Religious leaders as catalysts for social change

As the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) prepares for its historic first parliamentary elections in October 2025, Mindanao’s religious sector is playing a more active role in shepherding the region’s democratic future.

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Going beyond their traditional roles as spiritual guides, the island-region’s religious leaders recognize that they must also serve as beacons of societal change to promote peace, mutual understanding, and moral leadership in a region long marred by conflict and division.

This is why I did not miss the opportunity to participate in the Faith and Peace in Action: OPAPRU-MiRLeC Multi-Sectoral Dialogue last August 5 in Cotabato City wherein delegates issued a joint statement titled, “Hand in Hand for Peace, Justice, and Homeland.”

The interfaith dialogue was organized by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) in partnership with the Mindanao Religious Leaders Conference (MiRLeC).

The daylong gathering brought together abroad coalition of Christian bishops, Muslim ulama, Indigenous leaders, and representatives from Protestant and Evangelical communities to champion moral leadership, civic engagement and the culture of peace.

The joint statement articulated a powerful vision that unites religious leaders, civil society, and community stakeholders who are committed to “stand shoulder to shoulder and work hand in hand—for peace, for justice, and for the future of our homeland.”

With a sense of urgency, the statement called on “all candidates, political parties, and institutions in BARMM and across the Philippines to uphold the democratic process with honesty, transparency, and accountability.”