Aetas in the City (Mga Ati sang Dacal, San Enrique)

(Kudos for the video to Ning Huertaz.)

The Aetas are indigenous people in the Philippines. They are characterized by their dark skin and curly hair. They are said to be the early inhabitants of the island of Panay. According to history, they went up the mountains after the Bornean Datus led by Datu Puti came  leading to the Barter of Panay with the Ati chieftain named Marikudo. 

These group of Aetas or Ati belongs to the Dacal Ati Association in Brgy. Dacal, San Enrique. It was the first time for most of these kids to visit the City of Iloilo and experience most of the activities such as using the escalator and elevators. A project of iSERVE (Integrated Services for Education and Volunteer Efforts) in coordination with the LGU of the Municipality of San Enrique under the leadership of Mayor Ramona Go, Dulhog

Lighting Up USA (University Light of Peace in San Agustin)

(Courtesy of  USA and MMI)

University of San Agustin will be the next venue of the University Light of Peace (ULOP). The administration of University of San Agustin together with Middle Way Meditation - Iloilo, Inc. will lead the candlelighting ceremony to celebrate the university's 111th year as well as to call for Agustinians and the rest of the Ilonggo community to to actively work for the attainment of peace. This event be held on November 25, 2015 at the Plaza de San Agustin, the area in front of Herrera

Light of Peace in San Enrique: The Story Unfolds

The challenges were met head on. People can work together for peace despite the differences. It was unity in diversity.

San Enrique is a very tiny municipality in the central part of Panay Island in the Philippines. It has a rustic charm. What's funny is that there are many Ilonggos or  people from Iloilo who do not even

Light of Peace in San Enrique: How to Join

Saturday, August 26, 2015, will be a very big day for the people of San Enrique, a tiny municipality in the province of Iloilo. The Light of Peace in San Enrique will finally happen. For those who would like to know how to become a part of it, just read on.

Light of Peace in San Enrique: The Road to Inner Peace Town

Students and parents meditate in Catan-agan Elementary School
(Photo Credit: MMI)

What does it take to create an Inner Peace Town? Or some would even change the question and ask if it is possible to have one. After working with the people of San Enrique in the Province of Iloilo for about a couple of months already I can truly say that it is possible albeit challenging.

Leaders from the Church, San Enrique Local Government Unit, Academe, Barangays
and MMI light candles to celebrate the 10,000 Brightness

Challenges. Now that was a very common thing  encountered in the course of  the project and even now that the Light of Peace in San Enrique is fast approaching. Yes, there were a lot of challenges

Light of Peace in San Enrique: The Beginning

It may be fate or destiny. Hon. Ramona Go, the Mayor of San Enrique, calls it providential. I am referring to the first meeting of Mayor Go and the Director of Middle Way Meditation Institute - Iloilo (MMI), Ven. Burin Thitakusalu. I have heard the story told several times but I also would like to share it with those who do not have an inkling about it.

I first heard about it from Ven. Burin himself. It was when we were choosing the schools to be included in the list of model schools for the Inner Peace Leader Philippines Project. He wanted to include San Enrique Central School which is a small one unlike the other schools which are quite big in terms of area and population. He said he knew personally the Mayor in this tiny municipality in the Province of Iloilo. He then proceeded to narrate how he was approached by Mayor Go in the airport

Lighting Up San Enrique

It was only last year when I got to have a chance to join the Light of Peace in the Philippines and that started the ball rolling. After that I told myself that I won't miss the next ones and that's exactly what I am doing right now - getting involved in another Light of Peace in the Philippines event. How different is this though from the previous ones?

ISAT - U Light of Peace: Young People Working To Attain World Peace

The year 2015 is indeed auspicious for Iloilo Science and Technology University or ISAT - U. The institution's status has been elevated to university after a grueling process. At the same time, it has been declared as the first Inner Peace University. To celebrate these achievements, a U Light of Peace was held last June 30, 2015 and with more than a thousand people, mostly students, in attendance. The MiddleWay Meditation Institute - Iloilo, the organizer of the Light of Peace events, headed by its Director, Ven. Burin Thitakusalu, and the university's administration under the leadership of Dr. Raul Muyong, ISAT U's first president, worked together to ensure its success.

Signpost Philippines to Conduct an Advocacy Poster-Making Contest

Signpost Philippines Inc. (formerly Signpost International, Inc.) is an independent NGO that works hand in hand with the people and empowers them to take an active role in the transformation and development of their respective communities. To help create an awareness regarding various social concerns, we will have an on-the-spot advocacy poster making contest on August 19, 2014 at the Activity Center of SM City, Mandurriao, Iloilo City. There will be three different categories namely Elementary, High School and Open Categories. The selected entries will be used as advocacy posters that will be utilized as information and education materials in the community. 

On-the-Spot Advocacy Poster Making Contest Mechanics

Signpost Philippines Recognizes Excellent Student Beneficiaries

Some of the Awardees with Ms. Noemi Oranio, Community Development Worker for San Juan

Hard work deserves to be rewarded. That is exactly what happened when Signpost Philippines, Inc. gave recognition to their sponsored children who just graduated from their respective schools and those who excelled in their studies. The Recognition Program for school year 2013-2014 was held last June 21, 2014 in Brgy. San Juan, Molo, Iloilo City.

