The UP Asian Center, in partnership with Stop the War Coalition, International Peace Bureau, and the UP CIDS-Alternative Development Program, will be hosting "Military Spending or Funding Our Future? A Multisectoral Forum on Peace and Human Security," on 15 May 2026, 2 - 5 PM, PHT, at the Seminar Room, UP Asian Center. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to register online due to limited slots.
ABOUT THE FORUM
As of May 2026, the world enters the third month of a rapidly escalating conflict between the US-Israel alliance and Iran. This war has already incurred staggering costs, exceeding $11.3 billion in the first six days alone. With the Pentagon seeking an additional $200 billion from Congress to fund hostilities with no set "timeframe" for conclusion (Hegseth, 2026), the world faces a definitive "cost of living crisis" where military aggression is prioritized over human survival.
While global arms manufacturers profit, the human toll continues to mount. As of March 20, 2026, over 1,400 Iranian civilians have been killed, including 200 children. This violence is fueled by a global military expenditure that reached $2.44 trillion in 2023 and has surged exponentially with the 2026 Middle East escalation (SIPRI, 2024).
Geographic distance offers no protection from the "structural violence" of this conflict. The Philippines is currently reeling from domestic shocks that have impacted agriculture and food security and the value of daily wages due to peso devaluation. This places the heaviest burden on poor households and the informal sector. DEPDev (formerly NEDA) projects that inflation will reach 7.5% in March if crude prices climb to USD 140/barrel (Balisacan, 2026). This "inflationary tax" is a direct result of the war and the closure of maritime chokepoints.
Meanwhile, by hosting nine EDCA sites and Mid-Range Capability launchers, our territory is the "glass plate" designed to shatter first in a superpower conflict. The Philippines ranked 23rd out of 40 countries in SIPRI's latest arms transfers report, accounting for 1.2% of global major arms imports from 2021–2025, up from 0.8% in the previous five-year period. This increase signals a notable rise in the country's defense acquisitions. (BusinessWorld Online, March 26, 2026.)
This forum aims to: 1) engage the public in collective dialogueon the global and national contexts of military spending, emphasizing its impact on the Philippines; 2) link war spending to socio-economic issues; and 3) contribute to the global campaign that critiques the paradigm of military spending as human security.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
CORAZON VALDEZ FABROS
Co-President, International Peace Bureau
Corazon Valdez Fabros is currently the Co-President of International Peace Bureau (ipb.org) and a core member of thematic circle on Peace and Security at Asia-Europe Peoples Forum (aepf.info). She is a member of the Steering Committee of Dismantle Military Industrial Complex Network (www.dismantlethemic.org/). She is the Lead Convenor of STOP the War Coalition Philippines. Currently, she is the focal person for the Philippines at the No Nukes Asia Forum, which focuses on campaigns against nuclear power plants in Asia and promoting alternative renewable energy sources. She is also the Chairperson of the Peace Women Partners; a Board Trustee of the Office of Women and Gender Concerns at the Commission on Major Superiors in the Philippines (former AMRSP), and the Philippine country Co-coordinator of the International Women’s Network Against Militarism.
ZUBAIDA KARIM
Research Assistant, SIPRI Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme
ZUBAIDA KARIM is a Research Assistant in the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme. She holds an MSc in Applied Social Research from Stockholm University, along with degrees in Sociology and International and Comparative Politics from the American University of Central Asia, Bishkek, Kygyzstan. Her research focuses on military spending trends, arms production, and security dynamics in the Middle East, Central and South Asia, with a particular interest in the interplay between armed conflict and arms production and spending.
