INDIVIDUAL CATEGORY
Purificacion Viernes (National Winner)
- Iligan City
- Region 12
PURIFICACION
VIERNES may be a victim of human right violations but she still believes that
peace can be achieved thru social justice.
She may have lost her family from fanatic anti-comunist to crutches for
the rest of her life because of the attack, but she has not lost her ability to
care and fight for the rights of others.
Born
to a peasant family in Misamis Occidental, Nanay Puring worked as a housemaid
for a prominent family in Manila Santos
Upon
getting married. Nanay Puring busied
herself as a community organizer of the Kilusang Magbubukid in Misamis
Occidental where she helped educate farmers on various issues affecting their
lives. Later on, she also joined Health
Care for Women, a non-government organization that produced and promoted the
use of herbal medicines and popularized health education.
It
was between 1980 and 1984 when Nanay Puring and her husband got actively
involved with the Redemptionist Mission Team.
Aimed to build basic Christian communities by educating the masses on
the role of the Church in the social, cultural and political aspects of their
lives, the Mission Team had their hands full when they entered heavily
militarized areas. The group’s ideals
and actions were being tainted to have Communist leanings thus Nanay Puring and
the rest of the members of the Mission Team experienced extreme harassment from
the military, the Civil Home Defense Force (CHDF) and fanatic anti-Communist
groups fro then on.
On
March 31, 1984, a group of armed men believed to be a composite team of the AFP
and CHDF attacked Nanay Pruing and her family, fatally wounding her husband and
2 younger children. Nanay Puring and her
eldest daughter, on the other hand, survived the attack by pretending to be
dead, although her legs had to be amputated because of the gunshot wounds she
suffered.
It
took almost a year for Nanay puring to get over the experience, that’s why she
wasted no time in going back to where she left oo\ff by joining various peace
campaignes almost immediately. Taking
part in the Muslim-Christian Dialogue for Peasce and marching along with thousands
of other individuals for the disbandment of the CAFGU and for the end of
military operations in the provinces during the “People’s Exodus,” were among
the notable activities she had taken part of.
It was in 1988 though that Nanay Puring was finally able to fully accept
the tragedy that befell her family. For
it was during the investigation on human rights violations in the country by
the International Ecumenical Movement of rJustice and Peace that Nanay Puring
finally found her voice to tell her story.
At
present Nanay Puring is the Chairperson of the Association of the
Widows/Widowers of Layworkers in Mindanao-Lanao del Norte Chapter which aims to
help heal the trauma experienced by survivors of human rights violations, such
as wives and orphaned children. She is
also a full-time staff and council member of the Kapisanan para sa Pagpapalaya
ng mga Bilanggong Pulitikal sa Pilipinas (KAPATID) where she makde full use of
her experiences couselling and assisting their loved ones and even political
prisoners themselves.
To
say that Nanay Puring is brave would not be enough to describe this exceptional
individual who has managed to stand up and pick herself up every time life’s
storms throw her off course. For despite
of all she has lost, she has remained steadfast in her human rights, justice
and peace campaigns. She does all these
– not for her husband and their 2 children who have been victims of state
violence, but for the many others who still face such atrocities.
Datu Ibrahim Paglas, III (Special Award)
- Maguindanao
- ARMM
- Deceased
Highly revered and seated on a pedestal
is how one might visualize royalty. Although highly-respected by his people,
IBRAHIM PAGLAS III, is far from the image of the king who merely watches over
his kingdom. Dressed simply and functionally, working the fields with his bare
hands under the heat of the sun, Ibrahim does not make it easy for one to
realize that he is in fact, a true grandson of a Datu. His unassuming persona
and pure devotion to the welfare of his fellowmen belies his membership to a royal
and politically influential clan. It is by this down-toearth quality that he
is well known and likewise, admired by the townsfolk of Paglas, Maguindanao.
Nobility is indeed of no use to one whom
has no vision, but Datu Toto, as he is fondly called, has a plan. He used his
lofty status not to lord over the people but instead be of service to them. As
a young and dynamic mayor of Paglas from 1988-1998, he brought about the almost
miraculous transfonmation of what was notoriously, a bloody battleground to a
booming economic zone recognized by the foreign community. Steered by his
belief that violence springs mainly from the lack of ability to provide for
one's basic needs, he dreamed of ways that will make it possible for the Paglas
people to live decently and therefore, peacefully.
He pioneered the cultivation of banana
plantations a.fanms, and nurtured pastures all throughout Paglas town. Produce
has since replaced the guns and ammunition, which used to be casually lu~ed
around by the people. "Bawal ang Tamad" became a motto that guided
the lives of Paglas townsfolk. This is the same slogan that earned Datu Toto a
place among the country's Ten Outstanding Young Men in 1999.
