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First, let me apologize for the editing done on last Saturday’s column on the Joy of Living Foundation. The name of Dr. Lorina Cabaluna simply appeared as "Dr. Lorina" without her family name!
Dr. Lorina is one of the moving spirits behind the foundation along with Peggy Ty Cham and Sylvia Limon. She is the wife of surgical oncologist Dr. Nelson Cabaluna and they have one adorable little daughter, age three years old.
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On another front…Our country has never been without conflict, armed or otherwise, resulting in loss of hundreds and thousands of lives, a stagnant economy, poverty and lack of development.
We who are not from Mindanao where most of the armed conflict has been going on for a long appreciate how our brothers and sisters, Christians and Muslims, have suffered there. When the conflict and armed clashes are reported in media, it seems so far removed from us in the Visayas and Luzon.
Sadly, nothing can be so wrong, because as one nation and one people, what affects Mindanao affects all of us.
However, unknown to many of us, there are advocates and volunteers for peace who dedicate their lives to this cause amidst the background of pain and dislocation of continuous clashes. And so today we pay tribute to those who are cited by sectors like the University of the Philippines-Los Baños for those who contribute to the promotion of peace for the public good.
The year’s recipient of the "Peace and Development Award" given by the UP-LB to deserving alumni in recognition of their service to society is Saeed Daoff, director of the Center for the Promotion of Peace and Development in Mindanao. The honor came from the faculty and alumni of UP-LB at the 87th Loyalty Day Anniversary recently.
Saeed Daof was honored for his key role as former Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the late founder and MILF chairman Salamat Hashim and concurrent chairman of the MILF Economic Development Committee.
His recommendations to resolve the conflict in Mindanao through negotiations instead of arms, and to prioritize socio-economic development and education of the people as major talking points in the Mindanao peace progress.
He was also cited for founding the CCPDM which is dedicated to the pursuit of peace in the Southern Philippines through education and socio-economic development and for the forums being held in different parts of the country entitled "Journey to peace: Understanding Muslim and Christian Commonalties."
On Thursday, Saeed will be honored at a dinner at the Rizal Light and Sounds Museum at Intramuros, Manila to be given by one who understands completely what it is to be a volunteer for the public good, Sen. Richard Gordon.
Gordon, it must be remembered, led some 3,000 volunteers from all walks of life who transformed SBMA into a world-class free port that is now reaping billions of dollars in investments for the country. He is also chairman of the National Red Cross which runs on purely volunteerism for the greater good.
So, congratulations to our friend Saeed and thanks, Sen. Dick, for recognizing a dedicated volunteer for peace. And to the woman behind him, the "wind beneath his wings," our colleague and "comadre," Domini T., bouquets!
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"RPN9’s "Dee’s Day" will feature the talented RP contingent to the "Abilympics" led by the dedicated Lovely Romulo, wife of DFA Sec. Alberto Romulo who has been helping the "differently abled" or the disabled (blind, deaf, mute, paraplegics) members of our society.
We will showcase those who won medals in the arts category and the recycled materials class. They were all very inspiring when we interviewed them for the show.
Dee’s Day is aired every Thursday through the sponsorship of PCSO, Dimsum n’ Dumplings, Manabat Fine Furniture, Belliyah Candles, King Louis Farm at 12:30 p.m. and replayed on Saturday at 12-1 p.m.
