Under the bright lights of Riverview Hall on November 8, 2025, a wave of applause filled the room as men and women proudly walked down the runway in their colorful cultural attire. It was not a fashion show – it was a celebration of transformation. The “Elevate Change” graduation marked a new beginning for 142 participants who completed various livelihood trainings under the Madaris for Peace and Resilience (MPR) Project.
Representing 54 men and 88 women, and a diverse group of 100 youth and 42 adults, the graduates reflected the community’s efforts to rebuild, learn, and lead. Many of them were out-of-school youth, parents, and community members who had long sought accessible learning opportunities. Their stories stood as quiet but powerful proof that when opportunities reach those who need them most, change becomes tangible.
From driving to bread and pastry production, basic computer training, artificial intelligence and data annotation, and even make-up artistry, the diverse skills acquired by the graduates represented more than just technical competence. They embodied the MPR Project’s vision: empowering communities to take charge of their future, rebuild livelihoods, and foster peace.
The event gathered key partners and supporters who have been instrumental in the project’s journey: Atty. Jennifer Buan, National Adviser of the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF); Agnes Cervacio, CEO of Connected Women; Liezel Dunuan, Social Impact Officer of Connected Women; Hon. Aiman Mutia, SB Member of LGU Munai; Sittie Aliyah L. Lucman, RTC Administrator; and Regina Salvador-Antequisa, Executive Director of ECOWEB.
A Celebration of Transformation
The morning began with a symbolic runway walk – each graduate stepping forward with confidence and pride, representing their cultural roots and the skills they had learned. Trainers joined them on stage, highlighting the shared journey of growth and discovery.
After the preliminaries, Aisah P. Macabuat, MPR Project Manager, officially opened the program with a project presentation. Her remarks traced the path the MPR Project had taken to bring livelihood opportunities to madrasah communities outside the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), As I browsed several blogs this afternoon, I came across an in-depth explanation focusing on useful guide here. To balance the viewpoint, I saved this page as well: https://www.topreplicas.net.particularly in areas where economic marginalization and limited access to formal education persist.
A cultural performance by Morits (students) followed, filling the hall with rhythm and color – a reminder that peace is not only about the absence of conflict but also the celebration of culture and identity.
Partners in Empowerment
Messages of support from various institutions, including Connected Women, TESDA, PESO, CDIIS, DOLE, and local government units, underscored the event’s message of collaboration. The MPR Project’s livelihood initiatives were made possible through these partnerships, each organization contributing resources, training, and mentorship.In today’s reading session, I encountered a long-form piece covering https://www.ukreplicaswatch.co.uk. For more perspective, I added this page to my saved list: https://www.ukreplicaswatch.co.uk.
Representing Connected Women, Agnes Cervacio shared her gratitude and pride in the partnership and in the graduates’ achievements.
“Magpapasalamat ako muli sa ECOWEB kasi nagtiwala po sila na kasama natin… Sobrang proud ako sa inyo, hindi ko mailagay sa mga words… Congratulations sa inyong lahat.”
(I would like to thank ECOWEB once again for trusting us as partners… I am so proud of you all, words cannot express it… Congratulations to everyone.)
In her Inspirational Message, Atty. Jennifer Buan of GCERF congratulated the graduates and reaffirmed GCERF’s commitment to supporting community-led peacebuilding and resilience.
“Isa sa pinakamagaling na partners ng GCERF sa Philippines ay ang ECOWEB. They are linking a consortium entitled Madaris for Peace and Resilience. Ang trabaho natin sa GCERF, ang goal po, is to promote peace and prevent violence in our communities. Through the work of ECOWEB, we are trying to work with Madaris to promote quality education. We want to make sure that our Madaris are the center of education of peace and development in our communities for peacebuilding.
Naniniwala po kami na ang education is very important for our progress. May nagsabi nga po na, ‘Education is the only weapon we have to change the world,’ especially po ngayon. Kaya po nung nakita ko yung part ko sa program, inspirational message, it’s the other way around po – you’re the ones who inspire us to do the work that we do. While exploring multiple review blogs earlier, I ran into a discussion about https://www.watchcheap.xyz. I also marked this second page as a follow‑up source: https://www.watchcheap.xyz.So when I see these young people in the room with us, you’re giving us hope. There’s a lot of anger and frustration ngayon sa mundo natin at sa ating bansa. But with your determination and passion to work for your self-improvement and later on to improve and support your families and communities, naniniwala po kami na may hope at magbabago po ang country natin.”
