Author's posts
There are moments in global politics when a small spark of hope shines through the heavy fog of rivalry. The recent meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump in Busan, South Korea, felt like one of those moments to me. On October 30, 2025, the two leaders met face-to-face for the first time since 2019—this time amid the strains of economic sanctions, trade wars, and intensifying competition across Asia (ABC News, 2025; Reuters, 2025). Held during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit 2025, their nearly two-hour conversation seemed to ease some of the bitterness that has long defined U.S.–China relations. Reports from Reuters and The Guardian confirmed that both sides agreed to reduce damaging trade barriers and reopen cooperation in key sectors like agriculture and critical minerals.
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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2025/11/xi-jinping-donald-trump-meeting-in-busan-hopeful-lessons-for-the-philippines/
The moral, social, and ecological wounds of our nation converge into one urgent call for healing. As I reflect on the Philippines through the eyes of a peacebuilder journeying with Indigenous Peoples, I see that corruption, inequality, environmental destruction, and human rights violations are not isolated crises but symptoms of a deeper moral fracture. Justice cannot thrive where integrity is absent, and peace cannot flourish where truth is silenced. From the misuse of public funds to the hunger of our farmers and the cry of the Earth itself, we face the consequences of greed and neglect. Yet amid this pain, I also witness signs of renewal — communities demanding transparency, young people organizing for justice, and faith leaders reclaiming their prophetic voice. The healing of our nation must be integral — moral, economic, ecological, and spiritual — rooted in integrity, compassion, and the collective pursuit of peace through justice.
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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2025/10/justice-integrity-and-the-healing-of-our-nation-looking-at-crises-as-a-whole/
Today, 21 September 2025, the day that reminds us of the dark legacy of Martial Law—I monitored thousands of Filipinos at the Trillion Peso March during the People Power Monument that was held in Quezon City. The march was a thunderous cry against corruption, particularly the scandal surrounding the alleged misuse of ₱545 billion (C$13.3 billion) in flood control funds by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). For decades, the DPWH has been at the center of corruption controversies—from ghost projects and overpriced contracts to collusion with contractors—that have cost our people trillions of pesos in lost development opportunities (Chanco, 2021). Instead of protecting lives and building resilient infrastructure, systemic corruption in the agency has left communities drowning in floods, while a wealthy few flaunt luxury cars and mansions purchased with blood money.
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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2025/09/september-21-trillion-peso-march-at-edsa-responding-to-brilliant-proposals-for-reform/
28-30 August 2025 — The Davao Regional Coffee Expo 2025 (DRCE 2025) has left me deeply moved—not only by the knowledge shared, but by the spirit of unity that flowed through every session, exhibit, and conversation. I witnessed farmers embrace new tools for climate resilience, women take their rightful place as leaders in the coffee value chain, and researchers bridge science with the lived realities of rural communities. What struck me most was how coffee became more than a crop; it became a story of culture, resilience, and collaboration. Listening to farmers, entrepreneurs, baristas, and academics share their hopes and innovations, I saw a vision of a future where coffee sustains both livelihood and community. For me, DRCE 2025 was not simply an event—it was a movement planting seeds of empowerment, sustainability, and peace, with ripples that will continue to transform lives across Davao and beyond.
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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2025/09/from-farm-to-future-the-transformative-impact-of-drce-2025-on-mindanaos-coffee-sector/
In the last two weeks of August 2025, our nation was once again shaken by revelations of corruption in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), where the Commission on Audit uncovered ₱681 million worth of “ghost flood-control projects.” These fraudulent schemes were not mere accounting errors; they represented the deliberate looting of funds intended to protect communities from natural disasters. The scandal unfolded alongside the continued struggles of farmers who faced crop losses and declining incomes due to both climate change and failed rural infrastructure. While political leaders exchanged accusations, ordinary Filipinos — especially those in flood-prone and agricultural regions — bore the brunt of the negligence. What disturbed me most was not only the scale of the corruption, but also the moral indifference shown by many in power. As a peacebuilder and follower of Jesus, I cannot remain silent while deceit and greed devastate the poor. This moment calls for the prophetic voice of the church and civil society to demand accountability, justice, and reform.
