Mission Manila and the Don Bosco National Federation of Alumni co-organized Workshop Courage last Aug 13-14,2011 at the Don Bosco Provincial House in Makati City.  Facilitated by Nicanor Perlas, the workshop had 58 participants with diverse interests. 

The youngest  attendee was 19 year old Karina Arriete, a student of the University of Santo Tomas  and the oldest was Josie Herras at  86 years young, who attended together with her daughter Pat Alivia. It was a showcase of unity in diversity as  community organizers, farmers, doctors, lawyers, deuterium entrepreneur, dragon boat team member, husband & wife, retirees, trainors/facilitators,entrepreneurs, wellness advocates, environment advocates, energy works advocates, organic farmers, resort developers, catholic ministry/cathechist/lay apostolate, sales/marketing, media practitioner, veterans, former airforce colonel, u.p. professor, a bank executive, a former UN executive joined forces for personal mastery to rebuild societies.

There were participants from as far as Kalinga, Bicol, Laguna, Palawan ,Bataan, Romblon and now Philippine-  based but originally from South Korea & Goa, India/Portugal , and New Jersey USA. 

Node representatives from Baguio- Grace Calleja, Dumaguete- Terry Windler, Cebu- Tressa Ruelas, Davao-Kate Estember and Manila-Tammy Dinopol together with Mishie Rotoni of Mission Iloilo were also present for part or all of the workshop. Mission Manila members who participated and helped out included: Mario Acuna, Rey Sabio, Louise Far, Dr. Marie Alozono , Bebot  de la Pena and Cecille Ferrer.

Future initiatives created during the workshop by the participants that will be mainstreamed included:  I am Imaginal on Facebook  &  I am Imaginal blogsite which will interface with the Mission website;  a trip to an organic farm in Alfonso, Cavite owned by Bebot de la Pena which will be developed into a Mission showcase; Workshop Courage in Kalinga; Workshop Courage for the youth ; and MV Imagine-all, an educational & advocacy Mission cruise. Lolita Famueleros  also offered her farm in Linagong Dagat, Narra, Palawan as a showcase for cooperatives and Mission.

Rey Sabio of ATAMANKOOP and Lolita Famueleros displayed organic products from their cooperative members in Payatas, Q.C. , Northern Luzon and Palawan.

It was announced that Nick Perlas' books will soon be available at the Don Bosco Bookshop in Makati as Fr. Larry Tan approved the consignment to make the books available to more people. Nick's book on Mission Possible will be launched in September in Gensan and Mission Manila is  now accepting pre-orders at Pesos 350. After the launch, the price will be Pesos 450. Please contact Manila node rep Tammy  09209064795/09166445806 for details.

Special thanks to Fr. Larry Tan for co-organizing the workshop and inviting participants from among his network.

New Members Meeting August 18,2011

A new members meeting was scheduled for Thursday Aug. 18, 2011 at 6:30 P.M. at the residence of Joy & Reggie Novales ( who participated in the workshop) near Resort World. The meeting started promptly at 6:30 p.m. and officially ended at 8:30 P.M.

There were 14 attendees, who were all wired from the energy of the just concluded Workshop Courage the previous weekend.

Cecille Ferrer
Mission Manila Secretariat ( June- September 2011)