“We can sit down
together and share experiences, not looking at each other as Muslims or
Christians but all as creations of one God. This is liberating, thanks to
Nonviolent Communication.”—Amina Mambuay
Seeing the many faces of pain and suffering of people
affected by calamities especially its effect on the children and the
experiences brought about by animosities among Muslims and Christians in
Mindanao has led Amina Mambuay and her family to establish a non-governmental
organization called Kalilintad Pilipinas Inc.
Founded in 2010 in the hope that starting with proper education for the
children, the family believes there is a great chance for peace if not at this time,
for the future generation.
Today, the family NGO has put up a shelter for 17
students for Grade 4 to Grade 8; six of them Muslims while 9 are of Christian
faith.
According to Amina some of the children are orphans while
most come from impoverished families who really cannot send them to school. All
the kids study in public school and funding for their food and other daily
expenses are shouldered by the NGO itself and donations by friends of the
family. Meanwhile, daughter Sarah, a psychology graduate but who works on her
culinary expertise serves as house parent for the children with the support
from two siblings Farah, a law student,
and Lara, a geologist, who contributes the biggest budget for the shelter.
Kalilintad means peace. So aside from regular schooling
the kids are given workshop and activities on non-violent communication (NVC).
The
former Amina Tominaman was born in
Marawi City to a Muslim-Meranao family. Meranao (meaning people of the lake) is
among the 13 ethnolinguistic groups of Muslims found in the Philippines. She
finished Bachelor of Arts in Philippines Studies and Masters in Sociology-Anthropology at Ateneo
de Cagayan University (Xavier University).
Her work
as a Researcher in the same university has led her to explore the problems
confronting the Muslims and Lumads in Mindanao before coming back to her
hometown to work as a College Instructor at Mindanao State University from June
1990-May 1995.
Married to Nathaniel Mambuay, also a Muslim-Meranao,
husband and wife found it quite hard to find jobs in the late 90s because of
discrimination against Muslims . Nath shared: Sa private sector, napakahirap ng
employment para sa isang Muslim. Sa Iligan maswerte na kung may isang Muslim na
naka-employ sa isang kumpanya.”
Amina confirmed this. She said there is actually no problem
in Marawi City which is predominantly Muslim area. “Pero paglabas mo sa Cagayan
De Oro or Iligan City to study or work that’s where discrimination start. Nung
college ako mahirap maghanap ng boarding house. I have to use a Christian name
para tanggapin ako. Then sa paghahanap ng trabaho pag nakita nila religion mo
Islam kahit qualified ka, di ka rin nila i-coconsider. Third, yung pag-aapply sa housing project,
pag punta namin sa subdivision, nung malaman ang relihiyon namin, bigla ang
sasabihin, sorry po walang bakante.”
Because of these experiences, Amina has always been on
the lookout for ways to have better understanding of the Muslims if not to end
discrimination against them.
She learned about
Nonviolent Communication (NVC) through a friend who is a nun. Her friend gave
her a copy of the book Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by
Marshall Rosenberg and thus her involvement in working for peace has started.
In 2007, another friend, this time around a priest, recommended her for NVC
training in Ruhpolding, Germany. That same year, her husband joined her in the
advocacy.
“NVC promotes better
relations and understanding between Muslims, Christians, and people of other
living faiths. It is a calling and a mission, because we work as volunteers.
And I am happy with our choice. It meets our
desire to contribute to the well-being of others and to contribute to
peace and understanding,” Amina said.
“We facilitate
workshops, seminars, and trainings on Peace and Nonviolent Communication. At
times, both of us are invited to speak about our experience as Muslims. We
closely collaborate with an interfaith group in Cagayan de Oro City. We
spearhead a Walk for Peace here in Mindanao, activities in solidarity with the
Muslims and Christians, and other activities in the pursuit of peace,” she
added.
One
major result of this NVC training, according to Amina, is openness to one
another’s culture and beliefs. In the past, it was a big NO for Muslims to
enter a Christian Church, and vice versa.
“But
with our peace efforts, on Christmas Eve of 2008 my family was invited to a
Christmas Eve Mass together with some other Muslim leaders, and one of our
Muslim leaders was requested to explain the birth of Jesus Christ as found in
the Holy Qur’an. This was among the breakthroughs of our work, since hundreds
of parishioners came to know that the story of the birth of Jesus Christ in our
Qur’an is similar to that found in the Holy Bible. In solidarity with the
Muslims, the Christians now also visit the Mosque during Ramadan to observe the breaking of the
fast.
