Cagayan de Oro, Philippines - As more and more communities become vulnerable to armed conflict, there was a need for the steering committee of the new Mindanao Peace Initiative and their respective constituents to converge and develop solidarity in their peace efforts. Thus, a Mindanao Peace Initiative Steering Committee Conference was held June 4-6, 2009 at the beautiful and peaceful Ecotourism Village in Cagayan de Oro City.
A rising civil-society peacebuilder, the Mindanao Peace Initiative takes a participatory and inclusive approach to peace anchored in responsiveness to the culture and respect for cultural and religious differences. It began by identifying sectors from the grassroots peace constituency representing a broad cross-section of Mindanao Island’s Christian and Muslim religious leaders, Lumads, academe, business, professionals, and public servants, with the majority of participants coming from the Department of Education.
Dr. Estrella Abid-Babano, Chair of the initiative, is the Director of the Department of Education in Region 10. In her opening remarks, she said that as an aggregate force it is imperative for them to unite and align each of their peace efforts, with a genuine focus on pursuing lasting peace in Mindanao.
Dr. Babano developed the Peace Village believing that peacebuilding needs to start and develop in the minds of the children. She challenged the steering committee and at the same time encouraged them to persevere amidst apprehensions that Mindanao will never experience peace due to political mayhem and social upheaval.
The conference was blessed by speakers who are international key players in some of the peace initiatives of the Universal Peace Federation. Secretary General Dr. Thomas Walsh gave presentations entitled, “Vision and Guiding Principles towards the World of Lasting Peace” and “Peacebuilding Initiatives.” This showcased the Middle East Peace Initiative, the Northeast Asia Peace Initiative, the South Asia Peace Initiative, the African Peace Initiative, the Americas Peace Initiative, and the South Caucasus Peace Initiative. The presentations helped the steering committee feel connected and aligned with UPF's peace initiatives across the globe. 
Other speakers included Dr. Charles Phillips, President and CEO of Service For Peace; Mr. Larry Moffitt, Vice President for Development and Communication of the Global Peace Festival; Mr. Aya Goto, Executive Director of the Global Peace Festival; Mr. Massimo Trombin, Director of Field Operations of the Global Peace Festival; and Mr. Daniel Bessell, Director of Religious Youth Service.
Participants had valuable opportunities to share about their peace efforts after each presentation, allowing for an interactive dialogue among them supplemented by the international pool of experts. Cultural performances from the different tribes living in the area where the conference took place also delighted participants.
Instead of a regular closing program, participants were grouped by profession to discuss proposals for peacebuilding and immediate action steps. The majority of the suggestions centered around ongoing programs. Finally, a briefing was given about plans for developing the Mindanao Peace Initiative.
As challenging as it may seem, the Mindanao Peace Initiative, led by Dr. Babano, is determined to develop strong roots in Mindanao and offer a new approach to achieving peace that can be applied across the globe.