1st National Peace Convention Held to Promote Unity
Feb 13, 2023
Washington, D.C, District of Columbia Feb 12, 2023 (Issuewire.com) - The 1st National Peace Convention was held on January 25, 2023, with the theme, "Peace Builds One Nation, One Future: Peace is Here", attended by over 1,500 peace advocates to build a holistic roadmap towards the attainment of national unity through peace in consonance with the Marcos Administration's agenda.
Dr. Ronald Adamat, Commissioner of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Founding Chairman of Volunteer Individuals for Peace (VIP), spearheaded the event.
"We want peace to reign in our country. We want peace to be the language every one of us will speak and every Filipino and every foreigner will understand. Today, let's declare peace as a pandemic. Infect people not to rest in peace but to live in peace," said Dr. Adamat.
Dr. Adamat is the first Filipino recipient of the prestigious Mahatma MK Gandhi Prize for Non-Violent Peace awarded last year in recognition of his contributions to peace-building including the higher education
In attendance also is Chairman Lee Man-hee of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), a 92-year-old Korean war veteran.
"Peacebuilding in Mindanao after the conflict is becoming known worldwide. This is the case of transforming death into life for peace. Starting with Mindanao and the Philippines, when we unite in love, peace will come to our world. For this reason, everyone in the Philippines has to become one and work together as messengers of peace," said Chairman Lee.
The two peace advocates first met in 2017 during HWPL World Peace Summit held in South Korea. As an expression of their shared commitment to promoting peace, CHED and HWPL signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in 2018 to integrate peace education into the higher education curricula.
The convention commenced with the first Plenary Session followed by parallel sessions in the afternoon. The parallel sessions were conducted separately for five sector groups--lawmakers and non-government organizations, academe and youth, religious and ethnic groups, women, and media. Each session drafted a resolution that contained their solidarity with the organizers' peace-building efforts.
The five resolutions were consolidated during the second Plenary Session to call for President Bongbong Marcos to proclaim January 24 as 'National Peace Day' or "Truce Day".
The date January 24 was proposed in commemoration of a civilian-led peace agreement signed at General Santos City in 2014 to boost reconciliation among the local communities. It was proposed by Chairman Lee to mediate the existing conflict in Mindanao at the time. The date was later declared as 'HWPL Peace Day' by then Maguindanao governor Toto Mangudadatu in 2015 and BARMM Chief Minister and MILF Chairman Ahod Ebrahim in 2016.
The organizers believe that the declaration of a National Peace Day shall be the mechanism by which every year, peace-related activities are observed and celebrated across the country.
Source :HWPL
This article was originally published by IssueWire. Read the original article here.
More News
Ridon to VP Duterte: Explain over P100-M in assets not in SALN
MANILA, Philippines – Rep. Terry L. Ridon, a House prosecutor, challenged Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday to explain why more than P100 million in bank deposits, investments, and insurance holdings allegedly did not appear in her 2023 statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN). In a press briefing on Monday, Ridon said the
Prosecution eyes VP Duterte mansions in Nov. 9 cross-exam
MANILA, Philippines — The House prosecution intends to question defense witnesses about mansions and other properties allegedly linked to Vice President Sara Z. Duterte and her family when her impeachment trial resumes Nov. 9. In a statement issued on Monday, House prosecutor Terry L. Ridon said the properties could become an issue during cross-examination as the
2027 budget: House execs say issues can be settled at bicam
MANILA, Philippines — Two leaders of the House of Representatives have appeared lukewarm toward a push to recall the 2027 budget bill recently passed by the chamber, saying any issues can be addressed at the bicameral conference committee. At a press briefing on Monday, Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno and Bataan Rep. Albert Garcia said they
Cotabato church suspends Masses after break-in, desecration of hosts
MANILA, Philippines – A parish in M’lang, Cotabato, has suspended all Masses and sacramental celebrations inside its main church after a break-in that resulted in the desecration of the Blessed Sacrament that is kept in the tabernacle. The Sta. Teresita del Niño Jesus Parish, in an announcement, expressed profound sorrow over the incident, saying the
Lacson says 2027 budget hearing with CSOs is ‘a big paradox’
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Monday described the 2027 budget consultation with civil society organization (CSO) representatives as “a big paradox.” “After hearing all the grievances and problems, you can’t help but ask, ‘Is there still hope for this country?” Lacson said. “On the other hand, after hearing their passion and their respective
Classes at Bukidnon high school suspended due to online threat
MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon — Classes were suspended Monday at the Bukidnon National High School-Senior High School (BNHS-SHS) campus here due to an alleged violent online threat. Police authorities and education officials placed the BNHS-SHS on high alert following the threat sent by an unidentified user sent to a group chat on Sunday, October 25, threatening
Outgoing DOTr chief Lopez says commuters’ welfare to remain a priority
MANILA, Philippines – Endless “thank yous” reverberated at the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) office on Monday, Oct. 26, as outgoing Transportation Secretary Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez bid goodbye to the agency he has led since September last year. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Lopez as the new chief of the Department of Public Works and Highways
Chief prosecutor warns giving false addresses in complaints is perjury
MANILA, Philippines — Veteran journalist Philip Lustre was deprived of due process when he was indicted and arrested without receiving a copy of the complaint or a chance to defend himself because the complainant provided the wrong address, the chief government prosecutor said Monday. “I would have to agree with them that they were not
IP youths donate learning materials to remote Iligan community
ILIGAN CITY — College student volunteers from the Higaonon ethnic group in the city brought school supplies, books, clothes, and basic health services to children in remote Sitio Limunsudan, Barangay Rogongon, on Oct. 24, in celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ (IP) Month. The outreach activity gathered young people from different communities, including Muslims and Christians, in
Senate told: Over P1 trillion in proposed 2027 budget is ‘pork’
MANILA, Philippines — Over P1 trillion of the allocations for the 2027 national budget are red flags or suspected “pork,” the People’s Budget Coalition (PBC) told the Senate on Monday. The PBC shared its analysis of the National Expenditure Program (NEP) and the House General Appropriations Bill (HGAB) during the Senate finance committee’s consultation with
ITCZ to bring rain, thunderstorms to parts of Mindanao Tuesday
MANILA, Philippines — Parts of Mindanao may experience scattered rain showers and thunderstorms on Tuesday, Oct. 27, due to the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), the state weather bureau said. In its 24-hour public weather forecast issued at 4 p.m. on Monday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said cloudy skies with scattered
Manila Water leverages Calawis WTP, boosts El Niño preparedness
MANILA, Philippines — As Manila Water prepares for the looming strong El Niño conditions that may extend into the first semester of 2027, the company continues to strengthen its water supply resilience by leveraging the capacity of its 80-million-liter-per-day (MLD) Calawis Water Treatment Plant (WTP) in Antipolo City. The facility serves as a critical additional water
YOUR NEWS, OUR NETWORK.
Do you have Great News you want to tell the world?
Be it updates about your business or your community, you can make sure that it’s heard by submitting your story to our network reaching hundreds of news sites across 6 verticals.