Week 4 Philippines Bae Lisa Philippines Bae Lisa

Week 4: Philippines

Bae Lisa Philippines Bae Lisa lives in Mindanao in the Philippines with her husband nine children. She is a traditional leader of the Talaandig tribe. She works for peace as part of Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC).

Mindanao is a large group of islands in the south of the Philippines.

There has been fighting in Mindanao for many years and for many reasons, including arguments over land ownership and disagreements over religion and politics.

Around two million people have fled from their homes since the early 1970 s. MPC works to help indigenous people defend their land rights and to build peace in Mindanao.

Bae Lisa and her husband had always worked for peace and to protect the lands of local tribes. MPC, supported by Caritas Australia, gave her a chance to take this further.

Bae Lisa was trained by MPC in peace-building, how to respond to disasters, advocacy (standing up for people’s rights) and leadership. Now she is part of MPC’s Council.

The council includes leaders from among the Indigenous peoples, Christian settlers and Muslims (who lived in Mindanao before Christian Spain colonised it). So they are respected by all.

Conflict often breaks out between rival warlords, or groups for or against independence, or people claiming land rights. MPC encourages people to talk instead of fighting.

MPC led a successful national campaign for a ceasefire in 2009.

More than 900 MPC ‘Bantay Ceasefire’ volunteers check that the ceasefire is being kept and promote peace.

They provide emergency aid to people who have fled from their homes because of the fighting.

When there is conflict in the area, the volunteers escort displaced people to safe places. Their work can be very dangerous.

Your support for Caritas Australia enables MPC and the Bantay Ceasefire volunteers to continue their peace-building work.

Picture credits Romy Elufsa