Annual Event to Commemorate Civilian-Led Peace Building in Mindanao Calls Forth Collective Action to Develop Peace

MINDANAO, Philippines, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On January 24, 2022, over 22,000 representatives from 51 countries attended the virtual international peace conference celebrating Peace Day, an event commemorated a civilian-led peace agreement made between the Islam and Catholic communities in Mindanao eight years ago.

Back in 2014, Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), an international NGO, mediated 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 former Governor of Maguindanao, Esmael G. Mangudadatu, 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 an annual event to reaffirm international cooperation and local partnership for peace building 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. Speakers from various fields shared plans on promoting peace in their respective sectors including law, education, youth, women, private business and media.

Justice Raoul Victorino, Chairman of Philippine National Prayer Breakfast and Dean of the College of Law of Philippine Christian University, shared how he was inspired by the "revolutionary movement" that HWPL initiated to endorse global peace building 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.

"I will strive to get the support of the President of the Philippines for the National Solidarity Support of DPCW," Victorino said. "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 was Commissioner Ronald Adamat of the Commissioner on Higher Education (CHED).

"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 observance of peace through peace activities, events, and ceremonies by all agencies of government, the private sector, and the education sector]," said Adamat.

 "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," said Chairman Lee during the closing remarks. "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."

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SOURCE Heavenly Culture World Peace Restoration of Light