The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) launched the “Peace Buzz: Biyaheng Kapayapaan” – a caravan that aims to promote the culture of peace through an on-the-ground outreach to the public – as the highlight of the National Peace Consciousness Month celebration.
“Puso para sa Kapayapaan, Magkaisa para sa Bayan,” is the theme for this year’s Peace Month. Rather than just talk about change, the theme reflects the positive change we want our country to achieve.
The momentous “peace journey” kicked off the slated series of activities in Baguio City on 21 September highlighted by the reading and sending off of the Framed prayer for the leaders in Marawi as a sign of Cordillera people’s solidarity with them in time of crisis.
The Peace Buzz will travel to Quezon City on 22 September to signal the ceremonial ringing of the World Peace Bell. It will proceed to Legazpi City on 24 September for a series of conversations with the youth, and peace film showing activity, entitled “Film PEACEtival”. Binibining Pilipinas Grand-International 2017 and National Peace Ambassadress Elizabeth Clenci will grace the event to regale kids with peace stories.
Next stop is in the Visayas, where a candle-lighting and launching of the Peace and Prosperity Roadmap was organized as well as the simultaneous launching of the Samar Women Action Network Congress and Youth Peace Congress in Catbalogan City on 25 September.
From there, the Peace Buzz will stop in Butuan City on 27 September where conversations with the Indigenous People, peace forum on development projects and peace agreements, such as Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) will be conducted.
It will then travel to Davao City where a unity concert entitled: “Huni sa Kalinaw 2.0” on 29 September is scheduled, while a “Bike for Peace” on 30 September in Cotabato City will be held.
The culminating activity of the Peace Buzz will be in Iligan City where the ringing of the Peace Gong will take place lead by Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza, among other social healing and recovery activities.
The celebration of Peace Month is in line with Proclamation No. 675 declaring the month of September as National Peace Consciousness Month, signed on 20 July 2004.
