Category: PEACE WITH THE CREATOR
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.
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Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2024/07/19/decolonizing-and-liberating-the-christian-missionary-enterprise-a-personal-reflection/
This month, I was tasked with reading and reflecting on Ate Tala Bautista’s thesis paper, which delves into themes of decolonization, localization, and their relevance to Coffee for Peace (CFP) and PeaceBuilders Community Incorporated (PBCI). The paper not only explores these topics’ personal significance to Ate Tala but also sheds light on how they are perceived by individuals within CFP and PBCI. Reflecting on this thesis paper alongside my experiences at CFP and PBCI was particularly enlightening, especially since I lack personal experience as an indigenous person grappling with decolonization and its multifaceted implications. This reflection is a required prerequisite for my 10-day immersion (01-10 July 2024) in the Cordillera Region at the northern part of the Philippines.
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Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2024/07/07/reflecting-on-ate-talas-thesis-on-decolonization-and-localization-as-a-prerequisite-to-my-cordillera-immersion/
As an intern, one of my responsibilities is to regularly read and reflect on various books and informative pieces. Recently, I read “How To Manage a Business that Does Good.” This activity is crucial because it broadens my understanding of key concepts related to social enterprises, peacebuilding, and the sociopolitical context in the Philippines. Reflecting on these readings helps me contemplate new ideas, challenge existing beliefs, and critically assess what I’m learning. This ongoing process of reading and reflection will work in tandem with my fieldwork. As I apply what I’ve learned in real-world settings, my perspective will be further enriched. The combination of theoretical knowledge and practical experience will enhance my ability to contribute effectively to the projects I am involved in. Over the course of the year, this integrated approach will help me expand my worldview, making me a more informed and empathetic participant in the field of social enterprises and peacebuilding.
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Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2024/06/10/learning-the-theory-praxis-of-social-enterprise-as-part-of-my-internship-in-the-philippines/
Last 17-22 May 2024, I, Joji Pantoja, Board Chair and President of Coffee for Peace, had the privilege of traveling to the island provinces of Sulu and Basilan in the southern Philippines. Accompanying me on this journey was Joseph “Ka Boyet” Ongkiko, Executive Vice President of PeaceBuilders Community, Inc. Our mission was clear and purposeful: to explore the potential for developing a sustainable coffee industry in these regions, fostering both economic growth and peace. We were invited by Maradeca Inc., a dedicated local non-governmental organization, and People in Need (PIN), a reputable international NGO. Both organizations recognized the transformative potential of coffee farming in these provinces and sought our expertise in designing a comprehensive training program for the local coffee farmers. This is part of the LEAP Project (Leveraging and Expanding Agri-Aqua Production), a groundbreaking initiative by PIN designed to boost economic development in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
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Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2024/05/24/were-glad-to-be-involved-in-a-collaborative-coffee-industry-development-in-basulta/
In my work with PBCI, I have been learning about the Bangsamoro and their fight for self-determination and control over their ancestral domain. I’ve had the privilege of gaining insight into various aspects of this struggle. I have seen the impact of armed resistance, which has played a crucial role in establishing a degree of self-determination within their ancestral domain through the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The Bangsamoro’s journey to this point has fostered a deep sympathy for others with similar causes, most notably the Palestinians, whom many Bangsamoro ardently support. This support and connection to parallel struggles have deepened my understanding of the Bangsamoro’s plight and the broader fight for self-determination and control over ancestral lands.
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Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2024/05/10/my-initial-understanding-of-the-shared-struggles-of-the-bangsamoro-and-palestinian-peoples/
Last Monday morning, 22 April 2024, our team was invited to listen to the dreams and aspirations of former combatants at Camp Bilal. The discussions happened at the office of MP Abdullah “Cmdr. Bravo” G. Macapaar. The ideas we were hearing resemble that of inclusive development through social enterprise. Brother Musa Mohamad Sanguila gave me time to briefly present the story of Coffee For Peace (CFP) and PeaceBuilders Community, Inc. (PBCI) as advocates and practitioners of Social Enterprise. It seems Commander Bravo and those around him, especially Ma’am Naglah Lailah Amenah Sanguila, liked the idea. Commander Bravo promised to officially invite us to conduct a training on Coffee Social Entrepreneurial Initiative. In Shaa Allah, we will return to start a partnership with this community.
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Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2024/04/30/a-vision-of-transforming-milf-camp-bilal-into-a-social-entrepreneurial-community/
Last Saturday, 13 April 2024, at around 20:00 GMT, Iran launched a massive aerial assault on Israeli territory, marking the first-ever direct attack from Iranian soil. The attack, dubbed Operation True Promise by Iran, comes just two weeks after an Israeli strike on its consulate in Syria. The Iranian assault lasted approximately five hours. Explosions reverberated across Israeli cities, prompting air raid sirens in over 720 locations as Israeli forces scrambled to intercept the projectiles. This drew applause from many Palestinians in Gaza on Sunday as rare payback for the Israeli offensive on their enclave. While many of my fellow Christian leaders are beating the war-drums calling the US and the Western powers to strike back at Iran, many of my Bangsamoro friends and colleagues celebrate Iran’s attack. Although I understand and sympathize with my Moro brothers and sisters as they perceive the Iranian military action as justice for the Palestinians, my inner conviction calls me to be faithful as active, nonviolent justice advocate and peacebuilding worker.
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Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2024/04/15/a-reflection-on-the-attack-on-israel-by-iran-perspectives-from-an-anabaptist-peacebuilder-in-mindanao-philippines/
