Ateneo de Davao University Holds Civil Society Summit for the Bangsamoro Strengthening Constituencies for the Peace Process
Ateneo de Davao University has welcomed diverse key sectors from Women, NMIP Youth, Moro Youth, Academe, Civil Society Organizations, and Religious Leaders (Basilan Focus) to its campus at the Training Rooms, 8th Floor, CCFC Building, for the Civil Society Summit for the Bangsamoro Strengthening Constituencies for the Peace Process, creating the sacred third space for meaningful dialogue and collaboration in strengthening their shared commitment to the Bangsamoro peace process.
The summit aims to transform participants by empowering them with the courage to actively listen, understand, and engage in meaningful exchanges, further bolstering their commitment to solidarity, inclusivity, and lasting peace in Mindanao.
Throughout the 3-day summit, Mx. Mags Maglana, Ateneo de Davao University Board of Trustees Member and Peace and Gender Equality Advocate, served as a moderator, facilitating participant engagement and discussion.
Day 1: Establishing the Foundation for Multisectoral Call to Action
On the first day, the program formally opened with welcome remarks from Josua Mata, Secretary-General of the Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO), followed by the presentation of the Check-In Design and Analytical Methodology led by Ms. Jones Janelle Estocapio.
Various sectors then collaborated in breakout sessions during their Validation Workshop, which subsequently led to the presentation of the Multisectoral Call to Action for the Bangsamoro Peace Process.
Day 2: Multisectoral Dialogues and Celebration of Cultural Solidarity
The second day’s morning session opened with a welcome message from Fr. Karel San Juan, SJ, University President, followed by a message of support from H.E. Emma Hickey, Ambassador of the Embassy of Ireland to the Philippines. The afternoon session commenced with opening remarks by Mr. Gus Miclat, Executive Director of Initiatives for Internal Dialogue (IID), followed by three plenary sessions: (1) Presentation of Sectoral Reports led by Ms. Karen Tañada, Executive Director of Gaston Z. Ortigas Peace Institute (GZPI); (2) Presentation of the Multisectoral Call to Action for the Bangsamoro Peace Process led by Yasmin Busran-Lao, Chair of Al Mujadilaa Women’s Association (AMWA); (3) and a session with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Leadership.
Following the presentations and dialogues, messages of support were then expressed by Mr. Winston Aylmer Camariñas, Cotabato Field Office Head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and Ms. Livia Meisser, Chargée d’affaires of the Embassy of Switzerland to the Philippines. Closing remarks were delivered by Ms. Teresita Quintos-Deles, Founder of the International Center of Innovation, Transformation and Excellence in Governance Inc. (INCITEGOV).
In the evening of the second day, the solidarity night was welcomed with a toast by summit participants hailing from diverse sectors of Bangsamoro leaders, led by Atty. Romeo Cabarde Jr., Assistant to the President on Advocacy and Legal Affairs, on the 2nd of July 2026, at the 4th Floor, Martin Hall.
The evening featured a vibrant cultural performance celebrating Mindanao’s rich cultural heritage, followed by the screening of a same-day edit video capturing the essential events and key insights from the first two days of the summit.
Concluding the night with the delegates’ dinner and networking, it offered a dynamic avenue for stakeholders to strengthen regional ties, exchange personal narratives, and solidify partnerships as they instill a shared commitment to the ongoing peace process.
Day 3: Debriefing on the Ways Forward for the Bangsamoro Community
On the final day of the summit, a thorough debriefing session was held to reflect on key insights gathered throughout and discuss ways forward for the Bangsamoro constituency.
Bringing the three-day summit to a formal close, Dr. Sylvia Guy Estrada-Claudio, Co-Convener of Tindig Pilipinas, delivered her closing remarks, inspiring the delegates to carry the spirit of the sacred third space back to their respective communities.
