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://waves.ca/2019/04/21/bishop-encourages-priests-who-face-threats-of-violence-and-death-in-the-philippines/
We are Filipino-Canadian peacebuilders and human rights advocates working among indigenous peoples in Mindanao, Philippines. We support Bill C-262. We support indigenous human rights in our beloved Canada. We urge the Canadian government to fulfill its commitment to reconciliation by supporting the passage of this important bill through the Senate. Looking through our missionary lenses, we see it as a model of international human rights; and, we see it as an added credential for us as Canadian peace-and-reconciliation workers among IPs in the Philippines.
Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2019/04/15/bill-c262-what-it-means-to-us-as-peace-and-reconciliation-missionaries/
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://waves.ca/2019/04/06/pursuing-peace-and-reconciliation-amidst-the-challenging-political-realities-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 the story of Coffee For Peace to illustrate the main points of her speech.
Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2019/03/30/joji-shares-her-coffee-for-peace-story-at-a-womens-conference/
My friendship with Datu Migketay “Vic” Saway has been a significant spiritual blessing. Our partnership in peacebuilding is based on kinship. “Peace is within our reach,” he says. But this peace “largely depends on our willingness to treat each other within the bond of kinship!” This has been his yearly call to various leaders of Indigenous Peoples, Moro, and Settlers — to gather together to affirm our kinship.
Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2019/03/10/we-reaffirmed-and-celebrated-our-kinship-with-the-indigenous-peoples-of-mindanao/
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 went through peace and reconciliation seminar.
Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2019/03/04/tribal-elders-from-kalinga-visit-davao-for-par-framed-inclusive-development-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 our past traumas.
Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2019/02/22/remembering-the-violence-and-horror-of-the-marcos-dictatorial-rule/
We are sent by Mennonite Church Canada Witness in partnership with our international community.
