PCW and OPAPRU Localize WPS, Led Arts-based Peace Campaign, Multi-sectoral Dialogue

PCW and OPAPRU Localize WPS, Led Arts-based Peace Campaign,
Multi-sectoral Dialogue

VALENCIA CITY, BUKIDNON - The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), through its North Mindanao Field Office (PCW-NMFO), ramped up its efforts to localize the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda by conducting PASUNDAYAG: Mindanao Street Theatre for Sustainable Peace and Roundtable Discussion on February 4, 2026, this city. The effort is in collaboration with the Embassies of Slovenia and Ukraine, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), Bukidnon Province Governor Rogelio Neil P. Roque, and Valencia City Mayor Amie G. Galario.

^{Leaders from various sectors with PCW as the lead convenor, together with community members, gathered at the Valencia City Gymnasium and Cultural Center to witness
PASUNDAYAG: Mindanao Street Theatre for Sustainable Peace. (Photo credits: Public Information and Assistance Division City of Valencia)}

The WPS agenda is a global framework established by UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) that recognizes women as essential actors in preventing conflict and sustaining peace.

The initiative aims to amplify the voices of women, youth, and children in peacebuilding and foster public awareness of marginalized-focused approaches to sustainable peace. It features a community-based street theater performance with creative direction of Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc. (BMFI), also the moderator of the short audience reflection and discussion of the play, alongside a multi-sectoral roundtable discussion.

^{Mr. Lerio 'Baht' Latumbo of Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc. gave an overview of PASUNDAYAG: Mindanao Street Theatre for Sustainable Peace.}

Rooted in Mindanao's rich tradition of storytelling and performance, Pasundayag, a Cebuano term meaning "to present" or "to show", used participatory theater to portray lived experiences of conflict, resilience, and hope and articulated the aspirations of the next generation for sustainable peace. It also demonstrated how norms deliberately exclude children and youth in peace building held in the morning at Valencia City Gymnasium and Cultural Center, the theatre performance staged around 23 student-actors from Valencia National High School and volunteers from women, children, youth, and other sectors. Through dramatization, the actors portrayed how armed conflicts uproot families, destabilize incomes, and expose children to life on the streets, where they become vulnerable to gangs and drug abuse.

^{At the center of the play is a family affected by armed conflict, where their child is exposed to gang recruitment and illegal drugs.}

PCW Chairperson Ermelita V. Valdeavilla in her keynote message underscored the importance of integrating women's and young people's perspectives in peace processes, emphasizing that sustainable peace cannot be achieved without inclusive participation across sectors and generations. She also called for attention to the root causes and the need for forgiveness and healing to attain sustainable peace.

^{PCW Chairperson Ermelita V. Valdeavilla delivered her keynote message, urging the recognition of youth and women's participation in peacebuilding and peacekeeping efforts.}

"For far too long, peacebuilding has been treated as the exclusive domain of adults, leaving children and youth on the margins of critical conversations, even though they carry the heaviest burdens of conflict. Today, Pasundayag breaks that pattern," the PCW Chairperson said.

"Children and youth, you are not just the most vital, creative, and credible architects of peace today. Rather, you are the peace we expect to prevail once we have outlived our time in this life", she added.

In a message of support, Her Excellency Dr. Smiljana Knez, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Slovenia to the Republic of the Philippines, expressed her solidarity with the stakeholders to bolster the role of women and children in peacebuilding and peacekeeping efforts.

^{H.E. Dr. Smiljana Knez, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Slovenia to the Republic of the Philippines delivered her message of support.}

"I feel privileged to be your guest today and to work with many of you for a stronger role of women and a louder voice of the children", Ambassador Knez said.

"Peace is not just absence of military violence, peace is so much more. It's about social justice, rights to education, social inclusion, and so many things", underscoring that peace goes beyond the absence of armed conflict.

Likewise, H.E. Dr. Yuliia Fediv, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Embassy of Ukraine to the Philippines, expressed her appreciation to such an initiative that ignites vision for community members and leaders at the grassroots to take action.

^{H.E. Dr. Yuliia Fediv of the Embassy of Ukraine to the Philippines lauded the collaborative initiative for promoting peace, especially in fragile areas.}

"Community-based cultural initiatives like this project in Bukidnon show art strengthens social cohesion and empowers people at the grassroot level", the Ambassador said.

