On the afternoon of 16 November 2024, the Malipayon Peace Hub in Managa, Bansalan, Davao del Sur, became the vibrant venue for PeaceBuilders Community, Inc.’s (PBCI) First Annual General Meeting. The hybrid event—combining onsite and online participation—brought together 42 attendees, including field volunteers from across the Philippines, from Canada, PBCI and Coffee for Peace (CFP) staff, partners, impact investors, friends, and online followers. This diverse gathering marked a milestone in the organization’s journey, fostering a collaborative spirit to shape its strategic direction. Joseph “Ka Boyet” Ongkiko, PBCI’s Executive Vice President for Institutional and Program Development, led the meeting with a balance of warmth and clarity, ensuring both onsite and online participants were fully engaged. The three-hour session was structured yet dynamic, creating space for individual reflection, group collaboration, and collective decision-making.
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Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2024/11/29/jon-and-boyet-initiate-institutional-transition-process-at-peacebuilders-community/
Last 15-20 November 2024, Rev. Norman Dyck led a Mennonite delegation on a Partnership Appreciation Tour in Mindanao. The tour featured a series of impactful activities aimed at strengthening relationships and celebrating shared commitments to peacebuilding. Our itinerary: (a) dedication of the Malipayon Peace Hub in Davao del Sur, led by Bagobo Tagabawa and Talaandig tribal elders; (b) Sunday worship service at Managa Alliance Church; (c) reflective visit to the Bagobo Tagabawa Peace Shrine; (d) learning tour of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) government center; (e) dialogue with the commander and leaders of Camp Darapanan, headquarters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF); and finally, (f) bonding with the Baraguir Clan of the Maguindanao Sultanate. This Partnership Appreciation Tour deepened companionships and highlighted the importance of collaboration in advancing peace, justice, and reconciliation in Mindanao, Philippines.
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Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2024/11/22/canadian-mennonite-delegation-joins-mindanao-peace-workers-to-strengthen-partnerships/
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://waves.ca/2024/10/31/celebrating-a-sacred-honor-the-bagobo-tagabawa-bestow-us-with-the-lumabat-award/
Every year in October, the Talaandig people of the Philippines come together to celebrate their rich cultural heritage, identity, and resilience through the Annual Talaandig Day. This special day honors the history, traditions, and values of the Talaandig, an indigenous group living primarily in Bukidnon, a province in the heart of Mindanao. The celebration serves as a reminder of their ongoing struggle to preserve their ancestral lands, culture, and ways of life in a rapidly modernizing world. The Talaandig tribal leadership invited our team at PeaceBuilders Community, Inc. (PBCI) and Coffee For Peace (CFP) to celebrate with them and to express our solidarity as one of the guest speakers during the program. Here’s our reflection of that day, 14 October 2024.
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Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2024/10/15/we-the-pbci-cfp-team-reaffirmed-our-solidarity-with-the-talaandig-indigenous-people/
“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://waves.ca/2024/09/24/from-being-armed-revolutionary-group-to-becoming-a-social-movement-2024-milf-general-assembly-declaration/
21-22 September 2024, Davao City, Philippines. The Davao Regional Coffee Expo 2024 (DRCE24) welcomed local coffee farmers, industry leaders, and enthusiasts, marking a pivotal moment in Region 11’s rise as one of the Philippines’ top Arabica coffee producers. Organized by the Davao Regional Coffee Council, the expo, held in the heart of Davao City, brought together key players in the coffee sector to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and strategize on improving the quality and competitiveness of the region’s coffee products. In her opening remarks, Ms. Felicitas “Joji” Pantoja, President of the Davao Regional Coffee Council and Chair & President of Coffee for Peace, Inc., emphasized the vital role coffee plays in the local economy. She called for continued efforts to elevate production standards, aligning them with global demand.
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Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2024/09/23/davao-regional-coffee-expo-2024-empowering-local-farmers-and-elevating-coffee-standards/
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://waves.ca/2024/08/30/inter-religious-and-inter-cultural-dialogue-lessons-from-the-experiences-of-peacebuilders-community/
