Board of Trustees
In addition to Tommy Pangcoga, who serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Transforming Fragilities, the following distinguished individuals serve as our board members:
JOVAR G. PANTAO, Ph.D.
Jovar Pantao is a faculty member of the College of Education at Mindanao State University-General Santos City (MSU-GSC), a fellow of the Philippine Public Safety College, and a coach of the Future Bridging Leaders’ Program of the Asian Institute of Management. Until recently, he was the OIC Director of MSU-GSC’s Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanao (IPDM).
His works focused on education for peace, child rights, educational planning, preventing violent extremism, and gender and development in the context of fragile communities. He published and co-authored peer-reviewed articles, policy briefs, and research reports in international journals and wrote textbooks, toolkits, and modules for students of basic education.
He has a long list of engagements with international development organizations where he has developed tools, guidance, monitoring, and evaluation services, as well as technical support for organizations working to strengthen the pursuit of quality education as well as sustainable peace and development.
Jovar participated in high-level programs that included policy research, development, and action learning at Uppsala University, based in Sweden, and the Hague Academy of the Netherlands. He was also a fellow of the Congressional Internship Program for Young Mindanao Leaders at the House of Representatives and the University of the Philippines-Diliman.
Jovar has a doctoral degree in educational management, a master’s degree in teaching science, and a Bachelor of Elementary Education from Mindanao State University. He also earned a degree in Master of Public Safety Administration-Executive Program from the National Police College and the Philippine Public Safety College.
ROXANNE CADUNGO – CASIPLE
Roxanne is an Administrative Officer in a local government unit, a family planning and financial literacy advocate, online entrepremom and a plant enthusiast. She is the Board Treasurer and Chief Finance Officer of Transforming Fragilities.
LOLYMAR J. REYES, Ph.D.
Dr. Lolymar J. Reyes is an expert in various specializations, including gender, violence against women and children (VAWC), child, early, and forced marriage (CEFM), women’s empowerment, child protection, and social science research. She serves as a professor and the current Chairperson of the Department of Sociology at Mindanao State University-General Santos City.
With a Doctor of Philosophy in Development Studies and Master’s degrees in Educational Psychology and Guidance and Counseling, Dr. Reyes is an integral member of MSU-GenSan’s Research and Development Council (RDC). She is also a professor in the Graduate School’s Sustainable Development Studies (SDS) program.
Her research focuses on gender and well-being among Moro and Indigenous women and children, migration, child labor, and human ecological studies. Dr. Reyes employs Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) as a qualitative socio-psychological technique to explore and derive meaning from her research endeavors.
MAE ESTONETE BALLENA, MPS
With over 10 years of experience in peacebuilding and development across government and non-government sectors, Ms. Ballena has managed a diverse range of projects within local and international NGOs, spanning environmental protection, education, maternal and child healthcare, and child protection.
She notably held roles including Assistant Program Manager of Kalinaw Sarangani, contributed to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and directed knowledge management and peace institute services at the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU).
Holding degrees from Mindanao State University-General Santos (BA in Political Science, 2009), the University of Osnabrück (MA in Political Science, 2018), and the Geneva Academy of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (Master of Advanced Studies in Transitional Justice, Human Rights, and Rule of Law, 2023), she now lends her expertise to an international research institute in Geneva, Switzerland.
YASMIRA P. MONER, MGS
Yasmira Moner holds multiple significant roles in academia and development. She currently serves as the Program Director of the Gender and Development Resource Center (GADRC) at the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs. In addition, she holds the position of Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU IIT).
Before her current roles, Yasmira Moner served as the Acting Director of the Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanao (IPDM) from March 2020 to July 2022. Her unique background as a native Meranaw provides her with a profound understanding of the cultural nuances and political dynamics of the Ranaw region, particularly in relation to Bangsamoro post-conflict governance.
Yasmira Moner’s academic journey includes earning a bachelor’s degree in political science from Mindanao State University and pursuing further education. She completed masteral units in Political Science from the University of the Philippines, Diliman Quezon City, and obtained a Master’s in Governmental Science from the School of Jusuf Kalla, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Beyond her academic and administrative roles, Moner is actively engaged as a peace educator and gender and development advocate in her community. Her research interests encompass various areas, including social accountability, sustainable peace and development, and the intersection of gender, climate change, and security.
