Published!

'Are There Two Mindanaos?', a collection of winning feature stories penned by young voices of Mindanao, is now published.

The writers include Erika Rae Cruz of Iligan City, Leah Mariel Reyes of Dipolog City, Saima Kabalo of Cotabato City, Rogelio Garcia Jr. of Cagayan de Oro City, Sitti Ayeesha Dacali of Marawi City, Ahmad Musahari of Jolo, Sulu, Raiza Estino of Zamboanga City, John Philip Eijansantos of Isabela City, Suellen Ogena of Koronadal City, Kurt Ruselle Peconada of Kidapawan City, Farr Krizha Tangkusan of Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, Herold Guadalupe of Lamitan, Basilan, Tricia Celine Ventura of Jolo, Sulu, Al-habbyel Yusoph of Dipolog City, Josef Clyve Cabiles of Kidapawan City, Asneah Jorge Datimbang of Iligan City, Mohaider Kairan of Jolo, Sulu, and Ellias Jamang of Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, among others.

"Peace is non-negotiable. And we are all stakeholders to the peace situation in Mindanao. If we do not voice out our thoughts, if we just keep quiet and remain passive, then we will just give room for others to step on our rights," said Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat.

"We should not undermine the voices of our youth. As early as now, they should be involved with current issues especially those affecting Mindanao," said Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Cruz.

"We need peace to push our city to development. We need to push Mindanao to grow further," declared Koronadal City Mayor Fernando Miguel.

"For while the fire of idealism still burns bright within you, it may be that breath of fresh air that we need to put our present situation in the right perspective," stressed Dipolog City Mayor Evelyn Yu.

"The Voice of Mindanao opened an avenue for budding writers to share their thoughts on the conflicts in Mindanao. What was assumed as an unconcerned sector proved itself as an equally caring and affected segment of Mindanao society. Perhaps some may have been inspired...to further make use of the power of the pen to bring peace among warring peoples," said Cotabato City Information Officer Abdullah Cusain.

We have just begun...

VoM started as a vision, among three friends who were talking about what they could do, and how they can do something for Mindanao when they are not in political or executive leadership positions. One of them is Ms. Frencie Carreon, who conceptualized how the organization would move and be spread all over Mindanao.

So, leaning on the power of the youth, and the future generations to steer ahead what can be done, they started going around Mindanao, addressing issues on a seeming divisiveness and challenging young Mindanaoans if they want to remain passive and take what's going on, or would we want a better Mindanao than what we have now.

For one year, VoM moved around, asking, 'Are There Two Mindanaos?" and somehow we got the answers. People in Mindanao, given the chance and the power to speak up, would want change for the better. All we need to do is do our little share of empowering the youth to become more skilled in communications, more inspired in sharing their thoughts, more motivated to live their dreams.

And we are still doing this. In fact, we have just begun.

How to be a VoM youth volunteer...

One can be a part of VoM through direct application, either as a regular volunteer, or a youth supporter. The interested applicant will only have to fill up the form, then email to us at voiceofmindanao@gmail.com, or which may be secured at the VoM Office, which is at the Mein College Language Center in San Jose Gusu Road, Zamboanga City.The youth supporter may simply send in his or her contributions of either cash or kind to the VoM head office, or though anyone among its project coordinator.

Welcome to the Blogsite of the Voice of Mindanao!

Time travels fast. On 20 August 2008, three friends just had coffee at Coffeemix and a little discussion on issues then plaguing Mindanao. I was one of the three--the other two are among the angels in my life. Somehow, we remembered a video we earlier saw--and from here ideas flowed. With the conflict situation plaguing Mindanao at that time, were the people--a beautiful cross of multicultures--enveloped with confusion? Mindanaoans themselves seemed to be torn between choices of what they really want for the beautiful land of treasures. It was a time for the young generation to speak up--their future was at stake. It was their voice that was most needed. Young, fresh, straight from their hearts and minds, showcasing the might of the pen--nearly five hundred campus writers from nine cities and two provinces in Mindanao shared their thoughts and voiced out. October in Zamboanga, Lamitan , Isabela , Iligan , Kidapawan, Koronadal, and Cotabato Cities. November in Jolo (Sulu), Bongao (Tawi-Tawi), Marawi, Dipolog and Dapitan Cities--and then back to Zamboanga City in early December. It was a way to celebrate the 2008 Mindanao Week of Peace, too. Students penned their thoughts. Students painted their ideas. Indeed, representing nearly two hundred schools from southern Philippines, there they are--the Voice of Mindanao. As the core group are still working hard over the 2009-2010 biennial calendar, and the book showcasing the winning entries of the 2008 Feature Writing Competition, this blogsite shall be one of its windows of good will. -Frencie Carreon Program Head