culion dream

let us act together… let us (cyber:)meet, collaborate, deepen and expand

first of all we want to understand our dreams and the move to unite… so here's the rough sketches drawn by fr. Javy. (if you'll allow me fr.)


*VISION: Building an authentic community empowerment, development and "unity of will" in Culion.


Moving forward and pursuing the following:

1) Opening of HOTEL MAYA that hopes to invite tourists from all over the world with the end in view of infusing badly needed funds and/or whatever support.

2) Complementary to Hotel Maya is the introduction of BS Tourism which attracted 56 enrollees! A big leap from the usual 15++ first year college applicants. We have students from different islands even as far as Mindoro, Batangas and Laguna! The goal is to make LCC the Eco-Tourism Center in the country - yes, we aim to make this the "IT" when it comes to eco-tourism.

3) Connected with such - LCC, the Parish and an expert we hired (who developed Donsol, Sorsogon to become a world-class spot) will pursue environmental programs precisely to protect our beloved Culion and promote such conservation for all the visitors and the Culion community at large.

4) Creation of a Multi-purpose Cooperative - that will complement the Hotel Maya operations, serve as livelihood laboratory for the students, income-generating engagements for the poor who cannot put up a business on their own and ultimately increase the incomes of all the stakeholders.

5) Building of San Ignacio Farm and Retreat Center - as we hope to establish Culion as a spiritual sanctuary. I myself am in awe for the mystique of the place. Now, a grotto has been built which is already being visited sporadically. A retreat center is currently being built which can also serve as workshop areas for Culion-related development projects.

Integrated in this will be the cause for the preservation of the Pitogo.



Advocacies:

CONSERVATION of the environment
- including the pitogo
- and address other environment-related concerns

- `bantay kalikasan'* information drive*

COMMUNITY BUILDING
- through livelihood program with the establishment of a cooperative
- in the process uniting the entire community - so that we don't have to wait for the LGU or any government unit to move..

- Water Management System*

- Electrification*

- Education*

- reintegration programs for "balik culion"*

- Food chain and supply*

- Economic, trade, commerce and Industry*

- promotion of small industry and micro business – increasing the income of culion.*

CHARACTER formation
- any advocacy will not be sustainable without internal anchors. thus, the need for formation programs..

- graft and corruption*
- morality Issues*



for all of these, particular sectors can spearhead an aspect:

conservation by LCC,

community building by the coop and character formation by the parish.

however, what will be needed is a multi-sectoral meeting that will involve everyone.

we hope to meet even the tricycle drivers, the boatmen, fishermen, youth groups etc. so that unity is fostered not only for a particular cause but for the entire culion.

series of meetings with key people..

they have agreed to invest at least p2,000 per head and with the number we have,

the initial capitalization will easily reach half a million.

the coop will have multiple objectives aside from pursuing income-generating projects directed primarily to help low or zero income families/members… almost equivalent to the LGU power…

when people get united, work hard then dreams and advocacies will actualize.

(:…work very fast so i trust you will help me with this even via online especially for the culion people who are abroad;)

soon, a core group will be established so as to pursue priority projects and serve as the think tank/advisers for the over-all culion mission.

to pursue an organizational meeting

we can also start organizing for the bigger culion group. this way we're able to translate to action plans the rich ideas being generated with the exchanges..

prioritize, focus and systematize so that we don't spread ourselves too thinly and not accomplish much.

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…Simply beautiful


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Note: * Additional suggestions


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ps.

Quests:) are there restrictions to be coop member/s? – or anyone can join the coop? how broad is the org.? what will be the limitations of sponsoring members? - what is Hotel MAYA? And how to raise funds on it? What are the programs for environment protections? Who will be the core group/s? as of now what are the top priorities? How long will you stay in culion fr. Javy :) ? if you happened to leave the town ;(which is always what happened :) who will handle everything? :(sorry for my stupid question:)) And how can we contribute on these beautiful portraiture of our beloved town culion??? Bringing it to the world around us :-)

Whispering hope…



We can only thank you fr javy..