NEWS ARCHIVE

as of DECEMBER 2006

ASI CELEBRATES 44^th FOUNDATION DAY AND 10^th YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE DOCTORAL PROGRAM

They came from all walks of life and from different generations – elderly, adults and youth.  Some 400 guests joined ASI in celebrating on October 7, 2006 the 44th Foundation Day and the 10th Anniversary of its Doctoral Program, a program of study which has appealed to professionals of various disciplines.  Guests from partner communities, church, academe, NGOs and government were present at Philippine Columbian Association in Plaza Dilao, Paco, Manila from nine-o’clock in the morning to five o’clock in the afternoon.

Dr. Sixto Roxas, Chair of the Maximo T. Kalaw Institute for Sustainable Development (MTKISD) – a former President of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), former banker, economist, former Consultant of Multinational Corporations, and Adviser to President Diosdado Macapagal, (father of the current President, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo) – delivered the Francis Senden Memorial Lecture (FSML).  He spoke on “Co-Creating Sustainable Communities in a Cosmic Embrace.”  In his lecture he introduced the concept of ECSOM – Eco-System Based Community Centred Sustainable Organization and Management.  Reactors to his talk were three university presidents, 3 priests experts in Creation Spirituality and Environmental Programs (one involved with the indigenous group), a communication expert, and a community organizer and trainor of farmers and fisherfolk.  Enlivening the affair were the vibrant youth from Trinity University Brass Band and ‘Himig Banahaw’ (Voices from the Philippine’s Scared Mountain, Banahaw).  Likewise, young professionals from the  State University’s Choral, “Kasarinlan” (meaning, Sense of Identity) conducted by a Professor of the Doctoral Program, expert in Humanities znc Composer from the University of the Philippines (U.P.) – Prof. Felipe de Leon - gave a beautiful rendition of Filipino music complete with commentaries on the music by the professor.

Three publications were launched – A Souvenir Program, “Co-Creating Sustainable Communities”, “Promoting SoPHIA Among our Educators”,  and “Shifting Paradigms.”

This activity was preceded on September 29, 2006 with a RoundTable Discussion on World Bank’s Consultation regarding Anti-Graft and Corruption in Governance to prepare for the WB Conference on October 4-6, 2006 in Singapore. There were 19 participants from concerned various NGOs, Academic institutions, the Church as well as from the government sector with about 50 as observers in the outer circle during the discussion in the Francis Senden Memorial Hall in  ASI.  Facilitated by ASI at the suggestion of CIDSE  (coordinating body in Europe of about 12 Catholic funding partners) ASI  will continue with its linkages to be advocates on any matter towards  Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation.

Preparation for the Implementation of ECSOM 

A milestone in ASI history was a meeting held to prepare for the consultation session with a cross section of the municipalities of Cardona-Binangonan, Rizal Province of some 100 leaders of various sectors – NGOs, POs, , Church, Health, Media, Local Government and Entrepreneurs to be held on December 1, 2006 at the Rotary Club House in Cardona, Rizal.  ASI will collaborate with the following organizations – Maximo T. Kalaw Institute for Sustainable Development (MTKISD) who introduced a holistic development paradigm to create new urban communities, CFCA (Christian Foundation for Children and the Aged) – whose organization spans the whole of Rizal Province and is composed by a multi-sectoral family clusters composed mainly of fisherfolk, farmers and indigenous groups), and LUMACAR (an organization of fisherfolk in the Cardona, Rizal).

ASI will hold a one-day consultation with the various sectors of said municipality about their situation, the needs of their family, their dreams for the bio-regional community and what resources are available to them.   Dr. Sixto Roxas after  will then expound on ECSOM.  Responses will be solicited from local government officials, from the Departments of Environment, Health, Agriculture, Schools, Churches and Local Media. 

The meeting held November 10, 2006 that prepared the Consultation Session on ECSOM were representatives of the ASI Academe, Social Development, and Research together with representatives from CFCA and LUMACAR.  A Sociology Masteral Graduate of ASI who is currently taking up her Doctoral Studies in Applied Cosmic Anthropology volunteered to assist the group in organizing the event on Decembe 1, 2006.

ECSOM in the preparation stage has been given a name by ASI.  It is called, “Sustainable Bio-Regional Community Organization and Management”  (SBCOM).

Great ASI Persons Have Passed Away

ASI mourns the passing away of Atty. Carmen Maluto, ASI Registrar who met her sudden death in a road accident.  She was  known to be sensitive to the needs of the ASI students as well as the needs of the poor who she loved.  She was a great community organizer.  During her wake held in the ASI lobby just in front of her office, people from the  communities from the resettlement area of Paliparan, Dasmarinas, Cavite, of Las Pinas, of Quiapo Parish, of a poor Diocese in Palawan, and of Baguio – came to pay last respects to her. 

Dr. Kim Kee Young, Graduate of Masters in Social Work (MSSW) in late 1970’s and a beloved ASI alumna representative in Korea met also a sudden death.  She was buried in the Catholic University in Seoul, where she worked for almost 25 years as social worker  and guidance counsellor. 

ASI knows that they who have loved and served others are now in the peace of the Lord. 

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