By PJTremedal
Iligan City – “We are warned” this is the call of a fiction movie 2012 that everyone who see it must realize that we are really facing a problem that everybody is experiencing, “climate Changes” or global warming that scientist, environmentalist, has gone to study more about it and send warnings to the world.
In fact we got to do something about it, we need volunteers, we need to campaign for it, we advocate to save our planet NOW! If not we will suffer what the movie 2012 had emphasized as a lesson to learn.
Even the infamous Nostradamus writings years back and his findings and predictions for 2012 must be considered by the people of this earth, it may be true or not but we have to preserve and conserve our environment.
As the celebration for the International Volunteers Day commence the Civil Society Organization Forum for Peace (CSO-FP) together with its partners hold activities and initiated forum on its advocacy for peace and development to cater views and issues regarding governance, peace and order, civic-socio issues, and environment in celebration of Mindanao Week of Peace, International Human Rights day, Philippine Volunteers Month.
One of its activity is the Volunteers and Media Forum held at Dimsum Restaurant in
CSO-FP Managing Director Jun Enriquez said that the one day forum will be participated by volunteers and media practitioners from Iligan, Lanao provinces and Cagayan de Oro. To talk and act on resolution how to save especially oon “Climate Changes”.
Speakers are; Yashnima Macapodi, Project Coordinator for Volunteering Roadshow,(Former KI Volunteer) for Local Volunteering, Mr. Gerry Merriman, International Volunteer (Irish National) of Voluntary Overseas(VSO) for the International Volunteering and Mr. Ercel Maanding, President of the Mass Media
Advocate on Evironment Preservation f Cagayan de Oro for Media Volunteering.
Ms. Jane Bernardo , President of CSO-FP,Inc. opens the Volunteer and Media Forum.
Billy dela Rosa Message:
On behalf of VSO I would like to express solidarity with all of you gathered here today on the occasion of the United Nations International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development, more popularly known as International Volunteer Day or IVD. Today is actually the 24th annual IVD since it started in 1985 on the strength of a UN resolution urging governments, the UN and civil society organizations to work together with volunteers around the world to celebrate IVD on December 5 each year. The celebration
The UN had declared 2001 the International Year of Volunteers. In that year, the General Assembly adopted recommendations aimed to stimulate national and international policy debate around, and to advocate for, recognizing, facilitating, networking and promoting voluntary action. So today is not just about a day of collective action for community benefit such as a clean-up drive which KI and CSOFP had spearheaded this morning, but it is also – just as importantly – about discussions about, advocacy for, recognition of, facilitating, networking and promoting voluntary action. Which is why we are having this forum this afternoon.
Volunteering in its traditional sense is all about charity. Giving of oneself, without expectations for material compensation, for the benefit of others. But, we have gone a long way since the first act of human charity – which is not to say that the original reason for volunteering is no longer valid. Far from it. Volunteering is, and will always be a selfless act of a human person to another. However, it has ceased to be just a personal act. It has become a social act. It has no longer just a charitable function but – and perhaps more importantly – a developmental function. That is why the UN calls this day International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development.
The Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) is an international organization that works for development through volunteering. In Lanao, we support at least 12 NGO partners in their peace building efforts by providing international volunteers. Our volunteers support peace building work of our partners through capacity building, skills transfers and trainings in various areas of expertise such as emotional recovery, natural resource management, enterprise development, gender equality, resource mobilization, volunteer management, English teaching, and a host of other skills needed by our partners in their work among disadvantaged communities.
Volunteering is an act of peaceableness. No wonder that no matter the difficult circumstances volunteers from many countries of the world, including those of VSO, come to Lanao to work with people in their communities.
Volunteering comes in many flavors and colors. It can be international (as in VSO volunteers) or local. The Philippines is known throughout the world for its vibrant civil society. Which means that we have a big voluntary sector – as NGOs and POs are otherwise known. As social scientists have commented, Filipinos are known for their community spirit. The iconic symbol of people helping one another transfer a house by carrying it on their shoulder is uniquely Filipino. That is volunteering Pinoy style.
So local volunteering is a national trait. The thing is, how to bring it up to developmental volunteering. This is the challenge we pose before this forum.
Two years ago, Congress passed a law encouraging volunteering for rural development. While we say that volunteering is not just for rural development but for national development, we are nonetheless encouraged by this law. We should, however, ask government for a more aggressive dissemination of information about the law. Local governments must be informed and educated about the law. And, perhaps more importantly, some resources should be put behind the law.
NGOs, by themselves, can do a lot to systematize volunteering. Systems should be put in place to provide training and mentoring for volunteers so that they can do an effective job. Volunteering programmes should be started which are aimed at important development issues as well as practical steps to address those issues.
Academic institutions should also encourage immersion by students to community conditions through voluntary work. This will enable students to deepen their appreciation of development issues.
The private sector, specifically business, should support volunteering for development. Development stimulates markets and is good for business.
I have tried above to illustrate the various ways by which different sectors can promote the spirit of volunteerism. There are a million and one reasons why we as a people should be interested in volunteerism for peace and development. It is a challenge I would like to leave you on this occasion of the 24th annual celebration of International Volunteer Day.
To end, let me congratulate the organizers of this forum as well as thank all the participants for volunteering their time. Thank you and I wish you a fruitful afternoon.
Billy
With this Ms. Jashree Boot said, “It ‘s hard work becoming a volunteer but if, deep within you as a volunteer in mind and in heart, they who need us welcomes us as there heroes.”
PHILIP JAMES MONGAYA TREMEDAL
CALL OR TEXT ME : 0929-589-6390
OR E-MAIL ME : pjtremedal@gmail.com
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