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| Castillon and Diacolano (center) at the 6th RAFI Triinnial Awards at the Grand Convention Center Cebu |
The
Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. honored exemplary humanitarians from Mindanao for the 6th cycle of its Triennial Awards. Held last August 14 at the Grand Convention Center of Cebu,
Anita Castillon and
Kadtabanga Foundation for Peace and Development Advocates, Inc. (KFPDAI) led by its Executive Director,
Hadja Giobay Diacolano were declared winners in the the individual and institution categories, respectively.
Launched in December 6, 1996, during RAFIs 30th year anniversary, the
Triennial Awards was established to recognize individuals and institutions who have committed themselves to building a more humane, equitable and caring society. It reflects the philanthropic, humanitarian and holistic ideals and values of the RAFI founders, Don Ramon Aboitiz and Don Eduardo Aboitiz.
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| RAFI Triennial Awards at the Grand Convention Center Cebu |
"Nanay Anit" is an educator, community organizer and a servant with an 18-year extensive teaching experience from working as an elementary and high school teacher to becoming principal of her own school, Marmylone Learning Center. While working as a teacher, she had the opportunity to educate and serve the T’Boli children. She saw their condition and realized the difficulty of their access to education. There she developed her love for the tribe and the strong desire to help them and bring basic education to their doorsteps.
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| Anita Castillon with Don Roberto Aboitiz |
She established 3 Indigenous People (IP) schools in 2 different barangays in Lake Sebu which are all named Indigenous Learning School (ILS). She has also established a unique system of paying the school fees so parents can still send their children to school at a minimal cost. Parents of students are required to have their own garden, plant root crops, and pay Php 20/month to enroll their child in the school.
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| Nanay Anit in one of her schools near Lake Sebu |
Kadtabanga Foundation for Peace and Development Advocates, Inc. (KFPDAI) was founded in 2000 to strengthen peace and development communities and to serve as a link between these communities and external partners. ‘Kadtabanga’ in Maguindanaon means ‘helping one another.’ The organization is as a leading civil society organization in the province in the area of peace-building. It serves 36 municipalities in Maguindanao, focusing on peace and development activities like emergency assistance, relief and rehabilitation, livelihood development, capacity-building, infrastructure, and delivery of basic social services.
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| Hadja Giobay Diacolano (right), Executive Director of Kadtabanga Foundation for Peace and Development Advocates, Inc. (KFPDAI) , with RAFI president Roberto Aboitiz |
“It is about shifting paradigms of the combatants. It is also about changing the perspectives of the communities that peace can be attained through helping each other.” said Hadja Giobay Diacolano, executive director of KFPDAI. Diacolano herself was a former combatant of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) at the age of 13 and fought against the Armed Forces of the Philippines, but in 1996, she made the decision to let go of the guns and knives to seek for peace, unity and promote development in Mindanao.
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| Giobay Diacolano in one her of her institutions seminars |
Chosen from almost 300 nominees in both categories, these two women from Mindanao humbly expressed their gratitude for the recognition that comes with a cash prize of PhP 484,000 for each awardee. For Nanay Anit, she will be using the amount to fund a water system for her schools and a carabao to help sustain the school and community. On her part, Diocalona said it will add to their finances in KFPDAI as they are also involved in micro-financing in the areas they serve.
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| The winners during the presscon that followed the ceremony |
“Common among the finalists is that they went above themselves in a effort to help the community." said Gina Garcia Atienza, Chairman of the 6th RAFI Triennial Awards Search Committee and also President of SunStar Publications Davao. "For our part, we checked what they did that gone ordinary to extraordinary in their field”. Completing the members of the committee are Gordon Alan P. Joseph – President, Cebu Business Club; Fr. Dionisio Miranda, SVD – President, University of San Carlos; Leonilo N. Rivero – SOS Children’s Village, Davao and Dr. Ma. Theresa M.Rivera – Director, Ateneo Agro- Ecological Forum.
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| Dr. Maria Theresa M. Rivera (left), Gina Garcia-Atienza (center) and Fr. Dionisio Miranda, SVD (right) receive their token of appreciation for serving as the 6th RAFI Triennial Awards Search Committee. |
Finishing runners-up but still equally inspiring were
Fr. Carmelo Diola - Director of Dilaab Foundation (below center) that implements programs that facilitate political change and
Atty. Lawrence Lemuel Fortun - a congressman from the 1st district Agusan del Norte Representative who organized
Programang Pangkatawhan to address unregistered births; both for Individual Category.
For the institution nominees Balay Mindanaw Foundation Inc (BMFI) in Cagayan de Oro established a Peace Center where everyone is welcomed regardless of political, religious and social affiliations; Cantaan Centennial Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Camiguin created a sanctuary for endangered giants clams, Sibog Katawhan Alang sa Paglambo in Agusan del Sur assists tribal groups in finding their vocies in the community by establishing an indigenous people's organization, and Western Samar Development Foundation in Calbayog City created and operates a a shelter for abused women and children.
RAFI has evolved from a strictly philanthropic organization founded by Don Ramon Aboitiz in 1966 to a development agency today under RAFI president Roberto Aboitiz and the Aboitiz family that remain committed to creating opportunities. In its 47 years of existence in development work in the Visayas and Mindanao, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) vision has always been “
Touching People, Shaping the Future”.
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| Roberto Aboitiz, President of RAFI |
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