5TH NORTHERN MINDANAO YOUTH PEACE VILLAGE RESIDENTIAL EXPERIENCE

2009-12-28T07:04:00.000-08:00

To foster the advocacy of a Culture of Peace and Respect for Diverse Cultural Society, DepEd-Division of Lanao del Norte held the 5^th Northern Mindanao Youth Peace Village Residential Experience (NMYPVRE) last December 12-16, 2009 at the Peace Village, Kalinaw-Kalilintad Integrated Peace School, Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte in support of the mandate of Executive Order No. 570 of her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal – Arroyo with the theme “Building a Community of Lasting Peace”.

The conduct of the event aims to revisit values and attitudes towards diversity, cultural difference, tolerance and human dignity; manifest behaviors showing camaraderie and brotherhood with fellow participants regardless of culture, tribe, creed and socio-economic status; promote the spirit of respect and understanding of one’s cultural belief in a complex and culturally diverse society; develop social interaction skills to promote peaceful relations among people of diverse group and communities; and realize the need for happy co-existence in Lanao del Norte.

The newly conducted 5^th NMYPVRE provided an opportunity for school children of diverse culture, belief, practice, and faith coming from the different divisions of Region X and other regions as well to meet and happily co-exist for five days and four nights in the village as they play, eat, learn and have fun together. Most specially, the 5^th NMYPVRE provided them a chance to exchange and

share cultural practices which can help eliminate the imaginary wall that divide people of different cultures.

The forty-two (42) peace advocates from Iligan City headed by Mr. Henry Abueva, forty-two (42) from Misamis Oriental headed by Mrs. Fermina Labis, thirty-seven (37) from Valencia City headed by Ruel Duran, twenty-seven (27) from Cagayan de Oro City headed by Mrs. Elsa Imam, twenty-four (24) from Tangub City headed by Mr. Kenneth Johne Duhaylungsod, two hundred twenty-seven (227) from Lanao del Norte headed by Mrs. Connie Emborong, twenty (20) from Malaybalay City headed by Ralph Quirog, twenty (20) from Misamis Occidental headed by Mrs. Angelina Buaron, eighteen (18) from Oroquieta City headed by Mr. Francis Buac, sixteen (16) from Ozamiz City, eleven (11) from CARAGA region, eleven (11) from Gingoog City headed by Mrs. Fredeswinda Teatro, and ten (10) from Bukidnon City headed by Mr. Rolino Lunday composed the five hundred four (504) participants who attended and actively participated the most exciting and awe-inspiring event of the year - the 5^th Northern Mindanao Youth Peace Village Residential Experience!

After the arrival and registration of the participants in the morning, an hour orientation held at the plenary hall for all 5^th NMYPVRE participants was facilitated by Mrs. Connie A. Emborong, the Division Peace Education Coordinator - Division of Lanao del Norte. The orientation program also includes the teaching of the Peace Village theme song entitled, One Day In Peace. At 3:30 pm, a peace parade was held and was participated by all peace advocates in the village. Then,

an opening program at CADPAC, Kapatagan National High School (KNHS) followed.

For the fifth year in a row, DepEd-Lanao del Norte with the initiative of our Schools Division Superintendent, Dr. Maria Luisa B. Mutia was been very successful in making a unique teambuilding experience possible for young villagers from conflict and non-conflict zones. This includes interactive tasks and peace building activities aside from providing the participants a free pass to explore and enjoy the entire peace village to experience the serenity that it offers.

On the second day, the traditional morning preliminaries were still been used to start the day right. At 4:30 in the morning, a soft music was played in the air for thirty minutes to wake the peace advocates up. All of them vigorously went then to Kapatagan Central ES for the Hataw. A Shower of Peace followed after which was facilitated by Mrs. Arlene Manginsay, the Values Coordinator of DepEd, Division of Lanao del Norte.

Moreover, with the Knowing Me, Knowing You activity, participants were given a chance to open up and tell their stories. In this manner, they were able to build friendships that may last for years. The fun and games they engaged in within the day helped them build the foundation of trust with one another and, in some way, overcome personal biases against cultures that are truly different from one’s own culture. Also, the conduct of the Ecumenical Prayer and Declaration of Peace added the spice to grace the second day. A cultural show - turned to street dancing - ended up the day’s activities with excitement, fun and pleasure.

On the third day, the Universal Peace Federation, a group of international peace ambassadors coming from foreign countries such as Costa Rica, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Paraguay and United States came to Lanao del Norte to pay a visit to the Peace Village at Kalinaw-Kalilintad Integrated Peace School, Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte.

After welcoming the international peace ambassadors at Mucas pier, a short program was held at the municipal hall of Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte. Hon. Benjie Y. Baguio, the municipal mayor, gave his welcome address to formally welcome the high profiled guests headed by Dr. Hyun Jin Moon, Chair of the Global Peace Festival Foundation.

On the other hand, Dr. Maria Luisa B. Mutia, Schools Division Superintendent of DepEd-Lanao oriented the foreign visitors with the PV history. While three young PV residents shared their respective residential experiences when they participated the 5^th Division Peace Village Residential Experience last October, 2009. After which, the group headed directly to the Peace Village site to meet personally the participants of 5^th NMYPVRE and at the same time, to experience the tranquility that the village brings.

