How does one write a tribute to a great man whose void no one can fill, not because of his size but because of the many things he has done? But I will try. You were one of the seven priests who advised Archbishop Philip Smith on the new Justice and Peace Ministry of the Archdiocese of Cotabato, and I was hired as its first lay coordinator in 1986. During the first meeting, which you hosted at the...

I feel very sad when reflecting on the past when women fought for independence. They were involved on the front lines with weapons and with their expertise in carrying food and medicine. They provided ideas during the negotiation and reconciliation process. They were part of civilian teams at base camps and in the clandestine front. During and after the armed conflict (1974 - 1999), many women and girls experienced their own forms of suffering and violence, including starvation, imprisonment, rape, and sexual slavery.  Yet, their rol...

A statement from the Leadership Circle of IMPACTApril 21, 2021We, members of the Leadership Circle of IMPACT (Imagining Together Platform for Arts, Culture and Conflict Transformation), condemn the undermining of steps toward democracy and the violent suppression of peaceful protests in Myanmar. IMPACT is a diverse collective working globally to illuminate and strengthen the field of arts, culture, and conflict transformation, and believing in a world where dignity, vibrancy, creativity, and fairness must inscribe our relationships with one another and with the natural world. We are horri...
Celebrating 20 Years of Peacebuilding

Celebrating 20 Years of Peacebuilding

It is now 2020, and the world is still struggling to achieve peace. But, a small yet committed and dedicated group of peacebuilders envisions having just and peaceful communities in Asia-Pacific and beyond. For two decades, the Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute (MPI) from Davao City, Mindanao—their island home in the Philippines—has been gathering together peacebuilders from all corners of the globe. MPI does this so that these peacebuilders can become empowered as catalysts, bringing about positive change and social transformation in their communities. Today, MPI stands fast in creating safe spaces for mutual learning and exchange, opening more and more hearts and minds to the possibility of peace in our lifetime throughout the world.