Photo by Rebekah Gail Celis
“We must dare to dream of a society where we all live in peace.”
With that, University President Fr. Joel Tabora, S.J. welcomed the participants of the Peace Talk Campus Tour: An Integrated Forum, Film Showing and Peace Booth Activity held last Sept. 20, at the Finster Auditorium of the university.
The said event was celebrated in line with the National Peace Conference Month, said the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).
Participants from different universities attended the said event.
Two speakers gave talks and open forums about the current state of peace in the Philippines.
Chairperson of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) Implementing Panel for the Bangsamoro Accords Irene Santiago tackled “The Duterte Administration’s Six-Point Peace and Development Agenda and Peace Process Roadmap.”
Meanwhile, Prof. Alih Aiyub, National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Resource Person, gave a short talk on the Bangsamoro history, culture and issues, the struggle for self-determination and the quest for peace in Southern Philippines.
Apart from the talks, a film entitled “Daughters of the Three Tailed Banner” was shown. The event also featured a Peace Booth and Exhibit entitled “From Tripoli to Davao: Celebrating the Milestones of the Bangsamoro Peace Process.”
Michelle Anne Cocamas, a 2nd year BSEdSocial Studies student from the Ateneo said that students should be more active in the peace process.
“isa sa akong natun-an ka yang pinaka-nahighlight ganina is ang fact dapat na kita mga batan-on mugawas jud ta, dili ta maging one-sided. Siguro karon, kabalo man ta na busy ta sa issue ni De Lima. Instead of focusing [on] her issue, why don’t we actively join the peace talks in social media?,” she said.
The said forum was the second run among the eight higher education institutions to be visited by the OPAPP.
The event was organized by the OPAPP in collaboration with the Ateneo de Davao University.