Bangon Silangan

Concept Paper

Pagkatapos ng mga unos na sumalanta sa mga lalawigan ng Silangang Luzon

Bangon Silangan!

Pagdiriwang ng Pagbabalik ng Buhay at Kabuhayan

(Celebration of Rebuilding Lives and Livelihoods)

Rationale

In commemoration of the World Earth Day on 22 April 2005, Oxfam organizes the Bangon Silangan! festival in Infanta, Quezon. The festival will provide a venue for people from Metro Manila and communities from the typhoon-devastated areas in Quezon and Aurora to gather, interact and celebrate our joint efforts to rebuild their lives and livelihoods.

Although held in Infanta where a town feast is also celebrated in the same weekend, Oxfam broadens the reach of the festival’s participation to include Real, Gen. Nakar and the affected towns of Aurora.

Objectives

1. Revive public awareness on the continuing humanitarian situation in the typhoon-affected areas and the specific impact the typhoons have had on people’s livelihoods

2. Raise public consciousness on how environmental abuse and degradation creates hazards and magnifies the vulnerability of people

Description of Activities

Earth day exhibit and trade fair

· Local people and visitors view exhibits showcasing various agencies’ projects in the area; guests buy food, crafts, produce and products sold by local people

· Target: at least 6 aid agencies to put-up information booths/exhibits and activities (medical missions, distribution of goods – this must be pre-arranged with the beneficiary communities, others); at least 6 local traders, trader’s cooperative or local agencies to showcase their livelihood and other programs and sell local products

· Exhibits may be put-up inside the classrooms or at the school ground of the Infanta Central Elementary School

· Exhibitors will register and coordinate with Oxfam and/or the local sponsors (Infanta Local Government and the Infanta Prelature – to be confirmed)

· Local organizations and local governments will be contacted to assist in identifying local exhibitors and in inviting communities to the fair

Seeds and Farm Fair

· Pre-identified beneficiary families troop to the school grounds with their vouchers to purchase seeds and farm tools

· Organizers of the seeds fair will contract traders to supply the farm seeds and tools to beneficiaries in exchange for the vouchers

· Department of Agriculture experts will be available to advice local beneficiaries of the compatible seeds for their farms based on soil assessments

· Traders will also be able to sell seeds and tools at a discount to non-beneficiary locals

Relief goods collection

· Local sponsors will set up booths to collect donations and goods brought by visitors upon registration for the fair and entrance to view the exhibits and other festivities

· Local sponsors will be responsible for inventory, warehousing and distribution of goods on a later date

Bangon Silangan! Concert

· Two-hour environment-themed concert by Noel Cabangon, with the Makiling Ensemble and the SIKAT Theater Group, a youth theater group from Infanta

· Includes multi-media presentations with images before and after the disaster, footages of emergency responses and present conditions

· Local launch of the Infanta coffee table book, produced by the Bank of the Philippine Islands Foundation

Exposure and Immersion Program

· Visitors from Manila and outside the province will be invited to join the Earth Day Fair, the concert and the immersion program on April 22-23; the program will be marketed to various NGOs, offices and organizations as an alternative summer out-of-town activity in celebration of Earth Day and in support of the people of Quezon and Aurora provinces

· Visitors will register through the Pagan Nomads, a private alternative tourism agency that will organize the logistics of the tour and connect (and register) the participants with the local sponsor of the fair

· Visitors are offered a menu of immersion programs to choose from for the April 23 activity and will be hosted by local organizations contacted by Pagan Nomads

· Visitors are required to bring relief goods to be given to the organizer for distribution

April 2005 Minutes

MINUTES OF THE 26TH MFPI CONGRESS
Naomi’s Botanical Garden, Ozamis City, Misamis Occ.
April 9, 2005
MEMBERS PRESENT:
1. CAMP CEBU
2. NEGROS MOUNTAINEERING CLUB
3. USCM
4. NU-LOC
5. MT. PANGASUGAN TRAILBLAZERS CLUB
6. CUERNOS DE NEGROS
7. ANTIQUE MOUNTAINEERING SOCIETY
8. COAT
9. GLOBE ADVENTURE CLUB
10. PALMC
11. PILIPINAS SIERRA
12. MAENOC
13. BATANGAS BACKPACKERS
14. UST-MC
15. UPM
16. CARE
17. CAT
18. DOME
19. EARTH ISLAND ENVIRONMENTAL
20. GOLV
21. HIGHBOUND
22. KAPLAG
23. MARCO POLO
24. NORRMS
25. SANDAWA APO
26. ALMOC
27. SBAOC
28. TRIMMOC
29. XU-AMS

The Congress was called to order at 3:30PM in the BMC session hall of the Naomi’s Botanical Garden with Rey Sumgaysay and Genesis Bolauro facilitating.

