GENERAL SANTOS CITY, December 3, 2024 — The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) and the Mindanao State University (MSU) General Santos City on Tuesday signed agreements to bestow peace awards to graduating students who have made significant contributions to peacebuilding and the promotion of the culture of peace. The two parties have also agreed to establish a “Kalinaw Center,” envisioned as the nerve center for the implementation of MSU’s peace efforts.

Both OPAPRU and MSU have been in partnership to support the implementation of the Transformation Program for the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) since 2023. The Transformation Program is anchored on the provisions of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement (FPA), which ended the decades-long armed conflict between the government and the revolutionary group, fostering greater peace, security, and stability in the region.

Peace Award

Dubbed the “GAWAD KALINAW: Student Peace Leadership Award,” the award will recognize graduating students annually who have made significant contributions to peacebuilding efforts in their communities.

Dr. Monsour A. Pelmin, Director of the Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanao at MSU-General Santos City, explained that the purpose of the award is to recognize these students and encourage others to engage in peacebuilding.

“The award aims to encourage students to actively participate in mainstreaming the culture of peace,” he said.

Atty. Shidik T. Abantas, the newly installed Chancellor of MSU-General Santos City, emphasized that the award is crucial for recognizing student leadership in peacebuilding.

“This award is very important in recognizing the achievements of our students in peacebuilding leadership,” he said. “MSU GenSan is one of the very few universities offering courses in peace education. We aim to be the University of Peace. We want to bring peace to our communities and become peacebuilders.”

He added that they are looking to launch the peace award by July of next year.

Leonard Tucyajao, president of the Supreme Student Council of MSU-GSC, lauded the initiative, emphasizing its importance in motivating students.

Tucyajao described the Student Peace Leadership Award “as a beacon of hope and inspiration. It honors students who exemplify the ideals of servant leadership, resilience, and a genuine dedication to fostering peace within our communities.”

“Through this recognition, we aim to spotlight individuals who prove that leadership is not about titles or positions but about purpose, action and the advancement of peace in our respective circuits,” he said.

“This initiative is in harmony with the vision of Mindanao State University – General Santos to become the next National Peace University in the Philippines,” he said.

“It embodies our collective efforts to integrate peacebuilding into our academic and extracurricular pursuits, ensuring that our students not only excel in their fields but also contribute meaningfully to society,” Tucyajao added.

Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito G. Galvez Jr. expressed his support for the award, sharing how receiving an award during his high school Citizenship Advancement Training or CAT motivated him to take the entrance exam for the Philippine Military Academy, eventually leading him to become the 50th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in 2018.

“Through the Gawad Kalinaw award, we earnestly hope that this will inspire not only the awardees but also their fellow students to develop a peace-focused perspective after graduating from MSU-GenSan,” he said.

“Whether within or beyond the academic setting, OPAPRU recognizes the critical role our youth play in our country’s peacebuilding efforts. The culture of peace we are working to realize must begin in the hearts and minds of every student,” he added.

“As we’ve emphasized, achieving our shared dream of peace and inclusive development requires a collective effort. The national government cannot do this alone. It needs the support of all sectors of society working together under a common vision,” Galvez said.

“I am truly grateful to MSU’s management, faculty, and student leaders for supporting the government in this challenging but rewarding initiative. I hope that more ‘Iskolars ng Bayan’ will be inspired to become agents of peace and development in their communities,” he urged.

Kalinaw Center

Prof. Mario J. Aguja, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Social Sciences and Humanities at MSU GenSan and program leader of the OPAPRU-MSU Partnership on the MNLF Transformation Program, explained that the Kalinaw Center will promote peace education in Mindanao. It will serve as a hub for peace advocates and educators to share best practices and experiences in peacebuilding.

The Kalinaw Center will enable us to actively engage in interfaith dialogue and peace efforts in Mindanao. The center will also focus on youth-oriented peace development programs, including teaching the fundamentals of peacebuilding and training peace advocates, Aguja said.

Galvez added that the center will support local economic development by providing a venue for livelihood skills training.

“In the long run, we aim to make the Kalinaw Center a hub for lifelong learning and the provision of livelihood opportunities for local residents and those from neighboring communities,” he said.

The construction of the MSU Kalinaw Center is expected to start by the second half of 2025, with MSU allocating at least 2,000 square meters of land on its campus for the P50 million worth facility. ###