TUNGAWAN, Zamboanga
Sibugay - “I’m sure
the donor of this lot has a very big heart,” thus declared Jose Mari Oquinena,
Director-General of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and Undersecretary
for Special Concerns during the recent launching and groundbreaking ceremony of
the Bayani Challenge 2013 in Barangay Tigbanuang, Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Situated along the
national highway, the hilly terrain spanning 1.8 hectares donated by Danda
Banggi of the Kalibugan tribe offers a magnificent view of the deep blue sea
and the verdant mountains surrounding the area.
Mayor Randy A. Climaco
said the launching of the Bayani Challenge in Tungawan has brought new hope to
the local folks. “This is a convergence of all sectors: the local government
unit, PNP, AFP, academe, civic-religious organizations, people’s organizations
and everyone in the community,” he elucidated.
Barangay Tigbanuang, the
site of the Bayani Challenge 2013 housing project, used to be a place feared by
everyone as well as the local folks and commuters traversing the area. This
place was then a “hot spot” where ambush, killings, hold-ups/robberies and
other crimes often took place a few years back.
“Let it be said that good
things are happening in Tungawan. As you build this village, know that you are
raising the next generation of residents of Tungawan. It is not for us but for
the little children to grow up in a peaceful village, who will grow up knowing
that everybody is a friend. That there was a time when Christians, Muslims and Lumads
worked together. So, this will be our greatest legacy,” he said.
“The Philippines cannot be
poor. Why should we be poor when we are the texting capital, having 88 million
subscribers? Just think, if every subscriber gives P10 in a month, that would
be P880 million. If that is given here in Tungawan, there would be no poor
family who would have no home,” DG Oquinena said in Pilipino.
DG emphasized that Bayani Challenge “is not
about building houses. It’s about building a village, a community for
everybody. Everyone has a stake and whatever future projects of the local
government unit should be done bayanihan style.”
“Poverty is not about
economics. It is a breaking out of relationships. It comes when people say
“kami muna bago kayo (we first before you).” Poverty comes when we forget to
care for our fellowmen,” Oquinena challenged.
He said “we cannot expect
to solve our problems and change our country if we only look up to one person
to solve it. We should start doing our part.”
“We have to make people
understand that we are not building houses. We are building a community. Iba po
yun (That’s a different thing). We have to become friends in a community. Sa pabahay
(in housing), you don’t need to become friends with your neighbors,” Oquinena
quipped.
He also pointed out that “the
Bayani Challenge is not about how many houses we complete, not how many trees
we plant. It hopes that everyone will get used to volunteer for others, that it
would become natural for people to say, kayo muna, bago ako (you first before
me).”
The rationale behind
Bayani Challenge 2013 is that after President Benigno C. Aquino III’s term ends
in 2016, the reforms he wanted to achieve would be realized. So, it endeavors
to develop and mold the young generation who will reject corruption and embrace
volunteerism, and be part of nation building.
Putting aside all
differences, a new hope is here. “We are all Filinos. This is our country. Pilipinas
natin ito, hindi Pilipinas ng ibang tao (this is our country and not of other
people). Hindi Pilipinas ng mga nakaupo, ng mga mayayaman, hindi ng
mahihirap pero Pilipinas natin ito lahat
(This is not a country of those sitting officials, nor of the rich and poor,
but of everyone else). At hinog na ang panahon para makilahok tayo sa pagtatayo
ng Pilipinas Natin (And the time is ripe for everybody to participate in
building our nation).
Barangay Tigbanuang is one of the 37 sites of the Bayani Challenge 2013 on March 23-27 as volunteers from across the nation will work together to ensure that no Filipino will be left behind in the national pursuit for progress and sustainable development. (PIA9)
