Swords into plowshares
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Swords into Plowshares is the blog of the Peacemaking Program and the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations of the Presbyterian Mission Agency of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
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Posts with tag: philippines
April 1, 2012Public Forum on the State of Human Rights in the Philippines
by Jessica Hawkinson
On 19 May 2012, our colleagues in the United Methodist church sponsored a public forum on human rights in the Philippines.
In the past year and a half, 67 extrajudicial killings, nine disappearances and 78 political arrests have marked the landscape of the new government in the Philippines. These violations of human rights in the Philippines are only a sampling of the violations that have plagued the country’s history. As part of its annual Universal Periodic Review, the United Nations Human Rights Council is currently evaluating the human rights situation in the Philippines. Ecumenical leaders from ...
March 27, 2012
The WCC and human rights issues in the Philippines
The World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission on World Mission and Evangelism met in Manila, the Philippines, from March 22-27. The National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) hosted the event which focused on the theme “Together towards life: mission and evangelism in changing landscapes”. According to the WCC news story, participants analyzed a draft of the statement on mission and evangelism that will be presented at the 2103 WCC 10th Assembly in Busan, Korea.
Prior to the Commission meeting, the Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit and other WCC staff met and discussed human rights violations in the Philippines ...
December 24, 2011
PC(USA) responds to typhoon in the Philippines
In the aftermath of the typhoon that struck the Philippines, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is responding with One Great Hour of Sharing and designated funds in cooperation with our ecumenical partner ACT Alliance, and our mission partner the National Council of Churches of the Philippines (NCCP). Some NCCP churches are being used for as emergency shelter sites. The National Council of Churches of the Philippines is also a member of ACT Alliance. ACT members are already carrying out damage and needs assessments and helping to meet the most urgent needs.
PDA funds will help to meet the immediate need for food ...
December 20, 2011
Prayers for the Philippines
Tropical Storm Washi struck the Philippines on December 16 and 17. The storm, the most- devastating cyclone to hit the Philippines this year, has killed hundreds. Many others remain missing.
Presbyterians have a long history of ministry with the people of the Philippines. Currently, we join the world in prayer. Information on relief efforts will follow.
Presbyterians in ministry with the people of the Philippines
UN and its partners appeal for additional $28 million to help storm victims
Philippine floods: President declares national calamity
UN steps up relief efforts in the Philippines
UN officials mourn victims of storm tragedy
February 14, 2011
Road to recovery: The Morong 43 outside detention
Read an update on the Morong 43 health care workers in the Philippines who were held in prison from February through December 2010. Most have been released. Some remain in prison. Road to recovery: The Morong 43 outside detention.
January 31, 2011
Children at risk - Sudan, Myanmar, Philippines, Gaza
The Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict provides links to stories about children at risk in several places around the world. Singers strive for peace in new Sudan: The bumping beats of African...
December 29, 2010
Morong 43 update
Two additional members of the Morong 43 health workers held in the Philippines have been released, bringing the total to 40. Lawyers are at work to obtain the release of the remaining three individuals.
December 18, 2010
Tears
I cried last evening. It has been a while, but I remembered how. A simple post on a friend's Facebook page started it: "They are FREE!! The 43!!!" The Morong 43 is the name given to a group of 43...
December 18, 2010
They are free - the 43
Thirty-eight members of the Morong 43, health care workers imprisoned in the Philippines since February 2010, were released on Friday December 17. Here are links to more information: After 10 months in jail, 38 members of 'Morong 43' set free...
December 12, 2010
Morong 43 welcome President's order to withdraw charges in Philippines
President Benigno Simeon Aquino III of the Philippines has ordered that the charges be withdrawn against the Morong 43 - health care workers held by the government of the Philippines since February. Actually it is more accurate to refer to...
December 10, 2010
Advent Devotion - December 10, 2010
Scripture - Isaiah 7:10–25 In one of our conversations with the street dweller kids in Manila, we asked them to draw on a big paper plate the food they wanted to eat during Noche Buena (a traditional Filipino dinner on...
