Last year, we were invited to listen to local folks from a coffee farming community in Central Mindanao. They expressed their desire for a long-term inclusive development initiative. We shared our social entrepreneurial approach framed in Peace and Reconciliation (PAR). Soon, more coffee farming communities have invited us to work with them.
Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2019/06/par-seeds-are-well-planted-among-coffee-farmers-in-central-mindanao/
Seven years ago, I got into coffee farming and I asked another elder how to know if a tree promotes biodiversity. He said, “Look at it. Are there orchids or ferns or moss in its trunk? Are there birds in its branches? Are there animals that feed off it? Are there other plants and trees around? If yes, then you have your answer.”
Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2019/05/learning-from-my-indigenous-elders-about-biodiversity/
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.
Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2019/05/the-indigenous-wedding-of-aduna-and-jay-enriched-my-intercultural-outlook/
I felt energized by the Spirit of the Great Creator as I listened to my fellow Erumanen Ne Menuvu. I’m aware that the Creator is always with me in everything that I do. Before I left for this trip, I prayed that the Spirit would strengthen me with love, joy, and patience. That’s exactly the strength I experienced. Love. Joy. Patience.
Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2019/05/energized-by-love-for-the-indigenous-people-of-mt-agkir-agkir/
Last year, three Catholic priests were killed in the Philippines. Last December, bishops who were perceived as opposing the ‘war on drugs’ were tagged as “useless fools” to be killed. These prompted church leaders to condemn what they describe as a “culture of violence” that has “gradually prevailed in our land.” Catholic Archbishop Socrates Villegas delivered his Maundy Thursday homily addressing these challenges.
Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2019/04/archbishop-villegas-death-is-not-a-threat-martyrdom-is-our-mission/
How do we proceed towards healing — as individuals, as communities, as peoples — from the legacies of widespread violence and of massive human rights abuses in the past and in the present? We’re looking into Transitional Justice as “Dealing with the Past” — initiatives that uphold the people’s right to know, right to justice, right to reparation, and guarantee of non-recurrence towards conflict transformation and reconciliation. As a team of peace and reconciliation (PAR) missionaries, Transitional Justice is a motivation for us to contribute to the healing of our multi-ethnic country, one PAR community at a time.
Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2019/04/dealing-with-the-past-a-path-of-the-people-towards-healing-the-future-of-our-nation/
Peace and justice advocates are facing great challenges and difficulties as the government intensify their anti-insurgency campaign. In 30 March,14 farmers were killed by the police and military in Negros Oriental. Last 04 April, the president made a public threat to arrest critics and declare a ‘revolutionary war.’ A UN rapporteur testifies that there is a silent war being waged on Philippine indigenous communities. As faith-based peace-and-justice field workers committed to active nonviolence, how should we respond to these challenges?
Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2019/04/pursuing-peace-and-reconciliation-amidst-the-political-challenges-were-facing/
Last Thursday, 28 March, the provincial government of Davao Occidental invited Joji to be the keynote speaker at their 2019 National Women’s Month Celebration. Speaking on the theme “We Make Change Work For Women,” Joji emphasized both the reproductive and productive roles of women as community leaders. She shared her journey as a mother and her Coffee For Peace story to illustrate the main points of her speech.
Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2019/03/joji-shares-coffee-for-peace-story-to-inspire-women-in-davao-occidental/
CDA Collaborative Learning and Stopping As Success Consortium invited PBCI-CFP, along with 20 other international participants, to share our insights and perspectives on how we are managing our strategic journey from internationally-funded peace and development project to locally-sustained inclusive development movement. The consultation was held last 12-13 March 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2019/03/pbci-cfp-joins-stopping-as-success-consultation-in-bangkok/
“Peace is within our reach but largely depends on our willingness to treat each other within the bond of kinship!” This has been the continuing message of Datu Migketay “Vic” Saway as he calls various leaders of Indigenous Peoples, Moro, and Settlers to gather together to affirm our kinship.
Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2019/03/lumad-moro-and-settlers-affirm-their-kinship-as-primary-basis-for-peace/
The Banao Tribal Elders from the Municipality of Balbalan, Province of Kalinga graced us with their presence from 27 February to 02 March 2019. During their visit, they affirmed our inclusive development partnership; they went through an orientation seminar on coffee farming, processing, quality enhancement, and marketing; and, they enjoyed key places in Davao City and the Mount Apo area.
Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2019/03/banao-tribal-elders-from-kalinga-visit-davao-for-par-training/
I participated in a gathering of survivors of armed conflict and human rights violations. Most of us were overcomers of Martial Law under the brutal Marcos dictatorial regime. We came out determined to integrate the emotions involved in a kind of damage to the mind that occurs as a result of overwhelming amount of stress. We are being healed from the past.
Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2019/02/remembering-the-violence-and-horror-of-the-marcos-dictatorial-rule/
Together with Mennonite Church Canada Witness and our international peacebuilding partners, we journey in companionship, nurturing relationships that strengthen our collective commitment to justice, reconciliation, and lasting peace.
