How can the Mindanawon story be beautifully woven into our Philippine history?

Ano ang koneksyon mo sa Mindanao? So far, what is your personal link to Mindanao? How do you imagine Mindanao?

This conference hopes to connect three things:

1. Building the nation 2. Jesuit education 3. Mindanao integration

PERSONAL NOTE
My Lolo is from Salimbalan, Imbatug, Baungon, Bukidnon. My Tatay, from Obando met my Mama in Wao, Lanao. I was born in Cagayan de Oro. Grew up in Bulacan. Two years regency in Davao during Martial Law. Five months parish priest in Camp Philips. !8 months in Mount Apo for my research. Ten years in Davao. Now in Zamboanga.

PUBLIC PEACE CONSULTATIONS

A project of the Bishop-Ulama Conference

OPAPP Communications Plan

Dialogue Mindanaw
Reflective Dialogues on the GRP-MILF Peace Negotiation

Work with Lumad Social Movement

TALKS WITH COMMUNISTS

RESEARCH AND PUBLICATION

SEC. LUWALHATI R. ANTONINO Chairperson Mindanao Development Authority

A decade of celebration and challenges

2001-2003 to 2011-2013

years... gh the throu

SILENT COST OF WAR

Albert E. Alejo, SJ
Ateneo de Zamboanga University

TAYO-TAYO MUNA!
Intrafaith Process among Catholics in the Service of Interfaith Dialogue with Muslims and Lumads

This conference hopes to connect three things:

1. Building the nation 2. Jesuit education 3. Mindanao integration

VENEER OF BENEVOLENCE?
A nationalistic educational policy formulated from within the cultural, religious and political worldviews of a Manila-centered elitewas widely experienced as a homogenisation of Filipino identity hostile to Muslim Filipino identities, regardless of that bureaucracy s benevolent intentions. Pursued within the conceptual framework of civilisation-development, state educational policies gave integration a veneer of benevolence

EDUCATION S POSSIBLE FAILURE OF INTEGRATION

The Manila-centered educational elite continued to hold the power to define national identity in terms of colonial borders and their own historical experience While 50 years of the policy of integration through education no doubt contributed to the social mobility of individual Muslimsit largely failed to achieve the goal of mitigating Muslim-Christian tensions in Mindanao ---Milligan (2005),

Biases and Prejudices

the perceptions and understandings that Muslims and Christians have of each other lack objectivity and are coloured by strong biases and prejudices; but especially strong are the biases Christians have against Muslims.
Rosalita Tolibas-Nunez, 1997. Roots of conflict: Muslims, Christians, and the Mindanao struggle. Makati City: Asian Institute of Management. P. 84.

Biases and Prejudices

A majority of Filipinos (still) think that Muslims are probably more prone to run amok (55 percent) although probably not oppressive to women (59 percent). A plurality believes that Muslims are probably terrorists or extremists (47 percent) and that they probably consider themselves as Filipinos (49 percent). There are equal percentages (44 percent) of those who believe that Muslims probably secretlyt hate all non-Muslims and those who do not. ---Appendix
1.1. Measuring the bias against Muslims, (Manila: Human Development Network, 2005).

Schools, colleges and universities, acknowledged as neutral agents of change, can play a strategic and leadership role in helping craft a Mindanao peace roadmap, build broad support around it, and provide timely assessments and inputs as to its implementation. The conventional notion that education is the longterm solution to peacelessness self-limits the vast potentials of educational institutions as credible and effective platforms for peace-building and peace-making in the short and medium term. --- (Atty. Beny Bacani)

The Role of Catholic Schools in Mindanao Peace Building

The Catholic Church in general and Catholic educational institutions in particular are weighed down by baggages as a repository of confessional and historical biases against Muslims and Lumads. The success of peace-building programs of Catholic educational institutions must be gauged among others on how they move Christians into admitting that they play a part in the historical marginalization of minority groups and that there can be no just resolution to the Mindanao conflicts without their support. ---Benny Bacani

Jesuits confession in GC 34:

Our intuition is that the Gospel resonates with what is good in each culture. At the same time, we acknowledge that we have not always followed this intuition. We have not always recognized that aggression and coercion have no place in the preaching of the Gospel of freedom, especially in cultures which are vulnerable to manipulation by more powerful forces. We have often contributed to the alienation of the very people we wanted to serve (90-92)

Is it possible that in opening many schools in Mindanao, we have not just shared faith and civilization, but have also extended the colonial project? Is the story of Jesuit and Catholic schools in Mindanao considered good news to the Mindanawons, especially the Moros and the Lumads?

