This is Arnado’s second award this year, having been named in February as Ninoy Aquino Fellow for Public Service.

The Board of Judges “struggled. It was not an easy decision,” he said.

But Lowrey said Arnado won because of her “engagement of analysis in her work in conflict resolution… in bridging of different groups in conflict with one another.”

Mary Ann Arnado. Lawyer and peace advocate. MindaNews photo by Froilan Gallardo

He cited Arnado’s “years of work” in peacebuilding. “It’s really the body of work,” Lowrey  said.

The Peacemaking Award honors the winner with a trophy and $1,000 while the Peacebuilding Award, given to institutions, honors the winner with a trophy and $5,000. Kids for Peace of World Vision Kosovo and World Vision Rwanda tied for the award.

Aligning with World Vision’s core values as a Christian community-based and child-focused organization, the Peace Prize “brings individuals and organizations that have made unique and critical contributions toward the promotion of peace into the limelight, recognizing and honoring their commitments to building durable peace and reconciliation in their communities and beyond.”

In its press statement, World Vision described Arnado as “an individual who has proven herself as a catalyst of change, committed to bold engagement and resourceful thinking in order to pursue conflict resolution.”

It also commended Arnado for her “ability to mobilize Mindanawons, particularly women and youth, by helping empower them to work toward a viable solution to one of the longest internal conflicts in the world through dialogue, grassroots advocacy, and appeals to policy and decision-makers.”

In accepting her award, Arnado spoke about how she got to where she is now in peace advocacy. She shared vignettes of how they managed to get inside Malacanang last year for an audience with President Arroyo, despite the strict policy on wearing shoes even as one of them had no shoes on.

She also spoke of  how her life changed when she met Jamaliah, a mother of 12 in Lanao del Sur who suffered trauma from war in 2003 and was so disturbed she opted to kill herself and her two younger children. Jamaliah slit their necks and slashed her wrist. She survived. Her two young children, aged six and seven, didn’t.

“After this encounter with Jamaliah, I decided to focus my peacemaking work towards alleviating if not putting an end to the suffering of thousands upon thousands of women who are caught in between the forces of war and violence.  It is definitely not a walk in the park.  It brought me to places where the laws that I have studied, as a lawyer, are simply irrelevant or inexistent.  It can be a very disempowering experience especially when there is very little that you can do,” said Arnado.

“One of the most compelling reasons why I am into this line of work is that it is here where I have found and known the most remarkable and dedicated peace advocates who truly care for people.  Through the Mindanao Peoples Caucus, I have met the most committed and dedicated breed of peace advocates who work not for any recognition, not for any salary or political interests but simply to show compassion because they truly care for people,” she added.

Arnado shared the award with her colleagues.

“For this awarding ceremony tonight, I believe that I simply represent the hundreds of peace advocates and Bantay Ceasefire volunteers who share with me the passion and commitment to silence the guns and resolve the root causes of the armed conflict in Mindanao.  That is why when I was asked my preferred venue for this program, I asked the World Vision to do it here in Davao so that I can share with you this joy and honor,” she said.

She thanked the founders and council members of the Mindanao Peoples Caucus led by chair Pastor Reu Montecillo “for all the guidance and teachings,” indigenous leaders Datu Vic Saway, Bae Magdalena Suhat and Timuay Melan “for your patience and openness to share with me your culture and struggles.”

“To all the Bantay Ceasefire volunteers, this award is for all us.  It is an affirmation of our daily efforts to convince more and more people that we can resolve this problem by peaceful means. Let me also thank the Initiatives for International Dialogue for the long years of experience and solidarity work which largely shaped my own way of looking at situations and analyzing the present issues,” said Arnado who was Deputy Executive Director of IID until end of 2007.

She also thanked World Vision for “turning your attention to our humble efforts for peace here in Mindanao.”

“This award will definitely provide the much needed boost to our peacebuilding and humanitarian protection work especially at this point when the Bantay Ceasefire’s work is seriously challenged because we dare to expose the abuses against the civilians, the burning of homes,  the indiscriminate aerial bombings, the food blockade and the whole humanitarian crisis.  Let us not stop.  Let us continue with what we have built together.”

Arnado was born and raised in Cagayan de Oro, finished her pre-Law at the Mindanao State University in Marawi and graduated from the Ateneo de Davao law school.

She thanked and honored her parents,  Samuel, also a lawyer, and Dolores, a retired teacher “who have instilled in me the values of simplicity, hard work and faith in God.”

“In this highly risky work that I have chosen to take, I have always entrusted my own safety to my mother’s steadfastness in prayers,” she said.

Arnado dedicated her award to her daughters Isa and Ihip, “for understanding my own limitations.  Thank you for learning to appreciate the importance of my work and thank you for sharing with me the hope that someday, perhaps in your time, Mindanao will truly experience the peace and prosperity that it truly deserves. “  (MindaNews)

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