The Experts
Estrella Cantallopez, Ph.D.
Specializations:
– Peace and Conflict
– Peace Education
– Security Sector Transformation
– Social Science Research
Ms. Cantallopez holds a PhD in Peace and Development Studies from Notre Dame University.
She is currently the Director of the Research and Publication and Community Extension of Davao Central College in Toril, Davao City.
Previously, she was the Academic Community Extension Program Coordinator and the Peace Education Program Officer of the Peace Center of Notre Dame University in Cotabato City.
Dr. Cantallopez has had numerous experiences in field researches, baseline studies, and impact evaluations in her decades-long stay in Cotabato City in the field of peacebuilding and in relation to the Bangsamoro.
She is a laureate of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc in 2012.
Dr. Cantallopez’ most recent work on women empowerment is the Effectiveness Review of the BASIC Start Project in Mindanao, which has just concluded its primary data collection phase.
Lolymar J. Reyes, PhD
Specializations:
– Gender, VAWC, CEFM
– Women Empowerment
– Child Protection
– Social Science Research
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.
Marcelina G. Carpizo, Ph.D.
Specializations:
– Social Work
– Peace and Development
– Gender and Women Empowerment
– Child Protection
Ms. Carpizo holds a PhD in Peace and Development. She is a professor at the College of Social Work and Community Development of the Western Mindanao State University and was the former director of the Peace and Human Security Institute at the same university. She is a social worker by profession. Among several engagements, she founded the KKI Tanglaw-Buhay Center for Children Victims and Survivors of Human Trafficking in 2008, the only shelter exclusively for trafficked children in Western Mindanao. She also serves as chairperson, Philippines Against Child Trafficking (PACT) National Council. She is a member of the Local Council for the Protection of Children in Zamboanga City as well as the Regional Monitoring Team on the Functionality of the Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC). She has been a principal investigator and co-investigator in various research projects on human trafficking and other peace-related issues funded by international funding agencies like UNICEF, UNDP, TAP, Tere des Hommes Netherland, and Save the Children, to mention a few
Jovar Pantao, Ph.D
Specializations:
– Peacebuilding
– Preventing & Transforming Violent Extremism
– Youth & Development
– Security Sector Transformation
– Education
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.
Prof. Berlita Y. Disca
Specializations:
– Statistics
– Quantitative Data Processing
Prof. Disca is a long time professor of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at the Mindanao State University – General Santos City. She holds a triple masters on Mathematics, Science and Mathematics and Science in Statistics and is currently a completing her doctorate of philosophy on Mathematics. She as served as project manager, study leader and lead statistician in numerous researches and indexing studies.
Prof. Najifah Pakat Macaraya, JD
Specializations:
– Peacebuilding
– Peace Education
Ms. Najifa Macaraya, JD, is a professor at the College of Social Sciences and Humanities (CSSH) of the Mindanao State University – General Santos City. She is also the P.I.O. of PHAVISMINDA (Philosophical Association of Visayas and Mindanao), an alumna of the Congressional Internship for Young Muslim Leaders (CIPYML), a member of the Bangsamoro Youth Leaders for Justice and Peace, a Coordinator of Towards Peace Marawi Chapter, previously hosted a TV program entitled “Youth in Focus and Ranaw Spotlight” at RanaoTV, Marawi, and is currently a co-host of the Radio Program Pananaw sa Kalinaw, Kalinaw sa Pananaw at DXCP Radyo Totoo.
Mae Estonete Ballena, MPS
Specializations:
– Peacebuilding
– Governance
– Gender and Women
– Transitional Justice
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 the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, supporting its Conventional Arms and Ammunitions Program in Geneva, Switzerland.
Yasmira P. Moner, MGS
Specializations:
– Peacebuilding
– Preventing / Transforming Violent Extremism
– Gender and Women
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.
Zarah Kathleen Toring Alih-Jul, MACTS, MAHESOS
Specializations:
– Peacebuilding
– Governance
– Child Protection
– Gender and Women
Ms. Alih-Jul is an international development professional with an MA degree in Applied Conflict Transformation Studies from Pannasastra University of Cambodia and a Masters in Health Social Science from De La Salle University. She is currently taking a PhD in Peace and Development at Notre Dame University and has 22 years’ experience in governance, community development, livelihood, education, training, and humanitarian assistance. She has 13 years of managerial experience, with almost 6 years in the international arena as Regional Program Coordinator (HIV/AIDS, women, peace studies, and youth programs) for ARF-AMAN (Asian Resource Foundation-Asian Muslim Action Network) and Psychosocial Counselor for the Urban Refugee Program of the Jesuit Refugee Service. Almost 4 years at the local country level as Program Manager of Save the Children Eastern Mindanao Program Office (EMPO) and as UNFPA’s Gender-Based Violence Humanitarian Coordinator. 3 years as Program Coordinator and Consultant of JICA in a governance component, Revenue Enhancement Assistance for ARMM LGUs (REAL), of the Comprehensive Capacity Development Project.
