RESURRECTION SUNDAY CONTEMPLATIVE WALK: A REVOLUTIONARY CALL TO THE PEACE OF CHRIST

This Easter Sunday, I walk slowly, reflectively. I carry in my heart not just the memory of an empty tomb, but the weight of what that empty tomb demands of me. The Risen Christ comes to me, as he did to his first disciples, and says, “Peace be with you” (John 20:19). These words are not merely to soothe; they are a revolutionary summons—to receive, embody, and proclaim the salaam-shalom of God in a world torn by violence, inequality, and despair. The peace of Jesus is not sentimental. It is subversive. “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you,” he says (John 20:21). The Father sent him into the heart of empire, injustice, and religious corruption. Jesus responded not with the sword, but with humility, suffering love, and bold truth-telling—even unto death. And when he rose, he did not return with vengeance but with peace. “Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself!” (Luke 24:39).

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2025/04/resurrection-sunday-contemplative-walk-a-revolutionary-call-to-the-peace-of-christ/

THE SEED THAT REGENERATES AND TRANSFORMS: A LENTEN REFLECTION ON JUSTICE, LEADERSHIP, AND NATIONAL RENEWAL

Jesus offers a compelling image of transformation: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:20-33). These words, spoken on the road to the cross, carry a deep truth about how real change—whether in our lives or in our society—often requires loss, death, and letting go. This reflection takes on deeper urgency in the light of recent events: the arrest and ongoing trial of former President Rodrigo Duterte at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. For many, this is a long-awaited moment of justice; for others, it is a painful disruption to a deeply held loyalty. Regardless of where we stand politically, we who follow the Way of Jesus are called not to blind allegiance but to walk in the light of truth, justice, and righteousness. Today, the Gospel challenges us as Filipinos: What must die in us for new life to rise? What does the path of the grain of wheat look like for our nation in this historic moment?

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2025/03/the-seed-that-regenerates-and-transforms-a-lenten-reflection-on-justice-leadership-and-national-renewal/

FORMER PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE IS ARRESTED AND TRANSFERRED TO ICC

As I read today’s Philippine Daily Inquirer headline, “From ‘Tokhang’ to The Hague: Duterte handed over to ICC,” I found myself pausing—not out of surprise, but in solemn reflection. This is a momentous day for our nation. The arrest and transfer of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC) signifies more than just a legal milestone. It marks a profound shift in our collective conscience—from a time when extrajudicial killings became normalized under a brutal “war on drugs,” to a moment of reckoning before an international tribunal. It is the beginning of an accounting long delayed, yet urgently needed. As a justice-based peacebuilding worker and a follower of Jesus of Nazareth, I do not see this event merely through the lens of legality. I see it as a moral and ethical crossroads for the Filipino people. This is a test of our commitment to truth, justice, and accountability—not only for the powerless, but now, remarkably, for the once-powerful.

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2025/03/former-president-rodrigo-duterte-is-arrested-and-transferred-to-icc/

BUILDING PEACE THROUGH ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT: THE ROLE OF BANGSAMORO WOMEN

Over the past decade, significant efforts have been made to promote gender justice and economic empowerment in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), with Bangsamoro women playing a crucial role in peacebuilding and development. Oxfam and The Asia Foundation (TAF), supported by the Australian Government, have implemented programs that provide marginalized women with training, mentorship, and access to financial resources to help them thrive as entrepreneurs. These initiatives culminated in the Bangsamoro WEE Learning Exchange in 17-19 February 2025, which highlighted policy support, Islamic Finance, and inclusive growth strategies. As a panelist at this event, I shared insights from my work with Coffee for Peace, reinforcing my belief in the transformative power of inclusive economic growth as a path to lasting peace in the region.

