Filipina UMC Deaconess Honored with World Methodist Peace Award

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UPDATED April 6 with response from Norma Dollaga. See photo below.

United Methodist deaconess Norma Dollaga, who has championed the rights of poor and marginalized persons in the Philippines, has been named the 2024 recipient of the prestigious World Methodist Peace Award from the World Methodist Council.

Dollaga was honored for her ministry of "courage, creativity and consistency" in championing justice especially in the wake of Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte's "war on drugs" that committed extrajudicial killings of poor people who allegedly sold or used illegal drugs. Her ministry was cited for combining public witness with behind-the-scenes pastoral care for marginalized persons. According to her nomination:

"When a campaign against the use of illegal drugs became a government-sanctioned war against the poor who used drugs, Dollaga became an outspoken advocate for the right of the poor not to be killed. She and other courageous faith leaders refused to be intimidated by then President Rodrigo Duterte and other government officials who villainized church leaders and others who spoke up for the poor. She organized prayer vigils and memorial services for the dead, people often killed by assassins on motorcycles or unidentified masked men who showed up at night in urban slums with a list of those to be killed."

The nomination quoted Dollaga on the resistance her efforts faced.

“People would tell us that it was good that the addicts were being killed," Dollaga said. "We responded by saying we didn’t oppose efforts to stop the use of illegal drugs. We were against killing people.”

In collaboration with another United Methodist deaconess, Rubylin Litao, along with an ecumenical coalition of church activists and volunteer attorneys, Dollaga formed an advocacy organization, Rise Up for Life and for Rights, to push back against the Duterte repression. As extrajudicial killings increased, Rise Up began to document the assassinations along with providing economic, psychological, social and spiritual support for victims' families. Later Rise Up organized health care for the families.

As killings continued, Rise Up provided refuge in churches and convents for survivors of assassination attempts. Some drug users, fearful of government violence, turned to Rise Up for shelter and received addiction counseling as well through cooperating churches. Then the organization began summer camps for victims' children, which Dollaga likened to Sunday school classes that many in the Philippines see as the traditional venue for deaconesses.

“The only difference is that Sunday School is more for the privileged, for churchgoers, while in the camps we are sharing hope and joy with children of very poor families," Dollaga was quoted. "For me, this is at the heart of the ministry of a deaconess."

Dollaga's nomination also cited her participation in demonstrations for the rights of indigenous people in the Philippines, and her fundraising efforts to build schools for displaced indigenous children. Her Facebook page is filled with posts urging prayers for church leaders facing trial for their public witness, along with reports from ecumenical worship services, announcements of public demonstrations, and inspirational quotes from figures such as Nelson Mandela.

Rise Up's public testimony on behalf of victims' families also was cited in Dollaga's nomination.

"In August 2018, Rise Up took another step in its support of victims’ families. Along with six relatives of murdered individuals, it filed a case before the International Criminal Court, accusing Duterte of crimes against humanity. In response, President Duterte pulled the Philippines out of the ICC," the nomination read.

Dollaga's outreach frequently put her, her coworkers, and the people they champion in physical danger.

“When we started this, we would accompany the mothers (of victims) as they went to file charges," said Roselle Tullao, a Rise Up organizer, in support of Dollaga's nomination. "They would always cover their faces, and we had to ask the media not to take their photos. But slowly they have lost their fear and uncovered their faces. I am humbled by the power that these poor women possess, and thankful that they’ve shared it with us as we struggle together. The women are pushing their cases, and we are blessed by their persistence.”

Her peace award nomination states that Dollaga became a United Methodist deaconess after graduating in 1985 from Harris Memorial College, the regional training center for deaconesses and women church leaders in both The United Methodist Church and other denominations. Today she frequently lectures and leads classes at Harris Memorial.

Since 2000 Dollaga has been appointed by the bishop of the Philippines Central Conference to the Ecumenical Center for Development, also known as Kapatirang Simbahan Para sa Bayan (the Church of the People). The PCC Facebook page posted an announcement of her honor with a comment: "The whole Philippines Central Conference is so proud of your service."

In her role as the Ecumenical Center's top executive, Dollaga has helped guide ecumenical groups and networks focused on human rights and peacemaking. In addition to Rise Up, her nomination states that Dollaga participates in two other human rights organizations: Dambana, which provides humanitarian assistance to communities affected by disasters and the climate crisis, and One Voice, an alliance of Catholic and Protestant church leaders advocating for human rights and good governance in the Philippines.

In nominating Dollaga for the peace award, former Manila Area Bishop Ciriaco Q. Francisco described her ministry with the Philippines' poor and marginalized as “heroic work for the Lord.”

"Dollaga has for decades displayed the courage, creativity, and consistency that mark her as a true disciple of Jesus Christ, proclaiming abundant life to all, especially those victims of injustice in her homeland," wrote Bishop Francisco in a quotation published in the World Methodist Council's "First Friday" newsletter. "Because she has embodied both compassion and resilience as she has witnessed for true peace in the Philippines, it is an honor to nominate her for the World Methodist Peace Award."

Dollaga issued a response to the award April 6 in the form of a letter accepting the award on behalf of the marginalized Filipinos who stand up for justice, and on behalf of Filipina deaconesses and faith-based workers for human rights.

Founded in 1881 in London, England, and now based in Waynesville, North Carolina, the World Methodist Council represents 80 member churches of the Methodist/Wesleyan and Uniting traditions encompassing more than 80 million people in 132 countries. In addition to bestowing the World Methodist Peace Award, founded in 1976, and organizing the once-every-five-years World Methodist Conference, the council supports ecumenical dialogue, theological education and scholarship, evangelism, youth ministry, and social justice worldwide.

The 22nd World Methodist Conference is scheduled Aug. 12-18, 2024, in Gothenburg, Sweden. This year's overall theme, "On the Move," will be expressed through daily themes of Migration, Pilgrimage and Guiding Lights.

Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011 as a media channel to amplify news and views by and for marginalized and under-served United Methodists. Information from Norma Dollaga's World Methodist Peace Award nomination, the World Methodist Council's "First Friday" newsletter and the websites of the Council and the World Methodist Conference was used in this article.