Happy Monday, MTDubberz! We hope you had a great Mother's Day weekend! Today's Mover Monday comes from Diana Grace P. Ragandang, one of the pioneer PeaceMovers of Move This World in the Philippines. Prime, the Philippines Director of MTW, says that MTW Philippines is "so fortunate to have her as the big sister of MTW Philippines." Diana writes about MTW Philippines' first international conference in Cagayan! Enjoy!
Nothing is impossible! What’s IMPOSSIBLE? Well, it is truly a corrupted word which means I’M-POSSIBLE! It is the exact adjective for the successful endeavour of the Move This World-Pilipinas, Inc.’s brilliant team on their huge accomplishment for having been able to host their 1st ever International Conference: A Training Workshop on Peace Education and Stress Management last April 22, 23, and 24, 2013 at Capitol University, Cagayan de Oro City, The Philippineswhich was attended by both local and international respected persons.
The 3-day conference was officially launched mid-February of 2013. Invitations where sent everywhere, either via personal visitations or emails. Cost, benefit, and pre-eminence made it difficult to get people to join. But above all, it is never easy to be closing a deal with people known to have high credibility in their chosen professions, especially for individuals who are not familiar with Move This World. It is nerve-rocking yet we are left with the choice of doing it after all. Rejections and disappointment happen, causing everyone to lose enthusiasm. Everyone knows how it feels to be rejected; it hurts, right? It’s easy to feel like a big failure. But despite the the lions in the way, the team worked hard with support from the members and the guidance of their Philippine Country Director, Mr. Primitivo “Prime” Cabanes Ragandang III who always gives words of encouragement and presents good examples. Indeed, teamwork and good camaraderie did help each member work through their given tasks. Working on tasks was easy compared to starting because MTW-Pilipinas uses no other means of resources for all their expenses. They basically rely on their participants payments. They don’t even have any clear idea of how many participants will join aside from those few who already committed or were 100% sure. Just imagine, the dilemma they have every meeting. They said everyone were just assuming about everything to able to come up with good plans, plan A and B. Amazing right?
So on the day of the conference, many participants from different places showed up. The team, who were a little anxious and excited at the same time, started the day as scheduled. It went smooth and the team’s effort paid off. Everyone was really enjoying the conference and gave so much positive feedback. One person commented, “good activity facilitation and superb team management.”
Just imagine, big names or highly respected individuals with different expectations and personalities gathered in one place and all were total strangers to each other. Overwhelming? It is especially for newbies or young professionals, which mostly comprises the MTW-Pilipinas team. This conference made everyone equal. They all enthusiastically participated and cooperated in every activity. The participants’ willingness in moving to promote social change through the art of movement was very commendable. No words can express the team’s gratitude for the success of the conference.
Participants ranged from all walks of life: from managers of online business to deans and owners of schools in Mindanao; also present in the team is a priest from Cebu City, a youth development worker from Bukidnon province, TV personalities, teachers of Cotabato province, a Development advocate from Nepal, and a student from Kyoto, Japan. Speakers include a German national working for peace in Mindanao, local professors, and the awesome live-stream presence of MTW Global team. Also in the delegation are the MTW’s parents in the Philippines: the awesome Southern Christian College delegation.
The team made history. Group effort with good governance, trust, and faith really makes the impossible, possible. Surely without the people who answered the call for invitation; the Capitol University’s generous part for giving the venue; and all the people behind it; they will not make it far. I for one am very proud to be part of the team and be under our Country Director’s supervision. So in behalf of the team and the whole Move This World Philippine team, “Maraming Salamat for Moving with us.”
