DAVAO CITY(September 23) — PEACE in Mindanao is not built only through formal agreements or negotiations. Much of it happens at the grassroots — in communities where Indigenous leaders, mediators and local peacebuilders work to prevent conflict, rebuild trust and keep communities together.
That work is being highlighted as the world marks the International Day of Peace on September 21, with this year’s theme: “Invest in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day.”
In Mindanao, the New Zealand Embassy is putting that principle into practice by supporting the participation of Indigenous and grassroots peacebuilders and mediators in the 2026 Annual Peacebuilding Training of the Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute (MPI).
The training is designed to strengthen the capacity of local peacebuilders — people who often work closest to communities affected by conflict and social divisions.
Among the resource persons was Dr. Jeremy Simons, a University of Otago alumnus, who shared insights from his work on Lumad Husay: Indigenous Peacebuilding as Cultural Resurgence.
The work puts Indigenous knowledge and cultural identity within the broader conversation on peacebuilding, recognizing that for Indigenous communities, peace can also mean protecting culture, strengthening community relationships and reclaiming their role in resolving conflicts.
Peacebuilding beyond the negotiating table
For communities in conflict-affected areas of Mindanao, peace is measured not only by the absence of armed confrontation.
It is also reflected in whether communities can resolve disputes without violence, whether Indigenous voices are heard, whether young people have meaningful roles in community life, and whether local leaders have the skills and support to mediate conflicts before they escalate.
This makes investment in grassroots peacebuilders particularly significant.
Rather than treating peace as something delivered from outside communities, community-led peacebuilding places local people at the center of identifying problems, resolving disputes and sustaining relationships.
The New Zealand-supported initiative comes as New Zealand and the Philippines celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations, providing another context for their continuing cooperation on peacebuilding and community development.
But beyond the diplomatic milestone, the initiative points to a more immediate reality in Mindanao: lasting peace depends on people who do the work every day, often far from the spotlight.
They are the mediators sitting with communities in conflict, Indigenous leaders drawing on traditional knowledge, and grassroots organizers helping people talk across differences.
Their work may rarely make headlines.
But it is at this community level where peace is often tested — and where the investment in peace must ultimately deliver results.
For Mindanao, investing in peace means investing in the people and communities who have to live with its consequences every day.
