HWPL urges collective action for peace at 4th National Peace Convention

“What can I do, beginning today, to become a living legacy of peace?”

This was the call of John Rommel Garces, Chief Branch Manager of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) Philippines, during his welcome address at the 4th National Peace Convention at the University of the East Theatre in Manila, urging participants to move beyond discussing peace and take an active role in building it.

Around 1,000 representatives from government, education, religious organizations, youth and women’s groups, media, civil society, and other sectors gathered under the theme “Be a Living Legacy of Peace.” Organized by HWPL Philippines in partnership with the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF)-NCR, Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA), DepEd Schools Division Offices of Cavite Province, Laguna, Southern Leyte and Navotas City, and the BARMM Parliament’s Policy Research and Legal Services (PRLS), the convention highlighted peacebuilding initiatives and opportunities for sustained cross-sector cooperation.

“When we speak of a legacy, we often think of something we leave behind. But today, we are reminded that a legacy of peace is not something we create only for the future. It is something we must begin living today,” Garces said. Echoing HWPL Chairman Lee Man-hee’s call: “Family of peace, let us all take part in this work,” Garces encouraged participants to turn their commitment into action and become part of building a lasting culture of peace.

The discussions highlighted how different sectors can contribute to peacebuilding through academic research, women and youth leadership, peace education, local government action, and interfaith dialogue.

Dr. Nassef Manabilang Adiong of the BARMM Parliament’s Policy Research and Legal Services discussed efforts to document the Bangsamoro peace process and strengthen research on peace, governance, culture, and religion. Women’s and youth initiatives were highlighted by Erlinda Olivia Tiu of the National Federation of Women’s Clubs of the Philippines and Adzhar Madjid of the World Assembly of Muslim Youth, respectively.

In education, Dr. Antonio P. Faustino Jr. of the DepEd Schools Division Office of Cavite Province shared initiatives involving peace clubs, teacher capacity-building and efforts to address school violence. Ali Maruhom Jr. of NCMF-NCR emphasized the importance of interfaith dialogue in fostering understanding among communities of different religious backgrounds.

Parañaque City Councilor Shannin Mae Olivarez-Bernardo also highlighted the city’s recent ordinance declaring January 24 as “HWPL Peace Day” and expressing support for the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW). The date commemorates the 2014 Mindanao Peace Agreement, a civilian-led peace agreement. HWPL advocates for the DPCW’s adoption by the United Nations as an international legal framework for sustainable peace.

The convention also introduced HWPL’s Peace Center, an open platform that provides opportunities to learn about different religions and engage in continued interfaith dialogue. Developed with lecturers representing Catholicism, Islam, Hinduism (Hare Krishna), and non-denominational Christianity, the platform offers weekly learning sessions for participants from different backgrounds.

The convention’s message was clear: peacebuilding is not only a long-term aspiration but a shared responsibility that can begin through concrete actions today. By working across communities, sectors and generations, participants are encouraged to become a “living legacy of peace.”

For more information, visit hwpl.kr or the HWPL Philippines Facebook page.