AFP inaugurates world’s longest peace mural

MANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and its civilian partners inaugurated the world’s longest peace mural on EDSA yesterday.

Representatives from government agencies led by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) joined the ceremony, which started with a peace mural tour of bikers and runners and a motorcade along the 3.7-kilometer stretch of the walls surrounding Camp Aguinaldo.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautist and OPAPP Assistant Secretary Jennifer Oreta and other peace advocates led the unveiling of the peace marker at EDSA Shrine.

Dubbed “Lakbay Para sa Kapayapaan sa EDSA,” the mural spans 3,770 meters on EDSA, White Plains Avenue and Col. Boni Serrano Avenue in Quezon City.           

The project is an initiative of the AFP, Metro Manila Development Authority, OPAPP, Asia American Initiative and Dolphins Love Freedom Network, among other agencies.

It aims to generate public awareness that peace is the only way to achieve prosperity in the country.

“This project is about breaking barriers that prevent us from moving forward. I was convinced of this when I saw soldiers painting alongside children of rebels. We saw art as a good avenue to create better understanding and mainstreaming of the promotion of peace. This is a portrait of the Filipino aspiration for peace,” said Rohaniza Sumndad-Usman, who represented the Muslim youth at the event.

The Philippines beat Chile, which held the world record for the longest peace mural at 900 meters, with the completion of the 3.7-kilometer EDSA mural.