November 27, 2010
WCC Living Letters Team to visit Philippines
An international team of church representatives will pay a solidarity visit to churches, ecumenical organizations and civil society movements in the Philippines from 1 to 5 December. It will be the last in a series of "Living Letters" visits to...
October 31, 2010
Sign ad calling for release of health workers in Philippines
An appeal from the General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines October 29, 2010 To Our Friends and Partners Around the World: Please Sign the Paid Ad to Free the 43 Health Workers (Morong 43) May...
October 9, 2010
To abandon peacemaking is to betray the faith, says Philippines church leader
From the Presbyterian News Service: International Peacemaker "the Rev. Joel Tendero has been a leader in the peacemaking ministry of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines for more than 20 years. His life has repeatedly been threatened by...
September 14, 2010
Philippines Mission Network
Former Moderator Bruce Reyes-Chow issues the following invitation: If you are Presbyterian and interested in connecting in helpful ways with our partners in the Philippines, please consider joining the Philippines Mission Network ning group. This is part of the larger...
August 19, 2010
Free Judilyn; Free the Morong 43
Based on the long and deep partnership with the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Stated Clerk Gradye Parsons of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) sent a letter a month ago to President Aquino of the Philippines that calls for...
July 23, 2010
The baby boy arrived
Last evening, we posted an invitation to prayer for Ms. Judilyn Oliveros of the Philippines. Tonight, we invite you to give thanks. Her baby boy arrived today - delivered by c-section in a hospital. He is healthy and is 6.8...
July 22, 2010
A prayer at a time of birth
Please pray for Ms. Judilyn Oliveros of the Philippines. With support from the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Judilyn is scheduled to give birth in a hospital by c-section on July 23,...
June 26, 2010
Ten years on
By Matt Lang I was soaked by the end of election day. My shirt felt like something that was growing on me. We waited for the polls to close at a precinct in Surigao City. It was 11:30 pm, the...
June 19, 2010
Churches to pursue rights cases under new Philippines’ president
There is a new president in the Philippines. There is new leadership for the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. What will come next? According to a story from Ecumenical News International (posted by the Presbyterian News Service), the...
June 11, 2010
And then it began to rain
by Matt Lang I was part of a team that went to Surigao del Norte in northeastern Mindanao. This area is rich in resources and is one of the last regions in the country that hasn’t been completely deforested or...
June 6, 2010
An Election of Debt
By Nancy Eng MacNeill From province to province, precinct after precinct, throughout the Philippine islands, the May 10, 2010 elections showed widespread evidence of voter intimidation, vote buying, campaign violations on Election Day, denial of voter rights, and more. As...
June 4, 2010
An election in a country where many hunger
By Matt Lang To understand the elections in the Philippines, you need to first understand a bit about the economics of the Philippines. There are many statistics that I could roll out, but allow me to start with one: 40%...
June 2, 2010
Reports from observers of Philippines election
The People's International Observers Mission (PIOM) has posted of reports from the teams of international observers of the May 2010 election in the Philippines. Check out stories from Presbyterian participants in the PIOM.
May 30, 2010
Day 100
by Nancy Eng MacNeill After three months spent at Camp Capinpin, (in Tanay (town) in Rizal province) mostly in solitary confinement, Dr. Alexis Montes and his fellow detainees, known as the Morong 43 (2 doctors, 1 registered nurse, 2 midwives...
May 27, 2010
Do you have a companion?
by Matthew Lang From May 6 - 17, 2010, Rev. Matthew Lang served as an election observer in the Philippines. He was part of the People's International Observer Mission, which was comprised of 86 people from 11 different countries. This...
May 27, 2010
An International Observer’s Perspective on the Philippines Election
By Roger Scott Powers In May, 2010, I was privileged to serve as an election observer in the Philippines. I was one of 86 people from 11 countries to participate in the People's International Observers' Mission (PIOM), which was convened...
May 26, 2010
A visit to the Morong 43
This post is based on information supplied by Nancy Eng MacNeill. Participants in the People's International Election Observers Mission visited with the Morong 43 before returning to their home countries. The Morong 43 are forty-three health workers who were arrested...