Let s have a short review quiz!

Jose Rizal
Pambansang Bayani

Manny Paquiao
Pambansang Kamao
http://angbagongfilipino.wordpress.com/2010/11/14/angpambansang-kamao

What s Wrong with the Picture?

ALBERT E. ALEJO, SJ

BAKIT SULYAP LANG KAY RIZAL SA DAPITAN?

Anahaw

Pambansang Dahon

Sampaguita
Pambansang Bulaklak

Mangga
Pambansang BungangKahoy

Narra
Pambansang Punong-Kahoy

Kubo
Pambansang Tirahan

Agila
Pambansang Ibon

Kalabaw
Pambansang Hayop

Bangus
Pambansang Isda

Litson ANO ang

Pambansang PAGKAIN?

2004 Teachers Choice Also available: 2007, 2011 editions)

TEXTBOOK ANALYSIS

Source: Cagayan de Oro Cluster by Gail de la Rita

Grade VI Textbook (2007)

Grade School Texts

Ang Yakan naman ay tagaBasilan. Maliit lamang sila, singkit ang mga mata, at maitim ang buhok na parang taga-Borneo. Grade 6. (2007)

GRADE 2 TEXTBOOK

GRADE 2 TEXTBOOK

Pambansang Pagkain

Mga Katangi-tanging Pilipino

Top Left to right- Efren Bata Reyes, Leah Salonga, Paeng Nepomuceno Bottom: Left to right: Francisca Reyes Aquino, Juan Luna,

Ang Hadlang sa Pag-unlad ng Mindanao

Pasonanca Park Zamboanga Del Sur?

 Land forms and bodies of water in the

country

This lesson is repeated in ALL grade levels in the

Peace, peacemaking, non-violence: appeared

books reviewed

135 times in the whole text [ONOW] War, armed conict, ghting, revolution, struggle, violence: appeared 82 times in the whole text [ONOW]

 Questionable facts
Bukidnon is found in Lanao, Mindanao Inconsistencies: sizes of largest islands in the

Diculty with some Filipino words

country Palawan as ocially part of Western Visayas

Salik, pagkakabuklod-buklod, pagkakakilanlan,

bakatin, etc. (Grade 3)

 Examples of Huwarang Pilipino puts Rizal,

Ninoy Aquino and those that successfully climbed Mt Everest, as well Dr Eleanor Mariano who was a personal doctor to US Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush in one category
Although they are huwaran in their own rights,

the depth, scope, and weight of their being huwad are dierent; maybe categorize

 Mindanao as inuenced by the Malaysian and

Arabic peoples, hence, many converted to Islam. Consequently, this opened the country to international trade. [ONOW] Mindanao as multi-cultured with dierent lifestyles. Muslim Filipinos contributed to the country's music, literature, dance, clothing, decorative arts. [ONOW]

 Experiencing armed conicts highlighted in

the all-out war in 2000, which gave rise to more than 500,000 refugees. Muslims continue to ght for meaningful autonomy.
[ONOW]

Heroes from Mindanao: Datu Ama I Pakpak,

Sultan Pandapatan, Datu Sarowang of Lanao, Sultan Ismael Kiram of Sulu [ONOW]

. Mindanao is a land of indigenous people whose culture needs to be preserved. Mindanao is a land of the terrorists. Mindanao is a problem. high growth rate, lowest literacy, highest poverty incidence

-part of the Philippines -place where many Filipino children live -where one can find Cotabato,Zamboanga,Sulu, Lanao, Cagayan de Oro City -is represented by a star in the Philippine flag -second largest group of islands in the Philippines