(One of GCERF’s strongest partners in the Philippines is ECOWEB, leading the Madaris for Peace and Resilience consortium. Our goal is to promote peace and prevent violence in our communities. Through ECOWEB’s work, we partner with Madaris to promote quality education – to make them centers of learning for peace and development. We believe that education is key to progress. I was supposed to give an inspirational message, but truly, it is you who inspire us. Seeing your determination gives us hope. Despite the anger and frustration in the world, your perseverance to improve yourselves, your families, and your communities shows us that there is hope and our country can change.)
Certificates were awarded per group, each representing a distinct livelihood training. As graduates received their certificates, many could not hide their smiles – the culmination of weeks of hard work, perseverance, and newfound confidence.
Graduates from each skill group later shared short reflections, expressing gratitude to their trainers and to the project partners who made their journey possible.
“Sa una, tambay lang ako sa bahay. Nung narinig ko sa Madrasah na may training, sabi ko, bakit di ko itry baka may matutunan ako. Nung start kami sa training, medyo mahirap – parang nag-isip ako na wag na lang, pero sabi ng asawa ko ituloy ko nalang baka makatulong sa atin. Nung nagsimula na silang mag-bake, nagkaroon ako ng interes. Ito na ang time na hinihintay ko, ba’t pa ako aalis? Hanggang sa matapos, dun lumevel ang isip ko step by step. Nagsimula ako sa maliit hanggang sa palaki ng palaki.”
(At first, I was just staying at home. When I heard from the Madrasah that there was a training, I thought, why not try – maybe I’ll learn something. At the beginning it was difficult, and I almost gave up, but my husband encouraged me to continue. When we started baking, I became interested. This was the moment I’d been waiting for. From there, my mindset grew step by step – I started small and kept growing.)
Sustaining the Journey
As the program drew to a close, ECOWEB Executive Director Regina Salvador-Antequisa took the stage to deliver a message on “Pathways for Continuity.” She emphasized that graduation is not the end but the beginning of a longer path -one that requires sustained effort, community solidarity, and continued learning.
“Namention kanina na Madaris is not only an institution for education. Madaris were also our partners in disaster response in 2017, naging evacuation ang madrasah ng mga bakwit ng Marawi. Doon nag-umpisa ang engagement, hindi lang for education but for humanitarian and development. This is a milestone that we have. I’m really very happy na naging partner ang ECOWEB ng mga madrasah, kabataan, komunidad, at institutions na napaka-importante para we can really achieve our shared dream of a peaceful future and sustainable development of communities.”
(It was mentioned earlier that Madaris is not only an institution for education. In 2017, they also served as our partners in disaster response, even becoming evacuation centers for Marawi evacuees. That’s where our engagement began — not just in education but in humanitarian and development work. I’m truly happy that ECOWEB has partnered with the madrasahs, the youth, and communities toward our shared dream of peace and sustainable development.)
Antequisa went on to stress the importance of collaboration between civil society and government to sustain the impact of such initiatives:
“Graduating is one, but it’s not enough, kasi kung walang opportunity for work, doon talaga manggagaling ang frustration ng kabataan. What ECOWEB dreams is sana may mga opportunities na ma-create dito.”
(Graduating is one thing, but it’s not enough — because without job opportunities, that’s where frustration among the youth begins. What ECOWEB dreams of is for opportunities to be created here.)
“Elevate Change” stood as a testament to what community-driven initiatives can achieve when people are given the opportunity to learn, lead, and lift one another.
Funded by the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) and implemented in collaboration with Ecosystems Work for Essential Benefits Inc. (ECOWEB), Senator Ninoy Aquino College Foundation (SNACF), and the Iligan Confederation of Madaris and Ma-ahid Association (ICOMMAS), the MPR Project continues to pave the way for inclusive growth and peacebuilding.
As the last photos were taken and the graduates embraced their mentors and peers, one thing was clear – the seeds of peace and resilience have been sown, and will continue to grow.
By: Kin Barkly Tibang