Haironesah Domado, MASID
Specializations:
– Governance
– Women, Peace, and Security
– Monitoring and Evaluation
– Conflict Analysis
Ms. Domado has extensive development experience in conflict affected areas in the Philippines, particularly in the Mindanao region. She specialized in the fields of peace and conflict, governance, monitoring and evaluation, and women, peace and security. For several years she served as head of the Rehabilitation and Development Unit and then MEAL Department of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP). Prior to that, she had worked with DWSD, USAID, Brandeis University’s The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, and The Asia Foundation.
Elsie SIlva Villanueva, MPA, MADE
Specializations:
– Value Chain
– Agriculture
– Aquaculture
– Governance / Planning
Elsie Silva Villanueva is a Licensed Agriculturist and a Licensed Environmental Planner (EnP). She is currently the Assistant City Agriculturist of the General Santos City. She oversees the implementation of various agricultural and fishery programs and projects in the city. Ms. Villanueva is also involved in consultancy/research undertakings on a part-time basis. These include the conduct of Value Chain studies and Crop Valuation Studies, preparation of Investment Plans, Business Plans/Feasibility Studies, and Project Proposals, and other related documents related to the agri-fishery sectors.
Ms. Villanueva earned a magna cum laude in Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business Management at the Mindanao State University-General Santos City in 1998. She attended a Summer Program in Economics at the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, Laguna in 2001. She also finished her master’s degree in Public Administration in 2008. Moreover, she has pursued a Master of Arts in Development Economics at the University of East Anglia – Norwich City, United Kingdom in 2009. She became a faculty member of the Mindanao State University College of Agriculture in 2004 until the end of her tenure in 2013. Ms. Villanueva was also a part-time lecturer of Master in Business Management in the graduate school program of the Mindanao State University in General Santos City from June 2012 until July 2021.
Maria Carolina Rodriguez Bello, MAIS
Specializations:
– Communication for Dev’t (C4D)
– Gender, BV, VAWC, CEFM
– SRH, MNCHN
– Women’s Empowerment
– Women, Peace, and Security
Ms. Bello specializes in Communication for Development (C4D) with a strong advocacy focus on gender and women’s rights; reproductive health; gender-based violence prevention and response; child, early and forced marriage; indigenous women and girl-children’s rights; maternal and neonatal child health and immunization; women’s political empowerment; and, women, peace and security.
Christopher Peñales
Specializations:
– Sexual Reproduction Health
– Sexual Health Education
– VAWC
– MNHCN
Chris has about two decades of experience in Sexual and Reproductive Health as applied to the context of South Central Mindanao and the ARMM (including SRH as applied in Muslim communities). He is currently the Manager of the Socsargen chapter of Family Planning Organization in the Philippines (FPOP) and has overseen the implementation of several SRH projects in the region over the years.
Louie O. Pacardo
Specializations:
– Photography
– Videography
– Journalism
– Social Media Management
Louie is a seasoned multi-media journalist and social media management practitioner. He is known for his blogs Marbel Boy (www.marbelboy.com) and A Nomad’s Perspective (www.nomadperspectives.com). He has been engaged as a multimedia consultant by UN Women, UNFPA and UNICEF, as well as other international and local development organizations and government agencies.
Dennis Librado
Specializations:
– Child Protection
– Governance / Planning
– Environment
– Agriculture
– Social Enterprise
Mr. Librado has more than 20 years of professional experience in development and child protection work. As Executive Director of Tribal Leaders Development Foundation, Inc. (TLDFI), a local NGO based in South Cotabato, he has designed and implemented numerous child-centered projects funded by such donors as the Consuelo Foundation, Kindernothilfe, and Cordaid Netherland’s Children and Education Section. Mr. Librado has participated in the monitoring and evaluation activities of the Mindanao Convergence of NGOs for Social Protection (MinCoNSP) and the Coalition of Social Development Organizations in South Cotabato (CSDO-SC), NGO networks that TLDFI is a member organization of.
Jimmy L. Dalgan, CGM
Specializations:
– Sustainable Integrated Area Development (SIAD)
– Child Protection (CRG, Child Labor)
– Biodiversity and Conservation
– Agriculture
– Community Organizing and Development
– Program Management
Johnson K. Badawi, MIPS, MPS
Specializations:
– Peacebuilding
– Preventing / Transforming Violent Extremism
– Governance
– Youth
– Events Management
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. He has published several papers on violent extremism, psychology and disinformation.
Currently, Mr. Badawi serves as a Peace Process Programme Officer of the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom in the Philippines. Previously he was a staff member at the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue (CHD), an international non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting peace in Mindanao, Philippines. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of TFI and was intermittently part of the Pool of Experts.
Bienvinido Dagpin
Specializations:
– Information and Data Management
– Digital Data Collection Management (KoboTool, SurveyCTO, etc.)
– Data Consolidation, Processing and Visualization (Power BI, Quantum GIS, etc)
Mr. Dagpin is currently the data management specialist of TFI. From 2016 to 2022, he served as an Information Management (IM) specialist with UNHCR and was part of the IM team in the Marawi Siege Response, which provided up-to-date and accurate demographic and incident-based displacement information to the public through the Philippine Protection Cluster website. Prior to his stint with UNHCR, he served as a staff of FSD France.