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2025/02/building-peace-through-economic-empowerment-the-role-of-bangsamoro-women/

PBCI CELEBRATES PASSAGE OF BANGSAMORO INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ACT; REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO INCLUSIVE PEACEBUILDING

Upi, Maguindanao Del Norte – As a long-term advocate for justice and reconciliation in Mindanao, PeaceBuilders Community, Inc. (PBCI) joins the Indigenous Peoples (IP) of Bangsamoro in celebrating the historic passage of the Bangsamoro Indigenous Peoples Act of 2024 by the Bangsamoro Parliament on 10 December 2024. This landmark legislation strengthens the rights, recognition, and empowerment of Indigenous Peoples within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), marking a major step forward for peace and inclusivity in the region. For decades, PBCI has walked alongside Indigenous communities in Mindanao, advocating for their land rights, self-determination, and cultural preservation. The Bangsamoro Indigenous Peoples Act of 2024 provides a long-overdue legal framework that formalizes these rights, ensuring mechanisms for ancestral domain recognition, cultural preservation, access to government resources, and active participation in governance.

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2025/02/pbci-celebrates-passage-of-bangsamoro-indigenous-peoples-act-reaffirms-commitment-to-inclusive-peacebuilding/

BAGOBO TAGABAWA FARMERS AND PBCI-CFP TEAM LAUNCH TOGETHER AN AGRO-FORESTRY PROJECT IN MT. APO

A pioneering agroforestry initiative is set to take root in the ancestral lands of the Bagobo-Tagabawa community in Barangay Binaton, Bansalan, Davao del Sur. Spearheaded by PeaceBuilders Community, Inc. (PBCI), Coffee for Peace (CFP), and the Indigenous Ancestral Domain Association (IADA), this project seeks to rehabilitate deforested lands in the foothills of Mt. Apo while fostering sustainable livelihoods for indigenous farmers. The initiative will commence with a 2-hectare demonstration farm, serving as a model for best practices in agroforestry. This initial phase will allow farmers to refine cultivation techniques, integrate traditional ecological knowledge with modern scientific approaches, and assess the economic viability of the project before scaling up operations. The long-term goal of this initiative is to expand up to 32 hectares, contingent on funding availability. This ambitious expansion plan underscores the project’s commitment to widespread environmental restoration and economic empowerment.

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2025/01/bagobo-tagabawa-farmers-and-pbci-cfp-team-launch-agro-forestry-project-in-mt-apo-together/

MY JOURNEY IN USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FRAMED IN SOCIAL ETHICS AND PEACEBUILDING

My journey in using AI within the framework of social ethics and peacebuilding has been a process of discernment, balancing the potential benefits of technology with the ethical challenges it presents. AI can serve as a tool for justice, conflict prevention, and reconciliation, but only if it is framed with human dignity, fairness, and accountability at its core. I have explored its role in early warning systems, mediation, and restorative justice, recognizing both its promise and its risks. Ethical AI must be human-centered, participatory, transparent, and committed to nonviolence. As peacebuilders, we must ensure that AI amplifies the voices of the marginalized rather than reinforcing systems of oppression. The future of AI in peace work is not just about innovation but about moral responsibility—using technology to build a world rooted in justice, equity, and peace.

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2025/01/my-journey-in-using-artificial-intelligence-framed-in-social-ethics-and-peacebuilding/

EMIL JONATHAN SORIANO IS THE NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE PBCI BOARD OF TRUSTEES

PeaceBuilders Community, Inc. (PBCI) is proud to announce the election of Emil Jonathan Soriano as Chairman of its Board of Trustees. His appointment marks a pivotal moment in the organization’s ongoing mission to promote justice, reconciliation, and sustainable peace across the Philippines. With over a decade of partnership with PBCI and its co-founders, Rev. Dann “Lakan” Pantoja and Joji “Bai Kasunayan” Pantoja, Pastor Jon Soriano brings leadership that is both deeply aligned with PBCI’s core values and forward-looking in its approach to peacebuilding. “I am grateful for the opportunities I have had to learn and grow in my journey of peacebuilding,” Pastor Jon shared, expressing his gratitude and confidence in this new role. PBCI looks forward to collaborating under Pastor Soriano’s leadership as it embarks on the next chapter of innovative and inclusive peacebuilding efforts.

