Cover 2023 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Miriam Coronel-Ferrer (Photo: The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue)
2023 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Miriam Coronel-Ferrer (Photo: The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue)
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In this exclusive interview with Tatler, 2023 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Miriam Coronel-Ferrer shares her experiences in confronting injustices and nurturing peace amidst turbulent times
Filipino negotiator and champion of pro-democracy professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer has been recently bestowed the 2023 Ramon Magsaysay Award (RMA) for her efforts in promoting gender inclusivity in the process of peacemaking.
Since her early beginnings as a student activist, Coronel-Ferrer has dedicated herself to sustaining peace in places rife with dissension, locally and abroad. Through creativity, patience, and perseverance, she commits to finding fair solutions and supporting amity and cooperation.
In this article, the RMA awardee talks about her advocacy, the importance of a woman's perspective, and what participating truly means.
On the peace talks
Above President Benigno S. Aquino III and Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Sri Haji Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak witness the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). (Photo: Presidential Photo Division via Getty Images)
Above MILF Peace Panel chairman Mohagher Iqbal GPH Peace Panel chairperson Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and Malaysian facilitator Tengku Dato Abdul Ghafar sign the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). (Photo: Presidential Photo Division via Getty Images)
President Benigno S. Aquino III and Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Sri Haji Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak witness the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). (Photo: Presidential Photo Division via Getty Images)
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In 2012, under President Benigno Aquino III, Coronel-Ferrer was named Chairperson for the Philippine Government’s Peace Panel, tasked with ending decades of armed conflict between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
In Coronel-Ferrer’s own words, “Government is concerned with a lot of legal, technical and constitutional details. It could not be responsible for any unconstitutional act.”
There were also public considerations, such as the global wave of Islamophobia following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Coronel-Ferrer knew there was a real need to push for the end to the conflict despite parties who were not fully convinced of the process.
It took 17 years to complete the agreement since both parties’ initial ceasefire in 1997. The process had been caught up in legitimacy issues and lacked support from several presidents’ administrations, so the idea was shelved. That is until Aquino’s term provided a fresh start for the negotiations to resume.
Over time, sufficient trust was built, and on March 27, 2014, Coronel-Ferrer signed the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), becoming the first female chief negotiator in history to sign a final peace accord with a hostile group.
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On confronting and combating gender inequalities
Above Inside the peace talks with other women panelists. (L-R) Panel members Johaira Wahab, Yasmin Busra-Lao, Emma Leslie, Iona Jalijali and Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer (Photo: Carolyn O. Arguillas for MindaNews)
Inside the peace talks with other women panelists. (L-R) Panel members Johaira Wahab, Yasmin Busra-Lao, Emma Leslie, Iona Jalijali and Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer (Photo: Carolyn O. Arguillas for MindaNews)
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Her efforts earned her international recognition, including the 2015 Hillary Clinton Award for Advancing Women in Peace and Security.
Coronel-Ferrer remarks on the dangers of leaving women out and being involved in the peacemaking process: “Leaving them out of the process means that there’s a serious issue about representation. Because the question is, are women not good enough to do this job? No woman who can contribute to this process [who are] as good as the men?”
“In that sense, women bring in their perspective, including the socialisation process that their kind goes through; how they are exposed to other women, how they discuss issues related to other women, specific acts of violence that are happening towards women.”
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She emphasises that lived experiences might not be articulated in any political process or any discussion unless women can bring these perspectives to the forefront. “If it’s not articulated, then it’s not in the agreement.”
She also notices how sexism is manifested and perpetuated in the media, especially in interactive news sites, on the radio, and in other traditional forms. Her advocacy extends to the digital platform as she researches sexual harassment online and calls for the need for a real campaign to protect the women of the virtual age.
Above Hillary Clinton (center) presents the Hillary Rodham Clinton Award for Advancing Women in Peace and Security to Dr. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, who served as the Chief Negotiator of the Philippines Government in the Mindanao Peace Talks, at Georgetown University April 22, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Hillary Clinton (center) presents the Hillary Rodham Clinton Award for Advancing Women in Peace and Security to Dr. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, who served as the Chief Negotiator of the Philippines Government in the Mindanao Peace Talks, at Georgetown University April 22, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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On youth participation
A whole generation of young people in the Bangsamoro has committed themselves to peace activism, a stark contrast to the more extremist politics of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Coronel-Ferrer believes that the youth are being mobilised to hone skills that aren’t related to warfare but focus on civic development and civic consciousness.
“This is a very different generation that’s being produced, a generation that does not have to go to war, but a generation that is now building peace.”
She adds, “The message for the Bangsamoro youth is also true for the youth in other communities in the country. The challenge of being part of a peace movement [is that] you can do it wherever you are. You can become an advocate and become part of the solution.”
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Credits
Words: Miriam Coronel-Ferrer
About
Julianna has been interested in leading a literary life since she first read Frances Hodgson Burnett's A Little Princess at eight. Before working with Tatler, she was an archive intern at The Center for Fiction in Brooklyn, New York. She is a textbook Pisces who devotes most of her spare time to her crochet projects, watching classic films, and going through her never-ending pile of unread books. She studied creative writing, global literature and art history at Sarah Lawrence College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2022. Toni Morrison, Nora Ephron, Clarice Lispector and Jia Tolentino are among her all-time favourite writers.
Work
Julianna writes about fashion, beauty, sustainability, and the arts. She is always keen on conducting interviews with talented women who are changing the game in their respective fields.
For event invites and story leads, hit her up at julianna.cabili@tatlerasia.com