The Congress started with the reception and acknowledgment of three new member clubs to the MFPI namely: APU MALE and DAVEN, both Mindanao based organizations and PINAKBET of Ilocos Province. Likewise BAKTAS MSU submitted their application for MFPI membership.

Mr. Bolauro reminded the body of the April 30 deadline for the payment of the MFPI membership due. The membership due becomes due and payable without need of notice or demand on the said date. Delinquent clubs have 90 days to settle their due upon default thereof, otherwise they will be subjected to disciplinary sanction such as the termination of their membership.

Manny Yu, the Membership Committee Chairperson, gave the following update:

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

The Memcom has been actively coordinating with nationwide establishments to improve the benefits of cardholders in all three Regions. They are reviewing the current insurance policy with Sun Life of Canada for card-carrying members and are looking for a more competitive plan.

The new and improved MFPI homepage is now on its test run. New applicants could now fill out their membership profile online and pay the membership due through Globe’s G-Cash. Furthemore, members could also apply for their own @mfpi.org email address.

Lastly and of great concern is the distribution of the ID’s. From hereon, the issuance and distribution of the ID’s will be regionalized and the VP will oversee the approval of the applications. This will ensure a faster and efficient ID distribution system.

Regie Pablo, the incumbent MFPI President, gave the update of the following MFPI Committees on behalf their respective Chairpersons:

MOUNTAIN SAFETY COMMITTEE

The MFPI will soon launch its own Mountain Search and Rescue Team. It will select from among its ranks 30 qualified individuals who will undergo a nine-month long tedious training to be facilitated by experts. Adequate financial support and training facilities and equipments will be provided to the trainees. The core mission of this unit is to provide immediate rescue operation on mountain-related accidents and will also be deployed in situations that will need its assistance. This may include emergencies during typhoon, earthquake, flooding and other natural calamities.

The MFPI was able to deploy members in different areas of Eastern Luzon at the onset of the devastating landslide last December 2004. Such action was commended by different organizations, LGU’s and media outfits.

Unfortunately, two mountaineering related accidents in Mt. Halcon and Mt. Makiling resulted to the death of two mountaineers. This highlights the need for strict adherence to BMC.

EDUCATION COMMITTEE

The standardized Basic Mountaineering Course manual has been finalized. Along with this is the Assessment Process for Qualified Trainors.

These efforts have been made possible through the joint cooperation of the MFPI, Philippine Association of Professional Climbing Instructors and Sport Climbing Association of the Philippines. It should be noted that it is one thing to possess the skills and another to know how to effectively teach these skills.

A number of Seminars are slated to be conducted for the year which will include the following:

. Wilderness First Aid
. Search and Rescue Protocols for Outdoor Leaders
. Developing Environment projects workshop
. Advance Mountaineering Course
. BMC for PE instructors

WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE

The MFPI online store is now up and running although with still limited vendors. This project was conceptualized to provide members access to quality equipment and apparels at reasonable prices. It will also provide the MFPI with additional source of income.

The Committee is working on merchandising agreements with some suppliers to produce MFPI branded equipments and apparel.

PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES

The following environmental and socially relevant projects were conducted in 2004:

* Taal Volcano Island cleanup and signage installation
* Angat Dam watershed tree planting
* National Trail Maintenance Week
* San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan Dumagat Community Medical Mission
* Running the Mountains’ Concern” fund raising fun run
* “Sagip Karunungan” a School Rehabilitation and Book Drive for Gen. Nakar, Quezon
* Girls Leadership Outdoor Workshop (GLOW) in Iloilo City

EVENTS

The 10th Mindanao Forum was hosted by KAPLAG last December 2004 in Gingoog City. The next Mindanao Forum will be hosted by SBAOC.

