INSIDE FRONT COVER BLANK PAGE Three Decades of Peace Education in the Philippines: Stories of Hope and Challenges Copyright © 2017 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without per- mission in writing from the publishers and the authors except by a reviewer or researcher who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review or research for inclusion in any other publication. Published by the Center for Peace Education, Miriam College, Katipunan Ave., Quezon City, Philippines, and the World Council for Curriculum and Instruction, Philippines Chapter. Printed by Cover & Pages Publishing, Inc., Manila, Philippines. ISBN: 978-971-0177-12-7 iv Three Decades of Peace Education in the Philippines: Stories of Hope and Challenges Editors: Toh Swee-Hin • Virginia Cawagas • Jasmin N. Galace Assistant Editor: Anna Kristina M. Dinglasan Publishers: Center for Peace Education, Miriam College & World Council for Curriculum and Instruction, Philippines Chapter v 6 Three Decades of Peace Education in the Philippines: Stories of Hope and Challenges CONTENTS Preface .........................................................................................................ix Introduction ................................................................................................. 1 Section I: Visions Crystallized, Seeds Planted Journeying in Solidarity: Educating for a Culture of Peace from Mindanao to Manila and Beyond by Toh Swee-Hin ................... 15 Peace Education: Reflections of a Mindanao Educator by Ofelia L. Durante.................................................................................. 29 Three Decades of Peace Education – My Story by Loreta N. Castro ................................................................................... 39 Section II: Growing Seeds in the Education System Personal Insights on Institutionalizing Peace Education in Basic Education and Teacher Education by Emily T. Lambio .................................................................................. 47 Checkpoints and Chokepoints in Integrating Peace Education in Teacher Education in Davao Region by Venus Budoy-Betita ......... 53 Transforming the Head, the Heart, and the Hand of Preservice Teachers Towards Building a Culture of Peace by Arlan Dela Cruz .................................................................. 61 My Journey in Peace Education by Marco P. Gutang ......................... 69 Peace Building and Peace Education Story in the Ateneo de Zamboanga by Perla Arlene S. Ledesma, Babylyn V. Tubilla, and Espiridion Atilano Jr. ................................................................................ 75 Challenges and Hopes of Peace Education in Mindanao State University – Maguindanao by Soraya Q. Sinsuat ........................ 83 My Journey as a Peace Educator by Lorenzo I. Balili, Jr. .................... 87 Teaching Peace Education at the Ateneo Grade School by Helen U. Amante .......................................... 93 Twinning for Peace: Two Faiths, One Vision, The Miriam College– Rajah Muda High School Twinning Project by Melinda Lamorena ..... 99 The Journey of an Aspiring Peace Educator by Genevieve Balance Kupang ...................................................................107 vii7 CONTENTS Peace Education in Don Bosco School–Sta. Mesa and Mary Help of Christian School (Cebu), Inc. by Sr. Marita R. Cedeño ............123 Section III: Nurturing Peace Education: Civil Society Cultivators No Matter How the River Bends, Be in the Mainstream: Hosting Conversations that Matter by Josephine P. Perez ....................133 Breaking the Cycle of Hate ... Out of the Box Options by Chito Generoso ..........................................147 Interfaith Dialogue Beyond Tolerance by Maria Teresa Guingona-Africa ..............................................................155 Silsilah Towards “Radical Love for Radical Change” by Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, PIME ..........................................................161 The Museo Pambata Peace Initiatives by Nina Lim-Yuson ................171 A Stitch in the Tapestry of Peacebuilding in Mindanao by Amabella “Mabel” Carumba.........................................179 Peace Starts from the Heart of a Child by Rohanisa Sumndad-Usman ...................................................................193 Connect, Empower, and Transform: A Decade of Peace- building and Youth Peace Advocacy by Beverly A. Orozco .................201 Pax Christi-Miriam College: Making a Difference, Changing Lives by Pax Christi–Miriam College ....................................209 APNIEVE: Developing a Culture of Peace in the Hearts of Learners and Educators by Lourder R Quisumbing .........................217 Peace Education Journey with the World Council for Curriculum and Instruction by Teresita Paed-Pedrajas .........................221 Section IV: Moving Ahead, Widening the Circle Peace Education: Measuring Impact by Jasmin Nario-Galace.............235 Of Dreamers, Sowers, Teachers, and Healers by Virginia Cawagas ...................................................................................245 Appendices Appendix 1: Forum Program .................................................................257 Appendix 2: Forum Participants ...........................................................263 viii PREFACE hree decades ago, in February 1986, the historic and inspirational people-power revolution in the Philippines ended an era of dictato- Trial and repressive rule. For the Filipino people, it also ushered in an opportunity to rebuild a society based on principles and processes of democratic participation, human rights and social justice. At the grassroots, many civil society movements, NGOs and individuals expanded their work and advocacy in peacebuilding, while a new Constitution was proclaimed that enshrined fundamental freedoms and the foundations of a just and humane society. It was in this renewed democratic post-EDSA space that the field of peace education began to take root, initially within the Mindanao context where armed conflicts arising from movements for Moro self-determination and the CPP-NPA-NDF revolutionary struggle were still unresolved. Peace education programs also began to develop in schools, colleges and universities through nonformal and community programs in other islands and regions. Through the advocacy of the Peace Education Network (PEN), peace educa- tion centers and programs, nongovernment organizations and with support from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), one significant milestone was attained in 2006 with the signing of E.O. 570: Institutionalizing Peace Education in Basic Education and Teacher Education by then Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Among educators seeking to build a culture of peace, there is a consensus that transformative processes of educating are both long-term and lifelong. After three decades since the organized emergence of peace education in the Philippines, it was timely to engage in a retrospective clarification of the state of the field. On June 27 and 28, 2016, more than 50 educators from diverse formal institutions, NGOs and other civil society organizations gathered at Miriam College to share stories of hope and challenges of their initial and continuing efforts to promote peace education. Co-organized by the Center for Peace Education of Miriam College and the UN-mandated ix PREFACE University for Peace in Costa Rica, the Forum was envisioned as a space to be inspired by, as well as to learn lessons from initiatives and programs in Philippine peace education. It was a meaningful and fruitful gathering of educators in all levels and forms of education from formal basic and higher institutions to non-formal and community programs. While almost all of the participants are Filipinos by nationality, there were also a few whose roots were in other societies but who have been deeply involved in the Philippines journey in peace educa- tion. Regrettably, it was not feasible for all individuals or institutions who have played a significant role and continue to contribute to peace education to directly participate in the Forum, such as Notre Dame University, Balay Mindanaw Foundation, the Schools for Peace initiative, the Mindanao Peace- building Institute and several others. However, within the stories presented, their role were often duly noted although the Forum cannot claim to provide a comprehensive narrative. During the Forum, there were joyful reunions of many educators who collaborated in those early years of peace education formation and have remained committed to the vision, principles and goals that moved them to nurture the seedlings of which many have grown into successive generations of trees, flowers and fruits. Yet the stories did not only narrate hopeful signs of accomplishments and progress, they also understandably revealed some significant challenges and barriers that need to be constructively faced and overcome. The conference would not have been possible without the support, co- operation and help of numerous people and institutions. To the leaders and staff of Miriam College’s Center for Peace Education (CPE) including Dr. Loreta Castro, founding Director of CPE and former President of Miriam College, and Mirma Mae Tica, we express our gratitude for their energies and commitment in hosting the conference at relatively short notice. We thank Dr. Rosario Oreta Lapus, President of Miriam College, for her warm welcome to the delegates,