He further banked on his ability to
reach out to people by enlisting the potentials of economic investors from
beyond the boundaries of Paglas to as far as Panama
and Canada
He insisted on a hanmonious relationship
between Muslims and Christians, setting an example of treating those from either
religion with equal respect. He emphasized on people to work together
hanmoniously, which led to the end of generations of family disputes, political
rivalries and personal animosities. He had become a model of justice and
fairness by displaying a ruthless demeanor towards perpetrators.
Notwithstanding affiliations or relations, he led their arrests despite the
risks involved.
Threats did not dampen his devotion to
peacemaking, on the other hand, he drew strength from these experiences which
similarly pushed him to take his efforts beyond Paglas. He involved himself in
Govemment-MILF peace talks and played a vital role in the surrender of the
dreaded convict, Norberto Manero, Jr.
IBRAHIM PAGLAS III is indeed a shining
exemplar of how a leader can make a difference in other people's lives. His
presence has brought hope in the face of adversity and has made miracles a
possibility. Gawad Geny Lopez, Jr. Bayaning Pilipino 2001 is proud to bestow
the BAYANING PILIPINO 2001 SPECIAL AWARD to a visionary who knows no' bounds.
REGIONAL WINNERS
- Tomas Javier Viray - Sikatuna Village, Q.C. (NCR)
- Narciso Garciso - Calamba, Laguna (Region 4-A)
- Dr. John Augustus Mendoza - Puerto Princesa City (Region 4-B)
- Anastacio Villapa - Bataraza, Palawan (Region 4-B)
- Dr. Felicisima Campos - Oton, Iloilo (Region 6)
- Candida Dolina - Palo, Leyte (Region 8)
- Araceli Isidro Jayag - Davao City (Region 11)
- Dr. Ray Catague (Deceased) - Mlang, Cotabato City (Region 12)
- Saidali Gandamra - Iligan City (Region 12)
TEACHER CATEGORY
Marta Perez (National Winner)
- Legaspi City
- Region 5
- Deceased
For MARTA PEREZ, teaching is more than a
profession...it is her vocation...a mission in life.
Having started teaching more than 33
years ago, Marta gradually earned the respect of her students and her
co-teachers for her diligence and creativity in conducting her classes.
Eventually Marta became known for her stern but helpful manner of teaching that
endeared her to her pupils and their parents who were often heard noting how
well their children fared in their upper classes after being taught by her.
So even after several years in teaching,
Marta still managed a load fit for teachers half her age. Aside from teaching
grade 4 students during weekdays and tutoring street children in their
community on weekends, Marta completed "e masteral units for her degree in
MS Education. ~ough. 1997 was to be the year of her retirement, this only made
Marta's dedlcaLO" to her profession more admirable when sh/!"decided
to continue teaching instead of retiring.
It comes to no surprise then that at 69
she still does not have any plans of slowing down. For even at an age when most
would rather rest and contemplate on how one's life had been, Marta can still
be found doing the things she always did with the same passion and vigor she
had on her first day of work. In fact, this zest for teaching earned her a
grant from the Department of Education, Culture and Sports and the
Parents-Teachers Association tutelage for a community-based non-profit
pre-school for her hometown in Legazpi
City
Through Marta's pre-school, she was able
to earn another laurel in her already filled cap -and she has the luxury of
teaching eve!"' throughout her twilight years and most importantly, she
will be able to help more of the poor and underprivileged children of Legazpl
The Gawad Geny Lopez Jr. Bayaning
Pilipino 2001 is truly pleased to give the distinction, BAYANING GURONG
PILIPINO 2001 to MARTA PEREZ.
- Soledad Antonio - Diliman, Q.C. (NCR)
- Adelina Asencio - Luba, Abra (CAR)
- Resurreccion Gomez (Deceased) - Sorsogon, Sorsogon (Region 5)
- Marsan Alvarez - Iligan City (Region 12)
FAMILY CATEGORY
- Lucena City
- Region 4-A
The PAR FAMILY is like any other typical
Filipino family... closely knit... with simple wants and aspirations... and
above all with a strong faith in God. These are the basic things that a
Filipino family shares in common. But what really sets them apart from other
families is the willingness of each family member to rely on each other's
strength in times of difficulties.
Life wasn't easy for Mr. and Mrs. Felix
Par and their seven daughters. It was a constant struggle to make both ends
meet and live a happy and decent life. Felix is an employee at the Department
of Agrarian Reform where he helps in settling land disputes by mediating
between landowners and tenants while Natividad is an assistant meat vendor in a
public market while at the same time selling snacks and vegetables. Both are
devout servants of the church. And what's noteworthy about the couple is the
way they valued education and how they inculcated its importance to the minds
and hearts of their children. .
