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
OUCH CANADA: LAMENTATIONS FOR THE INDIGENOUS CHILDREN OF TURTLE ISLAND
My heart continually cries in pain for the increasing number of recovered remains of Indigenous children and youth who died in Canada’s residential schools. Along with millions of Canadians, I’m outraged and am calling for further searches of unmarked graves. Because of this, the more I embrace this land and stand in solidarity with her Indigenous Peoples. The more I respect my fellow Canadians who sincerely face this reality with truth, justice, and the pursuit of peace and reconciliation, as articulated in the art of Jennifer Adomeit and other artists. And because of this, the more I condemn the European empires’ greed for wealth and power through colonialism that led to acts of genocide and land stealing against the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island.
Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2021/07/01/ouch-canada-lamentations-for-the-indigenous-children-of-turtle-island/
COMMEMORATION, CELEBRATION, AND REFLECTION: A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY WITH THE BAGOBO TAGABAWA
Friday, 25 June 2021. We rejoice with the Bagobo Tagabawa Indigenous People for the completion of their cultural village and peace memorial complex. This was originally envisioned by Bai Jerlina Owok, the local chieftain at Barangay Binaton in Digos City, Davao del Sur. They started building their local village to make their community more visible and to tell their story beyond their tribal community. Because of their initiative, various sectors—government, business, civil society, and media—responded and helped concretize their vision. While celebrating with the tribe about these developments, we also reflect on issues regarding encroachment of certain powerful forces into the ancestral domain of the Bagobo Tagabawa.
Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2021/06/27/commemoration-celebration-and-reflection-a-spiritual-journey-with-the-bagobo-tagabawa/
A CRY FOR HEALING: PRAYING FOR COMPETENT LEADERS IN OUR COUNTRY
May we truly experience being healed as one country of many first nations, religions, ideologies, languages and cultures in this archipelago. May we all learn to listen to each other twice as much as we utter our words. May we learn to harmonize our differences like the different instruments and sounds in an orchestra, like the different colours in a mosaic, like the different parts of a healthy body.
Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2021/04/07/a-cry-for-healing-praying-for-competent-leaders-in-our-country/
FILIPINO CHURCH LEADERS APPEAL TO PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURT TO JUNK ‘ANTI-TERRORISM ACT’
I am encouraged by the fact that an ecumenical letter from KAIROS, the United Church of Canada, and the Anglican Church of Canada—signed by Archbishops Linda Nicholls and Mark MacDonald—was sent to the Federal Government concerning the deteriorating human rights situation in the Philippines. I pray that my Canadian sisters and brothers in Christ would help us amplify our voices as we pursue justice-based peace in our country.
Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2021/02/05/filipino-church-leaders-appeal-to-philippine-supreme-court-to-junk-anti-terrorism-act/
THE BANGSAMORO PEOPLE INVITES CIVIL SOCIETY TO CONTINUE THE JUST-PEACE JOURNEY WITH THEM
PeaceBuilders Community, Inc. (PBCI) was invited to participate in reporting the results of the performance review of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA)—the new government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). A team from a network of civil society organizations, called Mindanao Peoples’ Caucus (MPC), was commissioned to do the Rapid Mid-Term Review on the Bangsamoro Transition Period. Upon learning the findings and the recommendations, the Bangsamoro invites the civil society to continue the justice-and-peace journey with them. PBCI commits to continue our humble presence in this journey.
Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2020/10/16/the-bangsamoro-people-invites-civil-society-to-continue-the-just-peace-journey-with-them/
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