DJ JANIER
Head of the Secretariat, Stop the War Coalition Philippines
As the Head of the Secretariat for the Stop the War Coalition Philippines, DJ Janier led their representation at the Asia Pacific Social Forum 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand, where she served as the Head of the Thematic Session on Decolonization, Peace, and Justice. She also heads the Campaign Working Group on Accountability for the In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement (IDEFEND). In addition, she holds the position of Secretary General for Unity of Women for Freedom (KAISA KA) and serves as the Campaigns Director for Kilusan. Her commitment extends to the Executive Committee of the Freedom from Debt Coalition, where she also co-chairs the FDC Women's Committee. Ms. Janier earned her Bachelor of Arts in Development Studies from the University of the Philippines Manila, graduating cum laude.
QUIQUE SANCHEZ OCHOA
Project Manager, Centre of Peace Studies
QUIQUE SANCHEZ OCHOA is a project manager at Centre of Peace Studies in Barcelona, he's a Board member of the IPB and is co-coordinator of the Global Campaign on Military Spending (GCOMS). He holds a Bachelor in Political Science and a master’s degree in International Peace, Conflict and Development Studies. His career, activism and research are dedicated to peacebuilding and social and environmental justice.
ABOUT THE REACTORS
MERCI LLARINAS–ANGELES
President and Co-founder, Peace Women Partners
Merci Llarinas – Angeles is the president and co-founder of the Peace Women Partners, a network of women who aim to provide feminist perspectives in discourses and action on peace and security in the Philippines and Asia Pacific. Peace Women Partners is an active member of Stop the War Coalition-Philippines, where Merci sits in the Ad Hoc Secretariat Committee. Merci has a Masters’ Degree in Applied Conflict Transformation from Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia. She is co-author of the books “Justice and Healing: Twin Imperatives for the Twin Laws of Rape” and “Community Women’s Empowerment through Gender Responsive Barangay Development Planning”. Her articles on violence against women and peace issues have been published in the Philippines and internationally.
PABLO ROSALES
Chairperson, Pangisda Pilipinas
Pablo Rosales is the Chairperson of Pangisda Pilipinas. Pangisda Pilipinas is a prominent member of the Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya, advocating for social transformation in the Philippines. It leads the Manila Bay para sa Tao Network to promote the rehabilitation of Manila Bay for fisherfolks and coastal communities. PANGISDA has initiated the Tri-Sectoral Campaign on Adequate Housing, collaborating with various grassroots organizations. It partners with indigenous peoples and peasants on initiatives focusing on food security, environmental protection, and rural development. Additionally, PANGISDA engages in disaster response with CONCERN and women's empowerment with groups like LORENA and KAISA KA. As a member of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, it voices issues of small-scale fisherfolk to the government and represents the country in the World Forum of Fisher People's and the Regional Advisory Group.
VIRGINIA BENOSA-LLORIN
Senior Campaigner, Climate Campaign of Greenpeace Philippines
Virginia Benosa-Llorin is a Senior Campaigner leading the Climate Campaign of Greenpeace Philippines. With close to two decades experience advocating for environmental and social justice. Vigie has played a key role in spearheading climate campaigns that challenge corporate power and drive systemic change. Her work focuses on climate justice, mobilizing communities, and amplifying voices from the frontlines of the climate crisis. A dynamic leader with a commitment to collaborative activism, Vigie has a strong track record in strategic campaigning, public engagement, and policy advocacy, making her a driving force in Greenpeace's mission to create a more sustainable and equitable world.
JOSHUA F. PERALTA
Spokesperson, Youth for Nationalism and Democracy
Joshua F. Peralta is the spokesperson of Youth for Nationalism and Democracy and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Secondary Education, major in Filipino Language Education and minor in Literacy Education. He is an advocate of human rights, nationalist and transformative education, literacy development, and youth participation. His work and advocacy emphasize national sovereignty, social justice, and resistance against imperialism and systemic oppression. He believes that education should serve the people and contribute to the empowerment and liberation of marginalized communities.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZERS
This forum is organized by the UP Asian Center, in partnership with Stop the War Coalition, International Peace Bureau, and the Alternative Development Program of the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies. For inquiries, email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.