The “isolation” that the CoVid 19 pandemic brought for 2 years, that we were not able to gather as a community did not dampen the spirits of the cooperatives of Region 10. 

At this time that we have less stricter rules on community gathering, the kick-off activity which was on the very first day of October, gathered 90 cooperatives from the province of Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon and from Cagayan de Oro City as the center of Region 10.

Converging with the theme: “KooPinas: Nagkakaisang Lakas para sa Makabuluhan at Sama-samang Pag-unlad!” the approximate total of 1,280 participants started the activity with a celebration of the Holy Mass, and proceeded with the traditional parade around the city, and followed with a program, and was a meeting of very dynamic and cooperative leaders. 

The activity was held in the Provincial Capitol grounds thru the very generous effort of the Provincial Cooperative Office of Misamis Oriental who made representations to the Hon. Governor Peter Unabia.  The guest speaker was the City Mayor Klarex Uy and represented by Councilor Imee Rose P. Moreno who chairs the City Council of Cagayan de Oro Committee on Cooperatives. 

The formal opening of the celebration of the Cooperative Month 2022 was well prepared by the officers of the Regional Cooperative Development Council for Region 10 headed by Chairman Manny dela Peña, with the active participation of the Cooperative Development Council of Cagayan de Oro City, with Chairman Edgardo Micayabas, and of the CDA – 10 with Supervising CDS Marissa B. Catubig representing Regional Director Aminoden A. Elias.

Region 10 cooperatives indeed showed their “nagkakaisang lakas,” a renewed strength once again as we gathered to show a force to reckon especially in these most trying times.  There were a number of cooperatives of Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental who brought with them their agriculture crops and products distributed to other cooperatives who joined the celebration.

Highlight of the activity is the information for all cooperatives, especially in Cagayan de Oro City the CLIMBS CEO and President Noel Raboy presentation of the Koop Eskwela.  A unification project of Federations in Region 10, with the participation of billionaire cooperatives. MASS-SPECC, NATCCO, CLIMBS, and the RCDC 10, and Oro Integrated Cooperative (OIC) and FICCO, conceptualized the idea of bringing the “on wheels” or mobile classroom educational concept which will benefit elementary schoolchildren who are less fortunate, and those who cannot afford to buy gadgets to be used for online or virtual classes, and to be used in areas with difficult internet connectivity.  Added to this, the mobile classroom is solar powered, and with internet connectivity. The mobile classroom can accommodate 10 students, and 20 more students can make use of the internet connection within the area.  Plus factor is the presence of Para-Teachers who can coach and or tutor the students in subjects like language, arithmetic, science, and more.  The presentation also is with invitation for cooperatives to join the cause so the maintenance costs may be covered and the project to last as long as needed.

In between the speeches during the program was the awarding of prizes for special citations during the parade.  There was the “Lahutay” Award, given to the contingent who has stayed from the beginning of the activity up to the end.  There was the largest contingent; the award from the farthest place within Region 10.

It is also worth to mention that in the lined up activities for the month is the search for Miss and Mr. Cooperative.  Capping the program was a sneak peak of the participants who presented their ideas on the 7 Cooperative Principles was the most awaited and applauded part of the program. A beauty and brains contest that will showcase the youth’s participation and knowledge on cooperativism.   The final show for the Miss and Mr. Cooperative will be during the culmination night which we foresee to be again participants-packed and most awaited because of the awarding of prizes  for all the winners in every contest held during the whole month of October. 

As ever, as usual, and as expected, the cooperatives of Region 10 will always be “sama-sama sa pagka kaisa ng lakas tungo sa pag unlad!