Poverty never hindered the couple to
send all their children to school. It did not matter that Felix and Natividad
had to do laundry for other people and their children had to sacrifice their
vacation to help their parents in selling different goods so that they will be
able to enroll in the next school year. Hardships and challenges didn't matter,
because for them, being able to work hand-in-hand to achieve something
worthwhile is what "being family" is all about. All the effort they
have exerted to make their lives exemplary proved to be a valuable investment
that would be very beneficial later on in their lives.
For a couple who did everything they
could to provide a brighter future for their children, seeing their seven
daughters graduate from college is already their reward. And to see every one
of them offering their time and energy to serve the less fortunate is more than
what they could ask for.
Laarni, the eldest, works for the
Department of Agrarian reform. As a graduate of Bachelor of Law, she extends
her assistance to poor folks with legal problems. Teresa, the 2nd child is a
graduate of midwifery. Their 3'" and 5'h children, Marissa and Felipina,
taught English and ways of living to Burmese and Vietnamese refugees in Northern Thailand . Both of them are also involved in
evangelization work. Zenaida and Daria, their 4th and 6th children, are Social
Work graduates. Zenaida is an active member of the Legislative Advocacy for
Women in Quezon (LAWZON) while Daria is a social worker at the Can ossa Academy
in Calamba, Laguna where she's engaged in different outreach programs for the
poor. The youngest, Guadalupe, works for an NGO where she is exposed to various
social actions like disaster management and community organization.
The PAR FAMILY, BAYANING PAMILYANG
PILIPINO 2001, epitomizing integrity and honesty in the face of obstacles
exemplifying diligence, cooperation and hardwork to overcome difficulties … embodying
the true essence of unselfish service to others.
REGIONAL WINNERS
- Lopena Family - Baguio City (CAR)
- Baaco Family - Puerto Princesa City, Palawan (Region 4-B)
- Royo Family - Jaro, Leyte (Region 8)
INSTITUTION CATEGORY
Boloc-Boloc Dauin Multi-Purpose Cooperative-BODAMCO (National Winner)
- Dauin, Negros Oriental
- Region 7
BODAMCO is an agricultural multi-purpose
cooperative that aims to provide goods and services for the people of
Boloc-Boloc, Negros Oriental. It is a living proof of how people, having a
vision of making life better, can come together and help each other. BODAMCO's
different projects helped the members and the rest of the community address
various problems and concerns. Cow fattening and piglet dispersal were
spearheaded by the cooperative’s a response to improve a member's family
income. BODAMCO also initiated the construction of toilet facilities and the
setting up of health centers as a way of dealing with the issues on health and
sanitation. Moreover, a daycare center was built to prepare the children for
their elementary education, while at the same time, serving as a venue for
nutrition, medical and dental monitoring of preschoolers. The organization also
became an avenue for government and non-government institutions to bring their
services to the community.
To some, offering time, effort, and even
some hard-earned money for the benefit of the community is nobleness, but for
BODAMCO's members, it's a way of life. With their strong passion and dedication
to fulfill their goals coupled with the drive to help others, indeed, nothing
can go wrong. For 27 years, they defied seemingly insurmountable odds, but more
importantly, they have proven their worth by doing what they do best. . .
BOLOC-BOLOC MULTI-PURPOSE COOPERATIVE, BAYANING SAMAHANG PILIPINO 2001, keeping
the fire of making people's lives better ablaze.
Boloc-Boloc Farmers Association-BOFAS (National Winner)
- Dauin, Negros Oriental
- Region 7
Realizing the importance of trees in
providing an abundant supply of clean water, BOFAS members encouraged other
farmers to veer away from the usual practice of kaingin. Moreover, they
reiterated their compassionate crusade for the environment by implementing a
reforestation program, a move that proved their capabilities, not just as
farmers, but more importantly, as concerned individuals who exhibited
unwavering devotion in achieving a greener future.
BOFAS was established through the help
of th~Philippine National Oil Company Energy Development Corporation (PNOC
EDC). PNOC EDC saw the potential of BOFAS as an organization that can succeed
on its own. In no time, BOFAS officers and members were directing, handling and
managing the group's various enterprises by themselves.
Notably, even with BOFAS being away from
PNOC EDC's wings, it shows remarkable competence as it implements significant
projects that help many individuals in the community. Agro-forestry, hog and
swine dispersal, corn plantation, cooperative store and apiculture different
ways that encourage members of the community to work hard and improve the
quality of their lives.
Excelling in self-help activities. . .
working well with little assistance from the government. . . committed in helping
the less fortunate in the community at the same time holding an unblemished
record of dedicated service. . . BOLOC-BOLOC FARMERS ASSOCIATION, our BAYANING
SAMAHANG PILIPINO 2001.
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