The following article written by Lucia Cervilla is from the October 2015 issue of Bendum News. Bendum News is a publication of the Apu Palamguwan Cultural Education Center (APC), a community-based, Jesuit-run, DepED-recognized elementary school for children on the border of Bukidnon and Agusan del Sur provinces in Mindanao, Philippines. APC is part of MPI's broader network, with some of their staff being alumni of MPI's Annual Peacebuilding Training.

Lucía is a young professional from Spain who volunteered in Bendum last July 2015. She shares her reflections in Ecojesuit about her brief engagement in Bendum.

The Island of Mindanao is often seen today as a place of conflict. The discussions are all about armed groups and encounters but little attention is given to how people build peace on a daily basis. We need to realize that peace is generated within people and not given to them from a power outside, and we need occasions to high-light and give substance to local peaceful initiatives.

Various traditions have emerged and it is clear in Bukidnon’s history that the Pulangiyen, now often amalgamated into a broader culture of Bukid-non, has a particular tradition of peace-making. The culture has a process of “pulang” based on a willingness to sit each other and listen to the conflicting responses. Peace is often established by leniency and a quiet recognition, in the spiritual context of an ancestry that is shared and connects us with the same Creator.

Peace Channel conducted one day Capacity Building programme for its peace club leaders, members and teacher coordinators on October 10, at the Peace Channel Conference Hall, Dimapur.

While addressing the gathering Rev. Dr. C. P. Anto the director of Peace Channel and Principal NEISSR said that we need to capacitate the youth and adult on peace building, conflict resolutions and techniques of conflict transformation like peace education, dialogue negotiation etc.,. He also stressed on the role of government and nongovernment organization in the process of finding solutions for the existing conflicts and preventing future conflicts. He gave the importance of ‘Peace Education’ in the context of Nagaland. It is the means to accept and respect the differences and fight for all forms of exclusivists thinking.

To commemorate the 10th year of its existence and the International Day of Peace, Peace Channel organized a day program under the theme “Partnerships for Peace- Dignity for All” at Don Bosco Institute of Development and Leadership (DBIDL) on 21st September, 2015. The program was graced by Rev. Varghese Alengaden, the Founder Universal Solidarity Movement Indore as the chief guest. In his speech, he congratulated Peace Channel for making a difference in the society by touching the young people and the youths. He added that Peace comes from an agreement from one’s heart and encouraged the young people to stay committed towards Peace Building. Peace Channel Members should lead a philosophy of life based fully on peace. Peace should be the only way for the members, in dreakming, thinking and acting for peace.

The following article is from the June 2015 issue of Bendum News. Bendum News is a publication of the Apu Palamguwan Cultural Education Center (APC), a community-based, Jesuit-run, DepED-recognized elementary school for children on the border of Bukidnon and Agusan del Sur provinces in Mindanao, Philippines. APC is part of MPI's broader network, with some of their staff being alumni of MPI's Annual Peacebuilding Training.

Pandawat, Dalupaan ha Gaup

By: Pedro Walpole

Pedro Walpole at the start of the new year of study wel-comed the new school manager to Apu Palamguwan Cultural Education Center along with the Tribal Council. It was an occasion of much anticipation and hope for the coming years .

A pandawat is when we welcome a stranger as a friend; it is when we share food, life experiences and our hopes. So great is our hope and aspiration we ask our loved ones, ancestors, all life on the land (tanghaga) and Migtanghaga (Creator) to join us in this celebration of and gratitude for life.

Pedro reviewing the work of the youth in forest activities that can be made into management plan.

At the same time as we welcome Ruben from Sultan Kudarat, our new manager and remember his family; we share our experiences of over twenty years of organized education in Bendum and the long process of developing the gaup or ancestral domain. After twenty more years of learning in community, of basic education and cultural knowledge, we are now sharing that knowledge formally in our integrated program of grade seven. This bridging of our bimonthly youth program (hulas) and the new level in our integrated cultur-al education is a further beginning. We are proud of our four young foresters already assisting in natural regeneration, our carpenters and masons.