The Birth of NGO Organizing Idea

Wanting to continue his service, Thoss tried to approach Rene D. Garuchowho was then the Executive Director of the South Cotabato Foundation, Inc. (SCFI).The later knew how principled and wide experience Thoss was in CommunityDevelopment, thus, suggested him to organize an NGO and invited him on severalcommunity immersion activities in T’boli to observe and learn. At that time,the minority Moros are experiencing injustices, hence, an idea flashed in Thossto organize an NGO to serve the needs of Moros and IPs. Thoss said to his self“if I will see an NGO bearing the name Maguindanaon, I will be very happy as itmean…Maguindanaons can also do what other non-Maguindanaon NGOs could do”.Thoss was further motivated by the inspiration given by Brother James F. Adamsof Notre Dame of Marbel College to help him in organizing a Maguindanaon NGO toserve Moro and IP communities.

The birth of NGO organizing idea

Wanting to continue his service, Thoss tried to approach Rene D. Garucho who was then the Executive Director of the South Cotabato Foundation, Inc. (SCFI). The later knew how principled and wide experience Thoss was in Community Development, thus, suggested him to organize an NGO and invited him on several community immersion activities in T’boli to observe and learn. At that time, the minority Moros are experiencing injustices, hence, an idea flashed in Thoss to organize an NGO to serve the needs of Moros and IPs. Thoss said to himself “if I will see an NGO bearing the name Maguindanaon, I will be very happy as it mean…Maguindanaons can also do what other non-Maguindanaon NGOs could do”. Thoss was further motivated by the inspiration given by Brother James F. Adams of Notre Dame of Marbel College to help him in organizing a Maguindanaon NGO to serve Moro and IP communities.

The MDFI Turning Points

Volunteerism for Community Services

Learning from volunteer work of Thoss in SCFI activities and his employment experience with the Ministry of the Human Settlement, he organized several community activities at Datalbob, T’boli, South Cotabato. To fund the activities,he wrote solicitation letters to Coca-Cola, DOLE Philippines, San Miguel Corporations, LGUs, among others. During that time, any Moro assemblies aredoubted by government forces as among the uprising activities against the government, thus, to avoid suspicions, Thoss invited resource persons from Ministry of Agriculture on agriculture-related and Ministry of Health-on-health related community activities. Noteworthy, when San Miguel Beer Corporation donated cases of beers, Thoss exchanged it with a rice from a trader to use it for food of the Moro participants during community trainings he organized.

Linkages and networks paved way for the first project grant.

With the community-based activity volunteerism, he attended various USAID organized training like NGO and Private Business Organization, organizational development, and institutional strengthening. When the AsianInstitute of Management (AIM) allotted four slots for South Cotabato, Thoss was sponsored by USAID. Other participants were Daisy Avance Fuentes, Carlos Baldostamon from DOLE Philippines, and then Polomolok Mayor George Reyes. To complete the course, a development related paper must be presented, thus, Thoss presented a Community Organizing and Capacity Building Proposal for Datalbob. Among his classmate from PBSP and endorsed the paper of Thoss to to their office. When Thoss returned and continued his volunteer activities, PBSP finally granted P65,000.00 for a nursery community nursery establishment project.

MDFI finally organized, registered, and operational

Thoss and his wife Pendalayag M. Daulog helped in mobilizing Maguindanaon professionals to include two friends from General Santos City (one was connected with Office on Muslim Affairs and the other is from Mindanao State University) but later did not pursue. Thus, on 26^th of October 1987 the Maguindanaon Development Foundation, Inc. was organized by eight Maguindanaon Professionals with Dausay S. Daulog as President, Akmad A.Salamat as Vice President, Omar L. Bacal as Treasurer, Pendalayag M. Daulog as Secretary, Ismael B. Alamada as Auditor, and Pamulanda G. Mabinay, Quintin S. Lidasan, and Esmael P. Emba as members

MDFI finally organized, registered, and operational

Thoss and his wife Pendalayag M. Daulog helped in mobilizing Maguindanaon professionals to include two friends from General Santos City (one was connected with Office on Muslim Affairs and the other is from Mindanao State University) but later did not pursue. Thus, on 26^th of October 1987 the Maguindanaon Development Foundation, Inc. was organized by eight Maguindanaon Professionals with Dausay S. Daulog as President, Akmad A.Salamat as Vice President, Omar L. Bacal as Treasurer, Pendalayag M. Daulog as Secretary, Ismael B. Alamada as Auditor, and Pamulanda G. Mabinay, Quintin S. Lidasan, and Esmael P. Emba as members.

They agreed to register it to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) but it requires P50,000.00 total asset to do so and they don’t have that much money. Thoss utilized his resource mobilization skills and Fr. Rex Mansmann C.P. from Santa Cruz Mission donated P20,000.00 worth rice thresher, Bro. James F. Adams of Notre Dame of Marbel College donated manual mimeographing machine and a typewriter, Mahintana Foundation, Inc. donated truckloads of canned juices; Coca-Cola, Tonico, and San Miguel Beer also donated. Community-based activities were monetized and documented, thus, the P50,000.00 asset requirement wasaccomplished and on 20^th November 1987, MDFI was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  

The very first MDFI office was in the residence of Thoss. When Jahira Ambalgan applied and first served as volunteer until she was hired as full pledged staff, MDFI finally rented its office at the Boys Scout Building, Alunan Avenue, Koronadal City.

Blueprint of a Maguindanaon community services breakthrough

MDFI gradually flourished and became among the credible community development institutions in South-Central Mindanao.

Started with small short-term projects in 1988, MDFI was able to administer larger development projects and programs from various donor agencies that includes the P4,447,000.00 fund in 2002 from PBSP and Japanese Embassy that was used to construct four-storey building.

What is implied in the MDFI logo?

Dausay S. Daulog, the MDFI founder envisions of a word “Maguindanaon” to be posted and be seen in public to alleviate the spirits of deprived and marginalized Moros in SouthernPhilippines thereby inspire them to contribute positively no matter how smallor big so that government would recognize their potentials.

Written in between two(2) circles or rings is the name of the organization, Maguindanaon Development Foundation, Inc.   Drawn inside the second circle or ring are leaves of plant that is meant to symbolizing food for life.   At the main center area crescent and a Mosque both being held by two open hands intended to mean for the Foundation to serve in a religious (Islamic) way for sustainable development.