Peace advocates and artists from all over Mindanao convened for the launching of Mindanao Week of Peace (MWOP) 2015 at the Roxas Gate of the Ateneo de Davao University.
With the theme, “Mindanaon’s Aspiration for Peace,” the 16th MWOP opened with Mu-Sayaw para sa Kapayapaan (Music and Dance for Peace) which highlighted the different performances of musicians, dancers, and artists.
Nor Asiah Adilao from Silsilah Forum Davao, one of the conveners of the event, said the MWOP is an opportunity for the people to express concretely the aspiration of peace through music and dance.
“Mindanao is the melting pot of different cultures. The richness and giftedness of each culture bring about life and beauty in our humanity. May our coming together be an opportunity to share our hopes to attain our aspiration for peace,” she added.
There were around eight performers during the event including the Performing Arts Guild Students from the University of Mindanao Digos College who rendered a theatrical presentation; Fr. Hermes “Larry” Sabud, SM who sung his original composition entitled Life in Dialogue, It’s possible, it’s happening; while the Sama Communties of Km. 11 Sasa and Isla Verde Brgy. 23-C namely Haippa Asamuddin, Norsida Osani and Haridja Samma presented the Pangalay dance, a dance style, which originated from the Sulu Archipelago characterized by fluid hand, wrist and arm gestures.
Moreover, Mindanao Sulu Pastoral Conference Youth Secretariat Jeaneath Recimilla rendered a song number entitled A Prayer for Healing, an inspirational song for all wounded Mindanaoans. Ateneo de Davao’s Teatro Humanidades also performed an interactive play called Kalinaw.
In addition, students and teachers from Francisco Bustamante National High School presented their Dula Sayawit conveying that peace is achievable if people will remember they are one.
Students from Dr. Santiago Dakudao Sr. National High School performed an original song-rap-dance featuring the Queen of Mindanao Rap Angel Josol or popularly known as Angel 01.
Frank Lloyd de la Cruz, an English teacher from Francisco Bustamante National High School, said in vernacular that it feels good to be able to expose his students in public performance and to be a part of a bigger cause, which is advocating peace for Mindanao.
On the other hand, the Davao Central College Chorale rendered the song entitled Isang Dugo, Isang Lahi, Isang Musika, calling about the unity among Muslims and Christians and the song When you Believe from the sound track of the movie Prince of Egypt.
The event capped off with the harmony meal inside the university wherein all performers and conveners of the event dined and shared conversations.
Meanwhile, MWOP is an annual commemoration every last week of November towards the first week of December founded by peace advocates and supported by the government through the Presidential Proclamation 127 series of 2001.