Ms. Suad K. Usman, a Mathematics teacher in Sultan Kudarat
Islamic Academy (SKIA), Brgy. Bulalo, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao
conceived a plan to conduct a Pre-Ramadhan Exhibit as part of the
preparation for the coming of the Holy Month of Ramadhan. Having the
Special Science Class-II as the best class for her during that school
year, she assigned it to facilitate the said activity to be led by
Hamodi L. Tiboron. Mr. Tiboron accepted the task. Together with Jelfaad J. Salik, he asked for the approval of the school
administration, delegated tasks to each committee formed in the class
and assisted Ms. Usman in gathering all the materials to be used in the
exhibit. The activity had been impressively successful. Huge number of
the school's constituents had visited the exhibit. Muslim constituents
were urged to strengthen their faith while the Non-Muslim ones were able
to change their views towards ISLAM, leaving no more misconceptions
against the religion. This noble undertaking had truly inspired Mr.
Tiboron. His spirit as a Muslim student leader had been ignited.
2004
Being noted as an active third year high school student, Mr.
Tiboron was chosen by Hadja Bai Salma Lourdes V. Mastura, the better
half of the SKIA President and Founder Datu Michael O. Mastura, dean of
the college and president of the Asian Conference on Religion and Peace
(ACRP) in the Philippines, to be one of the SKIA delegates to the
Three-Day Interfaith Dialogue in Southern Christian College, Midsayap,
North Cotabato. This program was participated in by different
personalities from various sectors of the society all over the
Philippines. Aside from the interfaith dialogue itself, the delegates
were also immersed to different Muslim, Christian and Lumad communities
in North Cotabato. This activity served as an eye-opener to Mr. Tiboron
to the reality, as far as peace and order situation in Southern
Philippines is concerned.
Youth for United World (YUW)
After
the said program, Hadja Bai Mastura advised the SKIA delegates to form
an organization that will work hand in hand with ACRP in sustaining its
activities in the school and nearby communities. Hence, the Youth for
United World (YUW) was organized. Being a newly-formed association, its
advisers decided that the first set of officers will be selected through
appointment. At this time, unknown to him, Mr. Tiboron, the youngest of
all the delegates, was unanimously appointed as president. This opened a
very challenging chapter in his leadership life, considering that
ACRP's YUW was not just dealing with small entities but with giant names
like Focolare Movement and Tuklas Katutubo Movement which are known
nationwide in the field of working out for peace and solidarity. He had
successfully led the organization for one year, and had turned
the responsibility over his successor in office after his term.
2005
Considering
his academic standing, leadership experiences in his school and
community and involvement with the activities of known organizations in
Central Mindanao like Muslim Youth Brotherhood, Inc. and United Youth
for Peace and Development, Inc., Mr. Tiboron made it to be one of the 26
youth delegates out of hundreds of applicants of the Training Program
on Inter-Ethnic Dialogue and Conflict Resolution under the Philippine
Youth Leadership Program/Access to Community and Civic Enrichment for
Students (PYLP/ACCESS). The program was held in Northern Illinois
University, Dekalb, Illinois, U.S.A last April-May, 2005, involving
leadership training, inter-faith dialogue, interactive lectures
discussions and educational tour. The program had inspired more Mr.
Tiboron to be an agent of positive change in the society he is within.
It had widened his viewpoints, eradicated his biases and prejudices
against people belonging to other groups and enriched his skills and
enhanced his strategies as a leader.
In
the said program, the delegates were asked to formulate action plans
that would be implemented upon return in the Philippines. Mr. Tiboron
presented his plans with YUW people as his primary workforce.