. land of war and conflict . center of pre-colonial Philippines .trading .culture .government . government solution to land problems in Luzon . land of people with traditions and practices deeply rooted in Islamic tradition . land of the unconquered . land of different ethnic groups . Land of some primitive people

} Has

many groups of Filipinos } Where the Muslims that should be respected live } Has historical places } Where Rizal was exiled } Has an industrialized city } Where Sultan Kudarat lived } Rich in gold and silver

} In

most of the Sibika and Social Studies Textbooks that our basic education institution make use today, MINDANAO is either, underrepresented, misrepresented or not represented at all as shown in some of the sample slides. } The problem is: this attitude seems reflected in the economy of Mindanao.

Economic density in the Philippines

(Mindanao)

Source: Beyond the Veil of Conict: Moving Toward Economic Integra>on for Sustained Development and Peace in Mindanao (World Bank 2010) Note: Expressed in terms of gross regional domes4c product (GRDP) per square km.

TEXTBOOK SCAMS
Although there has been a cleanup at the top, textbook publishers interviewed for this report say that corruption remains pervasive in many of the DepEd's 150 schools divisions and the local school boards that fall directly under mayors or governorspublishers and agents revealed that bribery is still the norm in the awarding of contracts for textbooks to schools divisions and to local school boardsYvonne Chua

TEXTBOOK SCAMS
.Just like before, payoffs and perks (including overseas trips for school officials), not real need, are the prime considerations in the purchase of textbooks for public schools. One textbook agent even says, "Our lives depend on the superintendents or the mayors. If you're not close to them and you have nothing to give, they're not going to get their books from you. ---Yvonne Chua

POINT FOR REFLECTION

How can we avoid committing symbolic violence to Mindanao in the process of promoting nation-building through education?

A. Mindanao Profile

65

Mindanao Profile
Mindanao Land Area: 133,656 sq. km Composition as of June 2009 26 Provinces 27 Cities 425 Municipalities 10, 065 Barangays

66
Source of basic data: NSO Source of map: google earth

Mindanao Population
18 Indigenous groups 8.9% 13 Islamized tribes 18.5% Kristiyanos / settlers 72.5%

Mindanawons growing by 2.6% each year

As of 2007, Mindanao population has reached to 21.58 million or 19.02% growth as compared to 2000 Census of Population ARMM has the highest ave. annual growth at

2007 Census of Population By Province

Mindanao Tri-People
72% 20% 8%

Muslim

5.46% (?)
Densest Region: Region X 244 persons/sq.km.

IPs

Christian Settlers

68
Source: National Statistics Office ,2007 (NSO)

Mindanao is an Agri-based Economy

Major Regional Agri Products One-third of Mindanao s land area pineapple is devoted to oil palm canned sardines agriculture One-third of the labor force is employed in the agriculture, fishery and forestry sectors. Contributes more than 30% of the national food requirements banana
tuna

seaweed

Source of Raw Data: NSCB/GVA per sector Processed by: MEDCo Secretariat

69

Major Industries and Investment Opportunities

Region 9 Processed fish products, Rubber, Seaweeds, Bottled Sardines, Ceramics, Shellcrafts Region 10 Pineapple, High-value crops&vegetables, Aquamarine, Tourism, Fiber-base (silk, abaca) Region 11 Banana, Coconut, Processed fruits, Processed food products, Wood Industry, Housewares Region 12 Rubber, Palm Oil, Pineapple, Processed Fruits, Fish/Fish Products Region 13 Banana, Palm Oil, Coffee, Fish/Fish products, Citronella Oil, Wood & ARMM Wood Products Seaweeds, Fish/ fish products

SOURCE: DTI

70

Mindanao in the National Economy

40% of country s food requirements 73% of the national value added in forestry 43% of the Philippines agricultural output 32% of fishery products 25% of rice harvests in national total 60 % Corn s share 30% of national food trade 25% of the country s total export receipts