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2025/01/emil-jonathan-soriano-is-the-new-chairman-of-the-pbci-board-of-trustees/

TEAM BONDING AND REFLECTION HIGHLIGHT PEACE HUB FAMILY’S HOLIDAY CELEBRATION

The staff and leaders of Coffee for Peace, Inc., along with Kapeyapaan Coffee Roasting Services, Malipayon Post-Harvest Processing Services, IncluDev Learning Initiatives, and Produce Peace+, gathered on December 15-16, 2024, for a Christmas celebration and year-end evaluation at a beach resort in Samal Island, Davao del Sur. The event featured lively parlor games, swimming, and team-building activities that emphasized trust, communication, and shared purpose. These activities fostered joy, camaraderie, and collaboration among the 35 participants. The gathering also included a reflective session where the group reviewed their accomplishments and challenges for 2024, exchanging insights to guide their work for 2025. Concluding with a shared meal and expressions of gratitude, the event celebrated the festive season while reaffirming the participants’ commitment to fostering peace and sustainable development through innovative solutions and community engagement.

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2024/12/team-bonding-and-reflection-highlight-peace-hub-familys-holiday-celebration/

A CALL ON THE GPH AND THE MILF TO MOVE WITH GREATER URGENCY IN COMPLETING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CAB

At PBCI, we join our peacebuilding colleagues in calling on the National Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to accelerate the full implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), with a particular focus on the Annex on Normalization, while ensuring inclusivity for marginalized groups such as women, youth, and Indigenous Peoples. Our call stresses the importance of unity among the Bangsamoro people, rejecting divisive initiatives, and urges a clearer process and understanding on Sulu’s historical and political relationship with BARMM. PBCI also emphasizes the need for prompt resolution of election-related petitions to avoid undermining self-determination and calls for strengthened protections for vulnerable communities and ancestral domains. Lastly, it appeals for collective solidarity to hold leaders accountable and advance peacebuilding efforts that promote justice and inclusivity.

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2024/12/a-call-on-the-gph-and-the-milf-to-move-with-greater-urgency-in-completing-the-implementation-of-the-cab/

FIRST PBCI ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING GENERATES TRANSITIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN

On the afternoon of 16 November 2024, the Malipayon Peace Hub in Managa, Bansalan, Davao del Sur, became the vibrant venue for PeaceBuilders Community, Inc.’s (PBCI) First Annual General Meeting. The hybrid event—combining onsite and online participation—brought together 42 attendees, including field volunteers from across the Philippines, from Canada, from among PBCI and Coffee for Peace (CFP) staff, partners, impact investors, friends, and online followers. This diverse gathering marked a milestone in the organization’s journey, fostering a collaborative spirit to shape its strategic direction. Emil Jonathan Soriano (PBCI Board Chair) and Joseph “Ka Boyet” Ongkiko (PBCI’s Executive Vice President for Institutional and Program Development) led the meeting with a balance of warmth and clarity, ensuring both onsite’ and online participants were fully engaged. The three-hour session was structured yet dynamic, creating space for individual reflection, group collaboration, and collective decision-making.

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2024/11/first-pbci-annual-general-meeting-generates-strategic-plan/

WE STAND TOGETHER WITH THE ‘VOICES OF PEACE’ IN THE CALL TO RESUME PEACE TALKS AND TO TRANSFORM THE CONFLICT NONVIOLENTLY

“Only through sustained peace talks and the commitment towards a transformative political settlement of the conflict can we achieve an improvement in the quality of life of all Filipinos, implement significant socio-economic development for conflict affected communities that are sustainable, culturally and conflict-sensitive, and resolve the long-standing conflict towards a just and lasting peace.” This is the call of the Voices of Peace on the first-year anniversary of the Oslo Joint Communique signed last November 2023 by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). As the Mindanao Week of Peace also officially begins today, PeaceBuilders Community is taking this opportunity to stand together with the Voices of Peace and echo the call to resume the peace talks between the GPH and the NDFP as a necessary step to transform the conflict nonviolently.

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2024/11/we-stand-together-with-the-voices-of-peace-in-the-call-to-resume-peace-talks-and-to-transform-the-conflict-nonviolently/

OUR GLOBAL PEACE COMMUNITY

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