Teams Meeting With Some Education Partners

Logo of TEAMS app

 

Via TEAMS participants would meet on February 26, 2021. I was already prepared for it in the afternoon. Conference Room of the Asec for Special Programs and Projects was my target place where internet signal was expected to stronger. Two of us represented Asec Pajiji. One of my team members was Miss Alanisa M. Bantuas. She installed TEAMS app in my Vivo three days before the schedule. She gave me the link where to access the host of the meeting, http://bit.ly/ConfirmationForumEAI_CDW. The TEAM was scheduled for 1:30 in the afternoon. I went to the conference room ahead of time. I started opening the TEAMS app. Access was good, but I could not enter through the above-mentioned link until connectivity became poorer. I looked for Ma'am Nisa on the other side of the room. I saw her watching and listening to the speaker via TEAMS. I sat beside her watching on the screen of her laptop.

I could not voice out my concern thinking that I could distract her focus. I heard the speakers talking about Peace Education. Ma'am Nisa turned her eyes to me. "Are you now in, Sir?" She asked. "No, Ma'am, it's just loading for several times!" I answered and smiled. "You can just watch and listen to my laptop" she shared. I followed her for about fifteen minutes. Afterward, I went out of the room trying to connect my Vivo. It remained the same as it was before.

   

Unexpected Attendance

Asec Fhadz asked me to join him in visiting DG Marjuni Maddi of the Higher ED after Isha Prayer. We reached DG outside of his office talking with someone on his phone. Two calls made DG busy to entertain us. It was so very important discussion relating to his visit to Tawi-Tawi in the forthcoming week. Afterward, the two Asecs discussed matters pertaining to my detail. Asec Fhadz told him about the prepared detailed order on his table ready for Minister's signature. The meeting ended with a move to visit the MBHTE Minister the following day purposely for the signing of the order. We decided to come by 8:00 am. Unfortunately, we arrive late in DG's office. There was a call received by Asec Fhadz. Minister would need his presence in a gathering held at Sharif Kabunsuan Cultural Complex. The program already started as stated by the caller. I heard Asec replied affirmatively. We hurriedly went down the stairs in the morning of February 25, 2021. Sir Sajid delivered us to SKCC with more-than-normal speed just to catch up with the opening program. I followed Asec Fhadz going upstairs and I got the folder from his right hand. He smiled. I told him to give a signal the moment he would need the folder. Inside the folder was Sir Oms' renewal order as a detailed teacher, my order, and Sir Asec Fhadz's travel order to visit his father who was in emergency mode in Jolo, Sulu.  On the third row from the platform, we were seated with a vacant seat between me and Asec. The vacant seat was labeled 'reserved'. My eyes caught the attendance of the Minister in the middle of the first row.

The master of the ceremony had just started the program. All VIPs were seated on the front row, not over the stage. It was about the above-posted photo, "Launching of Regional Plan of Action for Nutrition 2020-2022". There was a PowerPoint presentation on the left corner of the hall. On the screen I watched Chief Minister participating online. In the middle of the ceremony, Minister Mohagher M. Iqbal was called to deliver the message. I remembered him saying that foods should be nutritious and halal. After his message, he managed to use again his chair, but he did not stay longer. He got up and walked along the aisle towards me. His eyes were straight to Asec saying, "Andito ka pala!" He handed his right fist to Asec signifying salam or shaking hand then he turned it to me immediately. Fortunately, my right fist was also energetic to respond to his fist. Then, he turned to a woman on the isle, but I did not hear what they were talking about till he directly went out slowly. Asec Fhadz stood following him and turned to me nodding or calling me to follow. We reached the Minister outside of the main door.  Asec got the folder from my hand and continued to go after Sir Iqbal proceeding to his driver and security in the car. After a short talk, I heard Asec asking if he could sign his travel order in a car. Sir Iqbal nodded and got into a car. He affixed his signature while sitting in a car. Only a page was signed because the Minister was in a hurry for Davao City to meet some senators and provincial leaders of BASULTA on that day.

