Mambuay Family: Finding a Way to Peace through education and non-violent communication

“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 5^th JFVA

The 5^th 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 3^rd 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.