May 21, 2010
Presbyterian quoted on election
Inquirer.net ran a story about the Philippines election in which observers were interviewed. Presbyterian Matt Lang is quoted in the story: "American Matthew Robert Lang, a Presbyterian clergyman who went to Surigao del Norte province, said party watchers were practically...
May 21, 2010
Observers report from Surigao del Norte
On May 13th the People's International Observation Mission held a press conference to report their preliminary findings about the election in the Philippines. Observers traveled to many areas throughout the country. Matthew Lang and Nancy Eng MacNeill went to the...
May 18, 2010
Free the Morong 43
Advocate for human rights in the Philippines. Sign a petition calling for the release of the Morong 43 in the Philippines. Forty-three health workers were arrested in the Philippines in February. Among them is Dr. Alexis Montes, who has been...
May 16, 2010
A prayer after the election in the Philippines
Gracious God, we pray for the people of the Philippines: For those newly elected to office, grant wisdom to govern wisely, end repressive policies, and enact changes that benefit all the people; For candidates who lost in the elections, grant...
May 15, 2010
Old politics still rule despite new system in elections, say international observers
The team of election observers from the People's International Observers Mission who served in Surigao del Norte gave a press conference on May 13. A press release was created for the event. Download press release by Surigao PIOM team. Note...
May 15, 2010
New machines, same old machinery
Presbyterians Matt Lang and Nancy Eng MacNeill were among the nine election observers from the People's International Observers' Mission (PIOM) who went to Surigao del Norte in Mindanao. The group divided into three smaller teams with one going to Dapa,...
May 15, 2010
Take a number
Voters in the Philippines obtained priority numbers to vote. Each voting site had 10 secrecy folder per automated voting machines (PCOS). Ten voters at a time would be let into the voting room to fill in their ballots. The priority...
May 15, 2010
PCOS voting machines
A PCOS voting machine is intialized in Cantugas, Mainit, Surigao del Norte, Mindanao Automated voting machines (PCOS) were chosen to reduce the possibilities of fraud and provide secrecy for the voters and the voting process. The PCOS machines, created by...
May 15, 2010
The 11th hour shower
Presbyterian Peacemaking Program staff member Nancy Eng MacNeill writes: Election history in the Philippines has been fraught with fraud and corruption from before the time of Marcos to the current Arroyo regime. As a result, arriving in Manila for the...
May 14, 2010
Election violence in Lanao del Sur
Violence was reported during the election in the Philippines. Perhaps not as much as in previous elections. Perhaps not as much as had been feared. But violence was reported. One reported incident was a two-hour gunfight erupted as polling places...
May 14, 2010
An Election Eve Haiku Prayer
Roger Scott Powers We travel today, fanning out across this vast archipelago. All praying to God for free and fair elections in the Philippines. Filipinos smile, masking fears of violence, coercion and fraud. Hoping for the best, these strong, determined...
May 12, 2010
Stories from People's International Observers' Mission
Stories from participants in the People's International Observers' Mission (PIOM) are shared on the PIOM blog. Kodao Productions has written, audio, and video stories.
May 11, 2010
Support Human Rights in the Philippines
Send a message to Congress that U.S. military aid to the Philippines should be conditioned on concrete signs that the human rights of unarmed citizens and groups within civil society are respected by all levels of government, including the Philippine...
May 10, 2010
Follow Philippines Election on new blog
The People's International Observers' Mission has launched a blog for election observers to post observations and reflections.
May 10, 2010
Election results in the Philippines
Reports are that the election results will be available from the Commissions on Elections at http://electionresults.ibanangayon.ph/. Check the sources listed in previous posts for more information: Philippines election coverage Another page for election coverage
May 10, 2010
Another page for election coverage
Yahoo! News Philippines is another source of information about the election in the Philippines.
May 10, 2010
Philippines election coverage
Here are some Web pages providing ongoing coverage of the elections in the Philippines: Inquirer.net - online version of the Philippine Inquirer Philstar.com - online version of the Philippine Star Kodao Productions - video production company working with People's International...
May 9, 2010
Why are there election observers in the Philippines?
There are a number of reasons why international election observers are present in the Philippines for the May 10 election (and May 10 is less than an hour away in the Philippines as this is written). One is that this...
