The Provincial Government of Sarangani and the SOX (SOCCSKSARGEN) Messaging Hub culminated the week-long Mindanao Week of Peace by hosting an awarding ceremony with its partner organizations in peace and development on December 12, 2020 at LEX Forum, General Santos City.
The SOX Messaging Hub first awarded their partners who have significantly contributed to its various engagement and have helped in strengthening the hub as a network. MH SOX host organization, Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanao of Mindanao State University-Gensan (IPDM-MSU GenSan), through its director Dr. Jovar Pantao, gave the certificates of recognition to the following organizations: Sulong Kapayapaan, Basic Institute for Dramatic Arts (BIDA) GenSan, Mindanaoan Development Foundation Inc. (MDFI), and Sulong Kapayapaan. These organizations co-organized some of the notable activities in 2020, including the Kilos Kalinaw Aksyon ng Kabataang SOX Online Conversations, Kilos Kalinaw Virtual Plays at the 33rd Season Festival of Dramatic Arts, and Obrang Kalinaw, among others.
The Province of Sarangani through its Sulong Kapayapaan program also awarded plaques of appreciation to the following organizations who have actively partnered with them in its peace and development initiatives: Basic Institute for Dramatic Arts (BIDA) GenSan, MSU-GenSan, Equal Access International-Philippines, IPDM MSU-GenSan, Kabpapagariya Ensamble, and MSU-GenSan Senior High School Deparment.
Mr. Cocoy Sexcion and Mr. Russtum Pelima also received their plaques of appreciation as among the partners of the provincial government of Sarangani and for producing the short documentary film “Arts not Arms” that was showcased during the Obrang Kalinaw online show of the regional messaging hubs. Mr. Ahmed Harris Pangcoga, EAI Philippines Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Manager also received a special award during the culmination ceremony. Sulong Kapayapaan Program Manager Jennifer Kamid and Engr. Gerald Faciol, Sarangani assistant provincial administrator for operations, graced the awarding on behalf of Gov. Steve Chiongbian Solon.
According to Kamid, the Province of Sarangani gives importance in celebrating the Mindanao Week of Peace as an act of ‘sustaining peace gains in the province’.
“We are extending our horizons in this platform because we would like to continue our initiatives, our peace and order situation because we understand that peace is a continuing process,” Kamid shared during her opening message. She expressed her thanks to all the partners and individuals who have continued working for peace despite the challenges brought by the pandemic.
The MWOP 2020 culmination also paved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between EAI Philippines and Sarangani Province’s Sulong Kapayapaan, and EAI Philippines and MDFI, as an act to strengthen the convergence platform by being co-host organizations of the SOX Messaging Hub. Mr. Dausay Daulog, Maguindanao Development Foundation Incorporated (MDFI) Executive Director, Engr. Gerald Faciol, Sarangani Assistant Provincial Administrator, and Atty. Salic Sharief Jr., EAI Philippines Country Director, represented the signing of the MOU.
Sources: https://sarangani.gov.ph/index.php/photo-news/item/3788-sarangani-co-hosts-mindanao-week-of-peace; https://sarangani.gov.ph/index.php/sulong-updates/item/3789-sulong-kapayapaan-sponsors-mindanao-week-of-peace
Photos courtesy of Sarangani Provincial Information Office
