MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato – Five of the 2009 top 10 awardees in the prestigious Galing Pook Foundation (GPF) national competition are from Mindanao, it was learned here recently.

Foundation chairman Rafael Coscuela, in a report received here, identified the Galing Pook national winners from Mindanao as this town, Sarangani, Malaybalay City and Valencia City both in Bukidnon, and Surallah in North Cotabato.

Coscolluela said this year’s GPF awardees were chosen from 123 nominations by a national selection committee chaired by prominent economist Solita Monsod based on “innovation, positive results, transferability, sustainability, efficiency and people's participation.

The GPF chief said village leaders of this town established in 2005 an alliance called “Natularan Mu” in the six villages of Tugul, Midseng, Pangaban, Nebalawod, Lower Gaa and Nes – all populated by Muslims and Christians.

The village union, which gets funding only from voluntary contributions of village leaders and members, had succeeded in resolving local disagreements including a dispute involving a 24-hectare property in Barangay Midseng after which, warring Muslim and Christian families peacefully agreed to divide the area equally.

Coscolluela explained that in forming the “Natularan Mu,” which acts as mediator, referee, peace and order enforcer, and endorser of community projects, GPF significantly noted that the league “made great strides toward really making their areas into sanctuaries of peace and order.”

The GPF executive said project “Kalinaw Sarangani,” since its organization in 2007, has joined together different ethnic-linguistic groups to take part in development plans, governance and formation of 50 peace and development communities.”

This includes the integration of Islamic values in the school curriculum of Manday cultural community schools in the province “to help mold students into enlightened and responsible and peace-loving children.”

According to Coscolluela, Surallah farmers, through “Project Himsug,” grow organic and bio-dynamic crops used in processing alternative medicines giving them livelihood, and at the same time promoting good health.