Dann Pantoja is beginning to use his Tagalog indigenous name -- Lakan Sumulong. This is a statement that our indigenous identities can be a redeeming factor in healing our 'being' (that is, who we are as a people); help symbolize our determination to contribute what we ought to be 'doing' as a nation (that is--active, non-violent, radical transformation); and, determine how we will prioritize what we will be 'having' (that is, inclusive growth and national development based on justice and peace). Asked what fuels his positive outlook in life: “It’s the influence of Jesus, a first century Palestinian carpenter who was executed by the imperial power of his time. He said: ‘Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.’ Jesus defied the ultimate negative factor in our cosmos--death.”
Author's posts
A CALL ON THE GPH AND THE MILF TO MOVE WITH GREATER URGENCY IN COMPLETING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CAB
At PBCI, we join our peacebuilding colleagues in calling on the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to accelerate the full implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), with a particular focus on the Annex on Normalization, while ensuring inclusivity for marginalized groups such as women, youth, and Indigenous Peoples. Our call stresses the importance of unity among the Bangsamoro people, rejecting divisive initiatives, and urges a clearer process and understanding on Sulu’s historical and political relationship with BARMM. PBCI also emphasizes the need for prompt resolution of election-related petitions to avoid undermining self-determination and calls for strengthened protections for vulnerable communities and ancestral domains. Lastly, it appeals for collective solidarity to hold leaders accountable and advance peacebuilding efforts that promote justice and inclusivity.
Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2024/12/15/a-call-on-the-gph-and-the-milf-to-move-with-greater-urgency-in-completing-the-implementation-of-the-cab/
CELEBRATING A SACRED HONOR: THE BAGOBO TAGABAWA BESTOW US WITH THE ‘LUMABAT AWARD’
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.
Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2024/10/31/celebrating-a-sacred-honor-the-bagobo-tagabawa-bestow-us-with-the-lumabat-award/
‘MORO ISLAMIC LIBERATION FRONT’ TRANSITIONS FROM ARMED REVOLUTION TO SOCIAL MOVEMENT: A NEW ERA OF TRANSFORMATION
“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?
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/
INTER-RELIGIOUS AND INTER-CULTURAL DIALOGUE: LESSONS FROM THE EXPERIENCES OF PEACEBUILDERS COMMUNITY
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.
Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2024/08/30/inter-religious-and-inter-cultural-dialogue-lessons-from-the-experiences-of-peacebuilders-community/
PARTNERSHIP AND COMPANIONSHIP: REFLECTIONS ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL PEACE ORGANIZATIONS
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.
Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2024/08/15/partnership-and-companionship-reflections-on-the-relationship-between-international-and-local-peace-organizations/
THE IMPACT OF A TRUMP OR HARRIS PRESIDENCY ON THE LIBERATION OF PALESTINE: A FILIPINO PEACEBUILDER’S POINT OF VIEW
The current genocidal act of Zionist Israel against the Palestinian people is enabled primarily by the United States of America. The potential presidencies of Donald Trump or Kamala Harris carry significant implications for the future of Palestine and its quest for liberation. This is my Artificial Intelligence-aided exploration and examination on how the foreign policy approaches of Trump and Harris could influence the Palestinian struggle for statehood, liberation, and peace over the next decade. While shouting “Justice!” and working with justice-based peacebuilding networks where I’m at, I am fervently praying that all the systems and structures perpetuating the oppressive and genocidal actions of the Zionist Israel — being armed, financially supported, and diplomatically covered by the US, the UK, and other complicit allies — would be dismantled.
Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2024/07/26/the-impact-of-a-trump-or-harris-presidency-on-the-liberation-of-palestine-in-the-next-10-years/
DECOLONIZING AND LIBERATING THE CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY ENTERPRISE: A PERSONAL REFLECTION
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.
Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2024/07/19/decolonizing-and-liberating-the-christian-missionary-enterprise-a-personal-reflection/
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