Signpost’s`Rain for Growth Project Soon to Be Launched in Brgy. San Juan, Iloilo

Photo taken in one of the initial visits of Signpost Intl. representatives. Courtesy of  Signpost Philippines.

Signpost Philippines Inc. will soon implement another project for the people in Brgy. San Juan in the district of Molo, Iloilo City. Dubbed as Rain for Growth in San Juan, Philippines, it will be funded by the Big Lottery International Communities Fund of UK and will be launched in the latter part of July 2014. This partnership was facilitated by Signpost International which is also based in UK.

Signpost Community Federation Officers Visit Calajunan Recycling Project

Charcoal briquettes made of recycled paper, saw dust and rice chaff.

June 27, 2014 was a special day for the thirteen leaders of the two organizations under Signpost Philippines, Inc. – the San Juan Hugpong PPEA and the North Baluarte Pagla-um Community Association. The two groups together with Ms. Noemi Oranio and Ms Loryjane Barrocamo, Signpost community development

North Baluarte and San Juan Kids Benefit from Free Dental Checkup

Volunteer dentists from the Philippine Dental Association with a Signpost sponsored child.
(Photos courtesy of Signpost Philippines Inc.)

Iloilo City, Philippines. A total of 80 people from Barangays San Juan and North Baluarte, Molo, Iloilo City benefited from the free dental check-up held last May 23, 2014 at the San Juan Health Center.  

Volunteer dentists from the Philippines Dental Association prepped a patient prior to tooth extraction.
(Photos courtesy of Signpost Philippines Inc.)

The patients who took part in this annual event conducted by Signpost Philippines, Inc. (formerly Signpost International, Inc.) were the sponsored children of the organization and some of their parents. The services rendered by the volunteer dentists from the Philippine Dental Association, a partner of the organization in the

Thanks to You, Light of Peace Volunteers

(Courtesy of Claire Jasmine Jeongco)

Iloilo has a new record. It would not have happened if not for all of those who worked really hard for it. The organizers, the volunteers, the sponsors and the thousands of people who believe that world peace can be achieved through inner peace made it happen. Personally, I would like to thank those who heeded the call to volunteer. I may not be able to thank all of you personally or may even miss your name/org/institution but it does not mean that your contributions aren't appreciated. Thanks,Ruben Magan Gamala, for inviting us to volunteer or should I say, volunteering Maita G Magalong, DMCG and iSERVE. The people of VOICE are always ready to volunteer. Thanks also to iSERVE (Raymond Salvilla, Raji Jimenea Alvarado, Dhay Centino etc.), YVG (Charles Gallo

Light of Peace - Where to Get an Event Pass

Courtesy of  https://www.facebook.com/lightofpeaceevent

The event day is fast approaching. The excitement can already be felt all over the City and Province of Iloilo. The  question is where to get the event pass. Though the volunteers can get in and out of the event area without it, the participants are required to have an event pass. This is quite important because the pass will determine the number of people who will attend the event. This will be monitored closely since it will be used by the organizers and the Guinness Book of World Records.

Be a Part of the Light of Peace 2014

T-shirt Design for the Volunteers
photo courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/lightofpeaceevent

It's possible that you were there personally in Miag-ao for the Lantern of Peace event last year or it might be that you only heard about it or saw it on TV and the internet news. This time around there are tidbits of information for another undertaking and that is the Light of Peace 2014. You are interested but might not really know the details. So here it goes.

There are two ways in which you can be a part of the event.

Light of Peace 2014 - A Gathering of Thousands for Peace

Please click on these links for the video of a live interview Part 1 and Part 2 in Angtanay sa Katin-aran in the CPU Channel. The video clips are courtesy of Ven. Pisut Thanasudtho.

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As we go around  to invite people to join the Light of Peace 2014 event many questions were raised. Some were as easy as those just asking for the venue or the date  but there were also those who would like to get to know more than that. They wanted to find out what exactly motivated the main organizers as well as their partners to hold such a grand event.

Let's Dance for Peace @ Robinson's Mall Iloilo

(Courtesy of  https://www.facebook.com/lightofpeaceevent)

Things are heating up. We don't have much time left since the event will be next week already. There are still many people who might want to know more about Light of Peace event but there's no need to worry. Volunteers from Thailand and Philippines will be at the Robinson's Mall Iloilo this evening (April 6 @ 6pm) will be most happy to share information about it. Actually, they will even share their talent in dancing to make it even more interesting.

Light of Peace 2014 - An Event Not to Be Missed

I was taking a short nap right after my morning classes when suddenly my phone started ringing. It was a good thing that the ringer was on since it is usually off whenever I have my class. A very familiar voice greeted me. I thought he called because of some business transactions but I was mistaken. He asked me if I remembered the Lantern of Peace event held last year. Though I gave him an affirmative answer I also told