDev-ZABIDA team also took the opportunity to show its recognition of partnership and support to its staff, socio-civic and local government partners through a presentation of certificates. The success of the MYDev Program in Zamboanga City is translated to the smiles and sense of empowerment of its program