CALL FOR PEACE. Students of Bulacan State University show their performances during the 'Peace Congress 2019' in the Peace Festival and Grand Launching of Volunteer Individuals for Peace held at the Philippines Sports Stadium in Ciudad de Victoria , Bocaue, Bulacan on Friday (Feb. 15, 2019). (Photo by Manny Balbin)
BOCAUE, Bulacan -- At least 30,000 volunteers joined the “Peace Congress 2019” during the Peace Festival and grand launching of Volunteer Individuals for Peace (VIP) held at the Philippines Sports Stadium in Ciudad de Victoria here on Friday in line with an effort to achieve sustainable peace and development.
The event was through the initiative of the Heavenly Culture, World Peace Restoration of Life (HWPL) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
Actor Cesar Montano, representing former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go as guest of honor, read the latter’s speech during the event with the theme “We are One for Peace to Attain Sustainable Development”.
Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado also graced the program where thousands of delegates throughout the country’s state universities and colleges (SUCs) joined the 30th World Peace Tour, a nationwide peace movement composed of social representatives in the Philippines and international peace activists.
“I thank all those who made this peace rally successful and I will give all my best to serve you well like heroes who came from this historic province of Bulacan,” Montano quoted Go in his message.
A signing of memorandum of agreement on the partnership of VIP and HWPL was likewise held spearheaded by CHED Commissioner Ronald Adamat, HWPL chairperson Man Hee Lee and members of the Bulacan Press Club Inc. represented by Erick Silverio of The Manila Times. This was followed by the signing of Philippine Peace Declaration.
A press briefing was held Thursday where HWPL chairperson Hee Lee appointed 20 members of the press mostly Bulacan-based reporters headed by Silverio as members of HWPL media publicity ambassadors.
Participants during the event were government officials, religious leaders, journalists, students and faculties from Central Luzon’s SUCs, women and youth organizations, which share common interest in achieving world peace and calling for cessation of war.
“The highlight of this peace event is to give inspiration of citizen participation in peace building. Cultural performances will represent harmony under peace beyond differences in ethnicity, religion or nationality. Also, the principles of peace-building with civic participation and national support will be introduced - the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW),” said Ian Seo, General Director, Department of Public Relations of HWPL.
In January 2018, CHED) and HWPL signed an MOU to promote peace education throughout public colleges in the country.
“Promoting peace education through the CHED will affect many Philippine educational institutions and play a crucial role in promoting peace in the Philippines,” Adamat said.
As a representative of HWPL, Lee, a Korean peace activist and Korean War veteran visited the country to advocate global cooperation for peace building.
HWPL, a Seoul-based international non-governmental organization (NGO) under the United Nations Economic and Social Council, has internationally engaged in advocating peace building through international law, harmony of religion, and peace education.
Since its foundation in 2013, HWPL has grown exponentially in terms of both supporters and influence worldwide. (PNA)
