Author's posts
Last 30 October 2024, the Office of the Indigenous Political Structure (IPS) of the Bagobo Tagabawa Tribe bestowed upon Joji and myself the Lumabat Award. The awarding ceremony was held during the Sinub’badan Festival 2024. Receiving the Lumabat Award is a profound honor that fills me with deep gratitude to Manama–the Great Creator, not only for the recognition but for the journey that led to this moment. Named after the legendary figure Lumabat, a cultural hero of the Bagobo Tagabawa tribe, the award embodies the values of resilience, wisdom, and the quest for a meaningful connection between humanity and the divine. As I hold this award close to my heart, I am reminded of the intricate relationship between our work, the tribe’s heritage, and the transformative power of peace and reconciliation. Joji and I are grateful to the IPS for their welcoming embrace, mentorship, companionship, and partnership. We’re also grateful to our sending Body, the Mennonite Church Canada, who gave us freedom to listen and to work with the Bagobo Tagabawa based on local definitions of partnership, companionship, and development.
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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2024/10/celebrating-a-sacred-honor-the-bagobo-tagabawa-bestow-us-with-the-lumabat-award/
“Transforming MILF into a social movement: The most viable option in a democratic struggle.” This is the theme of the 2024 General Assembly and Consultation of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), held last Monday, 23 September 2024, at Camp Darapanan, Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte. Our team from PeaceBuilders Community, Inc., and Coffee For Peace was invited by the Hon. Mohagher Iqbal (Chair, MILF Peace Negotiating Panel) through MP Mary Ann Arnado (Bangsamoro Parliament). Before a crowd of 300,000+, I was invited to be one of the speakers to express support to their transformation from being an armed revolutionary group to becoming a social movement. As the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) governance continue to take shape, I found myself reflecting on the MILF’s future. With the transition period nearing its conclusion, the MILF faced a critical decision: What comes next for a movement born out of armed revolution?
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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2024/09/from-armed-revolution-to-social-movement-milf-embraces-path-of-peace-and-transformation/
On 28 August 2024, I was invited by Ateneo de Davao University to give a talk on Inter-Religious and Intercultural Dialogue among spiritual leaders from Christian, Islamic, and Indigenous Peoples’ communities in Mindanao. I shared how we, at PeaceBuilders Community, Inc. (PBCI), practice this kind of dialogue. We begin with intentional listening, focusing on understanding the worldview, values, and behavior patterns of others. This process forces us to confront our own biases and assumptions, which leads to both personal and communal transformation. Effective dialogue requires not only clarity in our own beliefs but also an understanding of the historical and social contexts that shape others’ perspectives. Dialogue also helps reveal the underlying needs driving various interests and behaviors, laying the groundwork for cooperative peacebuilding. Over time, this process fosters inclusive development, benefitting all communities involved. At PBCI, we believe listening is the first act of love, and love-driven listening can lead to lasting peace. Through genuine dialogue, adversarial relationships can be transformed, creating opportunities for collaboration and mutual development.
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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2024/08/inter-religious-and-inter-cultural-dialogue-lessons-from-the-experiences-of-peacebuilders-community/
In the realm of peacebuilding, the relationship between international and local peace organizations often fluctuates between two distinct modes of interaction: companionship and partnership. These modes represent different approaches, values, and outcomes, each significantly influencing the effectiveness and sustainability of peace efforts. Grasping the subtleties of these interactions is key to fostering genuine, lasting peace in conflict-affected regions. This dialogue began during the July 2024 gathering of Mennonite missionaries working in Asia, and subsequently became a topic of informal reflection among the staff and volunteers at PeaceBuilders Community, Inc. (PBCI) and Coffee for Peace (CFP) throughout the month of August. These concepts of partnership and companionship are illustrated through the relationship between our spiritual siblings at Mennonite Church Canada and us at PBCI-CFP.
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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2024/08/partnership-and-companionship-reflections-on-the-relationship-between-international-and-local-peace-organizations/
09-13 July 2024, Thailand — A group of us, missionaries sent by the Mennonite Church Canada Witness to various parts of Asia, gathered in Southern Thailand for a time of recreation, relationship building, and deep reflection. This gathering was not just a break from our usual routines but a purposeful retreat designed to foster personal and collective growth through the lens of vulnerability. My personal response focused on decolonizing and liberating the Christian missionary enterprise. For me, it’s essential for fostering a more just and respectful approach to effective Christian witness. By critically examining past practices, prioritizing local cultures, and aligning missionary efforts with the principles of justice-based peace and reconciliation theology, the Christian mission can become a force for genuine spiritual and social transformation.
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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2024/07/decolonizing-and-liberating-the-christian-missionary-enterprise-a-personal-reflection/
Last Tuesday, 18 June 2024, we participated in the Principles for Peace Constituency Convening held in Davao City, marking a significant step forward in the ongoing Bangsamoro Peace Process. This crucial event, organized by a dedicated body committed to peace—Initiatives for International Dialogue, InciteGov, GZO, Principles for Peace—brought together key stakeholders whose insights and commitment are essential for formulating future strategies and initiatives. As PeaceBuilders Community, Inc. (PBCI), we joined a diverse array of attendees, members of civil society organizations, and leaders from various sectors involved in the peace process. The event underscored our dedication, along with that of other organizations, to fostering collaboration and dialogue among all stakeholders. We believe that the collective wisdom and dedication of our partners are indispensable in advancing the Bangsamoro Peace Process. This convening provided an opportunity for us to align our strategies and reinforce our commitment to lasting peace in the region.
