Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc.

Kaangayan, Kalambuan, Kalinaw ... sa Mindanaw, sa Pilipinas, sa Kalibutan

Play for Peace: A Dialogue Through Sports
By John Mark Ladaga
Posted 14 February 2008
[See also YouTube video footages of the event
and more photos at our photo gallery]

	Meeting new friends at the badminton court. Photo: Bobby Timonera

Mindanao has long been torn by wars and conflicts. These displaced thousands of people, destroyed homes and claimed thousands of lives. For decades, peace has been an elusive dream. It is said that Mindanao has had a history of unrest partly due to the diverse characters of its population. That this diversity has led to conflict among the various groups.

This has been proven wrong last January 25-27, when badminton players from all over the country and from the different sectors of society came and played for peace. The event, “Play for Peace in Mindanao,” showed that this diversity need not be a source of conflict. That Muslims can play and be friends with Christians and vice versa, that priests can enjoy badminton with soldiers and that government officials could have a common passion with the youth.

6ID's 2Lt. Sibayan (L) with BMFI's Ayi Hernandez at the press conference. Photo: Bobby Timonera

The event was the biggest gathering of badminton players in Mindanao and perhaps the whole country. It is a novel way of promoting peace. There have been peace concerts, peace rallies, peace ads and now we have the Play for Peace. The enthusiasts believe that by playing they are building friendships, which also paves the way for peace. In the press conference a military official said that they too are tired of fighting and of the war. They also aspire for peace and that was why they have players joining the event.

In the journey towards peace, it is important to provide spaces for peace, which are spaces of dialogue. In the Play for Peace, it is the court and the passion for badminton that have become the spaces.

The event is a statement that everybody should be involved in making peace possible. It urged both parties of the different peace processes to keep talking, to exhaust all means in achieving peace, be it through peace education, community-based peacebuilding, peace-talks, peace concerts and others.

	MisOr Gov. Oscar Moreno serves the ceremonial toss. Photo: Bobby Timonera

Play for Peace was organized by the Philippine Agrarian Reform Fund for National Development (PARFUND) and Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc. (BMFI), both non-government organizations (based in Manila and Cagayan de Oro, respectively. The event was in support for the ongoing commitment on the cessation of hostilities between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Rebolusyunaryong Partido ng Manggawa ng Mindanao (RPM-M). Both parties have entered into peace negotiations since 2003, with BMFI serving as the independent secretariat.

The 276 pairs came from Lanao, Cotabato, Kidapawan, General Santos, Tacurong, Davao, Panabo, Marbel, Koronadal, Kapatagan, Oroquieta, Pagadian, Zamboanga, Lugait, Bukidnon, Lambayong, Valencia, Maramag, Marawi, Ozamis, Iligan, Cebu, Bacolod, Manila, Butuan, Gingoog, and Cagayan de Oro City. A delegation from the international community also took part in the event as they also see their role in forging dialogue and support to the continuing struggle for peace.

The journey for peace continues.