Mahintana President & CEO Mr. Martiniano L. Magdolot was invited be one of the speakers about Resource Mobilization at the Philippine-American Fund Grantees Sustainability Forum on October 17-19, 2018 at Mezzo Hotel, Cebu City.
Mahintana was one of the USAID Program grantees in the past years.
As part of its staff development, Mahintana Foundation Inc. conducted its Community Organizing Training on September 15-17, 2018 at Dolores Farm Resort, Polomolok, South Cotabato. It was attended byparticipants of the different Mahintana projects, Dole Philippines Inc. Community Relations Department (CRD) and a representative from PASAR Corporation. The 3-day training was set to help the staff get the necessary skills in organizing the communities they are working with.
The participants were grouped into three big groups. Ms. Mindaluz “Dayluz” Tagle-Herezo discussed the training overview. She shared the experiences of Mahintana in the past 41 years of community organizing and community development. The staff were given a task to write in meta cards their frustrations, motivations and dreams as a community organizer. A representative of each group processed the feelings described. After, President and CEO Mr. Martiniano Magdolot shared Mahintana’s Development Approach. He discussed the 4 development strategies of the organization, as well as, the experiences that empowered it to help more communities. Mr. Magdolot said that we have to implement projects that are “worth the community’s while”, hitting the “kwento and kwenta” objectives. Admin & Finance Officer Ms. Liza Hora summarized the development approach.
Discussions for the next 3 days were about: Emotional Intelligence & Work Excellence, History of Community Organizing, Principles of Community Organizing, History of Community Development Work in the Philippines, Commuity Organizing: Mahintana Experience, Community Organizer’s (CO) Traits & Characteristics, Functions of a CO, Stages in Community Organizing, Understanding & Demonstrating CO Skills, Effective Communication Skills, Management & Leadership, Time Management, Basic Facilitation Skills, Handling Meetings, and Problem-Solving & Analysis.
Group and individual exercises included the following: 1) one thing in your purse that describes you and/or your impact to the community; 2) writing of Community Organizer’s Creed; 3) Self-Awareness & Leadership Bingo; 4) drawing a caricature of one’s self; 5) CO Skills Demonstration per Group; and 6) writing one’s commitment as a CO. On the 3rd day, each group was given a caselet to solve and demonstrate CO skills. The group activity showcased the learnings during in the training.
Mahintana Foundation, Inc. (MFI) launched its newly revamped website on September 25, 2018, incorporating a minimalist CMS (content management system) format throughout the site. In order to steer focus not only on content and information archival, the redesign seeks to address the distinct design, ease of navigation, and visual appeal of its decades-old web presence. The move comes after years of using the old homepage template, and as an online culmination of MFI’s 40 years in the service of its communities, as well as its thematic direction in 21st century humanitarianism.
In celebration of the 41st Anniversary of Mahintana and SRC with the theme “Exploring Possibilities Beyond Boundaries”, a Tree Growing and Stone Dike Construction activity was conducted in the 116A Field Gully at Prk. Paglaum, Bgry. Upper Klinan, Polomolok, South Cotabato. It was attended by around 200 participants including the executives and directors of Dole Philippines, Inc., partner cooperatives, LGU representatives of the municipality and barangays, and SRC and Mahintana staff.
Participants assembled and registered at the Brgy. Cannery Hall grounds before jumping off to the site. The welcome address was given by Mahintana President and CEO Mr. Martiniano L. Magdolot. Mr. Magdolot welcomed the key persons and participants, as well as, acknowledged the support of the stakeholders to the tree growing activity as one of the celebratory activities of Mahintana and SRC. Among those who gave the Message of Support are the following: Dolefil VP and Managing Director Mr. Randolph I. Fleming, Mun. Councilor Mr. Allan Ines, MCDC Chairperson Mr. Lory Asilo, and Cannery Punong Barangay and ABC President Mr. Antonio Octavio. For the closing remarks, SRC President Mr. Carlos T. Baldostamon, Jr. said that planting trees is a great way to leave a legacy aside from educating the young.
The Ceremonial Tree Growing commenced by a demonstration on how to plant the seedlings by Mr. Baldostamon and R2R Project Officer Mr. Ramon Christopher Manero followed by a dance number depicting the B’laan Tribe planting ritual dance by Landan National High School students. Then, the participants were given fruit and forest tree seedlings and started planting. The VIPs were invited to come down the gully for the stone dike construction.
Three (3) Grade 12 Humanities and Social Studies (HUMSS) students of Dole Phil. School (DPS) worked from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM for 10 days in Mahintana Foundation Inc. for the Work Immersion Program, a requirement of senior high school. Ms. Ma. Virginia Jayoma, Ms. Yedda Marie Bandojo and Ms. Camila Fernanda Cedeno were exposed to the operations of the organization’s projects and activities. The immersion work program started on February 26, 2018 and culminated on March 9, 2018.
During the 2nd staff meeting of Mahintana, the students were given the opportunity to present their learnings and express their thoughts about the organization as part of the culmination activity for them. Each of them prepared powerpoint presentation that showed the pictures taken during their immersion to the field and the communities. They thanked Mahintana esp. their supervisors, the admins and Mr. Magdolot for the opportunity given to them. According to them, their stay in the organization is worthwhile: the people are for keeps and memories will be cherished.
Mr. Martiniano L. Magdolot, President & CEO of Mahintana Foundation. Inc., joined by Atty. Melquiades L. Hernandez III, Corporate Affairs Director, Dole Philippines, Inc., received the Best Non-Government Organization Plaque during the the “Pagkilala sa Natatanging Kontribusyon sa Bayan (PaNata Ko sa Bayan) Awards” of the Department of Social and Development (DSWD) Central Office, Quezon City on March 8, 2018. 
The core message of DSWD is “We would never be able to succeed in our work of helping Filipinos in need without our partners. In all advocacy campaigns and operations, we work with so many others to meet common goals: help those in need and serve with compassion” as it gave recognition to its various partners and stakeholders. DSWD OIC Emmanuel A. Leyco said that the awards are “the Department’s way to thank the various groups and individuals who have helped us in providing programs and services for the vulnerable sectors that we serve, such as older persons, persons with disabilities, poor families, disadvantaged and abused women, children and youth.”
Mahintana Foundation, Inc. was awarded with Certificate of Accreditation Level II in the Implementation of Community Based Programs and Services for Families and Communities in Region XII in compliance with Republic Act 4373 “An Act to Regulate the Practice of Social Work Agencies in the Philippines and for Other Purposes” on February 20, 2018 at Cinco Niñas, Koronadal City, South Cotabato.
Ms. Liza D. Hora, the Admin Finance Officer of Mahintana, received the award in behalf of the organization. SWDA stands for Social Welfare and Development Agency.