Comments on: Street Kids and Saints http://peacecorpsworldwide.org/21st-c-pcv/2011/04/23/street-kids-and-saints/ Currently serving as an English teacher in the Philippines (2010-2012), Mark Fullmer is documenting the changing face of the Peace Corps, and of the Philippines, in our digital era. His articles are driven by this question: how is new media and the internet shaping the life and work of Volunteers and the people they live and work with? Tue, 21 May 2013 04:55:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Joey http://peacecorpsworldwide.org/21st-c-pcv/2011/04/23/street-kids-and-saints/comment-page-1/#comment-41 Joey Wed, 04 May 2011 14:21:16 +0000 http://peacecorpsworldwide.org/21st-c-pcv/?p=129#comment-41 Thank you so much for your reply, Mark. I note the year when Peace Corps pulled out of Mindanao. The important thing is that you and other Volunteers are safe. Back to your wonderful reporting of real time, real people! Thank you so much for your reply, Mark. I note the year when Peace Corps pulled out of Mindanao. The important thing is that you and other Volunteers are safe.

Back to your wonderful reporting of real time, real people!

]]> By: Mark Fullmer http://peacecorpsworldwide.org/21st-c-pcv/2011/04/23/street-kids-and-saints/comment-page-1/#comment-40 Mark Fullmer Wed, 04 May 2011 12:14:01 +0000 http://peacecorpsworldwide.org/21st-c-pcv/?p=129#comment-40 Joey & David. The kidnapping hasn't been discussed by staff since I've been here, but I'll tell you what I can. From 1990-92 Peace Corps pulled out of the Philippines, officially (as you say, David) because of the kidnapping. I have no knowledge if it was politically motivated (i.e., to get more leverage on the military bases deal). What I do know is that after Peace Corps returned, volunteers continued to work in Mindanao (the region where the minority Muslim population is and where the people who claim to be Abu Sayaf are) until 2001. The reason Peace Corps made that region off limits to volunteers at that time? Apparently, it was due more to change in the Filipino government's desire for volunteer placement than to an increased danger in the region. Hope that helps! Joey & David. The kidnapping hasn’t been discussed by staff since I’ve been here, but I’ll tell you what I can. From 1990-92 Peace Corps pulled out of the Philippines, officially (as you say, David) because of the kidnapping. I have no knowledge if it was politically motivated (i.e., to get more leverage on the military bases deal). What I do know is that after Peace Corps returned, volunteers continued to work in Mindanao (the region where the minority Muslim population is and where the people who claim to be Abu Sayaf are) until 2001. The reason Peace Corps made that region off limits to volunteers at that time? Apparently, it was due more to change in the Filipino government’s desire for volunteer placement than to an increased danger in the region. Hope that helps!

]]> By: Joey http://peacecorpsworldwide.org/21st-c-pcv/2011/04/23/street-kids-and-saints/comment-page-1/#comment-39 Joey Sun, 01 May 2011 22:21:59 +0000 http://peacecorpsworldwide.org/21st-c-pcv/?p=129#comment-39 Thank you for your perspective, David. I find the covergence of events very interesting. The Volunteer in question commented on the website, Peace Corps Online. I remember asking him all kinds of questions. He never responded. He may well hold the key to the sequence of events, but it is his to tell when and if he chooses. When Peace Corps left Colombia, the official version as promoted by then Colorado Congressional Woman Pat Shroeder, was that Peace Corps had "made" Colombia safe for democracy and the Peace Corps work was done, and that was why the Volunteers were being withdrawn.That would have been ludicrous, if the political situation in Colombia had not been so tragic. Thank you for your perspective, David. I find the covergence of events very interesting. The Volunteer in question commented on the website, Peace Corps Online. I remember asking him all kinds of questions. He never responded. He may well hold the key to the sequence of events, but it is his to tell when and if he chooses.

When Peace Corps left Colombia, the official version as promoted by then Colorado Congressional Woman Pat Shroeder, was that Peace Corps had “made” Colombia safe for democracy and the Peace Corps work was done, and that was why the Volunteers were being withdrawn.That would have been ludicrous, if the political situation in Colombia had not been so tragic.

