Mindanao Peace Culture Breeze: Peace Monument

The Breeze of the Culture of Peace
From Mindanao

💦 The establishment of a peace monument: Article 10 of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), which spreads a culture of peace.    

"The Breeze of the Culture of Peace" in the Philippines Sorce: https://www.hwpl.kr/en/news/view/210729541//HWPLPeaceMonumentBuiltbytheHandsofFilipinoCitizensandPeaceEducationStudents

The seeds of peace in the Philippines, which began with HWPL peace advocate, Lee Man Hee Lee have grown, clearly showing the spread of peace in the Philippines.

HWPL Peace Monument Built by the Hands of Filipino Citizens and Peace Education Students 

HWPL – which drew a civilian peace agreement in Mindanao, Philippines on 24 January 2014 – is continuously participating in peace activities through peace education and peace culture activities so that real peace can be established on the land of Mindanao. The breeze of the culture of peace that began on the island of Mindanao, which was a conflict area in the Philippines, does not stop in Mindanao, but is spreading all throughout the Philippines.  

There is a neighborhood in Cotabato City, Mindanao, where Muslim communities and Christian communities live together. Even in this area where there was much conflict and dispute, Muslim and Catholic communities gathered together to share a meal of peace and reconciliation. Currently the HWPL Cotabato office has been established in this area which has become a symbol of peace and resolving conflicts. Additionally, NGOs, including the Kutawato Greenland Initiatives (KGI), and citizens of Cotabato City who realized the importance of peace are voluntarily participating in the construction of the HWPL peace monument so that the culture of peace can be deeply instilled in the region. This monument is expected to be made into a world map with melted weapons that were actually used in the region of Mindanao and is highly anticipated as it will be able to contain a greater meaning of the cessation of war and world peace.

▲Cotabato City Peace Monument 

The breeze of peace that started in Mindanao, the southernmost island of the Philippines, has spread to Brgy. Foz, Dingras, Ilocos Norte, the northernmost region of the Philippines. Students from the Brgy. Foz, Dingras, Ilocos Norte region participated in the HWPL Peace Education for about a year. The positive changes of the students who received peace education even brought change to the citizens of the area. 

More than anyone else, it was the teachers who conducted the peace education and their students who realized the importance of spreading a culture of peace and decided to build the HWPL peace monument in order to make this known. The students’ parents donated land to build the peace monument and Peace Garden. The donated site was a place where two families had conflict insisting on ownership of the land, but after seeing their children receive peace education, they changed their hearts and donated the land so it could be used for peace.  

With the change in students, their parents, and their participation, the local residents are all voluntarily working together to build the peace monument. Even during the construction of the peace monument, the culture of peace is already spreading in the hearts of the people in the region. 

The establishment of a peace monument falls under Article 10 of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), which spreads a culture of peace. The establishment of a peace monument that shares the culture and spirit of peace is a very meaningful work, and it will greatly inspire not only the local residents but also other regions of the Philippines and the local government as well. 

▲ Production of the Ilocos Norte Peace Monument

 

Man Hee Lee Quotes and Mindanao Peace Monument in Mindanao

Man Hee Lee Quotes and 

Mindanao Peace Monument

If we all believe in one God, then religion is not the problem   

-Man Hee Lee Quote-

HWPL Logo

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Mindanao Peace Monument

It has a big white dove perched on a globe spreading its wings – called the Mindanao Peace Monument – as the people’s way of expressing their quest for a lasting peace in the region, that is by the advocacy group Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) led by South Korea peace activist Man Hee Lee of HWPL.

The unveiling of the monument was one of the highlights during Monday’s Peace Summit.

Religious leader Man Hee Lee’s group has been one with the Mindanao Bishops-Ulama Conference, in his group’s attempt to help various religious groups come to an understanding as far as peace is concerned.

Peace maker Man Hee Lee, in his speech, stressed that 80 percent of armed conflicts around the world is rooted on religious differences.

“If we all believe in one God, then religion is not the problem,” he stressed during a translated speech at the peace summit.

Peace advocate Man He Lee said the efforts and stand of Maguindanao province and its people calling for peace and supporting the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) are a way forward into achieving the dream of every peace-loving individual.

During the event, Maguindanao province and Lee’s group agreed to celebrate every 24th of January as international day of peace or HWPL day where they signed a peace covenant.

Before the monument unveiling, participants first had a peace march from the Buluan Gym going to the Rajah Buayan Peace Center. Also participating were children and the security sectors waving flaglets and placards containing peace messages.

Among those present at the peace summit and delivered their messages of support were Sheik Khalifa Nando of the Shariah Supreme Court of the MILF Central Committee, Bishop Antonio Ledesma of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro, and retired Marine commanding general Benjamin Dolorfino, who was dubbed as “peace warrior” because of his distinct approach at dealing with the Mindanao insurgency.

The three highlighted the aspiration of the Moro people to achieve peace in Mindanao, and expressed their belief that the BBL will play a crucial role in attaining peace and stability in the island.

Sixteen-year-old Narimbai Utto, who represented the youth sector, expressed that she could not bear watching young boys forced to stop going to school to work as “padyak” drivers or to work in the farms to help their families make both ends meet.

Utto was the class valedictorian of Tukanalipao National High School, in the same village where the Mamasapano encounter took place last January. Sixty-four people died during the clash, including 44 from the police’s Special Action Force, 17 from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and three civilians.

Utto said the war has made them even poorer because displacements continue to hamper their livelihoods and worsened their living conditions.

She appealed for the passage of the BBL and to stop the war, and instead address the welfare and education of Mindanao’s youth.

Dr. Alicia Manandog, of the Sultan Kudarat State University, in her speech representing the women sector, pushed for equality among tribes and religions, and not to treat women as second class citizens should the BBL be enacted into law.

Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu, who is vocal in his campaign for the BBL, has appealed to all sectors to work together to achieve peace and give no chance for violence to happen again.

The governor recalled that during his youth, while helping her mother earn extra income with their ice candy store, armed men affiliated with rebel groups would come with pistols tucked in their waists.

“I don’t want the children anymore to grow in the culture of violence,” he said.

North Upi, Maguindanao Mayor Ramon Piang

said that since the BBL is being supported by majority stakeholders of Mindanao, then the Mindanaons should decide for their own and not be dictated by outsiders.

Establishment of HWPL Day Unveiling Ceremony of Peace Monument in Mindanao Peace monument unveiling: On the day of commemoration, proclamation of January 24th as ‘HWPL’ DAY of Maguindanao was taken place with ‘the erection of 5m-tall peace monument’at Buluan Gymnasium Hall where the signing of the peace agreement and unity of alliance of religions was held in front of Mindanao Peace Monument.