by OPI
by Dr. Myrna Sillero-Mahinay
A new breed of leaders in Mindanao empowered to bridge the island’s various interests and address issues has emerged.
These leaders trained by the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Team Energy Center for Bridging Leadership will address peace, education, health, land conflict, poverty, and poor local governance issues, among other problems.
Implementing the Mindanao Bridging Leaders Program (MBLP) is the MSU-IIT in partnership with the AIM through the support of the World Bank.
The MBLP plan to build a cadre of “Bridging Leaders” in Muslim Mindanao has the following Bridging Leader (BL) Fellows: Frederick W. Siao, Iligan City Councilor; Zahria P. Muti-Mapandi , Project Director, Al-Mujadilah Development Foundation, Inc.; and, Musa M. Sanguila, Pakigdait Incorporated.
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Frederick W. Siao Iligan City Lanao del Norte | Zahria P. Muti-Mapandi Marawi City Lanao del Sur | Musa M. Sanguila Kauswagan Lanao del Norte |
MSU-IIT Chancellor Dr. Sukarno D. Tanggol led the officials of the Institute who welcomed the BL Fellows at the Institute Boardroom last August 9, 2011. Joining the welcome were Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Dr. Edgar W. Ignacio, Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension Dr. Olga M. Nuneza, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Dr. Polaus M. Bari, Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development Dr. Brigida A. Roscom, the Deans and Directors of the colleges, and other officials of the institute.
Team IIT for MBLP which initiated the recognition is composed of Roscom (Program Coordinator, Field Researcher, Coach-Mentor), Bari (Core-group, Focal Person on Financial Matters, Coach-Mentor), Dr. Marilou S. Nanaman (Core-group, Trainer, Field Researcher, Coach-Mentor), Prof. Saturnina S. Rodil (Core-group, Trainer, Field Researcher, Coach-Mentor), Prof. Darwin J. Manubag (Core-group, Trainer, Field Researcher, Coach-Mentor), Dr. Alita T. Roxas (Trainer, Field Researcher, Coach-Mentor), Dr. Myrna Sillero-Mahinay (Trainer, Field Researcher, Coach-Mentor ), and Prof. Sittie Pasandalan (Trainer, Field Researcher, Coach-Mentor).

The Program notes the divisive issues that beleaguer the Philippines, particularly the communities in Mindanao. The challenge demands that these leaders possess the knowledge, skills, and values for them to effectively handle complex issues.
The three BL Fellows were selected based on how the different sectors recognize these leaders’ credibility and authority. Furthermore, these leaders were perceived to be capable of promoting the value of shared integrity to understand the complexity of challenges, to address the effects and causes of these challenges, to bring diverse stakeholders to co-own the issue and its solution, and to lead the process of coming up with new institutional arrangements and solutions to address social divides.
The Fellows presented their projects during the welcome ceremony: Siao on “Business Capability Building Through Private Entities Partnership,” Muti-Mapandi on “Phased Enterprise Building for Enhanced Islam and Gender Mainstreaming in Communities Working Towards Peace And Sustainable Development ,“ and Sanguila on “Bridging the Interfaith Leaders in Land Conflict Resolution in Inudaran, Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte.“
The 1st Fellowship Workshop on The Mindanao Bridging Leaders Program last July 11-18, 2011 at the AIM in Makati City introduced the Fellows to the Bridging Leadership Framework, an appropriate approach to social problems that can address inequities and divisiveness in the community.
Through their respective projects, the Fellows will continue their development as Bridging Leaders who will organize their respective coalitions.
Topics : ovcre