kopi talk A Report from Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines - The other evening (10/17), I had the privilege of visiting over dinner with friends freshly arrived from Mindanao. I was the guest of Sheila Platt who was here with her ambassador husband Nick in 1987 and still returns each year to the Philippines to train social workers for CFSI (Community and Family Services International), which is currently concentrating its expertise on internal refugees, families displaced by conflict, in Mindanao. Fresh from a survey of work in the field were the former dean of social work at Catholic University in Washington, DC, Dr. Frederick Ahearn, and the current dean, Jim Zabora, who had just returned to Manila from Mindanao. Dean Zabora was enthusiastic about what he had found. "The last time I went there, we had 20 trained social workers. Now we have 100." He had attended the graduation of this year's crop from the branch of Catholic University located there, and been the commencement speaker. "It was the expression on their faces," he said, "When they were handed their diploma - they were so excited and full of hope about what they could do for their communities and their families." As they have added more programs, Ahearn explained, CFSI has gained more credibility with both the communities and the military. "Simple ideas sometimes are the best. Like a boat to fish. Or ice for fishermen to protect their catch before they go to market." He asked Zabora to describe for me the difference they found from their last visit. "Now we are accepted," Zabora said proudly. "In the past, going through the check-points could be pretty tense, especially with the military. But this time they gave us no problem and waved us through. I guess they understood why we are there and what we have been doing for the communities." This was the first time, he acknowledged, that they drove through checkpoints manned by the MILF as well as by the military. "Where," Ahearn asked him, "did you feel the most safe?" Zabora thought that over for a moment then said. "I probably felt more comfortable with the MILF. We had no real problem with any of them. The social workers we had trained down there had obviously won the respect of everyone in the community - the military, the MILF, and the local people." It was a reward the social workers from Washington had not expected. But it was clearly gratifying.