Last Thursday, the Zamboanga Relief Foundation headed by Lily Yu received medical materials for disaster relief, as well as assorted medicines particularly for oral dehydration from the Asia America Initiative.

On the same day, June 23rd, AAI founder and Director Al Santoli also turned over medicines to the Camp Navarro Hospital, and a computer unit to the Southern Command. Sometime this July, x-ray equipment valued at about US$35,000 each will be donated to the 100-bed Camp Asturias Jolo Station Hospital and the Intergrated Provincial Hospital Sulu.

The day before, Santoli paid a visit to the Camp Asturias Jolo Station Hospital and talked with OIC Captain Ferdinand Soriano, and the chief nurse thereat. He also had a conference with Notre Dame of Jolo president Dr. Romeo Saniel, Dr. Rafael Pecson of the Notre Dame of Jolo Graduate School, and the College Dean. When he flew back to Zambo last Wednesday, he had a brief meeting with Ateneo Graduate School Dean Dr. Servando Halili on plans to conduct a teacher training program for Sulu teachers.

AMERICA'S HAND
Many people in Zamboanga city and Sulu are now asking two questions: What is America's business in the city and in the province of Sulu these past few months? And, is this already an extension of the Balikatan program?

The Asia America Initiative is not "The United States". It is a non-government organization that is, simply put, keeping a concerned eye on the state of Philippine education particularly in the island municipality of Jolo. Its business is UNCONDITIONAL SERVICE. Santoli in my exclusive interviews in the past had often said that there were no conditions required out of the donations, but all he (and the AAI) requests would be for the people of Sulu and other donees to take care of the maintenance of the equipment to ensure that many people could avail of the services and benefits for which the donations are intended.

The donations are not intended to be dole-outs as well. Santoli has likewise made it clear that the AAI wishes to build friendly partnerships with these educational institutions so that the youth in Sulu may be better served. Santoli has also expressed that the bottomline of the concern here is based on the grim picture of the state of Philippine education particularly in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. And I would say, this should not be given color.

The Balikatan exercises is a joint military activity of the governments of the Untied States and the Republic of the Philippines, and in the annual conduct of such (in the past, at least), both governments had separate humanitarian aid projects as part of the program's civil-military operations. The AAI's Asia America Initiative is entirely different from that of Balikatan's CMO program.

However, I as a Filipino would also hope that my brothers who are the recipients of the donations would not also abuse America's concern, so as to keep the trust and friendship on solid ground.

There is not much meaning to be given to all these programs of the AAI, or the visits of AAI representatives. The donations are simply because, there are many organizations in the United States that understand the plight of the people in war-torn Sulu, and their members want to share.