AIMTEC Co-Creating Peace in Conflict-Affected Areas in Muslim
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Copyright © November 2012 by The Asian Institute of Management All rights reserved. This book serves as an open source for all development practitioners with the condition that publisher is cited and notified in writing when material is used, reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods. All notifications should be addressed “Attention: Knowledge Manager,” at the address below. Published by The AIM-TeaM Energy Center for Bridging Leadership Of the AIM-Scientific Research Foundation, Inc. 3rd Level The Asian Institute of Management Joseph R. McMicking Campus 123 Paseo de Roxas MCPO Box 2095, 1260 Makati City, Philippines Email: [email protected] Telefax: (63 2) 892-4011 local 387 Cover photos courtesy of Romulo Quemado II, MBLP Fellow Editorial Team: Ma. Nieves R. Confesor, Miren Sanchez, Katrine Vicedo, Kloe Carvajal, Antonio Marfori, Jose Antonio Javier The TeaM Energy Center for Bridging Leadership would like to thank all the academic partners (past and current), the management team and faculty of the Asian Institute of Management and the AIM-Scientific Research Foundation, Inc., as well as all those on-the-ground who have dedicated themselves to peace-building in Mindanao and the country. This volume is an initial attempt to share some of the stories of the MBLP Cohort 1 Bridging Leaders and is dedicated to all the bridging leaders who continue to advocate for multi-sectoral collaboration in responding to complex social divides and to those who have passed on and left their work on peace-building for us to continue… Foreword “Bridging Leaders for the Co-Creation of Peace and Development in Mindanao, the Philippines and the World” by Nieves R. Confesor Executive Director TeaM Energy Center for Bridging Leadership Three years ago, the AIM –Team Energy Center for Bridging Leadership embarked on a project to work at making the communities of conflict-affected areas of Mindanao more resilient, even in the absence of, and with the hope for, a peace agreement. The Project aimed to draw upon the experience of other interventions by the Center in areas other than Mindanao to mobilize communities and multi-stakeholder process to face challenges that no one sector, not even government, could claim to respond to. The bridging leadership technology, focusing on the intervenor and the social divides that must be understood and faced by communities as well as the processes for ownership and co-creation of new institutional arrangements for an empowered citizenry and transparent and accountable governance, could benefit these communities to generate enough confidence on the ground that peace could be achieved and brings more benefits than conflict. A framework agreement has been signed recently. And the work of transition has started. But the work at the community level continues as greater confidence is required as the more painful acts of transition will require deeper ownership, co-ownership and finally, co-creation by an ever-growing number of “owners” of a “compelling” future for Mindanao and the Philippines. The stories of 44 bridging leaders in Mindanao are good basis of hoping that the challenge can be met. These stories tell how each Fellow focuses on the work of the community and executes it, with their Core Groups, their coalitions, as preparatory for the delivery of assistance and services, for the exercise of rights and responsibilities in a diverse community in a post-conflict area. These projects also serve to show how “prototypes” are created by those “on the ground” to respond to the many challenges in an area whose HDIs are nowhere close to the national average. These “stories” were woven together by the work of the Fellows with our academic partner institutions in Mindanao. Such institutions provide the “local” content of the interventions and assure that capacity- building outside the four (4) formal workshops is embedded in the daily work and aspirations of the organization of the Fellow. They also assure us of continued utilization of the Framework even after the project ends. These stories also form part of a research project that looks into the robustness of the bridging leadership framework developed by the Center and its own collaboration with international centers on leadership and leadership development. Why a public recital? Leaders are great story-tellers as they move to inspire, to mobilize the community to do the difficult work of peace-building. The “glow from within”, not the “glam from without” will co-create the ‘compelling future’ of Mindanao. MESSAGE FROM THE CHANCELLOR OF MSU-ILIGAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY I would like to congratulate the twenty-two participants in the first Mindanao Bridging Leadership Program of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM). This is a significant training program in light of the threat of various conflicts, real and imagined, breaking out in Mindanao anytime because peopled by diverse cultural and religious groups. The renewed hostilities in the