Mineral Resources
Metallic Reserves: 3.6 million tons 1. Gold ore deposits: 48.85% 2. Nickel Stocks: 63.1% Non-metallic Reserves: 8.6 billion tons 1. Coal deposits: 37.5 million metric tons (18.2% of national reserves)
Mindanao Profile 2005

GRDP Growth Rate, Min vs. Phil (1995-2008)

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1
1995 1996 1997
0.3 0.1 4.7 4.1 3.6 3.4 2.8 1.8

* at constant 1985 prices

6.1 6 5.2

Philippines Mindanao
6 5.4 4.4 4.5 4.3 5.7 5.4 5.2

7.2

5.8 5.3

4.3

4.0 3.8

1998 1999 -0.6

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

Source: National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB)

Mindanao s GRDP average annual growth : 1995-2008: 4.41%

73

TRADE: Mindanao Foreign Trade posted double digit growth

January to December 2008
Exports Imports

FOB Value in Billion US$

Exports
Growth Rate:

Imports
Growth Rate:

30.62%

64.26%

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

2.59

3.39 1.15

1.89

Mindanao is a consistent net exporter. Mindanao s export earnings reached US$3.4 billion in 2008

2007

2008
Source of raw data: NSO Processed by: MEDCo Secretariat

74

TOURIST Arrivals from 1997-2008

Source of raw data: DOT Regional Offices Prepared by: MEDCo Secretariat

75

Mindanao POVERTY

76

Poverty remains to be one of Mindanao s daunting challenges

Poverty Incidence Among Families (%)

Areas
Philippines

1994 35.5 47.6 44.7 49.2 40.3 54.7 60.0

2003 24.4 37.7 44.0 37.7 28.5 32.1 47.1 45.4

2006 26.9 38.8 40.2 36.1 30.6 33.8 45.5 55.3

Percentage Point Change

2.5

Mindanao Region IX Region X Region XI Region XII Caraga ARMM

Note: not yet created Source of Raw Data: NSCB Processed by: MEDCo Secretariat

1.1 (3.8) (1.6) 2.1 1.7 (1.6) 9.9

77

TOP 10 POOREST PROVINCES

NSCB, 2009
1.

2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

7. 8. 9. 10.

Zamboanga del Norte Agusan del Sur Surigao del Norte Eastern Samar Maguindanao Zamboanga Sibugay Romblon Masbate Davao Oriental Northern Samar

4 Interlinking major problems

Child Labor
7 out of 10 Mindanao households have working children within 5-17 years old, surpassing the national average of 6 out of 10. (Oct 2001)

The phenomenon of child labor and child prostitution points to the problem of extreme poverty Despite laws against child labor, many children have remained in the labor market.
Sources: MCW & NCRFW

Economic density in the Philippines

(Mindanao)

Source: Beyond the Veil of Conict: Moving Toward Economic Integra>on for Sustained Development and Peace in Mindanao (World Bank 2010) Note: Expressed in terms of gross regional domes4c product (GRDP) per square km.

B. Mindanao Problems: CONFLICTS

83

Conflict situation in Mindanao

Government forces MILF Forces Sovereignty-based

Government forces

MNLF Forces Comunist Party (CPP/NPA) Abu Sayaf/JI Indigenous Communities Criminal elements

Sovereignty-based

Government forces

Ideology-based

Government forces
Corporate entities with interest in mining Logging, fishing

Terrorism Resource-based Criminality

Government forces

Clan/family

Clan/family

Rido (Clan conflict)

MAINSTREAM ISSUE: LAND, HISTORY, IDENTITY

86

The Armed Conict and Its Impact

q 2000

All-out-War in Mindanao cost the government P20 Million per day or a total of P1.337 Billion during the whole period.
AFP personnel losses: 431 KIA and

624 WIA

Damage to infrastructure: P202M Damage to agriculture: P124.76M

Cost of War

Public Land Law and Resettlement

Hectarage Allowed
Year Homesteader Non-Christian
(no provision)

Corporation

1903 1919 1936

16 has. 24 has. 16 has.

