If you had been following up on the latest articles of this blog, you would know what day Jan. 24th is. It’s HWPL Peace Day!

Back in 2014, Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) held an event to make two religious groups talk to each other and built the base of peace in Mindanao, Philippines.

Peace in Mindanao? If you’re not familiar with the Philippines’ conflicts, here’s a brief explanation: the conflict in Mindanao, Philippines, lasted over 40 years and was the bloodiest conflict in Asia recorded today. Amplified by religious intolerance between believers in Catholicism and Islam. The conflict took more than 120,000 lives.

The starting point of the peace in Mindanao was January 24th, 2014, when the two religious leaders signed the peace agreement. Man Hee Lee, Chairman of HWPL, visited Mindanao risking his life to resolve this conflict. Chairman Lee invited Archbishop Fernando Capalla and governor of Maguindanao Esmael Mangudadatu – both leaders represent local leadership – and guided them to sign the agreement – The Mindanao Peace Agreement. Since then, Maguindanao and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) declared January 24 as “HWPL Peace Day”. They commemorate this day to reaffirm international cooperation and local partnership for peacebuilding in Mindanao.

Even though it’s hard to meet people in the pandemic, we have the internet! The commemorative annual event also was held this year virtually.

Man Hee Lee, Chairman of HWPL, is giving a speech to emphasize how bringing peace and sustaining peace is importanat.

What’s more exciting, bd News Times reported this: https://www.bdnewstimes.com/annual-event-to-commemorate-civilian-led-peacebuilding-in-mindanao-calls-forth-collective-action-to-develop-peace-2/

This year’s event was held under the theme of “Law of Peace in Heaven and on Earth”, to bring harmony among religions and encourage public support to establish international law for peace, the DPCW (the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War).

The key figures sent congratulatory messages. Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senator Panfilo Lacson, Senator Cynthia Villar, and other distinguished guests presented.

Prabhu Mahendra Das, Temple President of Sri Sri Radha Madhava Mandir, said that he decided to participate in the World Alliance of Religious’ Peace (WARP) Office organized by HWPL. This platform was established because most of the conflicts in the world occur because of the religious difference and intolerance of this. The WARP Office was built to encourage religions to interact with each other in a positive way and understand each other’s religions.

Justice Raoul Victorino, Chairman of Philippine National Prayer Breakfast (PNPB) and Dean of the College of Law of Philippine Christian University (PCU), shared how he was inspired by the “revolutionary movement” that HWPL initiated to endorse global peacebuilding through the draft of the DPCW by global experts in international law to advocate peace as a global culture and norm. He declared that he will strive to get the support of the President of the Philippines for the national solidarity support of the DPCW. He added that he will integrate the DPCW education in the college of law by collaborating with the Philippine Association of Law Schools.

Warm support from the distinguished guests from the Philippines kept on! If you want to read more, please visit the link above!

Even though we’re in a difficult situation of the COVID 19 pandemic, we can’t stop the peacebuilding project since it’s the matter of life and death for everyone. I hope you felt the same too. See you in the next article!