Annual event in Mindanao calls forth collective action to
develop peace
Over 22,000 social representatives from 51 countries attended
the international peace conference celebrating the Peace Day held virtually on January 24.
📨
The event commemorated a civilian-led peace agreement made
between the Islam and Catholic communities in Mindanao 8 years ago.
🤟
Back in 2014, Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of
Light (HWPL), an international NGO
mediated the conflict in Mindanao by proposing a peace agreement by local
representatives. Witnessed by Chairman Man Hee Lee of HWPL, the peace agreement
was signed by Hon. Esmael G. Mangudadatu, the then Governor of Maguindanao, and
Archbishop-Emeritus Fernando Capalla of the Archdiocese of Davao representing
local leadership. Since then, the province of Maguindanao and the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front (MILF) declared January 24 as “HWPL Peace Day” and have
commemorated it as annual event to reaffirm international cooperation and local
partnership for peacebuilding in Mindanao.
The event, under the theme of
“Law
of Peace in Heaven and on Earth”,
aimed to promote interfaith harmony between religions and raise
public support to establish international law for peace.
Key figures gave congratulatory messages including Senate
President Vicente Sotto III, Senator Panfilo Lacson, Senator Cynthia Villar,
Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa, Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, and TV News
Anchor Mariz Umali from the Philippines. Keynote speakers from various fields
also presented commitment messages declaring their plans on promoting peace in
their respective sectors including law, education, youth, women, private
business and media.
Prabhu Mahendra Das, Temple President of Sri Sri Radha
Madhava Mandir, said that he decided to participate in the World Alliance of
Religions' Peace (WARP) Office organized by HWPL as “a global platform for religious leaders to talk,
share, discuss, learn, and grow together harmoniously and peacefully.” For the contribution to peace in the field of
religion, he added,
“I firmly believe that all religions
should enter into a partnership through the form of a Memorandum of
Understanding.”
Justice Raoul Victorino (ret), Chairman of Philippine
National Prayer Breakfast (PNPB) and Dean of the College of Law of Philippine
Christian University (PCU), shared how he was inspired by the “revolutionary movement” that HWPL initiated to endorse global
peacebuilding through the draft the “Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW)” by global experts in international law to
advocate peace as a global culture and norm. He declared, “I will strive to get the support of the President
of the Philippines for the National Solidarity Support of
D
P
C
W.
At the same time, I will integrate DPCW [education] in the
college of law by collaborating with the Philippine Association of Law Schools.”
Also, representing the Philippines education sector,
Commissioner Ronald Adamat of the Commissioner on Higher Education (CHED)
shared, “The CHED Commission en Banc has issued an endorsement to President
Duterte, urging him to declare January 24 as
‘National Peace Day’,
that will provide for simultaneous celebration and observance
of peace through peace activities, events, and ceremonies by all
instrumentalities and agencies of government, including the private sector.
This shall also be celebrated and observed in the education sector.”
“Our purpose is to bring all people in the
world together to create a world of peace and leave it as a lasting legacy for
future generations. To make this world a peaceful place without wars, let us
become messengers of peace. Let us remind people around the world of that
emotion—a longing for peace—and the Peace Day so they can remember all of this
forever,” said Chairman Lee during the closing remarks.
Bdnewstimes - Annual Event to Commemorate Civilian-Led
Peacebuilding in Mindanao Calls Forth Collective Action to Develop Peace
Ansar Press - Annual Event to Commemorate Civilian-Led
Peacebuilding in Mindanao Calls Forth Collective Action to Develop Peace
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