Digos City in Davao del Sur, Philippines, finalizes preparations for the holding of “Kalinaw: Panaghoy sa Mindanaw…” (Mindanao cries for peace!) a series of peace-related events on the 20th and 21st of September, as its participation in the worldwide celebration of Sept. 21 as International Day of Peace 2007.

City Mayor Arsenio Latasa throws his full support behind the project, which is expected to project a positive image for the city to the rest of the world. The mayor designated City Economic Enterprise Manager Bernardo Quipit, Jr. to coordinate with the Centre for Peace in implementing the project. Private sector organizations and local public officials concerned were likewise quick to lend their support, each willing to contribute their share in making the city-wide Peace events a success. The Centre for Peace held a successful Consultative and Planning Meeting at the conference room of A & B last Friday afternoon (Sept 14), which was attended by tribal and religious leaders and organizers, as well as representatives from the local government agencies concerned.

The events will be kicked off by a formal launching on the 20th, to be held at the Session Hall of the Sangguniang Panglungsod (City Council) at 8:00 a.m. The launching will be participated in by various tribal and religious organizations in the city, as well as civic organizations, women’s groups, vendors, farmers, and drivers associations. Hon. Mayor Boy Latasa welcomes guests and participants from the DepEd regional office, the City Schools Division officials, local Police officials and barangay officials, as well as the various private sector partners.

A “Digos City Declaration of Peace” will be jointly signed by leaders of all participating tribal, religious and other multi-sector organizations signaling the birth of the Digos Partnership for Peace. This will be followed by a press conference with the local print and broadcast media.

An “Inter-Faith Prayer for Peace in Mindanao” will be held in the morning of the 21st followed by a symbolic “Freeing of the Doves” ceremony. The city-wide inter-school competition follows, featuring an on-the-spot Peace painting contest for elementary pupils and on-the-spot Peace essay-writing contest for high schools students. Both will revolve around the theme: “Kalinaw: Panaghoy sa Mindanaw…” (Mindanao cries for peace!). This is made possible through the cooperation and support of the City Schools Division under the able leadership of Division Superintendent Boy Gomez. Selected students from both public and private schools in the city will participate in the twin-competition. Prizes will be awarded to winners. The winning entries will be featured in a website especially designed for the events, and can be viewed by students and interested parties from other countries.

These multiple culture of peace events and initiatives were introduced into the city by the Centre for P.E.A.C.E., a Manila-based organization that promotes a culture of peace and non-violence among the country’s students and youth. “As we continue to replicate the same in other towns and cities of the country, Digos city will always be remembered to have started it all in Mindanao,” said Centre for Peace Founder and Executive Director Don Flordeliza, Jr.