Rochelle “Bibing” Mordeno
Our host, Jenni Prisk, interviews Rochelle “Bibing” Mordeno from the Philippines who is the executive director of the Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc. (BMFI). BMFI works to build a Mindanao which is truly a home (balay) for its tri-peoples: Muslims, indigenous peoples and Christian migrants.
The Philippines has a long history with the United States, yet we don’t often hear what the women are doing. Rochelle Mordeno explains the vital work women are undertaking with the police force in the region of Mindanao.
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Excerpts from Interview
- “Our local governments are taking actions because of the work we are doing with police officers.”
- “We believe in working for peace, no organizations can do it alone.”
- “The people just want security and safety.”
- “Give us potable water, and horses, and health centers with useable medical supplies.”
- “Religion is actually one of the positive factions in Mindanao.”
- “Life is slowly improving in The Philippines.”
Biography of Rochelle “Bibing” Mordeno
Mordeno has trained over 2,000 military and police officers to use peacebuilding approaches on the conflict-affected island of Mindanao.
The interview takes place at the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies at the University of San Diego while Bibing was in residence as a Women PeaceMaker in the Institute for Peace and Justice (IPJ).
More About The IPJ Women PeaceMakers Program
Since 2003, the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice (IPJ) at the University of San Diego has welcomed four women peacemakers each year from around the world.
The women reside at the University of San Diego Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies for two months and share their stories which are documented by four Peace Writers. While the women are in residence, “they have opportunities to exchange ideas and approaches to peacemaking and justice, which helps increase their capacity to participate in conflict resolution and peace building efforts.”