The 2nd Visayas Mountain Festival was held in Baybay, Leyte and was jointly hosted by NU-LOC and Mt. Pangasugan Trailblazers. It was able to produce a Manifesto expressing solidarity and unity of outdoor organizations in the Visayas Region.

INTERNATIONAL CLIMBING

The 1st Philippine Mt. Everest Expedition is spearheaded by former MFPI President Arturo Valdez. The team has already done training climbs in India and most recently in New Zealand. The project aims to put the first Filipino climber on top of Mt. Everest.

Romy Garduce, a member of the UPM, successfully summited Mt. Aconcagua last December 2004. The feat recognizes Romy as holding the record for the highest mountain climbed by a Filipino Mountaineer.

MFPI HEADQUARTERS

Manny Yu, The Membership Committee Head, has been tasked to oversee a Committee that will find a home for the MFPI. The MFPI was granted a container van that will be converted as its office. Eventually, Regional offices will also be developed.

SIERRA MADRE TRAIL

The Sierra Madre Trail will soon be developed by MFPI in partnership with several NGO’s, PO’s and LGU’s. This project will involve the development of a 600+ kilometer trail that will traverse the nine Provinces covering the Sierra Madre Mountain Range.

UNESCO SEEDLINGS

The UNESCO through the Science and Technology Committee has provided two million seedlings to the MFPI. These seedlings will be withdrawn from DENR nurseries nationwide.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Mr. Pablo presented the unaudited financial statement of the MFPI as of April 9, 2005. The report did not accurately represent the financial status of the MFPI owing to the accounting and liquidation of some funds being held by Regional VP’s and Committee heads.

After Mr. Pablo’s presentation, the bidding for the hosting of the MFPI Congress and Mid-Year Presidents Meet was held. The bidding included the 2007 events to give host clubs ample time to prepare.

Determined bids for the 2006 Congress came from new member PINAKBET and veteran CUERNOS DE NEGROS MOUNTAINEERING CLUB (CNMCI).

CNMCI asked the body to consider Dumaguete with a “save Mt. Talinis Campaign.” Mt. Talinis is again being threatened by ecologically unsound development programs.

PINAKBET won the bid with the announcement that transportation to and from Manila and Ilocos Norte will be FREE. Priority will be given to the Mindanao and Visayas delegates.

CNMCI gallantly agreed to host the 2007 Congress and intends to make the Congress a sendoff to the Philippine Mt. Everest Expedition.

Mr. John Fortes of PALMC gave a commitment that delegates to the 2006 Congress in Ilocos will avail of a 20% discount on airfare from PAL. The 20% discount is the least that the delegates could expect for now, meaning the discount may be made even higher. He also attributed to the change of Management the failure of PAL to deliver its 50% airfare discount that the former committed at Subic for the Ozamis Congress.

For the Mid-Year Presidents Meet, the following bids were unopposed. CAMP CEBU in Camotes Island for 2005. Guardians of Lake Venado (GOLV) in Kidapawan for 2006.

EVENT / WINNING BIDDER /VENUE

2005 Mid-Year Presidents Meet /CAMP CEBU / Camotes Island
2006 Annual Congress /PINAKBET / Ilocos Norte
2006 Mid-Year Presidents Meet / GOLV / Kidapawan
2007 Annual Congress / CUERNOS / Dumaguete

After the bidding, the Congress proceeded with the election of three Board of Trustees with the expiration of the term of three Board Members.

Club representatives, card bearing members and proxy representatives submitted nine nominees for three board seats. The top three nominees who gained the most number of votes were declared winners and will thus sit on the MFPI Board for three years. The following were declared winners based on the number of votes. 1. Manny Yu; 2. Rey Sumgaysay; and, 3. Jovy Villareal

After the Election the floor was opened for other concerns. Many Seriña read a position paper adressed to the MFPI Board and signed by some individuals from Mindanao stipulating their concerns. After the verification of the paper and its signatories, Randy Su accepted the paper on behalf of the Board. Regie Pablo promised to take up the matter with the Board.

There being no other matter left to be discussed, the Congress was adjourned at around 7:00PM.

Prepared by:

GENESIS G. BOLAURO
Corporate Secretary

Approved by:

REGIE M. PABLO
President