1,024 has. 1,024 has. 1,024 has.

10 has. 4 has.

COTABATO 1918 CENSUS

Bayan ng Lumad - 5

Bayan ng Moro - 20

COTABATO 1939 CENSUS

Bayan ng Settler - 3

Bayan ng Lumad - 9 Bayan ng Moro - 20

POPULATION CHANGE IN COTABATO 1918-1970

1918
1939

1970
Bayan ng Moro Bayan ng Lumad Bayan ng Settler

Mindanao Population
18 Indigenous groups 8.9% 13 Islamized tribes 18.5% Kristiyanos / settlers 72.5%

POINT FOR REFLECTION

Challenging Majority-Minority Habit of Thinking

1. The majority now has not been the majority in the beginning. 3. Christians form the majority in the Philippines, but we are minority in Asia. 3. While Christians feel we are the majority in the country, actually, in some places like Basilan, Christians are a minority.

B. Mindanao Problems: CULTURAL DIVIDE

95

Visible and Invisible Conflict

The conflict in Mindanao involves a visible war and an invisible war being fought in the vertical and the horizontal arenas. The vertical arena is the formal Peace Talks between the GRP and the MILF. The horizontal arena is the peace process within and among communities at the grassroots level. A comprehensive approach to the peace process must address these two interrelated problems. --Fr. Bert Layson, OMI

Understand Religion, Culture and Conflict

We must understand more rather than less the dynamics of religion. E.g.Religion initiates individuals into a community. Community building, however, builds not just identity but boundary. Identity markers both define who one is as well as who one is not. Formation of identity involves oppositional identity. This distinction, when taken too sharply, or too exclusively, can lead to fundamentalism or chauvinism.

MUSLIMS
The Muslims are portrayed as having culture, religion, and history but their history has always been one of conflict. Their struggle for self-determination is seen as a problem blocking development, rather than a symptom of a deeper issue of injustice. How can the Moro struggle be integrated into our curriculum while at the same time forging peace?

BANGSAMORO

POINT FOR REFLECTION

Society needs dialogue. But many of our schools glorify debate. We have debating clubs, perhaps it is time to also develop dialogue clubs?

B. MARGINALIZATION AND EXPLOITATION OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

101

The IPs/ICCs in Mindanao

NORTHERN & WESTERN MINDANAO Manobo, Subanen,,, Teduray, Banwaon, Ubo Manobo, Mamanwa, Higaonon, Kalibogan,,, SOUTHERN & EASTERN MINDANAO Manobo, Mandaya, Mansaka, Dibabawon, Banwaon. Bagobo, Ubo Manobo, Tagakaolo, Talaingod, Langilan, Mamanwa, Higaonon, Blaan, T'boli, Kalagan, Tagabawa, Matigsalog Mangguangan,, Agusan Manobo Talaingod,Langilan

CENTRAL MINDANAO Arumanen, T duray, Ubo Manobo, Higaonon, Tasaday, T boli, B laan kirinteken>Manuvu. Lambangian Arakan Manobo Manobo Blit

Table 2: Regional Poverty Incidence and IP Population

Region Population (2007 census) 2, 293, 480 3,230094 3,952,437 3,892,081 4,156,653 1,520,743 4,545,906 3,051,487 Poverty Incidence (2006) 45.60 40.20 38.10 33.80 30.00 28.80 28.20 20.60 Regional Poverty Rank 2 6 7 8 11 12 13 14 IP % to Population Population (NCIP estimate) 1,004,750 1,203,598 1,802,266 1,856,300 2,289,268 1,470,977 1,206,798 1,030,179 43.81 37.26 45.60 47.69 55.07 96.73 26.55 33.76

Region XIII (Caraga) Region IX Region X Region XII Region XI CAR Region I Region II

COMPLEX CHALLENGES AHEAD

Everyday, indigenous communities are confronted with complex challenges from globalization of the economy to environmental change, from armed struggles of neighboring groups to the barrage of information technology enticing their young people.

