One Step for Unity: Former rebels, communities run towards peace

TWO PRESIDENTS. Norma Capuyan (far right), president of Makilala Integrated Peace Advocates Farmers Association (MIPAFA) and Billy Beraña Jr (far left), president of SOCCSKSARGEN Peace Advocates for Nation-Building and Development (SPAND) during the One Step for Unity Fun Run in Makilala, North Cotabato.

MAKILALA, North Cotabato — More than 500 participants joined a community “Run for Peace” here on March 29, bringing together farmers, youth, local officials, soldiers, and former rebels in a public show of reconciliation and community rebuilding.

The event, themed “One Step Unity,” was organized by the Makilala Integrated Peace Advocates Farmers Association (MIPAFA), the municipal chapter of the SOCCSKSARGEN Peace Advocates for Nation-Building and Development (SPAND), in partnership with the Makilala local government under Mayor Quibod and with support from the 39th and 72nd Infantry Battalions of the Philippine Army.

According to organizers, the activity was designed both as a community event and a platform to highlight the reintegration of former rebels into local development efforts.

“The Run for Peace aimed to publicly affirm our collective choice for peace and development,” said Norma Capuyan, MIPAFA president and SPAND deputy secretary. “It was also a health and trust-building activity to show unity among farmers, former rebels, local officials, and the military.”

Capuyan said the run also served as a fundraising activity for MIPAFA, a former rebels’ organization that operates across 17 barangays in Makilala and focuses on agricultural livelihood and reintegration programs.

Broad community participation

Participants included barangay residents, youth volunteers, peace advocates, and former rebels who are now active members of SPAND. Military personnel and local officials assisted with logistics, safety, and crowd management.

“The military provided logistical support and marshals to ensure safety, while the LGU mobilized barangays and health teams,” Capuyan said, describing the event as an example of government-community partnership in sustaining peace initiatives.

Organizers said such visible collaboration helps normalize the reintegration of former combatants.

“When former rebels run and work alongside farmers, soldiers, and officials, it shows neighbors that reformed individuals can become productive community members,” Capuyan said. “It helps reduce stigma and builds trust.”

March 29, reimagined

The run was intentionally scheduled on March 29, historically associated with the founding anniversary of the New People’s Army.

Former rebels’ groups and peace advocates have begun reframing the date as the National Day of Choosing Peace, an initiative supported by the Buklod Kapayapaan Federation Inc. (BKFI).

For organizers, the date represents a shift in narrative—from armed struggle toward community rebuilding.

“March 29 symbolizes a deliberate decision to choose development and community life over armed struggle,” Capuyan said.

Reintegration, community programs

Beyond symbolic activities, organizers emphasized that long-term peace depends on concrete support programs.

MIPAFA currently runs initiatives focused on agricultural assistance, cooperative development, market linkage, skills training, and psychosocial support for former rebels and conflict-affected families.

Capuyan noted that reintegration programs must address practical needs to prevent a return to armed conflict.

“These practical interventions make reintegration livable and reduce the incentives to return to conflict,” she said.

For Capuyan herself, the event marked a significant personal milestone. She spent decades involved in the conflict before turning to community work.

“Having once been involved in the conflict for many years, leading this event now represents transformation,” she said. “It means redirecting my energy toward building livelihoods and peace for our community and our children.”

Organizers said the run follows the first MIPAFA general assembly held on March 15, reflecting growing efforts by former rebels and community groups to institutionalize peace initiatives in Makilala.

Capuyan said the broader goal is to ensure that peace initiatives translate into real improvements in daily life.

“Symbolic events matter for morale and public narrative,” she said. “But they must be paired with sustained programs so peace becomes a durable choice.”

As participants crossed the finish line, organizers said the message was clear: the community’s future depends on continuing cooperation among residents, local governments, security forces, and former rebels who now work as peace advocates.