Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. delivers his speech during Tuesday’s peace consciousness event held at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City. (Photo by Jumalynne Doctolero/PIA-NCR)
MANILA, (PIA) — Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. on Tuesday, September 5, called on every Filipino for a collective action on peace building, emphasizing that it is a shared responsibility by everyone.
“Let us all keep in mind that peace building is not the responsibility of a few chosen individuals or organizations, but a concerted and collective effort where everyone has key role to play,” Secretary Galvez said as he led other peace champions in the traditional ringing of the World Peace Bell in Quezon City to mark the celebration of this year’s National Peace Consciousness Month.
“This ceremony continuously remind all of us to steadfastly and defend, protect and sustain the country’s peace gains,” he added.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte; the representative of Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: Senior Minister Abunawas “Von Al-Haq” Maslamama; National Historical Commission of the Philippines Chairperson Emmanuel Franco Calairo, other top national and BARMM officials, civil society organizations, members of the diplomatic corps, as well as local and international peace partners also joined the event and expressed their respective messages of support.
The theme of this year’s peace month, “Kapayapaan: Responsibilidad ng Bawat Mamamayan,” recognizes the crucial role that each Filipino plays in sustaining and building on the gains of peace.
Since the issuance of Presidential Proclamation No. 675 in July 2004, the commemoration of National Peace Consciousness Month is held annually every September and led by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU).
The proclamation emphasizes the “need to instill greater consciousness and understanding among Filipino people on the comprehensive peace process” and “to promote a Culture of Peace.”
The yearly ritual of ringing the Peace Bell serves as a reminder to all Filipinos for them to help bring a just and lasting peace to the nation.
Across the globe, it has also become a tradition to let the Peace Bells toll to promote the culture of peace and to remind people that the pursuit of peace is a shared responsibility.
Aside from the bell ringing, attendees participated in a candle lighting ceremony and recited the Pledge for Peace.
The Quezon City Symphonic Band also held a musical performance.
The Presidential Car Museum, which is located inside the Quezon City Memorial Circle, has been a staunch supporter of the Peace Month celebration.
The museum also provided guided tours from morning to lunch time to visitors on the day of the ringing of the Peace Bell.
Month-long activities
A number of events promoting National Peace Consciousness Month 2024 have been lined up for the month of September nationwide.
The OPAPRU will once again host the KaPEACEtahan Fair at Trinoma Activity Center from September 6 to 8.
Regional KaPEACEtahan fairs will also be hosted in Baguio at Malcolm Square from September 12 to 13; at the Bicol University in Albay from September 14 and 15; and at the Mindanao State University – General Santos City Campus from September 21 to 22.
The 3rd OPAPRU Peace Research Conference with the theme “Building Resilient Communities: Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalism” will be held from September 7 to 8 at the Chardonnay by Astoria in Pasig City.
Wreath-offering ceremonies will also be held at both the Libingan ng mga Bayani and Manila Memorial Park on September 28 to pay tribute to the country’s peace builders who have passed on.
To culminate the National Peace Consciousness Month celebration, the OPAPRU will host the Gawad Kapayapaan awarding ceremony to honor peace champions for 2023 on September 29 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.
For more updates on this year’s peace month celebrations, you may follow OPAPRU’s social media accounts with the username @peacegovph on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube. (PIA-NCR)
