(left photo) US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone is accompanied
by Noel Ruiz, USAID’s Livelihood Enhancement and Peace (LEAP)
Program Manager upon his arrival. Behind him are Parouk Hussin, ARMM
Governor and USAID Deputy Mission Director Frank Donovan who joined
the Ambassador during his trip. (right photo) Ambassador Ricciardone
is also welcomed by AFP SOUTHCOM Commander Lieutenant General Alfredo
Braganza.
Ambassador Ricciardone and Ambassador Pearce pose with
Magbasa Kita Executive Director Amina Rasul and the Kassanangan Foundation’s
scholars. The Foundation, which was chaired by the late Ambassador
Abraham Rasul has been supporting Muslim scholars from Sulu, Tawi-Tawi
and Basilan. Currently, the Foundation is supporting 31 scholars,
some of whom come from Region 9 (Western Mindanao).
Ambassador Ricciardone receives a plaque of appreciation
from (l-r) Dra. Silak Asanji, PTCA President, and Sitti Rajam Amil,
MSU Sulu Laboratory High School Principal, for the US government’s
thrust in integrating internet and computer education in schools in
the ARMM and neighboring conflict-affected areas in Mindanao . USAID’s
GEM Program provided the MSU Sulu Laboratory High School with five
computers with internet connection through its CLIC Program. Beside
the Ambassador is Frank Donovan, Deputy Mission Director of USAID-Philippines,
who accompanied him during his visit to Jolo and Indanan in Sulu Province.
 |
 |
(left photo) Australian Ambassador Pearce receives a
plaque of appreciation from (l-r) Dra. Silak Asanji, PTCA President,
and Sitti Rajam Amil, MSU Sulu Laboratory High School Principal .
Standing as witnesses during the event are US Ambassador Ricciardone
and Mr. Donovan. (right photo) Governor Hussin, Ambassador Ricciardone,
Ambassador Pearce, Governor Loong, Secretary Deles and Mr. Donovan
pose with Hja. Asanji, Hja. Amil, teachers and students of the MSU
Sulu Laboratory High School. The Australian government, through its
Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao (BEAM) Program, implemented
by AusAID, is one of USAID’s partners in the GEM/CLIC Program.
(left photo) Grade school students wave flags upon the
arrival of the party at the MSU Sulu Laboratory High School. (right
photo) Smiling scholars from the Kassanangan Foundation welcomed the
traveling delegation.
(left photo) Ambassador Ricciardone and Ambassador
Pearce observe as students browse the Internet using computers provided
by the CLIC Program. USAID’s GEM-CLIC Program provided the school
with computers, software, and maintenance training for teachers and
other officials. The Internet connection is made possible via satellite
using hardware provided by the Australian government’s BEAM
Program.
Hja. Amil shows Ambassador Ricciardone and Ambassador
Pearce the science laboratory equipment provided through a matching
grant by USAID-GEM Program’s Education Awareness Support Effort
(EASE) Project. The equipment includes a microscope, test tubes, beakers
and other laboratory supplies. In addition to the science laboratory
equipment, the school was given an overhead projector.
 |
Ima Verzosa, USAID's Women in Development Officer, and
U.S. Embassy Press Attaché Karen Kelley pose at the
entrance of the Sulu Provincial Hospital, which was the
recipient of a grant from USAID's Growth with Equity in
Mindanao (GEM) program. On the left is Yussah Baddong, Sulu
Program Manager of USAID's EnRICH (Enhanced and Rapid Improvement
of Community Health) and Save the Children.
|
The delegation receives a warm welcome at the 88th Founding
Anniversary Celebration of the Sulu Provincial Hospital. On stage
are General Braganza, Mr. Donovan, Ambassador Pearce, Ambassador Ricciardone
and Governor Hussin.
Ambassador Ricciardone meets with members of the Muslim
Women Peace Advocates at the Sulu Agro-Industrial Area. Heading the
forum is former senator Santanina Rasul (center), the overall chairperson
of the organization. The informal dialogue seeks to discuss development
and peace issues in Mindanao. With Ambassador Ricciardone are (l-r)
Govenor Hussin, Ambassador Pearce, Secretary Deles, Governor Loong
and Mr. Donovan.
 |
 |
(upper right photo) Sulu Provincial Governor Benjamin Loong
welcomes the delegation to the BJ Coco Oil Mill, a US$3 million
project of the Loong family. (upper right photo) Govenor Hussin,
Secretary Deles, former senator Santanina Rasul and Mr. Donovan
listen to Govenor Loong as he explains how his enterprise
can become a model for Sulu’s business sector. (lower
right photo) Ambassador Ricciardone receives a “kris”
from the provincial government in appreciation of the US government’s
support to the peace and development initiatives of the province.
In photo are Don Loong, Sulu Provincial Administrator and
ARMM Governor Hussin.
|
 |
 |
 |
(left photo) Ambassador Ricciardone and Ambassador Pearce
lead the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Kassanangan Library, a resource
center for the foundation’s Muslim scholars. With them are Dr.
Amy Malbun, Sulu Department of Education Superintendent, and former
senator Santanina Rasul. (right photo) The delegation sits in front
of the shelves which show the books the library has so far accumulated.
The Asia Foundation provided the Kassanangan Foundation with books,
while the US embassy turned over two computers for the library. The
Foundation aims to upgrade the library, over the next five years,
into a center complete with computers, audio visual equipment, and
internet resources which will be open for use by any student from
the province.
