Siocon, Zamboanag del Norte 01/22/2015 — In the early times, the primary role of women was to care for their family and home. A sphere where she can express her femininity is narrowed to a certain extent and restricted to her marital life where her role as a female is revealed. But now, the role of women has significantly transformed. Women now don’t only fulfil their filial responsibilities as a mother and wife, but they also shed light to attain communal peace and development as empowered citizens.

Barangay Poblacion of the municipality of Siocon is one of the areas in Zamboanga del Norte with so many inspiring stories to tell. Siocon is a budding municipality located in the upland and forested area west of Zamboanga del Norte province. In spite of being a 1^st class municipality, Siocon used to face social conflict. Due to having been perceived as a “hotspot” by the locals where individuals in conflict with law are based, the place has become inaccessible for government interventions to penetrate the place.

“Hindi naman mismo dito nag-gyegyera, pero yun nga may mga sightings daw, may mga naninirahan na lawless (elements) kaya nahihirapan dati ang mga workers na magbigay ng tulong.” (There’s no insurgency here, but still some would say that there are sightings of lawless elements, some even live here that’s why the government workers really find it difficult to extend their help.) Baby opened up.

BeryaneJutingo, 53 years old or Baby as she is commonly called by their neighbors is a community volunteer. Together with Baby was Genara Lorete or Nara who served as her constant companion. While proudly showing a picture of their community sub-project, they both shared their situation before the implementation of PAMANA project cycle 2— the 34 units streetlights that they install themselves.

“Noon alas seis ng hapon pa lang, kasi madilim eh, lahat nasa loob na ng bahay. Siguro isa yun sa mga rason kung bakit laging may away, laging may hindi pagkakaintindihan. Hindi kasi sila nag-uusap palagi.” (Before, as early as six in the evening, people here are already home. Maybe it is one of the reasons why there are always conflict and misunderstanding because people hardly talk to each other.) Nara said. While Baby added that before the completion of the project, people used to complain about cases of bullying. “Dati kasi pag madilim yan ang pinagsisimulan ng gulo. Yung nagtitrip lang. Kung madilim dali lang gyud maka-ikyas, dagan lang dayun didtu kay singgit man gud!” (There used to be cases of bullying when there were still no streetlights. Because they can easily escape since the surrounding was very dark. )

Seeing the need to address this problem, in May 19, 2014 the community started the construction and installation of the 34 units streetlights in different strategic areas with the help of the funds given by OPAPP amounted to Php 300,000.00.

“Streetlights po talaga ang naisip naming kasi makakatulong yun sa pagpapabuti ng relasyon ng mga tao sa barangay namin, ug dili na ba kana, delikado.” (The first thing that really came into our minds were streetlights because it will help in improving the relationship of the people in our village and it also minimizes risks.)

Out of 25 volunteers in Poblacion, 16 are women.

“Kay kasagaran man gyud diri ang ilahang mga bana naa gyud trabaho. So syempre ang akung nakuha nga mga volunteers women gyud. Human, willing man pud sila, so ingun ku, sigi!” (Because usually their husbands are working. So of course I got women volunteers instead. They were really willing so I said, why not?) Marlyn Duhaylungsod, Village’s Chairwoman explained.

And so Baby and Nara proved how women work differently compared to men in terms of commitment. “Murag mag bente kwatro oras gyud mi magwork kay i-try unta namu humanun before muabut 45 days. Naabut jud! Kapuy pero enjoy pud  kay makaapil-apil sa pag-cut sa tubo, sa bars. Then siguro ang memorable gyud katung nagpintal mi sa bars. Kay nindut gyud nigawas ang mga poste. Mga bayi  lang tu tanan ang nagpintal.” (Seemed like we were already working for almost 24 hours because we wanted to finish the project before the 45 days timeline, and fortunately we did it! It was tiresome but we enjoyed it because we were able to join the laborers in cutting the pipes, the bars. And perhaps the most memorable experience was when we painted the bars. It came out so nice. All who did the painting were women volunteers.)

However, Baby and Nara still had to deal with some challenges in the course of the implementation.

“Ah nagproblema gyud mi sa katung mga materyales nga gipag deliver nga dili man amo. Dili ba fitting ang mga tubo. Pero kami nalang pud

ang naghimu ug mga kalihukan para magamit lang gihapun sya. Then nahimulang pud sa pag tinabangay.” (We really had a problem with the materials delivered with incorrect specifications. The pipe didn’t fit but we made a way on how we can still use the materials. And through unity, we were able to do it.) Baby said.

While Nara was confronted with a problem of dividing her time being both a volunteer and a mother. “Lisud gyud. Pero maayu na lang kay ang akung bana, gapuli-puli lang mi sa mga bata.” (It was real hard. Good thing that my husband does my duties whenever I can’t.)

“Karun naa na suga, ang mga tawu naa na sa gawas, istorya-istorya, bonding-bonding. Then ang uban nakit-an gyud naku kay ga-tanum na man. Kay wala man daw sila oras sa adlaw. Then wala na pud mga buguy magbato. Lingaw na ang mga tawu.” (Now that our barangay is already well-lighted, people now stay outside even at night. They now get the chance to talk to each other more often. Then I also saw the others starting to plant in their vicinity which they couldn’t do before because it’s only at night that they have time to do it.) Barangay Chairwoman gladly related.

Baby and Nara couldn’t also help but to share how the particular project has changed them as a woman and a resident of their barangay.

“Ngayon yung feeling naming malaki ang kontribusyon naming sa barangay namin. Yung may halaga pala kami. May magagawa pala kami

para sa iba at yun ay dahil sa PAMANA.” (Now I feel that I have a huge contribution in our community. That we are worthy and we can do something for the others because of PAMANA.) Baby related.

“Syempre ngayon may pakialam na kami. Hindi yung noon, pag babae, magsilbi lang sa kanilang bana. Karun ah, ga participate na gyud mi. Kaya pala namu!” (Of course now we can say that we already care. Unlike before, women are viewed as the ones who are only attending to the needs of their husbands and children. Now, we really participate and we realized that we also are capable.) Nara added.

PAMANA o Payapa at Masaganang Mamamayan provides seed funds per barangay in the identified municipalities for peace and development projects that were identified through consultations with the barangay residents. Through PAMANA, poor communities were able to identify their most urgent needs, taking into consideration their effect on improving peace and hastening development in their areas