JOHNSON BADAWI
Mr. Badawi is a highly educated professional with a strong academic background. He holds a master’s degree in International Peace Studies from the United Nations-Mandated University of Peace in Costa Rica, which reflects his commitment to global peace and conflict resolution. Additionally, he has earned a master’s degree in Political Science with a major in Global Politics from the Ateneo de Manila University, further enhancing his expertise in international relations and politics.
Currently, Mr. Badawi serves as a staff member at the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue (CHD), an international non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting peace in Mindanao, Philippines. His work at CHD reflects his dedication to peacebuilding and conflict resolution in the region.
Furthermore, Mr. Badawi has authored a paper titled “The Human Security of Indigenous People in Mindanao: Challenges and Prospects,” highlighting his research interests and contributions to the understanding of human security issues, particularly in the context of indigenous communities in Mindanao.
APRIL JANE ROMUROS
Ms. Romuros is currently pursuing a Master’s in Education from Bukidnon State University – Iligan External Studies. Her professional role is as the Community Development Officer at Save the Children – South-Central Mindanao Programme Office (SCMPO), with her office located in General Santos City.
Before her current position, she served as the Area Coordinator for Lanao del Sur at Transforming Fragilities, Inc. During her tenure, she made significant contributions to various published works, including the notable publication titled “Our Voices, Our Future: Understanding Risks and Adaptive Capacities to Prevent and Respond to Child Marriage in the BARMM.” Her work in this role demonstrated her dedication to addressing critical issues such as child marriage in the region.
Former Board of Directors
TFI is deeply grateful to three of the founding members of its board of directors who have stepped down to focus on other endeavors in the world of peace and development. They have been instrumental in establishment and growth of the organization.
JUDY ANN A. LUBIANO (2019-2022)
Ms. Lubiano is a dedicated graduate student currently focused on conducting research related to gender and religious nationalism in the Philippines. Alongside her academic pursuits, she holds the position of senior program coordinator at the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), an international organization based in the United Kingdom. In this role, she actively contributes to peace and governance programs within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Her professional journey includes significant experiences in program management and research. She previously served as the field manager for “Transforming Fragilities,” which encompassed three evaluation projects with Oxfam Philippines. Additionally, she was involved in a research project with Plan International. She also lent her expertise as an independent researcher to support the end-term impact evaluation of a portion of a USAID-funded project, known as the Mindanao Youth for Development Programme (MYDev). In this capacity, she played various roles, including facilitation, documentation, and translation for the Outcome Harvest end-term evaluation of the same program.
Before her roles in international organizations, Ms. Lubiano worked as a research and training assistant for the Ateneo School of Government. She contributed to the resettlement governance project in collaboration with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). Her responsibilities included aiding in data collection to formulate case studies and conducting a national training needs assessment for housing and resettlement projects in eight target sites across the country.
Her career began with involvement in a Mindanao-wide training needs assessment project. She provided valuable support in the drafting of UNICEF Mindanao Field Office’s Adolescent Peacebuilders’ Manual. Ms. Lubiano specializes in qualitative research methods, possesses a strong academic foundation in feminist research and critical masculinity studies, and boasts extensive knowledge of the local context in Central Mindanao.
JEMIEMA DAGADAS (2019-2022)
Jem held the significant position of Senior Research Team Leader and Field Manager at Transforming Fragilities. In this capacity, she assumed responsibility for overseeing the field operations of several key projects, including the Creating Spaces End of Project Evaluation and the SHE Midterm Evaluation for Oxfam.
Before her senior role, she served as an Assistant Field Manager and Team Leader for various projects, including the ARCHES End of Project Evaluation and the research on Child, Early, and Forced Marriage (CEFM) in collaboration with Plan International and the Women Refugee Commission.
Currently, Jem is actively engaged with Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), where she continues to contribute her expertise and experience in the field of research and program management.
DWENNA MAY SALAS SERVANO (2019-2022)
Dwenna is a graduate of Notre Dame of Midsayap College, holding a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Financial Management. In her current professional role, she serves as the Supplies and Logistics Officer at the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD).
Dwenna brings to her current position seven years of valuable experience in administrative and financial support roles across various agencies. During the initial two years of her tenure at TFI (Transforming Fragilities Initiative), she played a pivotal role in providing dependable administrative, financial, and logistical support for various engagements.
She is known for her capabilities, determination, confidence, and organizational skills, all of which contribute to her effectiveness as an administrative and logistics associate. Dwenna has a track record of supporting mid and senior-level managers by consistently providing them with clerical and logistical assistance.
Furthermore, she is recognized for her approachable and pleasant demeanor, coupled with a strong willingness to make a positive impact in her professional endeavors.