Tag: peace and reconciliation
This Easter Sunday, I walk and reflect in the spirit of the empty tomb—not as a monument to triumph, but as a living witness to the power of nonviolent love. As an Anabaptist Christian, shaped by a tradition of costly discipleship and radical peace, I hear the Risen Christ speaking again: “Peace be with you” (John 20:19). He does not come back with vengeance. He comes bearing wounds. He breathes peace on fearful disciples and sends them out into a world ruled by empire, militarism, and religious complicity. That same world surrounds me today—in Southeast Asia where I live and serve as a peacebuilder, and in Canada, where my family and spiritual community remain deeply rooted.
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Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2025/04/20/my-contemplative-walk-on-a-resurrection-sunday-a-revolutionary-call-to-the-peace-of-christ/
As Canadians wake up to the economic uncertainties stirred by protectionist policies from our neighbor and largest trading partner, the United States—particularly under the renewed threats of tariffs by US President Donald Trump—a deeper national introspection is warranted. It is in moments like these, when the ground beneath us seems to shift, that sacred texts offer more than spiritual comfort; they present frameworks for national reflection and transformation. Jesus offers a vivid image of growth through surrender: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24). This imagery is striking, not only in its spiritual implications but also in its relevance to the soul of a nation confronting change, pressure, and adversity.
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Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2025/03/31/the-cross-and-the-nation-a-canadian-reflection-amid-tariffs-and-turbulence/
As I read today’s Philippine Daily Inquirer headline, “From ‘Tokhang’ to The Hague: Duterte handed over to ICC,” I found myself pausing—not out of surprise, but in solemn reflection. This is a momentous day for our nation. The arrest and transfer of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC) signifies more than just a legal milestone. It marks a profound shift in our collective conscience—from a time when extrajudicial killings became normalized under a brutal “war on drugs,” to a moment of reckoning before an international tribunal. It is the beginning of an accounting long delayed, yet urgently needed. As a justice-based peacebuilding worker and a follower of Jesus of Nazareth, I do not see this event merely through the lens of legality. I see it as a moral and ethical crossroads for the Filipino people. This is a test of our commitment to truth, justice, and accountability—not only for the powerless, but now, remarkably, for the once-powerful.
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Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2025/03/12/former-president-rodrigo-duterte-is-arrested-and-transferred-to-icc/
Over the past decade, significant efforts have been made to promote gender justice and economic empowerment in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), with Bangsamoro women playing a crucial role in peacebuilding and development. Oxfam and The Asia Foundation (TAF), supported by the Australian Government, have implemented programs that provide marginalized women with training, mentorship, and access to financial resources to help them thrive as entrepreneurs. These initiatives culminated in the Bangsamoro WEE Learning Exchange in 17-19 February 2025, which highlighted policy support, Islamic Finance, and inclusive growth strategies. As a panelist at this event, I shared insights from my work with Coffee for Peace and PeaceBuilders Community, reinforcing my belief in the transformative power of inclusive economic growth as a path to lasting peace in the region.
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Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2025/02/20/building-peace-through-empowerment-the-role-of-bangsamoro-women/
08 February 2025, Upi, Maguindanao Del Norte — As a long-term advocate for justice and reconciliation in Mindanao, PeaceBuilders Community, Inc. (PBCI) joins the Indigenous Peoples (IP) of Bangsamoro in celebrating the historic passage of the Bangsamoro Indigenous Peoples Act of 2024 by the Bangsamoro Parliament on 10 December 2024. This landmark legislation strengthens the rights, recognition, and empowerment of Indigenous Peoples within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), marking a major step forward for peace and inclusivity in the region. For decades, PBCI has walked alongside Indigenous communities in Mindanao, advocating for their land rights, self-determination, and cultural preservation. The Bangsamoro Indigenous Peoples Act of 2024 provides a long-overdue legal framework that formalizes these rights, ensuring mechanisms for ancestral domain recognition, cultural preservation, access to government resources, and active participation in governance.
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Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2025/02/10/pbci-celebrates-passage-of-bangsamoro-indigenous-peoples-act-reaffirms-commitment-to-inclusive-peacebuilding/
22 January 2025. A pioneering agroforestry initiative is set to take root in the ancestral lands of the Bagobo-Tagabawa community in Barangay Binaton, at the foot of Mt. Apo. Spearheaded by PeaceBuilders Community, Inc. (PBCI), Coffee for Peace (CFP), and the Indigenous Ancestral Domain Association (IADA), this project seeks to rehabilitate deforested lands in the foothills of Mt. Apo while fostering sustainable livelihoods for indigenous farmers. The initiative will commence with a 2-hectare demonstration farm, serving as a model for best practices in agroforestry. This initial phase will allow farmers to refine cultivation techniques, integrate traditional ecological knowledge with modern scientific approaches, and assess the economic viability of the project before scaling up operations. The long-term goal of this initiative is to expand up to 32 hectares, contingent on funding availability. This ambitious expansion plan underscores the project’s commitment to widespread environmental restoration and economic empowerment.
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Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2025/01/31/bagobo-tagabawa-farmers-and-pbci-cfp-team-launch-agro-forestry-project-in-mt-apo-together/
I am Emil Jonathan Soriano, living in San Pedro, Laguna, with my wife and our three sons, aged 17, 13, and 9. I currently serve as the Theology Network and Engagement (TNE) Manager for Tearfund and as the focal lead for Reconciled and Peaceful Societies (RPS) in the Asian region. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of the East and a Master of Divinity degree in Cross-Cultural Missions from the Asian Theological Seminary. Additionally, I am the Chairman of the Board for PeaceBuilders Community, Inc. (PBCI), a position I assumed in 2024 after several years as a board member. I have known Rev. Dann “Lakan” Pantoja and his wife, Joji, for over a decade. Our shared advocacy for the Bangsamoro struggle for self-determination brought us together, and we have since collaborated in various forums and peacebuilding initiatives.
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Permanent link to this article: https://waves.ca/2025/01/06/thankful-for-the-opportunity-to-grow-and-learn-on-this-justice-based-peacebuilding-journey/
