Tech enthusiasts develop apps for peace in #PeaceHackPh

Manila, 4 October 2016 – Fifty-two developers and programmers competed in the country’s first hackathon for peace in September, coming up with apps that promote tolerance, warn of conflict, or marshal assistance to people affected by conflicts or disasters.

Teaming up by twos or threes or going solo, these tech enthusiasts developed working apps inspired by the hackathon’s theme of ‘Perceive, Engage, Alert, Communicate and Educate’ or P.E.A.C.E. Out of 22 apps, the best six were chosen in the first round of judging, and the winning three in the second round.

Hubert Bryan R. Ursua emerged as the first-prize winner with Peacetalk, a short message service (SMS)-based chatbot helpdesk for people affected by disasters or conflicts and for groups with resources that can respond to victims’ needs.

Michael Gerard T. Galon won the second prize with PHOM or Ph Opinion Mining, an app targeted at Filipinos living abroad that provides info and sentiment about issues and events in the Philippines.

The third prize went to Regine S. Reyes and Renate C. Gouveia for SAAN or Social Action Advocacy Network, an app for providing feedback on government services and enabling similarly-minded individuals to band over or push a particular cause.

The winners received trophies and cash prizes totaling P100,000. They and the other hackathon participants retained ownership of their entries. 

#PeaceHackPh, which took place 24-25 September, was the first hackathon on the theme of peace in the Philippines. It was organized by peacebuilding NGO International Alert Philippines and Smart Developer Network (Smart DevNet), mobile leader Smart Communications Inc.’s developer network. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade provided financial support to the activity.

“We see technology as a tool in peacebuilding. Technology can help address or highlight issues that can cause conflict. It can also create the conditions for peace for thrive,” said Nikki Philline C. de la Rosa, deputy country manager of International Alert Philippines.

“There will be a great difference if we will be able to understand carefully and help prevent the root cause of societal issues. We believe that through the help of technology, we will be able to assess and monitor issues as soon as they arise, to prevent them from progressing into full-blown conflicts,” said Paul Pajo, co-founder of Smart DevNet and senior developer evangelist at Smart.

International Alert began holding #peacehack in 2014 as part of its Talking Peace Festival, a two week cultural event to celebrate the UN International Day of Peace and its founding anniversary on Sept. 21. In the past two years, hackathons were held in London, Barcelona, Beirut, Colombo and Washington DC. This year, International Alert has held hackathons in The Hague, Zurich and London.

International Alert, based in London but with offices in conflict-affected countries all over the world including the Philippines, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Its new thrust highlights how everyone can play a part in building ‘everyday peace.’

The Philippines country office spearheaded #PeaceHackPh as part of its celebration of the International Day of Peace. Besides highlighting the use of technology in mitigating conflict or fostering understanding about conflict, it also underscored the ways that ordinary people could get involved in peacebuilding. 

International Alert Philippines is actively involved in the peace process between the government and Moro and communist insurgents; undertakes studies of shadow economies and their links to conflict; facilitates dialogues between companies, communities and government; and has pioneered a conflict monitoring system.

For Ursua, #PeaceHackPh was his first time to place first in a hackathon. The Bicolano and co-founder of a tech start-up said he chose to come up with an app that’s SMS-based after seeing the impact of disasters on his region. 

“People won’t have access to the internet,” he said.

With Peacetalk, people displaced by conflicts or disasters simply send a text to a number and then gain access to information, such as what to do in case they’re sick. “The nice thing about this is people affected by conflicts or disasters will get information about what to do,” Ursua said.

At the same time, groups that respond to humanitarian emergencies will know what things are needed. “People or groups with resources can act on victims’ needs,” Ursua added. 

Ursua and the other winners said they look forward to the next peace hackathon, as it gives them the chance to work on something that can promote change using their skills.

“The success of the first peace hackathon has inspired us to hold another one next year,” said De La Rosa.

“As a tech company and communications provider, we play a key role in mitigating conflicts in the country. We would like to thank International Alert Philippines for spearheading a project like this and for involving us in making a difference in the lives of millions,” said Pajo.

Source: International Alert Philippines

Photo credits to Jorge A. Golle of International Alert Philippines

#PeaceHack2016: A message from the Community Partnerships Head of SMART Communications

Darwin Flores, Community Partnerships Head, Smart Communications, Inc.

“A woman said: ”Everybody thinks that they are the good guys”. Lahat tayo (All of us). Even those we consider as our enemies or our opposites. And that is the origin of conflicts. We all think that we are the good guys.

So, where is the conflict coming from? It’s because we think that we’re right, and we think we’re the good guys.