"Let this performance remind us that weapons may destroy cities, but culture preserves humanity, and humanity is the strongest foundation for peace".

During the performance, audiences from various sectors also engaged to reflect on local conflict issues portrayed in the play and how these could be addressed in their personal experiences in the local community and point of views, as agents of peace.

^{The audience engaged in a short reflection, sharing insights on the challenges unveiled in the performance, drawn from their experiences as leaders and members in their respective communities.}

As one of the audiences, Celeste C. Bagana, Provincial Secretary of the Bukidnon Tribal Youth Ambassadors (BYTA), emphasized that local officials must listen to community members without discrimination, underscoring the importance of fairness and justice in community development.

"We should listen to each one of us kay naa man tay lahi-lahi nga kaagi. Naa gyud dapat ang fair and justice. Ang listening dako kaayo og impact sa pagdevelop sa community especially sa mga tao nga nakalingkod sa position", said Bagana as she reflects on the play where the Barangay captain refused to listen to the children because of their age and lack of knowledge.

(There must always be fairness and justice. It's important that we listen to each other because we all have different lived experiences. Listening is vital in community development, especially those in positions of authority who are directly affecting its constituents in all their decisions to make.)

^{Plaques of appreciation and certificates were awarded to partners, performers, and coordinators in recognition of their invaluable contributions to PASUNDAYAG theatre performance.}

Following the theater performance, key peace leaders and stakeholders convened in the afternoon for a Roundtable Discussion to expound on the key messages raised during the performance. The agenda focused on unpacking the root causes of local conflict, examining sectoral roles, and identifying concrete action plans to strengthen community-based peacebuilding efforts aligned under the WPS framework.

^{Around 12 leaders from various sectors convened to align localized efforts in advancing the WPS agenda.}

Leading the RTD were PCW Chairperson, Ermelita V. Valdeavilla; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Slovenia to the Republic of the Philippines, Her Excellency Dr. Smiljana Knez; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Embassy of Ukraine to the Philippines, H.E. Dr. Yuliia Fediv; Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) Assistant Secretary, Susana Guadalupe H. Marcaida; and moderated by Commission on Human Rights - Region 10 Legal Officer IV, Atty. Pilipinas C. Palma.

Present also in the exchange were leaders and representatives from Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc. (BMFI), City Local Government of Valencia, Valencia City Youth Development Office (VCYDO), Valencia National High School (VNHS), Bukidnon Tribal Youth Ambassadors, the children, and women sectors.

During the multi-sectoral dialogue, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary H.E. Dr. Smiljana Knez of the Republic of Slovenia to the Republic of the Philippines highlighted the need to institutionalize youth and women's participation in peace mechanisms by knowing the know-hows first, hoping to have the same initiative in their region.

^{H.E. Dr. Smiljana Knez of the Embassy of Slovenia to the Philippines shared her views, drawing from her experience in international peace efforts to maximize impact on such initiatives.}

"We have started promoting the WPS agenda, but to create a positive impact at the local level before bringing it to the international arena, we need to understand what is really happening on the ground and what the actual needs are.

Pasundayag is a very good initiative. It is an amazing avenue for sharing the message, and it is both interesting and reassuring to engage in dialogue with representatives from Valencia. I hope to have a similar initiative in our region."

OPAPRU Asec. Maracaida also shared that while Valencia City was insurgency-free, she called for a sustained action aligned with the WPS agenda. For the Fiscal Year 2026, the City of Valencia has allocated PhP150 million for the Peace and Order and Safety Plan for a sustained peace.

^{OPAPRU Asec. Maracaida also urged conflict-free local government units (LGUs) to uphold, maintain,
and sustain peace within their communities.}

As ways forward, RTD stakeholders pledged commitments to advance the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda by enhancing knowledge and awareness of WPS rights, promoting women's participation in decision-making, supporting livelihood and education programs, strengthening parenting for character building of the next generation, and fostering a sustained collaboration and coordination across sectors to ensure inclusive and sustainable localization of WPS agenda.

^{Peace stakeholders and representatives present pledged their commitment to actively advance the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda in their respective roles and communities.}

Stemmed from the Diplomatic Dialogue on Gender Equality in May 2025, with PCW's proposal and recognition of street theater as an innovative and inclusive approach to advancing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security in the Philippine context, this initiative forms part of the Commission's thrust to mainstream women's rights, gender and development (GAD) initiatives, and localize the WPS agenda.