THE
PHILIPPINES
(2003
World Peace Prayer Society Report)
MANILA,
THE PHILIPPINES
Infinite
peace!
The Manila celebration of the International Day of Peace was a big
success, done last September 21st, Sunday at the Quezon Memorial Garden,
from 3-6:30 in the afternoon. It was organized by the Major Religious
Superiors Association, the Peacemakers Circle Foundation (URI-Philippines),
Quezo City Government Parks & Development, the World Peace Prayer
Society, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, and
other peace-loving organizations. It started with a procession of
religious symbols from the interfaith community, after which we rang
the PEACE BELL, then held interfaith prayers (Muslim, Baha'i, Christian,
Brahma Kumaris, Buddhist, Hindu, Shumeikai etc.). Then there were
prayers of the children for world peace and prayers of thanksgiving
to Mother Earth. It was followed by a World Peace Prayer Ceremony
with the UN flags. Next came the parade of the UN flags to the Quezon
Memorial Circle for 2 hours, with all participants attending. It was
televised by two major TV stations in the country.
The
ending ceremony was the candle lighting and sharing the LIGHTS, as
sharing the PEACE with everyone, while forming a big circle inside
the huge memorial garden.
Mario "Toots" Fungo
QUEZON
CITY, THE PHILIPPINES
Philippines
celebrate International Day of Peace 2003
An estimated
600 religious and lay people gathered at the Quezon Memorial Circle
last September 21 to celebrate the International Day of Peace 2003.
Catholic, ecumenical and interfaith groups brought symbols of their
faith and took part in the 3-hour program that included cultural presentations,
prayers for peace and a peace march. The gathering was the highlight
of a nine-day celebration - the Philippines' response to the United
Nations' call for "a day of global ceasefire and nonviolence…to commemorate
it in an appropriate manner through education and public awareness,
and to cooperate with the U.N. in establishing a global ceasefire."
The
program, staged at the Liwasang (Plaza) Aurora, started informally
with an hour of songs and dances rendered by different peace groups.
The presentations served as assembly point for the participants as
well as an invitation to the families and peoples already enjoying
their Sunday in the park.
At four
p.m., the ringing of the Peace Bell, the only such structure in a
public place in the country, and the offering procession of the different
faith symbols signaled the start of the formal celebration. In her
introductory remarks, Sr. Estela Cordero of the Canossian Sisters
emphasized the spirit of prayer of the celebration. "Our praying together
as one nation and as one human family gives strength to our desire
and generates the energy necessary for building the Peace that our
world needs."
Prayers
for Peace were then offered, starting with the prayer of a child.
Sectoral representatives followed and then interfaith prayers by representatives
of the different faiths. The last prayer was dedicated for the whole
creation.
The
whole assembly recited the universal prayer, "May Peace Prevail on
Earth" as the names of the different countries were called out. Flags
provided by the World Prayer Society in the Philippines proudly flew;
the same 198 flags were paraded during the peace march which followed
the prayer for the nations. The peace march left Liwasang Aurora to
go out of the park, crossing the elliptical road towards the Quezon
City Hall, going to PhilCoA, a busy juncture, for more visibility,
getting back on the elliptical road to circle the park (about 2.1
kms) before returning to Liwasang Aurora for the last ritual.
By then
it was dusk. After acknowledgment of everyone's presence and thanksgiving
for all those who helped organized the event, the assembly had a Candle
lighting for Peace. There was an exchange of peace candles while singing
"Let There Be Peace On Earth." Everyone was filled with a sense of
peace and the promise of coming together again next year to celebrate
the International Day of Peace.
For
Filipinos, it was indeed a graced moment to come together again on
that day. Since 1972 when Martial Law was declared on the land, and
even after it was lifted in 1984 (?), September 21 has always been
a day of dark remembrance. It is significant that we now celebrate
the Day as an International Day of Peace. May we continue to believe
that the mists of militarization are finally lifting to reveal the
light of peace. May we all do our share to help this come about too.
It was
on September 7, 2001 when the United Nations General Assembly unanimously
passed Resolution 55/282 designating September 21 of each year as
an International Day of Peace. A small group representing a wide variety
of religious and spiritual traditions has committed to the task of
working with other like-minded individuals and groups for its celebration,
"to encourage the observance of a worldwide, 24-hour vigil for peace
and nonviolence on September 21 in every house of worship and place
of spiritual practice by all…who seek peace in the world. (The) global
24-hour vigil is meant to demonstrate the power of prayer and other
spiritual observances in promoting peace and preventing violent conflict".
In response
to this initiative, peace groups based in the Greater Manila Area,
led by the Canossian Sisters and the Justice, Peace and Integrity
of Creation Commission (JPICC) of the Association of Major Religious
Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP), organized themselves as Preparatory
Committee and, after a series of meetings and committee works, decided
to have a 9-day celebration with build-up activities starting September
13 that culminated in the gathering at Quezon Memorial Circle last
September 21.
A Prayer
and Study Guide booklet that the Committee also prepared facilitated
the build-up activities. The booklet contains modules on what the
groups perceive as major obstacles to peace and peace-building in
the Philippines. Each module is a prayer-cum-education material that
presented some information on the day's theme while at the same time
trying to lead the individual or group / community into prayer. The
different themes were as follows: (September 13) Globalization: One
World in Crisis; (September 14) Uphold Workers' Dignity!; (September
15) Peasant' Plight Along the Path of Peace; (September 16) Peace
by Piece for the Poor; (September 17) Respect the Integrity of Creation;
(September 18) Peace in Families; (September 19) Respecting Human
Diversity; (September 20) Terrorism and Militarization: Waging War
for Peace?; and (September 21) Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation
for Peace.
The
members of the Philippine Preparatory Committee for the celebration
of the International Day of Peace 2003 are the following: the Association
of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRSP) and its Mission
Partners (Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission, Task
Force Detainees of the Philippines, Task Force on Urban Conscientization,
Urban Missionaries & Women and Gender Commission); the Justice, Peace
and Integrity of Creation Commissions (JPIC) of the Canossian Sisters,
Benedictine Sisters, Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception
and the Sisters of the Holy Spirit; the Franciscan Movement for Justice
and Peace; the Interfaith Network for Justice and Peace of the UCCP;
the District Justice and Peace Commission of the La Salle Provincialate;
the Kaalagad Katipunang Kristiyano; and the Peacemakers' Circle.
May
peace prevail in our hearts, our homes, our country, our world.
May peace prevail on earth.
For the
IDP Vigil:
Terence A.G. P. Osorio
JPICC-AMRSP
The
Peacemakers’ Circle,
URI Manila,
the Association of Major Religious Organizations of the Philippines,
and the Organization for the Integrity of Creation held a Peace Ceremony
and Peace
Circle
in Quezon
City.
The ceremony included the ringing of a Peace Bell, a procession of
leaders of different religions, cultural presentations, and prayers
for World Peace, followed by a World Peace Prayer Ceremony and Prayers
of Thanksgiving to the Mother. There was then a parade of UN flags,
and religious and other group. The parade ended in the lighting of
candles while a choir sang, “Let there be Peace on Earth.”
2003
World Peace Prayer Society Compilation
PICTORAL
ARCHIVE OF PREVIOUS PEACE DAY EVENTS
Africa | Asia
| Europe |
North America
| Oceania
| South
America | UN
& Global
May
Peace Prevail On Earth
