by: Jerome Paunan
MANILA, (PIA) — Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. led the ceremonial ringing of the World Peace Bell on Sunday, September 1, 2024, to mark the beginning of the 20th Peace Month celebration at Quezon Memorial Circle.
This year’s theme is “Peace Month @20: Bagong Pilipinas: Transforming Minds, Transforming Lives.”
Galvez was joined by Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya, Bangsamoro Liaison Office Metro Manila Director Gafur Kanain, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Chief Representative Sakamoto Takema, KAPATIRAN Chairperson Veronica Tabara, and Quezon City Assistant City Administrator Alberto Quimpo.
The event was organized by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity in partnership with the Quezon City Government.
The Peace Bell, a symbol of the Filipino people’s aspiration for a just and lasting peace, was donated in 1994 by the World Peace Bell Association, a Japanese organization dedicated to promoting awareness of the global peace movement.
It is rung annually at the start of September as part of the National Peace Consciousness Month celebration.
The importance of ringing the Peace Bell to the comprehensive Philippine peace process cannot be overemphasized, according to Galvez.
The reverberations from the massive bell symbolize peace, harmony, and solidarity. More importantly, this is a clarion call for all Filipinos—regardless of religion, tribe, or personal beliefs—to play a key role in peacebuilding. (JCO/PIA-NCR)
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