Together with the Bantayan Island community and friends from different parts of the Philippines, we had a community journaling activity meant to gather and record reflections and stories of justice and peace in the community. Writing a journal together helped us reflect individually and collectively our strengths and gifts, as well as our hopes for the future. It was a meaningful experiment to gather people of different ages and backgrounds, supporting the message on the importance of each person’s story in creating a just and peaceful community.

We, Aki and Raissa, together with Sue Wozniak (our friend from the United States who visited for the collaboration project on the outdoor play area), facilitated the community journaling activities using the tools for justice and peace and from the Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute (MPI) mentoring module. We are sharing here our reflections from these activities.

The community journaling in Maya Learning Space was a meaningful experience for me, both as a co-facilitator and participant. Journaling has always helped me gain clarity and direction when I have felt overwhelmed or unsure of what I was feeling. It has allowed me to process emotions more deeply and notice things I might have otherwise overlooked. I realized through this activity that journaling is more than just a personal practice, it can create a space where people connect, share, and learn from one another. Seeing participants from different cultures and age groups come together showed me how journaling can become a bridge that brings people closer.

One of the most powerful insights I gained was that community journaling transcends age, background, and culture. When people gather and use journaling and AVP tools together, it can help build a community that fosters understanding, empathy, and support. Listening to each other’s stories I felt that I was not only hearing their experiences, but also recognizing parts of myself in them. This gave me a stronger sense of belonging and reminded me that we are all part of one community. I also observed how comfortable the participants became, even when asked personal questions, because the space felt safe and secure for them.

For me, journaling also served as a form of release. It opened the door to conversations that are often avoided, especially the uncomfortable topics that people think about but rarely get the chance to express. Through the activity, I realized that journaling gives value to people’s thoughts and experiences. It validates that what they feel and think matters, and that being heard is an important part of healing and community peace building.
Aki Longcanaya

I find it meaningful for us as a community to gather together and share stories of nonviolence. The community gatherings that we had were a reminder for me to see my own and other people’s strengths and gifts, and I realized that we all somehow have the same hope for our community for the future. I felt encouraged as I prepared and gathered the people in my community, and when we also welcomed friends from outside the island. I felt hopeful upon hearing other people’s stories of nonviolence – we all have stories of violence and we are creative enough to choose the path of nonviolence. I was inspired by how we reflected and expressed ourselves as a community. One of the things that I appreciated was when adults and children practiced being good listeners and speakers as we did activities together. I realized how important it is to practice the tools of justice and peace together and be each other’s reminders to continue choosing peace in daily life.

I learned how important it is to reflect also on ways to take care of oneself. Taking care of myself and staying in my core self keeps me intentional to practice peace with myself and others, to think before reacting, and to be conscious of my decisions and actions. After the workshop, I was reminded of the value of documenting and recording one’s practice of self-care and practice of the tools for justice and peace. This is a beautiful and creative way for me to see and acknowledge my growth and sense of reflection and expression.
Raissa Avery Marfa

We thank Friends Peace Teams Asia West Pacific and Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute for their support for this Community Journaling activity.

Sharing stories of nonviolence of participants for the Community Journaling Workshop held on March 21, 2026 at Maya Learning Space, Bantayan Island