The Department of Social Work in MSU which celebrated its Social Work Week on March 1st – 5th, 2011 invited EcoWEB, Inc to conduct “Cinema for Peace” road-show showcasing EcoWEB’s documentaries on peace-building efforts. Cinema for Peace, an activity instigated by EcoWEB during the 2010 Mindanao Week of Peace celebration, featured the films Rising from the Ashes: A story of friendship in Kolambugan, and Lumbac: A story of Mindanao. Rising from the Ashes tells the story of how the local government unit (LGU) of Kolambugan, in partnership with various peace actors, initiated a recovery process with the communities affected by the impact of the August 2008 MILF attack in their town. Lumbac film also shows how the community of Lumbac, with Kolambugan LGU and support groups, transformed a conflict over the roughly 200 hectares coconut land involving more than a hundred families of Maranao and Bisayan settlers.
A series of activities were conducted during Social Work Week with a principal theme of peace and development advocacy. According to Prof. Genine Faunillan of the Social Work Department, the viewing of EcoWEB’s documentary films was the highlight of the week, as it gave an opportunity to learn lessons from the films which would be valuable to their students’ further appreciation of the profession’s role in peace advocacy efforts. Students had lively discussions with EcoWEB’s Executive Director, Ms Regina Antequisa, as she unwearyingly answered questions during the forum after the film showing. Barangay Captain Malamit of Lumbac was also present to give personal testimonies about the Lumbac land conflict and their experience in transforming the conflict with support from ECOWEB, the LGU of Kolambugan and other government and non-government support groups. One student from among the audience commented about the presence of Brgy. Captain Malamit, being a Maranao, together with the EcoWEB's Executive Director, a Bisaya, as something inspiring and a manifestation that even with differences in identity and religion, conflict transformation and peacebuilding could very well be worked out.
The Cinema for Peace road-show, a project of EcoWEB with support from GIZ and CAFOD, will continue year-round to universities and schools in Lanao.
No comments:
Post a Comment