May 8, 2010
7:00 a.m. Sunday, May 9, the Philippines
As I begin this post, it is seven o'clock a.m. on Sunday morning in the Philippines. The day before the election has dawned. Across the country, people will give thanks and raise their hopes and express their fears in prayer....
May 8, 2010
A prayer for the Philippines at the time of election
God of compassion, hold the people and the leaders of the Philippines gently in these last days before the election. Fill hearts and guide spirits so that the leaders and people turn from violence. Grant courage to nurture relationships that...
May 8, 2010
Strong relationships lead to hope
By Matt Lang, election observer in the Philippines, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) On Saturday morning we had a press conference with several members of the media. Each participant was asked to give a brief statement about why they were in the...
May 8, 2010
Salt and light
Salt and light. Those images, drawn from the words of Jesus, were at the heart of the unison Affirmation and Benediction used during the Ecumenical Welcome Reception and Orientation for the election observers held at the Shalom Center of the...
May 8, 2010
Live for Peace
The National Council of Churches in the Philippines and the People’s International Observers Mission greeted the election observers with an Ecumenical Welcome Reception and Orientation at the Shalom Center of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. Rebecca Lawson,...
May 8, 2010
Reunions in the Philippines
There were many joy-filled reunions at the welcome celebration and orientation for the election observers in the Philippines. Here's a story about one of them: A little over a year ago, Pastor Edwin Egar of the United Church of Christ...
May 7, 2010
Three ways to follow Philippine election
Here are three sources of information on the election in the Philippines: Kodao Productions will provide daily press releases from the People's International Observer Mission. They will also include unscreened tweets via Twitter. The Philippine Election Observation Team Facebook page...
May 7, 2010
Where Philippine election observer teams will serve
The People's International Observer Mission will send teams of election observers to eight areas of the Philippines: North Luzon (Agra), Central Luzon (Pampanga and Tarlac), Southern Tagalog including Metro Manila, Bicol, West Visayas, North-East Mindanoa, Southern Mindanoa (Davao) and the...
May 7, 2010
Philippine elections press releases
Find daily press releases from the People's International Observer Mission (PIOM) posted at Kodao Productions. Kodao Productions is the video company working with the PIOM. They will include reports from the various areas covered by the PIOM. Tweets from Twitter...
May 6, 2010
Observers arrive in Philippines
The Philippine Election Observer Team reports that there will be over 80 observers of the elections in the Philippines from over ten countries. Most of the observers come from the United Sates and Canada. Other countries include Australia, New Zealand,...
May 6, 2010
Observing Elections in the Philippines
Please hold the people of the Philippines in prayer in the days leading up to the May 10 national elections. In response to invitations from our sisters and brothers in Christ in the United Church of Christ in the Philippines...
May 5, 2010
Observers begin to arrive in the Philippines
From the Philippines Election Observer Team Facebook page: Eleven American election observers, including a number of Presbyterians meet at the airport last night by members of the United Church of Christ of the Philippines staff, the Chairperson of KMU, the...
May 5, 2010
Election in the Philippines
Pray for the people of the Philippines as the day of election nears. Pray for those who will serve as election observers. Elections are scheduled in the Philippines for Monday, May 10. The elections are for president and the legislature....
April 14, 2010
Bring the world to you
Host an International Peacemaker in your presbytery, synod, or educational institution. International Peacemakers from 8 countries are scheduled to visit the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) from September 24 through October 18, 2009. These individuals from our partner churches will share about...
February 12, 2010
Pray for the people of the Philippines
Here is a prayer for peace from Lei Garcia of the Philippines: Grant us peace that will BREAK our silence in the midst of violence then prophetic voices shall resonate. Grant us peace that will PULL US DOWN from the...
February 12, 2010
We are concerned for our sisters and brothers
Presbyterian leaders sent a letter to President Arroyo of the Philippines expressing concern for the health workers arrested on February 6, 2010. Those arrested included one member of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines - a partner church...
February 12, 2010
Protect human rights in the Philippines
The following request comes from our sisters and brothers in the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. Use this sample letter to send your message. Release Dr. Alexis Montes and other detained health workers! “Freedom is what we have—Christ...
