Mindanao Week of Peace

(Photo source: blasoplecenter.com, 2015)

                Mindanao is a region in the Philippines that has always experienced a great conflict due to problems attributed to religious differences. There has been a long-ignored history of injustice that Filipinos in Mindanao have had to endure – almost in silence. Years of neglect and the lack of effective reconciliatory processes have allowed histories of massacre and broken promises to fester into growing suspicion—among the Mindanao tri-peoples (Christians, Muslims and lumad), and between rebel groups and the state.  (Shahani, 2015)

(Photo source: sunstar.com.ph, 2015)

Along my research, I came across a headline that struck me the most. It was entitled “Philippines: Will Peace in Mindanao ever be achieved?” This made me realize just how much peace is being hoped for in the region, due to all the conflicts and unresolved issues that have been going on for several years. But despite this, there have been several groups that have paid efforts in order to achieve this peace that Mindanao has always longed for. One of the events that are held annually for this purpose is the “Mindanao Week of Peace”. 

(Photo source: arrupe.addu.edu.ph, 2014)

The Mindanao Week of Peace (MWOP) is an annual celebration that has the intent of advocating peace in the island of Mindanao. In this annual event, it promotes the culture of peace as an “authentic lived experience, a way of life, and a spirituality that traverses religious and cultural boundaries.” With this, the annual MWOP celebration brings forth the hopes and aspirations of the Mindanao people, with the belief that peace is possible to achieve, along with achieving progress and development in this region of the Philippines as well. (Alcantara, 2013)

The Mindanao Week of Peace is a venue wherein the people of Mindanao come together and become united regardless of their culture or their religion. In that way, they can show the nation, and even the world, that they can still be united despite of their many differences. Different schools participated in this event, and Ateneo de Davao University is one of them.

For the past years, several activities were held in the university in observance of the Mindanao Week of Peace, usually around the last week of November until the first week of December. Different ministries, departments, and formation groups took part and collaborated together in order to make the big event a success and a celebration to be remembered.  (cweb2.addu.edu.ph/, 2013)

(Photo source: facebook.com/atenews/, 2015)

During the MWOP 2015, there was an activity called “Mu-Sayaw Para sa Kapayapaan” held at the Roxas Grounds near the university. It was an opportunity for the people to express their aspirations for peace through dance and music. 

(Photo source: addu.edu.ph/, 2014)

            There were also other activities held in the university for the past years, which were not just limited to dancing and singing and other forms of arts. Other activities also includes a forum, a candle lighting prayer, a Peace Summit, Salidahan, a Walk for Peace and a Peace Camp, and so on (Atenews, 2013).

How did these activities promote/change our culture of peace?

                Having these activities in the university is more than just a good thing because not only does it promote awareness for the students, but it also helps them realize just how much the region is in need of peace and in this way, even at a young age, they can already do something about it. They can take part in the different activities, or contribute in their own little ways. As one of the best universities in the region, Ateneo must set an example for other people as well and surely, others will follow.

             With great efforts, it’s not difficult for peace to be achieved. The world was meant to be united and not divided. We need to break these barriers that are breaking all of us apart. These activities dedicated for peace can inspire the society today especially the youth, and it could also be beneficial for the future.  Once peace is implemented in our culture, it would be more convenient and easier for the future generation to continue this kind of culture. 

 “A Culture of Peace needs to continue to be created and we can do this best by teaching the values of DIALOGUE to the students - a dialogue which upholds and respects our basic human rights, our diverse culture, aims for a peaceful resolution to our conflicts and cares for our environment. Doing this will ensure the support and sustainability of the on-going Peace Process.” 

                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                         - Dra. Anayatin

Bibliography

Alcantara, J. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.dabawenya.net/2013/12/walk-for-peace-a-mindanao-week-of-peace-activity/#

cweb2.addu.edu.ph/. (2013). Retrieved from http://cweb2.addu.edu.ph/news-articles/mindanao-week-peace-2013

Shahani, L. R. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.philstar.com/opinion/2015/10/19/1512133/understanding-conflict-education-peace-mindanao