Joji Felicitas "Bai Kasunayan" Pantoja

Joji Pantoja is Bai Kasunayan (Lady of Peace) -- an honorary leadership title entrusted to her by the Indigenous Political Structure (IPS) of the Bagobo Tagabawa last 30 October 2021. She received and appreciates this title as a way of identifying with the journey and struggles of the Indigenous Peoples towards their definition of their Right to Self-Determination and the protection of their Ancestral Domain. Joji is our Chief Financial Officer at PBCI. She serves concurrently as President and Chairperson at Coffee For Peace, Inc.

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OUR SPEAKING AND MEETING TOUR ACROSS CANADA WAS ENRICHING AND ENERGIZING

Last 12 October to 12 November, Joseph “Boyet”Ongkiko, Tala Alngag Bautista, and I went through a cross-Canada tour, sharing the story of PeaceBuilders Community, Inc. (PBCI) and Coffee for Peace (CFP). It was a time of face-to-face visits with our friends and supporters, celebrating our accomplishments together as partners in the work of PBCI and CFP. It was also a time to share the vision of establishing a permanent home of PBCI and CFP in one location we refer to as Malipayon Peace Hub. We started in Eastern Canada, then westward to Central Canada, and concluding the tour in British Columbia. Our message as a team is threefold: I presented the journey of PBCI-CFP from 2006 to the present. Boyet shared the new vision of educating young leaders from Indigenous Peoples’ communities through IncluDev. Tala shared her vision for the next generation Peace and Reconciliation initiatives framed in decolonization.

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2023/11/our-speaking-and-meeting-tour-across-canada-was-enriching-and-energizing/

I’M HAPPY TO SEE THE LAUNCHING OF “KAPEHAN SA DAVAO” NETWORK’S INCUBATION PROGRAM

Last 06-07 July 2023, the Kapehan Sa Davao Network launched the Social Impact Business Incubation Program (SIBIP) for eight coffee enterprises in Region 11. It was held at Coffee For Peace Café in Davao City. I’m so inspired by the enthusiastic participation of Kape Ora, Kepeweñoz Specialty Coffee, Peding’s Café, Kape Maddiger, Gré Coffee, Tres Rosas Coffee Farm, Tribung Kape, and Kapeyapaan Farmers’ Association. These Incubation Sessions were facilitated by Upgrade Innolab Inc. This program is funded by Asian Development Bank’s SUNPh Program, to whom I and the whole Kapehan Sa Davao Network are grateful. I look forward to seeing the positive impact that the SIBIP will have on the coffee industry in the provinces of the Greater Davao Region.

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2023/07/im-happy-to-see-the-launching-of-kapehan-sa-davao-networks-incubation-program/

WE’RE PART OF ‘TEAM PHILIPPINES’ AT THE SPECIALTY COFFEE EXPO 2023 IN PORTLAND, OREGON

It was a great opportunity to be chosen as one of the representatives of the Philippine coffee industry to participate at the Specialty Coffee Expo 2023 held in Portland, Oregon last 21-23 April 2023. As President & CEO of Coffee For Peace (CFP), I’m grateful to the efforts of the Agricultural Cooperative Development International/Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance (ACDI/VOCA) in bringing coffee industry stakeholders from the Philippines to this international coffee exhibition. By participating in this premier event, Filipino coffee industry players like me were able to showcase our products and connect with the international decision makers in the industry, gaining exposure to global markets and expanding our business opportunities.

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2023/04/cfp-is-part-of-team-philippines-at-the-specialty-coffee-expo-2023-in-portland-oregon/

2022 MWC GLOBAL ASSEMBLY IN INDONESIA: A PERSONAL REFLECTION

Indonesia 2022 gathering was my sixth year and my last event serving as chair of the Peace Commission of the Mennonite World Conference (MWC). I feel the joy of watching our team working together to see MWC embrace the Statement on Solidarity with the Indigenous People. For me, this is the most exciting part of the last 6 years serving with the Peace Commission. I have been blessed working with the women and men whom I learned to respect and love. I pray that MWC would continue to serve the Body of Christ; to serve the nations towards justice and peace; and, to serve as a healing body in the process of decolonization and reconciliation in this world.

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2022/07/2022-mwc-global-assembly-in-indonesia-a-personal-reflection/

COFFEE FOR PEACE OPENS A KIOSK AT THE ABREEZA MALL IN DAVAO CITY 

I heard that the Ayala Corporation is supporting social enterprises by offering free space in their chain of malls throughout the country. Last 19 April 2021, I got a call from one of their representatives inquiring if I was interested in opening a 26-square-meter shop at the Ayala Abreeza Mall in Davao City as part of their Alagang Ayala Land Program. My first reaction was to pray. Then I established my objectives in light of the vision and mission of Coffee for Peace. I presented the plan to our community and to the management team of CFP. Our team recruited new interns and prepared them for this opportunity. Last 16 September 2021, we opened the Coffee for Peace Kiosk at Abreeza.