]]> By: dsearles http://peacecorpsworldwide.org/21st-c-pcv/2011/04/23/street-kids-and-saints/comment-page-1/#comment-38 dsearles Sun, 01 May 2011 21:50:24 +0000 http://peacecorpsworldwide.org/21st-c-pcv/?p=129#comment-38 The reasons for the closing of the Peace Corps program in the Philippines during the early 90s is subject to debate (at least it was when I was writing about in in 1995). One version (the official American version) is that it was in response to the kidnapping of a volunteer. The other version (the one given me by a former Filippina staff member) is that it was a 'hardball' tactic used by the US to get a better deal while it was in the midst of negotiating a renewal of the military bases agreement. In effect, the US was saying, according to this version, here is just a small example of what we will do if you keep pressuring us for higher rent payments. In support of this version, these folks point out that the evacuation notices went out to PCVs BEFORE the Peace Corps knew that the kidnapping had occurred. I have no idea which version is correct. Mark, what do they say about the evacuation these days? . The reasons for the closing of the Peace Corps program in the Philippines during the early 90s is subject to debate (at least it was when I was writing about in in 1995).

One version (the official American version) is that it was in response to the kidnapping of a volunteer.

The other version (the one given me by a former Filippina staff member) is that it was a ‘hardball’ tactic used by the US to get a better deal while it was in the midst of negotiating a renewal of the military bases agreement. In effect, the US was saying, according to this version, here is just a small example of what we will do if you keep pressuring us for higher rent payments. In support of this version, these folks point out that the evacuation notices went out to PCVs BEFORE the Peace Corps knew that the kidnapping had occurred.

I have no idea which version is correct. Mark, what do they say about the evacuation these days?

.

]]> By: Joey http://peacecorpsworldwide.org/21st-c-pcv/2011/04/23/street-kids-and-saints/comment-page-1/#comment-37 Joey Sun, 01 May 2011 18:45:54 +0000 http://peacecorpsworldwide.org/21st-c-pcv/?p=129#comment-37 Mark, As always, your writing just opens up thePhilippines and the people you see and know. Thank you. A request and a comment: Could you describe more about the Philippine teachers whom Peace Corps is bringing in for seminar on teaching English? Is this a cooperative effort with the Philippine Ministry of Education? Has it been done before, routinely? I think this may well speak to how Peace Corps is integregated into the educational structure of the country. This speaks to the administrative history of Peace Corps in one of the oldest programs in a pioneer country. The comment is to suggest a historic context for the kidnapping threat. Certainly, you and other serving Volunteers are the final word on what may be happening and why. This is just my opinion. Kidnapping or its threat can be very destructive, not only to the specific targets, but to a Peace Corps program in a given country. As you may or may not know, the Army of the People kidnapped a Volunteer in the Philippines in 1990. He was held for about two months before being released. I consulted Lawrence F. Lihosit’s “Peace Corps Chronology” and found that Peace Corps closed out its programs in the Philippines in 1990 and did not reopen them until 1992. My assumption is this was done as a consequence of the kidnapping. I remember Richard Starr, a Colombian PCV, who was kidnapped and held for three years, 1977 to 1980. He was finally ransomed, privately. Peace Corps left Colombia in 1981 and just returned in 2010. To note the potential seriousness of this kind of threat is in no way to diminish the bravery of all of you who served and have served accepting real risk in order to do the job. Mark,

As always, your writing just opens up thePhilippines and the people you see and know.
Thank you.

A request and a comment: Could you describe more about the Philippine teachers whom Peace Corps is bringing in for seminar on teaching English? Is this a cooperative effort with the Philippine Ministry of Education? Has it been done before, routinely? I think this may well speak to how Peace Corps is integregated into the educational structure of the country. This speaks to the administrative history of Peace Corps in one of the oldest programs in a pioneer country.

The comment is to suggest a historic context for the kidnapping threat. Certainly, you and other serving Volunteers are the final word on what may be happening and why. This is just my opinion. Kidnapping or its threat can be very destructive, not only to the specific targets, but to a Peace Corps program in a given country. As you may or may not know, the Army of the People kidnapped a Volunteer in the Philippines in 1990. He was held for about two months before being released. I consulted Lawrence F. Lihosit’s “Peace Corps Chronology” and found that Peace Corps closed out its programs in the Philippines in 1990 and did not reopen them until 1992. My assumption is this was done as a consequence of the kidnapping.

I remember Richard Starr, a Colombian PCV, who was kidnapped and held for three years, 1977 to 1980. He was finally ransomed, privately. Peace Corps left Colombia in 1981 and just returned in 2010. To note the potential seriousness of this kind of threat is in no way to diminish the bravery of all of you who served and have served accepting real risk in order to do the job.

]]>