Alexis Sarah Lynn Acosta
Specializations:
– Digital Solutions
Ms. Acosta is a seasoned professional with over 10 years of experience, combining expertise in computer programming, operations management, and project management. Her career includes over 6 years with the Provincial Government of South Cotabato, where she developed and implemented data management systems that significantly improved service delivery for marginalized communities, such as a Provincial Online Database System, Socio-Economic Profiling System, Contact Tracing System, and Hospital System. Additionally, She has 4 years of experience on a contract-basis as an Operations Manager and Project Manager for US-based companies, where she successfully led projects and optimized operations. Her diverse skill set and commitment to social impact make her adept at delivering innovative solutions that drive efficiency and enhance community welfare.
Rasul A. Kulat
Specializations:
- Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation
- Humanitarian Response and Protection
- Capacity building
Mr. Kulat is a peacebuilder and humanitarian worker with over 15 years of experience. He has a master’s degree in peace and development (MAPDS). He has worked with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for 12 years, with extensive experience in protection, field work, and coordination. His professional background includes responding to the needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by armed conflict and natural disasters since 2010. His expertise covers a wide range of topics, including IDP protection, project management, community-driven disaster risk reduction and management (CDRRRM), and providing training on protection mainstreaming.
Mr. Kulat has held various roles at UNHCR, including Asst. Protection Officer in Yemen and Field Associate in the Philippines. He also served as a Senior Community Organizer for Community and Family Services International (CFSI) from 2008 to 2010, where he oversaw the implementation of food assistance with the UN-WFP. In his earlier career, he worked as a team leader for the Japan International Cooperating Agency (JICA) and as a research facilitator for the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society, Inc.. He also consulted for Catholic Relief Services in 2008, where he provided contextualized inputs to improve a culture of peace module.
Ahmed Harris R. Pangcoga
Specializations:
- Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation
- Preventing and Transforming Violent Extremism
- Child Protection
- Gender and Women’s Empowerment
- Humanitarian Protection
- Social-Behavior Change Communication / Norms Diffusion
- Active Participation & Responsive Governance
- Organizational and Program Management
- M&E Project Design and Management
Ahmed Harris “Tommy” Pangcoga is a seasoned international development professional with over 23 years of experience in peacebuilding, conflict transformation, humanitarian protection, and child protection in Mindanao, Philippines. An ethnic Maranao, he currently serves as executive director of Transforming Fragilities, Inc., a local NGO that provides monitoring, evaluation, and research support services. From March 2021 to March 2025, he served as Country Director of Equal Access International – Philippines, an international NGO focusing on peacebuilding, conflict transformation, and preventing violent extremism.
Mr. Pangcoga is a leading Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) specialist in Mindanao with over 14 years of direct experience designing, managing, and leading evaluation and research projects. As Executive Director of Transforming Fragilities, Inc. (TFI), he has overseen more than 30 research and evaluation projects for major international agencies and local organizations, including high-impact studies for the European Union, Plan International, Oxfam, UNICEF, ChildFund, and UNFPA. His expertise covers the full spectrum of M&E, from developing robust frameworks and tools to facilitating participatory workshops and capacity-building for field teams. His published works include principal authorship of “Our Voices, Our Future: Understanding Risks and Adaptive Capacities to Prevent and Respond to Child Marriage in the BARMM” and co-authorship of the “Evaluation of EU’s Engagement in Mindanao.”
Beyond M&E, Mr. Pangcoga possesses demonstrated expertise in program management, organizational leadership, and organizational development. He has successfully managed multiple development projects exceeding PHP 260 million in value and secured over PHP 400 million in project funding for international and local NGOs. His leadership roles include Country Director for Equal Access International (4 years), Executive Director for Transforming Fragilities (6 years), Country Coordinator for Cordaid (2 years, 8 months), and Program Head for MinCoNSP, a network of nine local NGOs. He has directed all aspects of organizational operations and strategic planning for Transforming Fragilities, Inc., and led the development and execution of country strategies aligned with global priorities for Equal Access International.
In planning and organizational development, Mr. Pangcoga has contributed to the development of three Regional (BARMM) Action Plans, facilitated three Exercise of Priority Rights (EPR) plans, and conducted multiple organizational capacity assessments. He also designed a Mindanao adaptation of a multi-stakeholder platform promoting movement building and social-behavioral change communication (SBCC) for preventing and transforming violent extremism. His work continues to shape M&E systems and foster a culture of accountability, learning, and continuous improvement in BARMM’s evolving governance landscape.
In the field of peace-based capability building, he has served as a trainer and facilitator for at least 300 trainings since 2002, primarily on peacebuilding, conflict transformation, and peace and security. He has also developed and packaged a total of 20 peace-based training modules for the Grassroots Peace Learning Course (GPLC) program of Catholic Relief Services, a published training module on the Anti-Terrorism Act and Human Rights Violations for the Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission, and three training modules on peace, human rights, and good governance for the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS). He is currently working on 10 training modules on MEAL, Project Management, and Conflict Sensitivity for TFI.