A full-throttle December

After my arrival in Qatar early this month for the Doha Forum, my team and I were back in Mindanao last week, where we visited two places where we are now witnessing a remarkable transformation taking place, which was unimaginable just a few years ago.

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In Pagadian City, I met men and women who once carried rifles but have now assumed the roles of agents of peace and development. In San Miguel, Surigao del Sur, I stood on a concrete road that replaced decades of isolation, marginalization and underdevelopment.

In both places, I was reminded of a key lesson I learned during my more than three decades of public service: genuine peace cannot take root through national policy alone. Local governments must be at the forefront and take the lead to make this happen.

At the Zamboanga Peninsula Peace Advocates Summit hosted by the Zamboanga del Sur provincial government, more than 200 former rebels, whom we now call as "friends rescued," converged not only to share their experiences but to help build a shared future.

What struck me most about the gathering was the courage, strength and determination of these once grizzled fighters. The event was not just a summit but a reunion of lives reclaimed, families reunited and purpose renewed.

These men and women are no longer held back by their past. After turning away from armed struggle, they are channeling their newfound energies as peace advocates, community organizers, parents, entrepreneurs, and partners in development.

Many of them are now members of people's organizations, using their wisdom and experiences to help their fellow FRs rebuild their lives and uplift their communities. This transformation did not happen overnight, and did not happen by chance.

Local governments have made all of these possible.