As the Philippines celebrates the National Peace Consciousness Month this September, key officials from the government, academe, religion, media, women groups, and youth groups will fly to South Korea to attend the 9th Anniversary of the HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light) World Peace Summit.

HWPL, an international peace non-government organization in special consultative status with UN ECOSOC, will be expecting 1,800 global leaders to participate in the four-day event from September 18-21.

This 9th anniversary celebration will look back on the achievements of the past 10 years and discuss the theme of “Implementation of Multidimensional Strategies for Institutional Peace.”

Leaders in politics, education, religion, women’s groups, youth groups, and the media from around the world will participate in discussions aimed at implementing strategies within each sector’s initiatives. The sessions will cover various agendas, including the spread of a culture of institutional peace, the expansion of comparative scriptural studies, long-term peacebuilding through education, and the development of policies for promoting a culture of peace.

Among the officials from the government who have confirmed their attendance are:

• National Commission for Culture and the Arts Commissioner for the Sub-commission on Cultural Dissemination Carlo B. Ebeo;
• National Book Development Board Governor Mary Ann Ordinario;
• National Book Development Board Project Management Officer Charmaine Concepcion G. Capuchino and
• Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Administrative Officer V Ms. Michelle J. Negrido.

Local government officials who will be joining the event include:

• Maguindanao Municipal Vice Mayor Elizabeth Mangudadatu;
• Kapalong Davao Del Norte Municipal Mayor Maria Theresa Royo-Timbol;
• Municipality of Kapalong Davao Del Norte Executive Assistant Mary Caress Timbol;
• National Amnesty Commission (NAC) Commissioner Atty. Nasser Marohomsalic;
• Buluan, Maguindanao Municipal Vice Mayor Rhamla Kadalim.
• Former Maguindanao Congressman Esmael Mangudadatu also confirmed his attendance.

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will also send officials to be headed by BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, Al Haj.

Women’s group representatives include Zonta Club of Metropolitan Pasig Past President Ruby Bañares-Victorino, and National Federation of Women’s Club Vice President Erlinda Olivia Tiu, among others.

From the academe are Philippine Christian University – College of Law Dean, Bishop Justice Raoul Victorino ; and Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) Commissioners, Dr. Ronald L. Adamat and Dr. Jo Mark M. Libre, DPA, among other high ranking school officials, principals and master teachers.

Religious groups like Catholic, Methodist, Hinduism, and Islam will also have their representatives in the said event. Among them is Archdiocese of Cagayan De Oro Archbishop-Emeritus Antonio Ledesma who has been part of the peace works with HWPL since 2013.

The concept of “Institutional Peace” as proposed by HWPL, advocates for international agreements aimed at establishing sustainable peace with frameworks based on the principles outlined in the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW). The DPCW is presented as a tool of peace continuum from prevention and resolving conflicts to further promoting a culture of understanding and cooperation among nations and peoples.

HWPL Chairman Lee Man-hee emphasized that the participation of people from all around the world is absolutely necessary to achieve peace, stating, “We (HWPL) have circled the globe 32 times to carry out the work of peace. The ultimate goal has been achieving peace. Whether it’s within families, schools, or any other organization, peace is a vital need. Not a single person has rejected the idea of peace. Therefore, I firmly believe that peace will be attained.”

For further information and news about the upcoming event, you can visit their website:  http://worldpeacesummit.org/ or visit their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/hwplph/