The Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc. (BMFI) – in collaboration with the municipal local government unit (MLGU) headed by Hon. Mayor Loreto V. Cabaya Jr., the military and the police or state security forces, and some local civil society organizations – for the first time in history of the town, celebrated this year’s International Day of Peace on September 21 with the following activities:
		Tree planting in Barangay Bagolibas. One of the barangays most affected by violent conflicts in the past, Bagolibas hosted the tree planting activity spearheaded by the Mission Station Youth Council (MSYC) of Aleosan. ABC President Efren Cantomayor, who is also the Punong Barangay of Bagolibas, took the group to the school site for the tree planting site. In his opening message, he said the tree planting sends the message on the importance of planting peace in the young minds and hearts of the children, the next generation leaders. With the entire barangay council, he received the crowd with the barangay’s modest traditional coffee and cooked banana.
		Lakad kapayapaan (Walk for peace). Wearing T-shirts printed with peace designs, at least 400 people walked at least three kilometers from Barangay Bagolibas to the municipal market (Talipapa). The PNP, acting as the marshal, headed the crusade, then the youth, the CSOs, the AFP, religious, academe, and local and barangay officials, including employees of the municipal government.
Arroz caldo sa talipapa. The 40IB with the dynamic leadership of Lt. Col. Roy Galido set up broth booths for the arriving peace marchers. While the community feasted on the hot arroz caldo on a cold morning, the battalion band entertained the audience with their peace renditions.
		Peace forum. One highlight of the forum was the discussion on the latest updates on the GPH-MILF peace process, which was rumored to have already bogged down soon after the observance of the holy month of Ramadhan. The forum also included the presentation of the municipality’s program for disaster risk reduction and management; launching of the MSYC’s T-shirt printing social enterprise project; and erecting the peace pole, which carried the peace banner with the local translations of the word peace: kalilintad, kalinong, salam, kapayapaan, kalinaw and merinew. This culminated with the releasing of peace balloons, sharing of solidarity messages among support groups, then followed by a community lunch.
		MSYC peace booth. At least seven designs developed by Bitoy, one of the elders of MSYC, were displayed for T-shirt printing. Most of those who participated in the day’s events secured at least a T-shirt in support of the youth group’s enterprise project.
		Peace concert and jamming. The MSYC, including the youth organizations from high schools and other support groups, joined in the singing and dancing for peace with the 40IB Band. It was the first ever activity of its kind in the municipality. Everyone enjoyed the day up until 3 o’clock in the afternoon.

Historically, the International Day of Peace was established by a unanimous resolution of the United Nations in 1981. Its mission is to provide a common time period for individuals, organizations and nations to create practical acts of peace on or near a shared date, and to bring together efforts from around the world whose ultimate focus is to promote peace and sustainability. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the International Day of Peace. In recent years, this observance has reached many parts of the world, even those in remote areas, due to the proliferation of wireless technology, computers and cell phones.

This year’s theme is “Make Your Voice Heard.” In doing so it thanked the thousands of organizations who have institutionalized this observance worldwide.

Mr. Miguel Estrebillo, the municipal administrator and at the same time the director for the disaster risk reduction and management program, shared that this celebration of the International Day of Peace will be regularly done, with more surprising events to be conducted, and enjoining participation of the entire municipality. As his parting message, he sang John Lennon’s “Imagine,” inviting everyone to reflect on the importance of global peace.