Spent bullets in CSAFP Cup 2013 to give hope to ‘Pablo’ victims

In yet another effort to rebuild the lives of victims of calamity in the Philippines, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) slated the next Chief of Staff AFP Cup (CSAFP Cup) for 2013 to become a fund-raising event for children who were orphaned or left without resources to continue their studies due to the devastation brought about by typhoon ‘Pablo’.

The CSAFP Cup 2013, a shootfest where high ranking officials and members of the AFP and shooting enthusiasts from the civilian sector are expected to compete this coming August 9-11 at the Armscor Shooting Ranges in Marikina City, will benefit additional scholars picked from families in Compostela Valley in Mindanao who were devastated by the typhoon in December 2012.

General Emmanuel T. Bautista, Chief-of-Staff of AFP, conceptualized the event to give further meaning to the annual gathering of the best shooters under the uniformed service from all over the Philippines.

More Help Needed

In an article written by Tara Quismundo of Philippine Daily Inquirer dated June 21, 2013, United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Unocha) said in a statement that the ‘Pablo’ victims in Mindanao are still in need of dire help even almost after a year.

Unocha head David Carden said that the typhoon victims still need assistance in different aspects of living, particularly in fulfilling basic needs.

“The requirements are still there in the areas of shelter, education, sociopsychological rehabilitation. A lot of people who lost relatives, friends, they are recovering now and I’d say we don’t have much time… We have to move rather quickly,” said Rashid Khalikov, the Geneva-based Unocha director was also quoted in the article.

Among the results of the loss of family members is that young children had to stop their education in order to help the family rise from their impoverished condition by pitching in with house work or accepting jobs at their early ages to support their needs.

New Hope

Knowing full well the importance of education in the development of future citizens, the CSAFP Cup 2013 is expected to gather enough funds to further sustain the old and new scholars of the AFP among the ‘Pablo’ victims.

The Philippine Military Academy (Dimalupig) Class of 1981 to which Gen Bautista belongs, had already granted scholarships for the 15 students who fell victim to Pablo. The awarding ceremony was held at the Army's 10th Infantry Division headquarters in Mawab town, Compostela Valley in February 2013. 

 The fund-raising activity  is supposed to generate enough funds to sustain the project for the next few years until the beneficiaries finish college.

The strengthened partnership of AFP with Arms Corporation of the Philippines, the leading manufacturer of firearms in the country, through the memorandum of agreement signed last May 2013 ensures that this year’s CSAFP Cup would have more participants. 

This is because the MOA now gives all active and retired members of AFP a 15 percent discount with every Armscor firearm they buy from the 33 commissary stores in the Philippines.

Armscor firearms are usually with discounts only during gun shows, yet Armscor has decided to make the partnership with AFP in order to make their products more accessible to its market.

AFP Chief General Emmanuel T Bautista poses for a souvenir photo with ARMSCOR Executive Ms Gina Marie Angangco after the MOA signing held at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. (ARMSCOR Photo)

Art: The Instrument of Peace

The use of symbols and colors to create harmony and beauty had always been one of the most effective ways of communication which encompass every aspect of human life.  Known to us generally as art, the masterpieces that human race created (starting from the cave drawings in France to the multi-million dollar paintings in modern museums everywhere) can transcend differences in religious creeds, language, culture and beliefs.

AG Saño, a local artist working on the Peace Mural being completed along the historic Epifanio De Los Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Metro Manila, said that there is no other fitting medium to pass on the message of peace and unity to Filipinos and the word other than art.

Saño, a seasoned artist responsible for community peace murals in conflict areas like Lanao del Sur, Basilan and Sulu, is among the artists responsible for the design and completion of the 3.8 kilometer mural slated to be unveiled this coming July 6.

The mural is being completed by various sectors of society in the community spirit or bayanihan under the initiative of organizers Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Asia America Initiative (AAI), the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), Dolphins Love Freedom Movement, and Metro Manila Development of Development (MMDA).

Saño is also an advocate of peace who believes that continued efforts of making peace a household word can mainstream this valuable concept and give solution to armed conflicts everywhere.

“Art had been used as a weapon for change in different eras in different countries including the US and some countries in Europe,” he said.  “Art was able to create social and political changes that affected the lives of millions of people. There is no reason why it can't help advance concepts such as peace in the Philippines. Peace begins with oneself.”

The Peace Mural project involves different sectors of Filipino society who volunteered to complete the “Longest Mural in the World” according to Capt. Gene Gabrido, Deputy Commander of the 7^th Civil Relations Group, AFP.

Saño believes that involving thousands of people in the project will give them the opportunity to embrace the cause and inspire them to take a personal stand to be agents of peace.

He thinks that the primary component of the success of the peace building process by the AFP, which is embedded in thebayanihan efforts, is the cooperation of all sectors, whether military or civilian.

“Painting together a historical art piece, a gigantic task, could pave the way for the AFP to open up its "home" to civilians and for the civilians to work with the AFP,” he said.

“It is important for them to have an ownership of the work. Therefore, having thousands of people participate in the completion of the art work makes me feel that the effort is headed for success,” he added

One Wall for Unity and Peace

Finding a common ground by which to unite diverse sectors of society is a challenge for every leader since the dawn of humanity.