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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2025/08/looting-in-the-name-of-protection-why-religious-leaders-must-speak-against-flood-project-fraud/
04-06 August 2024 — Doug Klassen’s visit to Mindanao was, at its heart, a journey of companionship. As Executive Minister of Mennonite Church Canada (MCCanada), Doug came not merely to see projects or attend meetings, but to walk alongside us—listening, learning, and sharing in the life of our community. For three days, we moved together through the varied landscapes of Mindanao, carrying conversations that deepened our bond as companions in peacebuilding. On the first day, he shared breakfast with CFP staff and baristas, lunch with PBCI staff, held an afternoon meeting with Bennette Grace Tenecio-Mañulit, and concluded the day with dinner alongside the Mindanao PeaceWeavers’ leadership. The second day took us to Camp Darapanan for a meeting with senior Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) representatives, followed by lunch in Cotabato City with Datu Haron Al-Rasheed Baraguir. On the third day, we traveled to the Malipayon Peace Hub (MPH) where Doug had breakfast with MPH staff before returning to Davao City for a lunch meeting with the PBCI Board of Trustees. The visit concluded with a reflective meeting between Doug, Joji, and me.
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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2025/08/deepening-companionship-doug-klassen-visits-pbci-cfp-fields-in-mindanao/
As a Filipino peacebuilder shaped by the legacies of colonialism and resistance in our own land, I feel a deep kinship with the struggle of the Palestinian people. I write this especially to my fellow Filipino Christians — both Catholic and Protestant — who may have embraced Zionist interpretations of Scripture without fully considering their historical, ethical, and theological implications. The narrative that modern Israel represents the direct fulfillment of biblical prophecy has often been used to justify the displacement, oppression, and even annihilation of Palestinians. Yet emerging historical and genetic research reveals a truth that challenges this ideology: Palestinians themselves are the closest living descendants of the ancient Israelites (Finkelstein & Silberman, 2002; Atzmon et al., 2010).
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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2025/07/palestinians-as-heirs-of-the-ancient-israelites-a-filipino-peacebuilders-reflection-on-faith-history-and-justice/
I had the honor of participating in the Mennonite Church Canada Gathering 2025, held from July 2–5 in Kitchener, Ontario, on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Neutral Peoples. This national event brought together over 600 delegates and participants under the theme “Each Has a Gift.” I felt truly blessed, inspired, and energized by the spirit of communal worship, intercultural dialogue, and a shared commitment to justice and renewal. The Gathering was a vibrant space for discernment, storytelling, and relationship-building among diverse congregations and cultural communities across Canada. Each day focused on themes such as healing, justice, and belonging, creating a rhythm of spiritual depth and practical engagement. As part of the program, I presented my reflection, “Creating Spaces as Companions,” which explored the decolonization of Christian relationships through the lens of biblical koinonia and Indigenous-rooted companionship. My presentation contributed to the ongoing conversation about how the church can move from transactional partnerships to covenantal, Spirit-led companionships. I emphasized the importance of listening to Indigenous voices, honoring local contexts, and nurturing organic growth within the Body of Christ.
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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2025/07/blessed-inspired-and-energized-reflections-from-mennonite-church-canada-gathering-2025/
On 21–22 June 2025, while I’m enjoying the presence of my daughters and their families here in the Greater Vancouver Area, Canada, the world witnessed a historic and deeply alarming event: the United States launched a direct military attack on Iranian soil, striking three of its most fortified nuclear sites—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. For the first time in modern history, the U.S. did not just target Iranian proxies or operatives abroad; it attacked the core of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure within its borders. As a Filipino peace builder, this moment compels deep reflection. Such an escalation raises urgent questions about the fragility of international diplomacy and the thresholds that major powers are now willing to cross. It brings into sharp focus the immense human cost that could follow if global leaders abandon dialogue in favor of force. This act not only threatens regional stability in the Middle East but also reverberates globally, challenging all of us who work for peace and justice to redouble our efforts.
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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2025/06/reflecting-on-the-june-2025-u-s-strikes-against-iran-while-with-my-family-in-canada/
As an ordinary Filipino concerned about peace, justice, and our nation’s future, I am alarmed by the escalating geopolitical tensions stoked by U.S. President Donald Trump and his billionaire backers. His rhetoric and policies are dangerously provocative, designed to secure U.S. dominance at the expense of global stability. The Philippines, positioned in the Asia-Pacific, risks being dragged into wars not of our making, turning our land and people into pawns of empire. Trump’s disregard for diplomacy weakens global institutions, fuels arms races, and breeds mistrust among nations. Small sparks in places like the South China Sea or the Middle East could trigger interconnected conflicts that spiral into world war. Such a catastrophe would devastate Filipino families, wasting resources meant for education, health, and development. We must resist militarism and demand leaders who value life, dignity, and genuine peace for our children’s future.
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Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2025/04/manufactured-global-conflicts-trump-weakens-international-institutions/
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/
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/