Voice of the Youth for Peace
Organization (VYPO)
Surprisingly
as it was, YUW was already inactive upon his return in the
Philippines. Most of its pioneering members, after having graduated in
college, were already quite busy in their respective careers and could
not anymore commit. Because of the absence of the proper authority to
which Mr. Tiboron could seek an approval for the implementation of his
action plans, he, deviated from his original plan of having YUW as
workforce. Instead, he conceived an idea of having an organization that
would primarily assist him in the implementation of his action plans. He
presented his plans to his classmates and friends who occupied
positions in the school's big organizations-Preparatory Military
Training and Student Body Organization. His classmates and friends he
had talked with did not hesitate to give their support. Thus, Mr.
Tiboron's spirit as a leader had been triggered more to pursue his plan
of having a new organization. He prepared the necessary documents and
presented the proposal to the Executive Vice President for
Administration and Finance of SKIA, Datu Ismael V. Mastura. The proposal
was approved and the organization was launched on June 23, 2005 in the
Vocational Technology Building of SKIA with Voice of the Youth for Peace
Organization (VYPO) as its name. All SKIA constituents attended the
launching and impressive number of students got interest in joining the
organization.
Another
twist in Mr. Tiboron’s action plans took place after consulting some of
the school officials, religious figures in his community and family
members and relatives. Instead of integrating Muslims, Christians and
Lumads into his action plans as recommended by PYLP/ACCESS and retaining
the interfaith nature of ACRP-YUW, Mr. Tiboron, primarily emphasized in
VYPO the significance of Islam as far as Moro people are concerned in
his walk towards a peaceful and progressive Southern
Philippines. Accordingly, being born Moros, nothing can enlighten them
but Islam. Thus, it is but right to blend the organization's approaches
with Islamic ways to make the majority of the students and people in his
Moro-occupied community conform to his advocacy. The advocacy of VYPO
might have been centering its focus on programs for Moro people but this
does not close its mindset with the idea of having harmonious
co-existence with the non-Moros. The Moro people, being the central
figure of conflict in Southern Philippines need this unique way for
them to become enlightened, empowered and well-developed enough, making
them true Muslims who should live lives peacefully and progressively
amidst diversity in terms of different aspects in the societies they are
within.
2006 VYPO Extensions
2006 VYPO Extensions
As
years went by, the name of the organization was changed into Voice of
the Youth for Peace and Orderliness (VYPO) then into United Voices for
Peace Network (UVPN). Along with this change is the gradual growth and
development that happened in just few years. It has been impressively
active in conducting Islamic symposiums and seminars, peace workshops,
leadership trainings, tutorial programs, relief operations and other
community outreach programs. From SKIA, the organization has also now
been extended to the communities of Cotabato City and Sultan Kudarat,
Maguindanao and other schools and universities which include Mindanao
State University-Main Campus in Marawi City. The organization’s enriching and inspiring
activities have revitalized and kindled the spirits of the active Moro
student leaders in the said university coming from different places
making them committed and active members of it. By this, the
organization has found an opportunity to extend its various projects to
the places where its MSU-Main Campus chapter members are living
like Davao, Lanao, Palawan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Zamboanga areas.
TODAY
Today,
many other organizations in and outside the country have recognized the
existence of the organization like ABS-CBN Corporation, UGAT
Foundation, Inc., U.S. Embassy in Manila, Cotabato Inter-Communal
Initiatives, Mabuhay Club Singapore, Muslim Youth Union of the
Philippines, Muslim Youth Brotherhood, Inc., United Youth for Peace and
Develoipment, Inc., Risalei Nur-Philippines, Ginakit Philippines
Foundation, Inc., Muslim Youth Religious Organization and many more. The
organization has successfully established connections that are highly
significant in carrying out all of its noble endeavors.
Being spiritually inspired by “Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (with their own souls)”-13: 11, and “Let
there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good,
enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong:they are the ones
who attain felicity” -3:104 of the HOLY QUR’AN, UVPN
will continue to voice out and work for the enlightenment, empowerment
and development of the Bangsamoro People in order to eradicate the
biases, prejudices, discrimination and stereotypes that the eyes of the
world see upon them-which may lead in attaining PEACE and PROGRESS with
the help of ALMIGHTY ALLAH S.W.T.
About UVPN