December 23, 2009
For justice in Maguindanao
Members of the Asia Pacific Forum (APF), representing churches and ecumenical organizations in North America have issued a statement on events in Maguindanao: the massacre of at least 57 civilians by an unidentified militia on November 23, 2009 in Maguindanao...
November 25, 2009
Pray for the people of Maguindanao
God of justice, God of compassion, God of peace, comfort those who grieve for the deaths at Maguindanao and in places whose name we do not know, work healing within those who are wounded, stir the conscience of those who...
November 25, 2009
A Massacre Most Foul, Gross, and Utterly Repugnant
The following statement comes from the National Council of Churches in the Philippines. It reflects on a massacre in Maguindanao on Mindanao Island.NCCP Statement It is a massacre most foul, gross, and utterly repugnant! The National Council of Churches in...
September 30, 2009
Respond to Ondoy
Financial gifts to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance will help our sisters and brothers in the Philippines whose lives have been devastated by Tropical Storm “Ketsana,” also known as “Ondoy,” This storm swept across metro Manila and parts of Central Luzon on...
August 18, 2009
Peace Notes Summer 2009
The Summer 2009 issue of Peace Notes, the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program's print newsletter, is available for download. It will come out in print later this month. But you can download it from this blog. Download Peace Notes Summer 2009 [PDF]...
July 25, 2009
Pray for the Philippines
President Barack Obama will host a visit from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the Philippines this week. Recognizing the human rights abuses that have occurred in the Philippines in recent years, a Prayer Vigil (PDF) will take place in Washington, DC...
July 12, 2009
Melissa Roxas speaks
Melissa Roxas, a Filipina American and an American citizen from Los Angeles, was abducted and tortured by suspected Philippine military agents on May 19 in the city of La Paz in the Tarlac province. Ms. Roxas, an American human rights...
May 10, 2009
Pastor Testifies about Torture
The Rev. Berlin Guerrero, pastor in the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, recently testified before the 42nd Session of the United Nations Committee against Torture. A victim of torture himself, Guerrero said the government of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo...
May 7, 2009
Read Peace Notes
Peace Notes is the print publication of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program. It comes out three times a year. The Spring 2009 issue is now available to read or download. The issue contains information about International Peacemakers, events in the Philippines,...
March 11, 2009
Press conference marks pastor's release
We have posted video of the press conference following the release of Pastor Edwin Egar of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. On February 11, 2009, Pastor Egar was abducted. His colleagues flew into action and began working...
March 7, 2009
Watch video of Philippines press conference
The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program has posted video of the February 12, 2009 press conference in the Philippines following the release of Pastor Edwin Egar. Note that some presentations are in Tagalog and in English. Here's what happened: On February 11,...
February 19, 2009
Press Conference in the Philippines
By Nancy Eng MacNeill On February 11, our trip took a turn from listening to stories from those in the church, to being a story of the church. While we were sitting down for dinner and cultural dance, Pastor Edwin...
February 14, 2009
The Philippines: Living a Story of the Church
by Nancy Eng MacNeill Landing in Manila was a welcome beginning for our trip. The weather was warm and “tropical” according to Bruce’s daughters. After checking into our rooms at the Shalom Center of the United Church of Christ in...
February 13, 2009
Another Pastor Abducted (and Released) in the Philippines
Pastor Edwin Egar of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) is the latest church leader in the Phlippines to be abducted and released. On February 11, 2009, six unidentified armed men alighted from a van and a...
February 13, 2009
PC(USA) Moderator in the Philippines
Here are a couple of pics of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Moderator Bruce Reyes-Chow in the Philippines. With him are PC(USA) staff people David Hudson, Area Coordinator for Asia and Nancy Eng MacNeill, Associate in the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program. Note that...
August 4, 2008
Write for Human Rights in the Philippines
Here's another chance to help implement the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s General Assembly policy. The 218th General Assembly (2008) adopted a resolution on human rights violations in the Philippines. The Uniting Church in Australia has initiated a letter-writing campaign on behalf...