Ruby Andong while sharing with fellow Mindanao Bridging Leaders her insights and experiences on upholding values transformation to the Bangsamoro communities

Ruby A. Andong, a long-time BDA Volunteer and one of the prime movers of the BDA Values Transformation Training (VTT) was invited by the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Team Energy Center to deliver a special message to the convocation of the 2^nd Cohort of AIM Mindanao Bridging Leaders Program (MBLP) on March 21, 2013 at AIM Fuller Hall, Makati City.

She shared her experiences in the ground as she went through her Mindanao Bridging Leadership Program (MBLP) Cohort 1 journey in the conflict-affected communities of Kabuntalan with her change project entitled “Promoting Community Good Governance and Peace through Values Transformation and Skills Building.” Her change project aimed to contribute to achieving an enlightened and productive communities working together for peace and development, a vision anchored to the BDA vision for Bangsamoro communities.

Values Transformation Training (VTT) under the BDA Peace Building program, is one major program of the Bangsamoro Development Agency which was one of the factors that led to BDA receiving the “Zero Corruption Award” from Procurement Watch International on 2009.

Ms. Andong, emphasized the importance of values transformation as an integral part in community development as expressed in her parting message, “ Again, and I will say it again and again… that to attain peace, we must start peace-building within ourselves by developing our inner peace… by having a strong faith and trust in our Creator. We should bridge our gap with our Creator by having a strong faith in Him and follow the straight path of Islam as one of the Hadiths of Prophet Mohammad SAW when asked by one of His Companions (Sahabah) as to what is the best deed they can do? The Prophet answered, “Qul aamantu billahi sumastaqeem.” Have faith in Allah and follow the straight path to righteousness. Bridging the gap with Allah, we need to wake up our people, guide our people to righteousness through Values Transformation and from there we can start working hard together for the SUCCESS of the Bangsamoro Government , in shaa Allah…”