In 2009 their region
was hit by flooding due to typhoon Sendong, Amina was happy to see Muslims and
Christians working hand in hand to help those who were affected by the
calamity.
But
not resting on this achievement, Amina and her family continues to contribute
to the community in their own little way such as distribution of slippers and
school supplies to school children, medical mission and relief good to indigent
families.
“Kasi
nakita namin yung mga bata especially yung nakatira sa liblib, pumapasok sa
school walang tsinelas, tapos yung lagayan ng school materials nila plastic
bag... Sabi ko sa mga anak ko baka pwede tayo makabigay kahit konting tulong so
that’s how our shelter for the kids started,” she said.
Today, the Mambuay family has chosen Misamis
Oriental to be their permanent resident. And for their noble work of seeking
peaceful ways to inculcate unity between the Christian and Muslim faiths,
Jollibee through its
Family Values Awards
honored them along with 10 other Filipino families from Luzon, Visayas, and the
United States for their noteworthy advocacies that made a significant impact in
the lives of their fellowmen.
Jollibee
hails new batch of exemplary Filipino families in 5th JFVA
The 5th JFVA winners also include the Domulot family of
Zambales, whose work focuses on uplifting the lives and solidifying the Aeta
tribes; Tiosan family of Rizal, dedicated to the employment and
self-sufficiency of the blind; Rojas family of Quezon City, for giving a new
voice to cancer survivors; and Pena family of Cavite, empowering people with
Autism. The Gange family of San Jose, California was awarded The Gange family
of San Jose, California was awarded the Jollibee-Coca-Cola Global Pinoy Family
of the Year for advocating music literacy among the Filipino youth.
 |
| The 5th JFVA awardees |
Apart from the six exemplary Filipino families, the
Jollibee Family Values Awards also bestowed special citations to families whose
advocacies benefit specific stakeholders. Special Citation for Education
(co-presented by National Bookstore) was awarded to the Capilos family of
Quezon City for holding free trainings for public school teachers and students;
Special Citation for Environment (co-presented by Landbank) was awarded to the
Basa family of Capiz for their work on using recycled materials for disaster
preparedness; Special Citation for Children (co-presented by Children’s Hour
and San Miguel-Purefoods) was awarded to the Ramirez family of Quezon City for
creating free toy libraries nationwide; Special Citation for PWDs (co-presented
by the National Council on Disability Affairs) was awarded to the Mendoza
family of Palawan for holding free clinics and Special Olympics for PWDs; and
Special Citation for Minority Groups (co-presented by Kalipunan ng mga
Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas - KATRIBU) was awarded to the Catanghal
family of Pasig for their advocacy of providing wholistic development for the
Mangyan tribes.
These
abundant stories of goodwill and generosity resonates JFVA’s core messages that
everyone has what it takes to make a difference in the lives of others, and
that the right values begin and are nurtured at home.
“These families that exemplify the values that we
honor up to this day form a strong foundation for the country that help build a
better nation. We owe it to them that the campaign has reached its milestone
year, as we continue to receive inspiring stories of compassion and generosity
here and around the globe that are definitely worth recognizing and can serve
as a shining example for others,” said Jollibee Philippines president Joseph
Tanbuntiong.
 |
| Sen. Bam Aquino with Jollibee Phils leadership team |
Distinguished
personalities known in their respective fields made up this year’s esteemed
JFVA board of judges including Sen. Bam Aquino as jury chairman, Sen. Grace
Poe-Llamanzares, Camarines Sur 3rd District Representative Cong.
Leni Robredo, professor and economist Winnie Monsod, MOWELFUND trustee and
president Boots Anson-Rodrigo, columnist and child advocate Audrey Tan-Zubiri,
Jollibee ambassador and Ulirang Ina awardee Carmina Villaroel-Legaspi, ANC news
anchor Edric Mendoza, parenting and
relationship consultant Maribel Sison-Dionisio, Coca-Cola Export
Corporation Director for Public Affairs and Communications Atty. Adel Tamano, and ABS-CBN consultant for
Public Service Integration and Chaplaincy Fr. Carmelo “Tito” Caluag, S.J. They
were also joined by Jollibee Global Brand Chief Marketing Officer Francis Flores, Vice President for Marketing Harvey Ong, Vice President
for Human Resources Ruth Angeles, and Jollibee Group Foundation Vice President
Belen Rillo.
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