In the afternoon, another program was held at the MCC stadium, Tubod, Lanao del Norte. This time, understanding not only our own culture but other cultures as well was given emphasis as each participating division showcased their respective cultures and traditions through their tribal / cultural dances.

Generally, this year’s 5^th NMYPVRE was quite a very successful one because each of the delegates took part in planning and conducting some of the activities especially on the third and fourth day of the event.

5th NORTHERN MINDANAO YOUTH PEACE VILLAGE RESIDENTIAL EXPERIENCE PARTICIPANTS

REGION / DIVISION/s	No. of PARTICIPANTS
OROQUIETA	18
MISAMIS ORRIENTAL	42
MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL	20
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY	27
LANAO DEL NORTE	227
ILIGAN	42
TANGUB	24
GINGOOG	11
BUKIDNON	10
MALAYBALAY	20
VALENCIA	37
CARAGA	11
OZAMIZ	16

INTERNATIONAL PEACE AMBASSADORS WHO PARTICIPATED THE EVENT

NATIONALITY	FULL NAME	POSITION
United States	Dr, Hyun Jin Moon	Chair, Global Peace Festival Foundation
United States	Mrs. Jun Sook Moon	Wife Of Dr. Hyun Jin Moon
United States	Dr. Robert Schuller	Writer
United States	Mrs. Donna Michelle Schuller	Writer
United States	Hon. Emanuel Jones	Senator, Georgia State Senate
United States	Mr. Shawn Hatleli Wilson	President, Usher’s New Look
Kenya	Mr. Markandey Rai	Chief, United Nations Human Settlements Program Global Parliamentarians And Trade Unions, Monitoring And Research Department
Malaysia	Hon. Tan Sri Zaleha Ismael	President, UPF Malaysia / Former Minister Of National Unity And Social Development (Malaysia)
Paraguay	Hon Lilian Graciela Samaniego Gonzales	Senator, Chamber Of Senators Of The Republic Of Paraguay
Nepal	Mr. Prankash Kunwar	Additional Inspector General Of Police, Nepal Police
India	Amb. Krishna Venkatachalam Rajan	President, Association Of Indian Diplomats
India	Mrs. Geetha Rajan	Trustee, UPF-India
Costa Rica	Amb. Dr. Oscar Alvarez Araya	Former Anbassador To Taiwán, Republic Of Costa Rica
Pakistan	Mr. Sajid Ishaq Shandu	Chairman, Interfaith League Against Poverty
Philippines	Dr. Primitivo D. Chua	President, UPF Philippines
Philippines	Mrs. Josephine C. Dominguez	Undersecretary, Office Of The Presidential Liason Officer For Political Affairs

Echo-Training Workshops on Establishing a School-Community of Peace

2009-10-09T20:23:00.000-07:00

The training-workshops were attended by the Peace Education Lead Administrator and selected teachers' trainers in the Division of Lanao del Norte. The first batch was attended by the Peace Education Lead Administrator and selected teachers' trainers in Region 2 and was held on August 14-15, 2009 at Maranding Central Elementary School. Please click this link to view the photo video.

DepEd-Lanao del Norte Witness the Launching of the "Kids Say No to Guns"

2009-10-05T18:10:00.000-07:00

Peace Village Advocates

Pursuant to Civil Service Commission Announcement No. 50, s.2009 relative to the Observance of the National Peace Consciousness Month this September 2009, DepEd-Lanao del Norte attended the launching of the one of a kind project sponsored by DepEd-Region X, the "Kids Say No to Guns" at Camp Evangelista Elementary School, Patag, Cagayan de Oro City on September 30, 2009 with the theme "From Instrument of Death to Nurturing to Life".
Selected students/pupils, Division Peace Coordinators and Schools Division Superintendents and Assistant Schools Division Superintendent coming from the different divisions of Region X witnessed the launching. Dignified personalities from government sectors also attended the occasion manifesting their strong support and advocacy for peace and creation of peaceful environment for a peaceful generation. Some of them were high ranking military officials from the 4th Infantry Division and Philippine National Police, Regional Directors from National Economic and Development Authority and Department of Interior and Local Government and representatives of Congressmen Rolando A. Uy of the 1st District and Rufus B. Rodriguez of the 2nd District.
A turning over ceremony of toy guns by students/pupils to AFP and PNP in exchange of seedlings given by DENR, DILG and NEDA highlighted the event. After the turn over ceremony, the students/pupils crushed and burried the toy guns and recited the pledge of commitment in unison. The program ended up with a community singing of a Peace Song led by the Student Ambassadors of Peace.

Peace Education Updates

5TH NORTHERN MINDANAO YOUTH PEACE VILLAGE RESIDENTIAL EXPERIENCE

Echo-Training Workshops on Establishing a School-Community of Peace

DepEd-Lanao del Norte Witness the Launching of the "Kids Say No to Guns"