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2021/09/coffee-for-peace-opens-a-kiosk-at-the-abreeza-mall-in-davao-city/

THE BAGOBO TAGABAWA IN BINATON COMPLETES SIX-MONTH ‘INCLUDEV’ TRAINING 

16-17 September 2021. After the six-month Inclusive Development Training, the Bagobo Tagabawa community in Barangay Binaton, Digos City begins a long-term partnership with the PBCI-CFP Tribe. This partnership involves community-based, culturally contextualized Social Enterprise Development framed in Peace and Reconciliation (PAR) principles and practices. Because 80% of the participants in this program are women, we are giving greater emphasis on indigenous women’s leadership development. We are sharing the aspiration of the Bagobo Tagabawa Indigenous People to realize and enjoy their right to self-determination and to protect their ancestral domain.

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2021/09/the-bagobo-tagabawa-in-binaton-completes-six-month-includev-training/

ON MENTORING YOUNG WOMEN LEADERS: SHARING MY JOURNEY WITH ASHOKA COLLEAGUES

This morning, I delivered my valedictory address in behalf of my online classmates at Ashoka.Org. According to their website, “Ashoka is the first and largest network of leading social innovators in the world. Founded in 1980, Ashoka pioneered and helped establish the field of social entrepreneurship. There are now over 3,500 Ashoka Fellows in 93 countries who are working in all fields—from health and human rights to education and the environment. Since 2013, Ashoka has been electing Ashoka Fellows from the Philippines.”

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2020/10/on-mentoring-young-women-leaders-sharing-my-journey-with-ashoka-colleagues/

THE INDIGENOUS WEDDING OF ADUNA AND JAY ENRICHED MY INTERCULTURAL OUTLOOK

Lakan and I were invited to serve as principal sponsors at the marriage ceremony of Aduna Saway and Jay Manpatilan. It’s a great joy to be invited into the merging clans and respective tribes of this beautiful Talaandig bride and this handsome Higaonon groom. With the expressed blessing of Jay and Aduna, we’re sharing their wedding story to our global community.

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2019/05/the-indigenous-wedding-of-aduna-and-jay-enriched-my-intercultural-outlook/

‘COFFEE FOR PEACE’ IS CHOSEN AS PART OF THE INNOVATION FOR SOCIAL IMPACT PARTNERSHIP

Coffee for Peace, Inc. has been chosen as one of the 10 out of the 280 social enterprises who will be part of the Innovation for Social Impact Partnership (ISIP) — an initiative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in partnership with Philippine Development Foundation (PhilDev). This 6-month program aims “to support promising innovative social enterprises in the Philippines to collectively contribute to the achievement, acceleration, and sustainability of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2018/11/coffee-for-peace-is-chosen-as-part-of-the-innovation-for-social-impact-partnership/

TALA AND SIHAYA ARE SET TO TRAVEL TO THE UNITED STATES

“I have the joy and honor to send my dear spiritual daughters—Tala and Sihaya—off to the United States for their respective learning experiences and growth processes as peacebuilding leaders.” ~ Lakambini Mapayapa

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2018/08/tala-and-sihaya-are-set-to-travel-to-the-united-states/

OUR GLOBAL COMMUNITY DECLARES SOLIDARITY WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

The Peace Commission of the Mennonite World Conference have proposed a declaration of solidarity with indigenous peoples. It was approved during the General Council meetings last 23–26 April 2018 in Nairobi, Kenya. Mennonite World Conference DECLARATION OF SOLIDARITY WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLES The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who …

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2018/05/our-global-community-declares-solidarity-with-indigenous-peoples/

MIGRANTS AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AT MOUNT APO WORK TOGETHER TOWARDS INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT

The Bagobo-Tagabawa Tribe and the Christian Migrants are demonstrating cross-cultural, relational harmony while producing quality coffee together. This is happening at the foot of Mt. Apo in Bansalan, Davao del Sur. PeaceBuilders Community, Inc. (PBCI) have been involved in community organization and training of community leaders. Coffee For Peace (CFP) is the social enterprise company …

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2017/12/migrants-and-indigenous-people-at-mount-apo-work-together-towards-inclusive-development/

OUR GLOBAL PEACE COMMUNITY

We are sent by Mennonite Church Canada Witness in partnership with our international community.