Ancestral Domains are threatened

IPs suffer in the war not of their own doing

Disparity of gate price of the IPs products to the selling price of middlemen

Education not responsive of the IPs Culture and holistic worldviews

A is for
Apple

GAPS
Peace and development framework as against IP WORLDVIEWS

Organizing different from the Traditional

5. MIPCPD
a. Vision b. Mission c. Goal d. Organization e. IP Convention / Undertakings
1) 1st Mindanao IP Convention 2) 2003 & 2007 Undertakings 3) 2nd Mindanao IP Convention

2. Investiture

B. CPP/NPA/NDF IPO Works in IP Sector Scanning

1. Geo-Political Significance of the IP Community 2. CPP Programs 3. KOMMID & ROL
a. Primary Task b. KOMMID - ROL Structure c. PPW and the Infiltration per Tribe

Southern Mindanao Regional Committee North Central Mindanao Regional Committee Western Mindanao Regional Committee Far Eastern South

The Lumads have their View of Development

Support to modern Technology Vs IKSP

POINT FOR REFLECTION

The Lumads are portrayed as having culture, but no history. They are close to nature and wildlife. In textbooks, the Lumads are frequently relegated to pre-history or when introducing ethnic groups in the Philippines. After that, they are forgotten. How can the Lumads be respected as peoples, not just treated as cultural minorities or victims of development, in our educational system?

KRISTIYANOS
The Kristiyanos have culture both traditional and modern; they have education, philosophy, science, technology, economy, politics, agriculture, art, and religion; active civil society. But no matter how long they have been in Mindanao are still seen as settlers. How can we also tell the story of the early native believers and settler communities?

How can the Mindanawon story be beautifully woven into our Philippine history?

Mindanao ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

118

Challenges: Our forests are rapidly being denuded

Total Remaining Forest Cover As of 2003 is 28.78%*

*Source of data: DENR

Our groundwater resources fate is uncertain

Our biodiversity is deteriorating...our seas are overfished

Heavily Exploited Fishing Areas

Iligan Bay Macajalar Bay

Sibuguey Bay

Illana Bay Davao Gulf

Sulu Area Sarangani Bay

Tawi-Tawi Area

Our biodiversity is deteriorating our coral reefs are in poor condition

Agusan RB

Rio-Pulangi RB

Risk: Climate Change (Rainfall)

Very Low Risk Low Risk Medium Risk

High Risk Areas: Basilan

Risk: Drought (El Nino)

Medium Risk

High Risk

Very High Risk Areas: Davao del Norte Davao del Sur Sarangani Maguindanao Lanao del Sur Lanao del Norte Misamis Occidental Zamboanga Del Sur Zamboanga Sibugay Basilan Sulu

Risk: Climate Change (Temperature)

Very High Risk Areas: Maguindanao Sulu Basilan

Mindanao is generally Agri-based and considered high risk if there is an increase in temperature.

Logging and tree cutting

Soil erosioninappropriate agri system

Exacerbated by Climate Change

Flooding & Flashfloods

Irresponsible Mining and extractive industry

Landslides

Drought

POINT FOR REFLECTION

Could environment serve as an important approach to Mindanao peace and development?
(Mindanao 2020: Peace and Development Framework Plan)

Mindanao Prospects What about spirituality?

133

Consider Forgiveness as a Political Act

During a number of sessions on clan conflict and interfaith dialogue, forgiveness was mentioned both by Muslims and Christians. While nobody thought it was easy, nobody seems to claim that it was impossible. A few testimonies proved it was necessary.

Testimony of Datu Toto Paglas

As a young boy, he witnessed the murder of his father. He was old enough to remember, but too young to fight. When he grew up, his relatives told him to revenge. But Toto Paglas refused. Later, his younger brother was killed. Again, he decided not to be like his brother s murderer. When another brother was killed, his relatives volunteered to take vengeange into their hands. Toto stopped them, saying that if he killed another person, the family of that person will take another life back, and the cycle will not stop.

