For nearly two decades, Roselyn Galario was known as “Bisay”— a dedicated member of an armed movement who spent her days organizing communities, writing songs, and rallying for change. Recruited at 12 years old, she never imagined that the path she chose to lift up the poor would lead her into darkness.

Now, she is using the lessons from those 18 years to build something different — peace.

Recruited as a Child Growing up in a remote part of Mindoro, Galario says armed groups were a constant presence. When her cousin joined, she soon followed — drawn in by promises of addressing the province’s problems.

“We’d skip school to meet in coconut groves,” she shared during the maiden episode of “Ang Binagong Buhay” on Adventist World Radio 89.9 FM. “They taught us about issues facing our people, and before we knew it, we were part of the group. We lied to our parents, even when they heard we were at rallies.”

Her role grew beyond singing; she organized youth, women, and Indigenous Peoples’ groups. During intense operations, she kept fellow members motivated through hunger, fueled by her care for the marginalized.

Galario’s faith in the movement faded when resources meant for communities failed to reach them. A leader’s comment finally opened her eyes: “If we help them build livelihoods, they won’t need us anymore.”

“That’s when I knew something was wrong,” she said. “We claimed to fight for the poor, but we were holding them back.”

After leaving the movement and going into hiding, Galario reached out for help. Local officials and the 2nd Infantry Battalion connected her with her family and with Adventist World Radio (AWR). A Bible verse became her anchor: “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.” This led her to embrace her faith and commit to peaceful advocacy.

Today, as an AWR missionary, she heads the Mindoro Island Fully Reconciled Association (MIFRA). She has organized 18 associations — all registered with the Department of Labor and Employment — focused on uplifting people through peaceful livelihood support.

“Our young people have skills and passion,” Galario stressed. “But they’re being used to spread violence. There’s nothing wrong with speaking up about issues — but we can do it peacefully.”

Pastor’s Reflection Pastor Robert Dulay, who co-hosted the episode alongside Quinn Denmark Braga and Kasy Punzalan, emphasized the power of spiritual renewal. Citing 2 Corinthians 5:17, he noted: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”