in Mindanao

INTERNATIONA PEACE DAY CELEBRATED

THE International Peace day was celebrated last January 24 this year 2022, this stemmed from the peace accord between the Muslims and Catholics in certain part of Mindanao about 8 years ago.

About 22,000 representatives participated from 55 countries in this International Peace Conference despite the said event was conducted virtually.

Already written in history that in 2014 the International Non-government Organization, Heavenly Culture World Peace Restoration of Light (HWPL) mediated in the conflict in some part of Mindanao, the said organization suggested a peace accord between conflicting factions and has personally witnessed by non-other than the HWPL Chair Lee Man-Hee who was also a signatory along with Esmael G. Mangudadatu, former Governor of Maguindanao province and Fernando Bishop Capala, Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Davao who has represented the local leadership.

Since then the province of Maguindanao and the leadership of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) both declared January 24 every year as “HWPL Peace Day” in remembrance to the vision of forging international cooperation and strengthening the ties that bind which is lasting and sustainable peace in Mindanao.

Revolved around this year’s theme which is” Law of Peace I Heaven and Earth” it aims to push for reconciliation among faith through encouragement of the masses through politicians to enact laws in regard to peace

Video messages was delivered virtually by leaders like: Khil Raj Regmi, former prime Minister of Nepal; Vicente Sotto III, Senate President of the Philippines and Senators: Panfilo Lacson, Cynthia Villar, Ronald dela Rosa, Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo and Television News Anchor Mariz Umali.

Commitment speeches were delivered regarding their plans on how they could propagate the peace advocacy in their respective sectors like Law, Education, Youth, Women Business, Media and the Private Sector.

Prabhu Mahendra Das, Temple President of the Sri Radha madhawa Mandir, says that his decision for joining the World Alliance of Religions Peace (WARP) Office which is spearheaded by the HWPL, an international organization of religious leaders is dialogue, communication and learning and enrichment of collective wisdom in a peaceful and productive way as religion’s contribution in peace propagation.

He further say that he believes that all faith should forge partnerships and craft some sort of memorandum of understanding among themselves in a bid to further the propagation of peace.

Meanwhile Retired Justice Raoul Victorino, Chair ng Philippine National Prayer Breakfast (PNPB) at Dean of the College of Law of the Philippine Christian University (PCU) says that HWPL has been an inspiration to him for they had been instrumental in crafting the DPCW, law experts from around the globe teamed up in crafting such document.

“would try to get the support of the President of the Philippines for a National Solidarity in favor of the DPCW and will include it in the curriculum on the College of Law and will ask the help of the Philippine Association of law Schools for its realization” according to Justice Victorino.

In the Education Sector meanwhile Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Commissioner Ronald Adamat, says that at the CHED they are akin to Presidents Rodrigo Roa Duterte whom they had issued an endorsement (CHED commission en banc) to declare january 24 as National Peace day whom synchronized peace activities would be held by the public and private sectors which will be emulated by the education sectors.

It aims to strengthen and empower the public and create a culture of peace for the next generation and will be worth emulated as said in the closing messages of HWPL Chair Lee man-Hee.

Peace has always been a part of all religions and was mentioned multiple times in almost all sacred text, unfortunately the problem with people is that short changing and barbaric misconception that in order to “attain Peace, we have to prepare for War”.

The annual International Peace day in the part of the Press is very easy to propagate since the tagline of the Press from then till now is “We can make and we can break”. Putting it is a perspective which is easily digestible is through the press “we should make the world a Peaceful place, and we should break the instruments of war”.///Mary Jane “MJ’ Olvina- Balaguer, +639053611058, konekted@dzmjonline.net and maryjaneolvina@gmail.com DZMJ ONLINE MAKABULUHANG JORNALISMO YOUR HAPPINESS CHANNEL

-30-