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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2024/06/we-participated-in-convening-a-peace-constituency-supporting-the-bangsamoro-peace-process/
Last Monday morning, 22 April 2024, our team was invited to listen to the dreams and aspirations of former combatants at Camp Bilal, the headquarters of the North Western Mindanao Front of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces. BIAF is the armed wing of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The discussions happened at the office of MP Abdullah “Cmdr. Bravo” G. Macapaar. The ideas we were hearing resemble that of inclusive development through social enterprise. Brother Musa Mohamad Sanguila gave me time to briefly present the story of Coffee For Peace (CFP) and PeaceBuilders Community, Inc. (PBCI) as advocates and practitioners of Social Enterprise. It seems Commander Bravo and those around him, especially Ma’am Naglah Lailah Amenah Sanguila, liked the idea. Commander Bravo promised to officially invite us to conduct a training on Coffee Social Entrepreneurial Initiative. In Shaa Allah, we will return to start a partnership with this community.
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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2024/04/commander-bravos-vision-of-transforming-milf-camp-bilal-into-a-social-entrepreneurial-community/
Last Saturday, 13 April 2024, at around 20:00 GMT, Iran launched a massive aerial assault on Israeli territory, marking the first-ever direct attack from Iranian soil. The attack, dubbed Operation True Promise by Iran, comes just two weeks after an Israeli strike on its consulate in Syria. The Iranian assault lasted approximately five hours. Explosions reverberated across Israeli cities, prompting air raid sirens in over 720 locations as Israeli forces scrambled to intercept the projectiles. This drew applause from many Palestinians in Gaza on Sunday as rare payback for the Israeli offensive on their enclave. While many of my fellow Christian leaders are beating the war-drums calling the US and the Western powers to strike back at Iran, many of my Bangsamoro friends and colleagues celebrate Iran’s attack. Although I understand and sympathize with my Moro brothers and sisters as they perceive the Iranian military action as justice for the Palestinians, my inner conviction calls me to be faithful as active, nonviolent justice advocate and peacebuilding worker.
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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2024/04/a-reflection-on-irans-attack-on-israel-perspectives-from-a-peacebuilding-worker-in-mindanao-philippines/
Last 08 March 2024, our PBCI-CFP Team travelled to the Ancestral Territories of the Talaandig Indigenous community to participate in the 12th Affirmation of Kinship among Indigenous Peoples, Bangsamoro, and Settlers. As active participants in the tri-people kinship affirmation, we have been privileged to witness firsthand the profound impact of kinship in promoting peace and unity throughout Mindanao. Since its inception in 2012, this annual celebration has stood as a beacon of hope, reminding us of the deep-seated connections that bind together the Indigenous Peoples (IPs), Moros, and Settlers of our cherished region. For us, the highlight of this kinship affirmation is our inter-faith prayer. Through our collective prayers and supplications, we affirm our common humanity and recommit ourselves to the pursuit of love, joy, justice, and peace for all beings.
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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2024/03/through-prayers-and-ritual-of-unity-we-celebrated-our-kinship-with-the-peoples-of-mindanao/
Christmas 2023 carries a somber weight, serving as a commemoration rather than a jubilation. The world, marred by conflicts in Gaza, the West Bank, and various oppressive wars, casts a shadow on the season’s usual cheer. The heartbreaking inaction of the international community in the face of genocide and ethnic cleansing further dims the festive spirit. It’s a stark reminder of the unfathomable cruelty humans inflict upon their own kind, underscoring the urgent need for compassion, solidarity, and genuine peace in a world torn by inhumanity. The sermon titled “Christ Under the Rubble,” delivered by The Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac, pastor of the Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, strikes a chord within me. If Jesus were to be born today, he will be found under the rubble. This poignant sermon resonates deeply, emphasizing the enduring strength found in faith and the embodiment of hope, especially as we experience Christmas 2023 in the context of a decolonizing process.
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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2023/12/appropriate-and-authentic-2024-christmas-is-more-of-commemoration-than-a-celebration/
The imperialist colonizers have a common set of infamy — ethnic cleansing and genocide. The mindset of Spain and the United States of America considered our lands as resources to be exploited and our peoples as obstacles to be removed. This mindset laid the foundation for the systematic marginalization, oppression, and violence against the Indigenous Peoples of our archipelago. Driven by the pursuit of power, wealth, and territorial dominance, these empires embarked on expansive conquests that often involved the subjugation of indigenous populations in our country. Through our similar experiences of historical injustice, we see through the American and British instigated and perpetuated Israeli occupation of Palestine. Our on-going response to these historical injustices is justice-based peacebuilding.
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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2023/11/justice-based-peacebuilding-in-the-face-of-ethnic-cleansing-and-genocide-a-perspective-from-mindanao/
The West Philippine Sea, referred to by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the South China Sea, has become a focal point of geopolitical tensions, primarily between China and the Republic of the Philippines. This maritime dispute has wide-ranging implications for regional stability, international law, and the pursuit of economic interests. Locally, our fisherfolks are struggling as Chinese Coast Guard vessels prevent them from their basic livelihood. Nationally, this is a challenge to our sovereignty as a nation against a superpower. As the two nations grapple with conflicting territorial claims and overlapping interests, the world watches closely, concerned about the potential for escalation and the impact on global trade and security.
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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2023/09/navigating-troubled-waters-philippine-china-dispute-on-west-philippine-sea/
