#CoUPDATE

A collective celebration of co-operatives, community, and 60 years of shared legacy.

Walls across Mindanao were transformed into powerful symbols of unity, identity, and hope as MASS-SPECC Cooperative Development Center culminated its Mindanao-wide celebration of the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) 2025 through the launching and unveiling of the IYC CO-OPmunity Murals.

Declared by the United Nations, IYC 2025 recognizes the vital role of co-operatives in building inclusive, equitable, and sustainable organizations worldwide.

In response to this global call, MASS-SPECC — the oldest and largest regional co-operative federation in Mindanao — spearheaded the IYC CO-OPmunity Mural Campaign, a federation-wide creative initiative that brought together co-op members, leaders, staff, volunteers, youth, and artists across regions.

More than an art project, the campaign served as a shared expression of the co-op movement’s values and aspirations, making the co-op identity visible, accessible, and meaningful to the wider public.

From regional painting days to a shared unveiling

The campaign unfolded through coordinated mural painting activities across regions and clusters, held on October 30 (Regions 9, 10, 11, and 13), October 31 (Region 12), and November 3 (ZBST Region).

During these regional painting days, volunteers from various co-operative sectors — agriculture, transport, savings and credit, and multi-purpose co-operatives — worked side-by-side with professional mural artists.

Each brushstroke symbolized cooperation in action, reflecting how diverse co-ops work together toward a shared mission.

While the murals were developed in stages, this process itself carried meaning. Co-operative work, like the murals, is continuous. What mattered was starting together, sustaining the collective effort, and completing the work as one community.

The completed murals were later officially unveiled in their respective regions, marking the culminating activity of the Mindanao-wide celebration of IYC 2025.

The unveiling ceremonies were held on November 17 in Region 9, November 21 in Regions 12 and Caraga, November 26 in Region 11, November 27 in the ZBST Region, and December 19 in Region 10 — each gathering co-operative leaders, members, partners, and communities in a shared celebration of co-operative identity and solidarity.

A mural with a message and a mission

At the heart of every CO-OPmunity mural is a clear and unifying message: “Co-operatives Build a Better World.”

Each mural reflects both local identity and shared co-operative values. Cultural elements and regional symbols honor community roots, while common visual themes — people working together, nurturing the environment, supporting families, and embracing innovation — highlight the lived realities of cooperation.

Central images such as the globe and interlocking gears emphasize that co-ops are part of a global movement built on interdependence and solidarity. Icons representing inclusive finance, digital services, and member participation underscore the movement’s commitment to relevance, accessibility, and shared prosperity.

Across every mural, diverse people — young and old, women and men, farmers and workers—stand together, affirming that co-operatives are built by people, for people.

One unveiling, three milestones

Beyond celebrating IYC 2025, the unveiling of the CO-OPmunity Murals also carried deeper significance. 

Each launching simultaneously served as the official kick-off of SPECC’s 60th Anniversary, a celebration of six decades of co-operative development and service, and a reaffirmation of MASS-SPECC’s enduring advocacy for values-based, people-centered co-operatives.

For sixty years, SPECC — and later MASS-SPECC —has played a pivotal role in shaping the co-operative movement in Mindanao and beyond. From building co-operative leaders and institutions to advancing education, finance, and digital services, the federation’s legacy is rooted in one enduring principle: building co-operators first, guided by shared values and collective responsibility.

Painting the co-operative story together

Through the CO-OPmunity Mural Campaign, MASS-SPECC aims to spark curiosity and deepen public understanding of co-operatives.

As the murals now stand in public spaces across Mindanao, they invite people to ask: “What are co-operatives? Why do they matter?” And the walls themselves respond: “Co-operatives are present, active, and continuing to build a better world—together.”

The CO-OPmunity murals stand as lasting reminders that cooperation is both an idea and a practice. They reflect a movement that grows through participation, thrives through unity, and endures through shared purpose.

As MASS-SPECC moves forward toward its 60th year, these murals remain visible testaments to a living legacy — one painted by many hands, strengthened by many voices, and guided by a common vision of inclusive and sustainable development.

“Together we paint. Together we build a better world. Together, we celebrate the International Year of Cooperatives 2025 and the enduring legacy of MASS-SPECC.”