Stories and ideas about being in harmony and at peace with the Creation.
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/
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/
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/
Ms. Dee Dimaisip Bat-og has been mentoring a group of young farmers belonging to the Moro and Indigenous Peoples from PALMA municipalities. They dreamt of starting a social entrepreneurial initiative through coffee. They organized themselves and formed PeaceCreed Philippines. They found it best to learn social entrepreneurship and quality coffee production framed in Peace and Reconciliation (PAR) principles. They called PeaceBuilders Community, Inc. and Coffee For Peace to help them.
Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2019/02/young-farmers-from-palma-municipalities-explore-coffee-production-partnership-with-pbci-cfp/
The inclusive development dream started with Carina Calata Pe, a business entrepreneur in the field of information technology, and her daughter, Danielle Patricia, who is a social psychologist. They both participated in one of the Peace and Reconciliation (PAR) Seminars conducted by my Ama, Lakan Sumulong, in Manila in 2017. “That PAR seminar disturbed me in my own comfort zone,” testified Carina. “And I started praying for God’s leading to apply what I’ve learned.”
Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2019/01/our-mangyan-farming-partners-visit-davao-for-par-and-inclu-dev-training/
Last 15 January 2019, Joji served as plenary speaker at the Learning Conference 2019 which was held at the Mary Hill Retreat Center, Taytay, Rizal. This conference was organized by the Asian School of Development and Cross-Cultural Studies (ASDECS) in partnership with Kabalikat Para sa Maunlad na Buhay, Inc. The conference theme was “Conspiracy of the Wise Builders” — it’s about building sustainable, regenerating, and transformational communities.
Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2019/01/joji-serves-as-plenary-speaker-at-the-2019-learning-conference/
A sense of hope, more than being merry, characterized our Christmas celebrations. We’ve counted our blessings and realized how much we have been blessed for the whole 2018. There were so many positive events and opportunities to serve the people that led us to be grateful to the Creator and to our partner communities.
Permanent link to this article: https://peacebuilderscommunity.org/2018/12/ending-the-year-2018-with-a-positive-note/
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.
