TPMI member is new NU-SSC Prexy
Exploitive plantation faces investigation
May 2005
Some 300 residents of Barangay Naguilian in Nueva Era benefited from the free medical and dental mission held May 11 in their community. The mission was sponsored by Mr. John Garcia, a Filipino residing in California, U.S.A., who chose the venue upon the request of the TPMI. The medical and dental staff of the Department of Education - Ilocos Norte facilitated the affair.
Mr. Garcia had an increasing interest in the community when he learned of the partnership between the Barangay Council and the TPMI in developing the economic self-reliance and eco-tourism capabilities of the community, which is home to more than 1,000 Tinggian people.
The community also received from Mr. Garcia an IBM computer, while the children each received a pair of rubber slippers, various school supplies, and rosaries.
May 2005
“Building Leaders by the Power of Spirituality” was this year’s theme of the TPMI summer leadership training camp, held May 21-24, in Shalom Beach House, Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte. As such, the topics revolved around yoga lifestyle in relation to the concepts of ideal leadership. About 45 student-youth, including six who stayed-in throughout the 4-day affair, joined the camp facilitated by Dada Bhakta and Dada Atma, both monks of Ananda Marga Yoga Society.
Unlike ordinary summer camps, delicious and healthy vegetarian meals were served. Each day was started and ended with meditation classes. The participants were thought basic yoga exercises by Dada Atma, who happens to be the yoga teacher of Celine Dion and Tiger Woods. And the Tinggians of Nueva Era presented their beautiful indigenous music, dance, and poetry.
The topics discussed were:
Man, Spirituality and Intuitional Science
Knowing the Self through Direct Experience: Learning the Alternative Method
Stress Management and Relaxation and Personal Discipline
Delivered by Dada Atma
The Necessity for a Spirito-moral leadership (Sadvipra Leadership)
Food For Thought (Why Vegetarianism?)
Delivered by Dada Bhakta
Social Self and Personal Self
by Major Ipel Duenas (PNP)
The Maharlikan Movement
by Lalit Mohan, Manila-based environmental and social activist
Neo-Humanism: A New Ideology for the New Generation
by Karl Lenin Benigno
The Ideological Base and the 5 Fundamental Principles of PROUT
The 4 Socio-Economic Principles of PROUT
Delivered by Shermon Cruz
June 2005
TPMI member is new NU-SSC Prexy
The TPMI continues to be a force to be reckoned with in the leadership building scene as they have once again helped one of their members in winning the Presidency of the Northwestern University - Supreme Student Council.
Renato Balisacan follows the footsteps of Joel Dadiz, the last SSC President and the incumbent GMSYO President. Balisacan also endeavors to continue the programs started by Dadiz as well as implement new and equally progressive projects.
At present, the funds raised by Dadiz’ administration for the renovation of a day-care center in the Tinggian community of Barangay Naguilian, Nueva Era are held by the university. Balisacan will make sure the funds will reach the intended beneficiaries, as soon as the university releases it.
Ryan Santos, another TPMI member, also became president of the Student Council of the NU- College of Arts and Sciences.
June 4, 5, 6
Recognizing the importance of the practice of self-realization among progressive minded individuals, the TPMI invited Didi Madhurii of the Ananda Marga Yoga Society to teach relaxation and meditation techniques to the its members, last June 4 and 6. Some 20 Nursing and Political Science students of the Northwestern Universityattended the two lectures of Didi. Six of them sought Didi for personal meditation lessons.
Didi is also a community organizer in Bicol region. Her community there has been recognized for successfully rehabilitating degraded farm lands and establishing active day-care centers. Hence, she did not fail to visit the TPMI pilot site for a Nucleus Barangay Model, situated in Barangay Naguilian, Nueva Era. She suggested the creation of a Barangay site development map and the use of organic fertilizers among others. She also expressed her support to the ongoing legal complaint of the Barangay Council on the abuses of a mango plantation in the community.
The rally, organized by TPMI president Shermon Cruz for the NWU was also participated in by GMSYO President Joel Dadiz and Indigenous People’s Concerns Committee Chair Dondee Califlores.
The article below was taken from www.ilocostimes.com
August 2005
Exploitive plantation faces investigation
Realizing their losses in the natural resources were brought about by a neighboring mango plantation, the Tinggians of Nueva Era, Ilocos Norte asked for a government investigation in the acquisition of the plantation’s land.
Assisted by the TPMI, the Tinggians sent a position statement to the NCIP and the DENR. This resulted to an immediate investigation last August 30 by the two agencies and the LGU.
The Tinggians first noticed their losses when the plantation, managed by the Ilocos Mango Growers Inc., failed their promise of providing employment to the community. As years went by, the community’s water supply was also made short since the plantation was using much of it, contrary to their agreement made during the founding of the plantation, wherein the plantation was supposedly going to use rain and underground water and not the community’s spring water.
More serious problems were recently discovered by the Tinggians as the plantation had polluted the water source, cut forest trees, and acquired up to 300 hectares of land without recognizing the Free Prior and Informed Consent of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997.
The TPMI was consulted by the Tinggians on the matter since the NGO and the Barangay Council have been working together since August 2004 on developing their community towards self-reliance and eco-tourism.
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