At 53 years old, Sister Ma. Liza Ruedas radiates an energy that defies fatigue. This Filipino nun, a member of the Daughters of Charity congregation, stands as a formidable pillar within the country's religious sector, tirelessly working for peace, literacy, and social advocacy.
A Life of Service: From Vocation to Nation-Building
For nearly 38 years as a consecrated Daughter of Charity, Sister Ruedas has traveled across the Philippine archipelago. Her mission is to empower ordinary citizens—including youth, peasants, farmers, and tribal members—in the active pursuit of nation-building. Her journey began with what she describes as a "deep-love affair of God with His beloved." She was drawn by the congregation's charism centered on God's great love for the poor, the lost, and the least, as enshrined in their Constitution.
During election periods, which are often marred by violence and allegations of vote-rigging, Sister Ruedas positions herself at the forefront of voters' education. She and her fellow sisters work to heighten public awareness and participation, aiming to create democratic spaces for electoral reform. Through Daughters of Charity institutions and pastoral communities, they guide people, especially the youth, toward meaningful political change.
Decades on the Frontlines: Mindanao, Disasters, and Human Rights
Sister Ruedas spent almost two decades in pastoral work across Mindanao, serving in the dioceses of Ipil, Iligan, the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro, and the Prelature of Marawi. Her work involved Christian-Muslim dialogue, ecumenical relations, and deep immersion with Indigenous Peoples (IPs) like the Subanen, Ati, and Dumagats.
Her experiences with the Mindanao-Sulu Pastoral Conference (MSPC) revealed both the disturbing realities of animosity and division, and the inspiring resilience of a compassionate Church. Witnessing the struggles of IPs to claim their ancestral domains deepened her resolve to work for justice, peace, and the respect of human rights.
Her ministry also extends to disaster response, having been involved in rebuilding communities for survivors of calamities in Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, Samar-Leyte, Polillo Islands, Palawan, and urban areas in the National Capital Region.
Advocacy in a Challenging Climate: Standing with the Marginalized
Since 2017, Sister Ruedas has served as the team leader and coordinator for Advocacy on Justice, Peace, and Human Rights under the Daughters of Charity's Promotion of Integral Human Development (PIHD). This role immerses her in difficult situations, collaborating with various organizations to work for truth, peace, and good governance.
Her advocacy opens doors to encounter Christ in the faces of the poorest: victims of extrajudicial killings (EJK), marginalized women and children, indigenous communities, struggling workers, fisherfolk, farmers, disaster survivors, persons deprived of liberty, and the homeless.
She speaks candidly about the socio-political climate under recent administrations, describing "pains-struggles-dissent-outcries of the afflicted." She points to the weaponization of law, corruption, red-tagging, and the killing of human rights defenders as creating a chilling effect. Yet, she affirms that these challenges do not stifle her spirit, but strengthen her resolve as a Daughter of Charity to be a beacon of hope.
Looking ahead, Sister Ruedas remains full of hope. She emphasizes the continuous need for education, enlightenment, and advocacy to transform society. She believes in collaboration, transparent networking, and an unwavering trust in a God of Truth, Justice, and Peace—the same God who called her to proclaim love and liberation for the poorest.
