MANILA, (PNA) — Over 200 education students from Philippine Normal University (PNU) together uttered the words “I am for peace” to promote peace process awareness and become peace ambassadors.
“I AM FOR PEACE” is a campaign that seeks to mobilize public support for peace through the involvement of various sectors and known personalities.
With the recent disturbances in the country due to insurgency, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) led a timely forum on Wednesday at PNU Auditorium to encourage the youth to help carry out this year’s peace month theme: “Lahat ay Peace-sible!
The student’s forum on peace process, with the theme, “Panahon na Para Makilahok” showed that youth can take part to eradicate or at least lessen armed violence.
“Analyze and know the purpose of the activist group before joining,” Alex Padilla, Panel Chairperson for Peace Negotiation with Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), New People’s Army (NPA) and National Democratic Front (NDF).
Being a former activist himself, Padilla shared the sentiments he used to have, saying that activists want changes and improvement. He said that one should look at what the group really wants.
The future educators who attended the forum were reminded that teachers are the agents of peace and they have the power to make changes.
Padilla gave a historical background on CPP/NPA/NDF which the government has been negotiating with for 27 years.
On the other hand, Polly Cunanan, Director of OPAPP unit, informed the youth of the progress with regard to peace negotiation, saying that “the communist group in the north such as is already in process for closure as these groups have surrendered their weapons.”
Cunanan also lectured on development interventions being implemented by the government such as Payapa at Masaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) and Sajahatra Bangsamoro Program.