Middle East like the exchange of fire between the Israelites and the Palestinians should be a case in point to all of us. Any form of conflict disrupts and destroys peoples’ lives. It is not to be encouraged. How lucky, therefore, that concerned representatives of the U.S. and other entities still came to the table and talked peace so that this recent conflict ended in a ceasefire celebrated by both sides. But for how long can this tenuous peace be between bitter enemies? Our neighbor Malaysia once experienced racial and religious riots. But the Malaysians sat down and dealt with these problems starting with the resolve to use the languages spoken by its large diversely-ethnic groups in its schools even as Bahasa Malaysia is also widely spoken by Malaysians. Learning the language of a group of people is also learning its culture. Today in Mindanao, pockets of rebellion seem to have been contained and there is hope for lasting peace among its diverse groups. With the recent signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB), sustainable peace in Mindanao is possible. Any more moves toward ending conflict are commendable. But such move needs visionary leaders whose attitudes shape strategies that could realize lasting peace and harmony for all. How lucky therefore that, visionary leaders like you talk about peace and find ways in addressing various societal divides by engaging the people and giving back to them the power. We live in a democratic system of government and every person is given a chance to realize his potentials, his dreams in a free society. Equality and respect for one’s individuality and religious beliefs are what leaders like you must remember so that in the future, life in Mindanao is livable and our beloved island can be the place for progress in our changing times. DR. SUKARNO TANGGOL Chancellor MESSAGE FROM THE CHANCELLOR OF MSU-GENERAL SANTOS Mindanao State University-General Santos City’s participation to the Mindanao Bridging Leadership Program (MBLP) has not only strengthened our involvement in community development but also brought transformation in our institution. The past years, the University witnessed a peaceful and cohesive academic community inspired to explore the best of the university. Our leadership journey is anchored on the belief that leadership is aligning our strengths to subdue our weaknesses. In valuing people, we consider their contributions to university growth as essential. Each faculty, student and staff regardless of status can help shape the university’s direction. Our journey has helped us learn that valuing people is affirming their strengths, successes and potentials, prizing and esteeming their uniqueness as individuals. Letting others see these hopes and this vision is a challenge. The delicate steps we make to bridge the gaps of past hurts and pains; and to help each sector see the potentials of the University are indeed difficult. We have learned to balance each group’s interests seeing to it that, in the end, a shared vision of the University’s future is created. MBLP has taught us that true leadership is not imposing one’s authority in achieving the goals of the organization but to lead others to desire the same future. We have agreed that our future is a dynamic and proactive world class University where each member in the organization is valuable, contributing, growing, and satisfying his/her personal professional development. Our steps to institutionalize MBLP have been slow but bold. First, we partnered with MBLP fellows in their visions. Then we trained graduate school and College of Social and Sciences faculty members on Bridging Leadership, with the hope that they will infuse BL concepts and attitudes in their teaching. The visits of AIM’s experts like Prof. Juan Kanapi to personally train our faculty members affirmed the developing bond between AIM and MSU-GSC. The immersion of our staff and faculty members in the community work of our fellows (Fred Basino, Luz Go, and Ernest Casiple) showed that academe and community partnerships could help create better living arrangements of our people. Our MBLP experience has taught us that discovering the best in people and the innate goodness in them help us to ask positive questions seeking to anticipate and heighten the potentials of individuals in the University. Our management style has slowly evolved into seeking the positive core of people so that, in the end, a shared reality is created. In this vein, in behalf of MSU-General Santos, I wish to congratulate the graduates of the Mindanao Bridging Leadership Program with the prayer that this would spark stronger and better partnerships in the days ahead. Good luck and God speed. ATTY ABDURRAHMAN T. CANACAN Chancellor MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF WESTERN MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY Greetings and felicitations from Western Mindanao State University! The Mindanao Bridging Leadership Program comes at the proverbial crossroad of the country's history when concerted efforts from various sectors to bring desired peace and reconciliation are finally bearing fruits.