From Arms to Farms

I believe that real peace is in education and livelihood. If people are not educated, then the only pride they have is to own and use a gun. If the people are hungry, they can not think properly; they fight for their family. So I converted our land into a plantation. I hired the members of the family that killed my father and my brothers. Now I can walk even without a body guard. I am at peace. Toto Paglas

CANADIAN OBLATES OF MARY IMMACULATE (1991)

We apologize for the part we played in the cultural, ethnic, linguistic, religious imperialism that was part of the mentality within which the peoples of Europe first met the aboriginal peoples and which consistently has lurked behind the way the Native peoples of Canada have been treated by civil governments and by the Churches. We were, naively, part of this mentality and were, in fact, often a key player in its implementation.

Jesuits confession in GC 34: Intuition and alienation

Our intuition is that the Gospel resonates with what is good in each culture. At the same time, we acknowledge that we have not always followed this intuition. We have not always recognized that aggression and coercion have no place in the preaching of the Gospel of freedom, especially in cultures which are vulnerable to manipulation by more powerful forces. We have often contributed to the alienation of the very people we wanted to serve (90-92)

Growing in Discernment and Action

The heart of an Ignatian work is the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius. Indeed, any work may be said to be Ignatian when it manifests the Ignatian charism: i.e. when it intentionally seeks God in all things; when it practices Ignatian discernment; when it engages the world through a careful analysis of context, in dialogue with experience, evaluated through reflection, for the sake of action, and with openness, always, to evaluation. GC35, Decree on Governance, #9.

The Ultimate Aim of Our Jesuit Education is

that full growth of the persons which leads to action---action that is suffused with the spirit and presence of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Person-for-Others. This goal of action, based on sound understanding and enlivened by contemplation, urges students to self-discipline and initiative, to integrity and accuracy. It judges slip-shod or superficial ways of thinking unworthy of the individual and, more important, dangerous to the world he or she is called to serve.
(Adopted from Fr. Peter Hans Kolvenbach 1989)

Can we imagine a different future guided by another, more humane understanding of development ? What movements and ideas in peripheral corners of the world are now growing in influence and may contain the seeds of different, and vastly better, modes of living? The future is not written in stone. Many paths are possible. Let us examine these closely as we envision a better future. What next? Sheila Coronel and Kunda Dixit Development Dialogue 47 (2006)

Daghang Salamat!

FURTHER READINGS
Abinales, Patricio. 2007. Mindanao in the Development Fantasy of the Philippine State, 1900-2000. In Checkpoints and Chokepoints: Learning from Peace and Development Paradigms and Practices in Mindanao. 1st Mindanao Studies Conference. Davao City: Mindanao Studies Consortium Foundation, Inc. Alejo, Albert E. 2005. Introduction. In Sikami n Lumad: Bagong Panitikan ng Katutubong Mindanaw [New Writings by Indigenous Peoples in Mindanao]. Davao City: Mindanawon Initiatives for Cultural Dialogue. Appendix 1.1. Measuring the bias against Muslims, Philippine Human Development Report. 2005: Peace, Human Security and Human Development in the Philippines (Manila: Human Development Network, 2005). Miligan, Jeffrey Ayala. 2005. Faith in School: Educational Policy Responses to Ethno-Religious Conflict in the Southern Philippines, 1935-1985. Journal of Southeast Asian Studies 36(1): 67-86. February 2005. National University of Singapore. Mindanao 2020: Peace and Development Framework Plan. Davao City: Mindanao Development Authority (MINDA).

Mindanao Development Authority (MINDA), Konsult Mindanaw (BUC), Dialogue Mindanao (OPAPP), Mindanawon Inittiatives for Cultural Dialogue (Mindanawon), Mindanao Studies Consortium (MSCFI), National Anti-Poverty Corruption (NAPC), Ecosystems Work for Essential Benefits (Ecoweb), Manila Observatory (MO), Ehem anti-Corruption Program (Ehem), Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Xavier University, Rufa Guiam, Rudy Rodil, Albert Alejo, SJ personal files.

SOURCES

SIGN OF PEACE

Blessed are the peacemakers, they shall be called the children of God!