Joji Felicitas Pantoja

Joji Pantoja is beginning to use her Tagalog tribal name -- Lakambini Mapayapa -- as a way of identifying with the struggles of the Indigenous Peoples. Joji’s initial training was in Food Service Administration from the University of Santo Tomas (B.Sc., 1979). She also studied International Relations at the Asian Center, University of the Philippines. She moved to Canada in 1986 and since then developed a successful career in the investment and financial industry. After 20 years, she decided to return to the Philippines, realizing that a sustainable economic development is crucial to our people’s search for just-peace. She believes that genuine, effective peace advocacy must be economically-sustainable. Joji is our Chief Financial Officer at PBCI. She serves concurrently as CEO of Coffee For Peace, Inc.

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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/

IP WOMEN REPRESENTING CFP MADE IT TO THE TOP FIVE AT THE ‘BPI SINAG ACCELERATE 2017’

Last November 10, 2017 in Manila, two women from the Indigenous People—one from Mindanao and one from the Cordilleras—competed with other leading young entrepreneurs from across the country. Sihaya Ansibod (Erumanen Menuvu, North Cotabato) and Twinkle Alngag Bautista (Sumacher, Kalinga) represented Coffee For Peace (CFP) at the BPI Sinag Accelerate 2017’s final social entrepreneurial booth camp. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2017/11/ip-women-representing-cfp-made-it-to-the-top-five-at-the-bpi-sinag-accelerate-2017/

FINAL BUILDING PLANS AND RELEASE OF FUNDS HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR PAR EASTERN MINDANAO’S HOME

In behalf of PeaceBuilders Community, Inc. (PBCI), I’m happy to report that I have signed the final plans of a small structure to be built in Valencia City. This is made financially possible through an impact partnership with GiversTrust, Inc. I’m grateful for the release of this fund to start the building construction next week. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2017/06/final-building-plans-and-release-of-funds-have-been-approved-for-par-eastern-mindanaos-home/

CPLA INVITES PBCI TO OBSERVE THEIR TALKS WITH GOVERNMENT PEACE NEGOTIATORS

24 April 2017 — The Cordillera Peoples’ Liberation Army (CPLA) invited representatives of PeaceBuilders Community, Inc. (PBCI) to their dialogue with Sec. Jesus Dureza, the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process under the current Administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. PBCI sent me in my capacity as  Executive Vice President. With me was Ms. Maimai Lim, …

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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2017/04/cpla-invites-pbci-to-observe-their-talks-with-government-peace-negotiators/

OUR GLOBAL PEACE COMMUNITY

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