  

BRRP Discloses My First Official Day in the Regional Level

Review and Finalization of the Bangsamoro Response and Recovery Plan (BRRP) for COVID-19 Pandemic 2020-2022 was the subject of the memorandum calling for the attendance of Mr. Alfhadar J. Pajiji, Asec for Special Programs and Projects. It was on March 24, 2021. The activity was held in the Conference Hall, BPDA, ORC, Cotabato City. Persons in attendance were Focal Persons and Technical Working Groups coming from different units/offices of MBHTE. Most of them were neophytes. Meaning, they were newly-hired personnel of the BARMM Government. A day before, Asec Fhadz informed me that I should go with him to BRRP.

Thus, my haircut in the photos looked so formal. . . ha, ha, ha. Barber trimmed it until after dusk prayer for I was late to come in the afternoon. Thank you, Sir Oms for the topsiders.  The BRRP adjourned in the morning, but the different participants should sit together with their mates in their respective sectors to look into their own plans. So, Asec Fhadz's team supposedly met one another in the afternoon, but it was postponed due to some circumstances relating to official matters. The team decided to sit together in the afternoon of the following day.

               

   

Long Ride Amidst Pandemic

January 16, 2020, was the arrival. City stays continued until February 4, 2021. The following morning (February 5, 2021) moved RS 150 to start a long ride amidst COVID-19. The Regional Office of MBHTE was the target destination. Thus, good-running condition of RS was recommended to have general check-up including change of engine oil and motor washing. The early departure was also needed to avoid too much heat at the start of the journey. Lockdown made me grow longhair. I just cut it a little thinking that a formal haircut would be done in Cotabato City. I left Muslim Village, NHA Bangkal, Talomo Poblacion, Davao City at about 7:30 am planning to have a stopover in Digos City Diversion Road for refueling. Makilala was known for bus and van stopover where drivers and passengers used to take their lunch or snacks, but I passed by it till I saw the name Kidapawan City. Thinking for a coffee break crossed my mind. I still went on planning just to take some-minute rest outside of the city. I tried to glance at the big shade of the tree while RS ran in conditioning mode. It was between Matalam and Kidapawan City that I parked her for some minutes or taking a smoke. While at rest, I thought to take lunch in Pikit. I wanted to observe its town because there was a bomb threat in the bus terminal a week before my journey. However, my mind changed. Instead of lunch, I just took a snack near the bus terminal of Pikit. I parked RS in the crowd of abal-abal. The drivers rushed to RS as I parked her asking how much she cost and what model. . . ha ha ha. I placed my backpack on the seat. An old man approached me as I was about to walk toward the main market where coffee was available. He advised me to lock RS. I refused to tell him that I would not go away. I just bought a can of coke, some biscuits and mineral water.

I took a snack in a standing position looking at RS at about five meters away. I asked the saleslady what tribe was the majority of the people of Pikit. Magindanaon came to an answer. She told me that I was the only Tausug in Pikit. Alhamdulillah, Pikit people were good and entertaining, too. I left them with smiling faces in almost midday. I would park for smoking beyond Libungan, a municipality after Pigcawayan or the last municipality next to crossing for Cotabato City and Parang. I took a rest in a curve road under a big shade of a tree. I finished two sticks of fortune before I directly entered ORC. Thank you, Ya Allah, for the safe journey. Two checkpoints inspected my ID and Davao City QR Code. Firstly, it was a checkpoint after Midsayap and finally, the PNP before the bridge towards Cotabato City. The parking keeper in front of City Mall took care of my backpack and my RS. The security guard asked my Cotabato City QR Code of which I had none except Davao. He honored it considering my reason. I also wore a face shield and observed social distancing on the line. I ordered some food in Jollibee around 2 pm. I gave sadaqa to the parking keeper before I proceeded to the Office of the Asec for Special Programs and Projects on the 2nd Floor of MBHTE-BARMM. I presented my ID to the Information Officer. She went upstairs bringing my ID for verification. After a while, Utu' Daas went down the stairs and picked me upstairs where Sir Fhadz was waiting at the dining table. Thank you, Sir Fhadz for letting me stay with you in your office instead of checking in or looking for a boarding house.