Five years ago, a Canadian company sent 103 containers labeled “recyclable plastic” to the Manila International Container Terminal. I, a Filipino-Canadian working as a peacebuilder in the Philippines, am so embarrassed that a Canadian company considers used adult diapers, household garbage, and other wastes as “recyclable plastic.” This garbage is hurting the relations between Canada and the Philippines.
Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2019/05/24/the-garbage-that-spoils-philippine-canada-relations-a-peacebuilders-perspective/
Sihaya Ansibod leads a Peace and Reconciliation Team to train Bangsamoro folks in North Cotabato to enhance their coffee farming technique. These farmers have heard how some coffee communities we’ve trained were able to win in national coffee quality competitions and were able to export their specialty coffee to international market. They invited Sihaya and her team to share what we’ve been learning about inclusive development.
Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2019/05/17/our-par-field-staff-responds-to-a-call-for-post-conflict-pilot-livelihood-program/
Dann and I were invited to serve as principal sponsors at the marriage ceremony of Aduna Saway and Jay Manpatilan. It’s a great joy to be invited into the merging clans and respective tribes of this beautiful Talaandig bride and this handsome Higaonon groom. With the expressed blessing of Jay and Aduna, we’re sharing their wedding story to our global community.
Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2019/05/09/the-indigenous-wedding-of-aduna-and-jay-enriched-my-intercultural-outlook/
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/
We are sent by Mennonite Church Canada Witness in partnership with our international community.