On my way here, I was thinking “Paano ba natin malalaman na we are thinking we’re the good guys and the other guy is a bad guy?” (How will we know that we're thinking that we’re the good guys and the other guy is a bad guy?) There are pictures, images, or experiences that come forward whenever we see things. We basically grew with filters – a certain point of view.

One of the organizers of this event is my friend. We were activists during Marcos’ time and we really think that Marcos is an evil person. On the other hand, our counterparts think that we are just troublemakers. Whenever we get caught, we are beaten up, and we are tortured. Many of my friends have been tortured, some even got killed. And that is because we are coming from a certain point of view.

On a personal level, that is where I am coming from; but, from a company point of view, as a telecommunications company, communication is an essential element of our life. That’s the constant search that we’re looking for – “How do we unite with our opposites?”.

Uniting with your opposite begins with yourself. Knowing what triggers you, knowing what are your biases. Especially now that there’s a civil war going on - a civil war online. Kung nakakamatay lang ang mga comments, ang dami ng namatay (If only comments can kill, many are already dead). Bumabaha na ng dugo (There will be blood everywhere). That is a very concrete example that you are confronted with. Kung online, ganyan na ang banatan, what more in real life? (If that's how people are online, what more in real life?) So, there is war going on not only online but also within ourselves. So, you need to search yourself because if you give in to that, you are already a participant in a war – in a civil war – and that civil war is within yourself.”

#PeaceHack2016: Peacebuilding through technology

Liam Jamshidi - Tech Officer - London Office

INTERNATIONAL ALERT

International Alert is a peacebuilding organization who works in areas affected by conflicts like Sri Lanka, Lebanon, and the like. “We wanted to try to use technology in peacebuilding and try to make a difference, help people to be aware and take part in making the world a better place,” said Liam Jamshidi, a tech officer from the London office.

The first #peacehack hackathon was held in London in the year 2014. It was an initiative that brought the two worlds of technology and peacebuilding together to try to develop solutions for big problems. Later in 2015, they were able to conduct 5 peacehacks in Barcelona, Beirut, Colombo, London, and Washington DC.  Over 300 hackers took part in the event which was simultaneously done in the 5 regions. The participants were connected through Google hangout. One of the winning ideas is the Safegees – an app that keeps refugees connected. It was developed and is now available in the market.

This year, International Alert was able to conduct 3 hacks so far –in the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the first in the Philippines. According to Liam, there are 3 more upcoming peacehacks which will be done in London and Greece.

INTERNATIONAL ALERT PHILIPPINES

Staff members of International Alert Philippines

September 21, 2016 is International Peace Day; but, it is also the 30th anniversary of the founding of International Alert which is an international organization who works in approximately 30 countries where there is often violent conflict. According to Ruel Punongbayan, International Alert Philippines’ Head of Advocacy, “Naroon ang alert kung saan may gulo, may kaguluhan, may hidwaan”.

International Alert has worked in over 60 countries since its founding 30 years ago. There are around 30 country offices at present. From its headquarters in London, International Alert began working in the Philippines in 1988 by doing back-channeling work for the peace process between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.

Currently, International Alert Philippines is involved in the peace processes in the country. First is the National Democratic Front peace process between the government of the Philippines and the rebels. Further, their country manager, Pancho Lara is the head of the reciprocal working group on ceasefire with the CPP-NPA. They have also been working with the MILF peace process. “Kung mayroong gustong ipaabot ang MILF sa gobyerno or vice versa, iyon ang ginagawa namin.”, Ruel said.

Ruel confidently said that the Bangsamoro Conflict Monitoring System (BCMS) developed and maintained by International Alert Philippines is the only subnational conflict incidence monitoring system in the Philippines. It contains the conflict panel data in Bangsamoro from 2011-2015. They expanded this to the eastern and southern Mindanao conflict database.

Apart from all these involvements of International alert Philippines, they still have a bigger goal and that is to create a Philippine database.

“We’re trying to influence policy and practice in peacebuilding.”, Ruel said. He expressed his joy in seeing the participants of the first #peacehack in the Philippines especially that many of them are members of the youth.

International Alert’s previous tagline was “Understanding conflict, building peace”. However, they thought that it poses an impression that you need to be knowledgeable to be able to make peace which according to Ruel is not true. To that, he said, “No, we make everyday peace”. This is why they have a new tagline: “Peace is within our power”. Ruel believes that “everyone is involved in peacemaking, peacebuilding”.

“We want to challenge you in this peacehack to come up with concepts and ideas to help the Philippines and make a peaceful Philippines”, Ruel concluded.