Abdul-Azim D.

Ontok
Intern
13 and 14 Congressional Internship Program for Young Mindanao Leaders
Journal Number 4 (July 16-20, 2012)
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Expecting too much out of something will truly break your heart. I could not deny
this fact because this is how the week turned out to be for me. Firstly, my expectation in
the works to be performed in the assigned committee in the House of Representatives was
not met. Moreover, the data gathered in the coordinating office of Department of
Agriculture and Fisheries ARMM (DAF-ARMM) satellite office was very disappointing.
I excitedly started the first day of formal report to the Committee of Agriculture and
Food in the House of Representatives which shares its workspace with the Committee on
Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources. I, Sittie Nadjah Bacaraman, and Maria Cecilia
Cenon were warmly greeted and accepted by the committee secretaries and staffs. The
most obvious factor that will restrict our capability in performing various office works is the
limited working area. What caused me much disappointment was the statement of our
committee secretaries. They told us that for the entire week, we have no office work to be
accomplished since the Congress was on a break. It was totally contrary to my anticipation
last week that I will become very busy for the entire week. However, when I realized that
it is such a great opportunity for us to furnish our policy issue paper, it lightened up my
mood and everything finally turned out alright.
During the second day of the week, I and the rest of my group members in policy
issue paper requested our committee secretaries to allow us to gather information and
data for our paper on the following day. Fortunately, they granted our request. For the past
two weeks, I have been waiting for the day of July 18 to arrive because this is the day
when the data we requested in DAF-ARMM satellite office will become available. My

Abdul-Azim D. Ontok
Intern
13 and 14 Congressional Internship Program for Young Mindanao Leaders
Journal Number 4 (July 16-20, 2012)
th

th

excitement was shattered with great disappointment and frustration when we arrived at the
said office. The coordinating officer has given no physical data to us and that the person
we are expecting to hand-over to us the requested data was not working at that office but
at DAF-ARMM in Cotabato City. However, the coordinating officer forwarded us to the
Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), one of the staff bureaus of the Department of
Agriculture.
We were very blessed when we were allowed to enter the bureau premises without
presenting any document directly addressed to the bureau director. I never have thought
that there are government offices like BAR which are very open in relieving peoples thirst
for public information. We were even fortunate to meet and to interview the Planning
Officer of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Integrated Agricultural Research
Center (ARMMIARC). He gave us very critical data that will greatly support our policy issue
paper. He undoubtedly brought back our hope for our paper and I truly appreciated it.
With the re-opening of the 15 th Congress next week, I am very hopeful that our
capability as a congressional intern will be developed. I am looking forward to accomplish
various paper works and to attend committee meetings which will enhance our legislative
skills for the benefit of my community in Mindanao. Above all, personal development is
highly anticipated to be achieved during these coming weeks.