Last May 20, 2005, the HDI Delegation paid Rini Reza, the Deputy Chief of UNDP Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific a courtesy visit at U.N. Plaza 1 building fronting the U.N. Headquarters who warmly welcomed the group. Members were introduced by the HDI Founder together with the representatives from the City of Kidapawan comprising of Mayor Rodolfo Gantuangco and his wife, Shiela Gantuangco, and Councilor Joseph Evangelista; Ermelo Libre of the Mt. Apo Foundation, Inc., and Datu Eduardo Banda of the Cotabato Tribal Consultative Council. Immediately after, Ian Jon Mendoza - HDI-Philippines Youth Ambassador of the Call to Save the Mountains of the World presented the call report in verbatim which a hard copy was handed to Rini Reza who was amused to see youth volunteer presenting the report eloquently. UNDP is a key initiator of the call when it was made at the summit of Mt. Apo, Philippines last February 25, 2002.
The report covered the period from the last visit in 2002 where the group met Zephirin Diabre, the UNDP Deputy Administrator headed by John Ryan Largo, the HDI Chairperson, - the person who has conceived and organized the Call to Save the Mountains of the World. He explained work done by HDI and its partners in the furtherance of the call in the Philippines and other countries.
Representatives of partner organizations present also supplemented the report. Mayor Rodolfo Gantuangco of Kidapawan City explained to Rini Reza the activities that the City of Kidapawan has initiated and seconded by Councilor Joseph Evangelista. Ermelo Libre also presented their activities to preserve Mount Apo in the Philippines and its efforts to address the worsening socio-economic problems of the indigenous people and other residents in the area. Eduardo Banda, a tribal chieftain also participated in the deliberation and played an indigenous musical instrument to the amazement of Reza and other U.N. staff whom she gathered to meet the delegates.
The report ended with the call being re-echoed followed by presentation of souvenirs and gifts to Reza and other UNDP staff, a token of gratitude for the warm reception. There was a festive mood that ensued when U.N. staff tried to play the bamboo flute given to them as a gift. Largo also met his close friend John Oshima, UNDP RBAP Program Officer who has helped set-up HDI visit at UNDP. The visit was also a surprise meeting for two UN colleagues Jean Claude, a French national and the Founder. They have worked together in the NGO Consultative Conference held at the United Nations University in Tokyo, Japan and Osaka in the early 90s organized by Brenda Mc Sweeney, the UNV Executive Coordinator at that time.
The group arrived in New York last May 17, 2005 via Las Vegas from San Jose, Ca, after which Largo immediately made final arrangement with offices to be visited. They also visited Felice Demafeliz, a relative of the Chairpersons family at the U.N. Statistical Department who offered her assistance that enabled the delegation to participate in the International Conference on Indigenous People held at the U.N. Headquarters.
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