Abdul-Azim D.

Ontok
Intern
13 and 14 Congressional Internship Program for Young Mindanao Leaders
Journal Number 6 (July 30 August 3, 2012)
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The week began and ended with a rainy and windy weather. I never experienced
such weather way back in Mindanao, but it neither prevented me from learning and
growing nor hindered me from enjoying the CIPYML with my friends.
On Monday, the tropical storm Gener brought heavy rain and strong winds which
delayed us from reaching the Philippine Congress. In our committee, many were
disappointed for working at the height of a raging typhoon. Fortunately, the employees and
staffs as well as the CIPYML interns were suspended from working at three in the
afternoon. Although it was postponed at a very late time of the day, the unconsumed two
hours for working was better off than to have nothing for rest.
The following day, with my great pursuit of higher legislative inclination, I queried for
some paper works with which I could work on. Fortunately, after three weeks of being in
the Committee of Agriculture and Food, I was tasked by our acting committee secretary,
Maam Consolacion Baby Galang, to make a fact sheet about the bill on Promoting and
Regulating the Practice of Agriculture Profession in the Philippines. Because of it, I felt an
unexplainable happiness within myself. In the back of my mind, I thought that finally, I
could show to my committee what Im worth of and what Im capable of doing. I gladly took
the bill documents from Maam Baby with a joyous smile painted on my face. Upon
receiving very good feedback from Maam Baby from the fact sheet that I wrote, I am
confident that I will do well in my committee.
Unexpectedly, later this week, I received a telephone call at our committee from the
Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) which blew my mind. They informed me that they can

Abdul-Azim D. Ontok
Intern
13 and 14 Congressional Internship Program for Young Mindanao Leaders
Journal Number 6 (July 30 August 3, 2012)
th

th

give our group a set of data which will greatly support our policy issue paper. I was very
happy about the update on our paper, but it was taken away by the subsequent news from
DAF-ARMM informing us that they could not release any data we requested without the
direct permission from their big boss. It was disappointing knowing that the data we
needed should not be treated confidentially and be readily available for public need.
During the end of the week, we consulted our policy paper to our adviser and
suggested that we visit International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) office at UP Los Baos
during our vacant period to gather some other significant data for our paper. She gave us
the spirit to do our best and to enjoy our journey of making the policy paper. Later that day,
we attended the awarding ceremony for the Secretary of DENR, Dr. Ramon Jesus Paje, at
the UP-NCPAG and I was privileged to hear him speak in public. He was given by the
college the award of Outstanding Alumni Award for National Government Service.
The week was highlighted by the exposure at the Senate of the Philippines. As how
I felt when I first stepped in the House of Representatives, never have I imagined to be
walking my step in the house of the widely recognized national legislators, our Senators.
Although we were stacked in a heavy traffic jam on our way to the Senate, the knowledge I
acquired was incomparable. Above all, watching and listening to a live TV news interview
of Senators Recto and Pangilinan and Secretary Biazon of the Bureau of Customs about
the current issue on smuggled rice from India was an unforgettable learning moment. I was
very fortunate to hear directly from the concerned government officials their concerns and
to watch the way they deal towards highly profiled government issue.