Youth, students group launch peace campaign

CEBU, Philippines- Youth and students organizations in Cebu City recently launched an initiative to promote peace.

 Dubbed as “#PeaceNaTa” campaign, the initiative is in line with the observance of the National Peace Month in September.

Jamil Faisal Adiong, appointed president of the Federation of the Muslim Students Association-Cebu, said the campaign aims to address what he perceived as gap among “Muslim Moros and Lumad Sugboanon.”

 “It could be that on the international scene, we try to manifest ourselves as diverse people in unity. However, we cannot deny the fact that internally, we are not... We have come up with a campaign to promote a culture of peace. We have come up with a campaign to reconcile our people and progress our country towards further development,” said Adiong during the campaign’s launching on August 27.

Before the launching activity, the Cebu City Council also approved a resolution supporting the #PeaceNaTa Movement.

The resolution was sponsored by City Councilor Alvin Dizon, chairperson of the committee on youth and sports development and committee on education, science and technology.

Dizon said the movement will be commencing a series of activities this September that is aimed at raising awareness and knowledge on the need to build a culture of peace and a better understanding about the Bangsamoro people in the Visayan regions.

Adiong, a Muslim, had been living in the city for almost a year and a half. He is attending school at the University of San Carlos. He was born in Cagayan de Oro and raised in Ditsaan-Ramain, a municipality in Lanao del Sur.

He admitted that until now he can still feel the discrimination towards the Muslim community.

“The regionalist perception that was conditioned in our minds centuries have passed has still remained intact to our generations. We are speaking of the gap among the Moros and the Lumads with the post-colonial Filipinos,” Adiong said.

“In the Visayan area, when we say Moro, it will actually bring some wrong connotations that imply Moros as angry, hostile, and traitorous people. These (issues) is irrational and is hindering our nation from moving forward in unity,” he added.

The campaign is expected to eradicate the biases and prejudice of people’s cultural, religious and ethnic identity.

“There’s nothing to lose, but we’ve got everything to learn and have. Understanding begets unity. Unity begets progress. All for the sake of peace, social justice and inclusive development, everyone, including the youth has to take part,” he said further.

The month-long activity will kick-off tomorrow with the “Solidarity Gathering” at Fuente Osmeña Circle. He invited the public to join the acvity which will start at 7:30 p.m.

On the first three Thursdays of the month, particularly on September 4, 11 and 18, there will be a forum at the University of San Carlos to discuss on various topics.

While on Sundays, there will be interfaith sessions by the National Commission of Muslim Filipinos and “Peace Yoga” sessions at Chu Un Temple on September 13 and 27.

Another solidarity gathering will happen on September 21 for the celebration of the International Day for Peace at Plaza Independencia starting at 5 a.m. (FREEMAN)