This challenging feat is one of the objectives of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the creation of the Peace Mural at the Epifanio De Los Santos Avenue or EDSA in Metro Manila.  The 3.8 kilometer wall at the most symbolic avenue in the Philippines was slated to become the canvass of one of the greatest Filipino street artwork to be unveiled this coming July 6.

Started last May 26, the mural is being completed by various sectors of society in the community spirit or bayanihan.

Working in collaboration with Asia America Initiative (AAI), the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), Dolphins Love Freedom Movement, and Metro Manila Development of Development (MMDA) and various local artists, the concept of the Peace Mural Project was hatched for it to stand as an enduring reminder that unity can be achieved under a single goal.   

Capt. Gene Gabrido, Deputy Commander of the 7^th Civil Relations Group, said that the mural stands for the relentless and united call of the organizers for the peaceful resolution of all internal armed conflicts for the sake of the Filipino people for the next generation.

“We hope that it would be able to communicate to them (local armed rebels) that we Filipinos don’t need arms to solve our problems,” he said.  “That what we need is to work together as one nation.”

He also said that it seeks to unite every Filipino under the spirit of Bayanihan in order to achieve peace and development in the Philippines aside from inspiring the revival of our sense of nationalism and patriotism.

“The AFP is focused on winning the peace for our people. This is manifested through our efforts to support the peace process and engagement to all stakeholders to join the bayanihan effort,” he added.

The Peace Mural is also slated to become another source of Filipino pride as the organizers and participants are working together to have it recognized on the Guiness Book of World Records as the Longest Mural in the world after its completion.

Gabrido said that the military choose art as a medium in passing on the message of peace to the world because art is common to everybody.

AG Saño, one of the primary Filipino artists working on the design and completion of the artwork, said that he believes art is an effective medium to pass on the message of peace because it had already been used as a weapon for change in different eras in different countries.

“Art was able to create social and political changes that affected the lives of millions of people. There is no reason why it can't help advance concepts such as peace in the Philippines,” he said.

In the international community of nations, Gabrido said that the mural seeks to tell the world that Filipinos can do great things while working together.

The making of the Longest Peace Mural in the world: (Part 2)

The peace murals that can be found in the walls of Camp Aguinaldo deliver messages through artworks. Every image is conceptualized by a select individuals from various sectors of the society. All ideas were integrated before a draft sketch was prepared by young volunteer artists. These young artists dedicated sleepless nights during the conceptualization of the peace messages. 

The draft images were presented to AFP Chief of Staff, General Emmanuel T Bautista for his final approval. He also shared some inputs that were included in the artwork.

It is now time to draw the approved artwork design on the walls. The artists normally do this task at night because they too have their personal obligations at home or at work. Another sleepless nights were dedicated to accomplish this mission.

Since May 26, people from around the Philippines come to Camp Aguinaldo every weekend to participate in the painting of the murals. Volunteers from as far as Zamboanga in the south and Isabela in the North had painted the walls in the first four legs of mural painting. Some of them came as a family, as barkadas, as individuals and as an institution. Now in its 4th leg of implementation, the mural painting in Boni Serrano walls is nearing completion. The walls fronting Corinthian Gardens will come next. 

Mural painting is fun. Wanna join?

Army sends Dragon Boat Team to China

FORT BONIFACIO, Makati City-- The Philippine Army will send a contingent of Dragon Boat athletes in the upcoming Dragon Boat races that will be held in China on June 12 (Wednesday). 

Major Harold Cabunoc, the President of the Philippine Army Dragon Boat Team said that the Army has already approved its participation in the Macau Dragon Boat Races that will be held in Van Nam Lake, Macau,China. 

"Our Commanding General, Lt General Noel Coballes has allowed my team's participation in the race after its convincing win over the strong teams fielded by Cam Sur," said Cabunoc. 

Cabunoc said that the Cherifer Premium-powered team will participate in the 500m Men's Open Event.  He is confident that his team is ready to compete globally based on its past achievements. 

"My team posted the fastest record time in the PDBF's 200m event at 41.27 seconds during the recent international race in Bohol. This record is also the fourth fastest recorded time in the World Championship," he said. 

It can be recalled that the team dominated the 2nd Leg of the Cobra-PDBF Dragon Boat Race on June 2 (Sunday). The team outraced two of its strongest rivals in the country, the paddlers from Lake Buhi in Camarines Sur.

Mr Tom Meneses of Intermed Philippines has been supporting the Army team since 2011. 

He said that his company is proud for being the team's sponsor in the past three years.

"I am glad to support these athletes who want to make a difference in the sport of Dragon Boat. We are very proud of them," said Meneses.

The Army had participated  in the international race for the third time since 2011. 

It emerged as the champion in the races held in Indonesia and Malaysia. 

Seven members of the team are among those who won 5 golds in the 10th IDBF World Dragon Boat Championships which was held in Tampa, Florida in August 2011.

The team will depart for its third foray abroad on Monday (June 10,2013 ) at 7:00pm.