Peace Month kicks off on positive note with Azkals’ Peace Cup semis win

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MANILA – The Philippine Azkals scored big Wednesday night at the Peace Cup as it dominated Chinese Taipei 5-1 at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, ensuring a face-off with Myanmar at the finals on Saturday, Sept. 6.

Azkals’ win puts on high gear this year’s observance of the 11th National Peace Consciousness Month or Peace Month.

Themed “Nagkakaisang Bayan para sa Kapayapaan,” Peace Month aims to instill peace consciousness on the general public and an understanding of the comprehensive peace process.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles said that Peace Month “is an occasion to thank all those who work tirelessly to build a more peaceful and progressive society.”

In a statement, Deles gave a call for support for the peace processes in Mindanao and around the country. “We call on every Filipino to help shape history by joining our quest for peace,” she said. “This is our time, our legacy, and our journey — let us be the generation that inspires the world with the true essence of a just and lasting peace.”

“We are, given our shared aspirations, one country united for peace, democracy, and a just and better way of life,” Deles said.

This is the third year that the Peace Cup has been organized by the Philippine Football Federation as part of the observance of Peace Month.

Completing the four-country line up in the Peace Cup is Palestine, which was booted from the finals with a surprising win of Myanmar at 4-1 over the Asian Football Challenge champion.

Other Peace Month activities

Aside from the Peace Cup, other activities have already been lined up for Peace Month. Highlights include an art workshop and contest for students from across the country, launching of the European Union Peace Journalism Awards and a basketball clinic topbilled by a celebrity.

In partnership with the House of Representatives’ Special Committee on Peace and Reconciliation, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) will be hosting on September 15 MasterPeace, an art workshop, contest, and exhibit featuring 16 select high school students representing the different regions.

The workshop, to be led by renowned Mindanao artist Rameer Tawasil, will help participants hone their skills in the visual arts while educating them on the peace process in the Philippines. Participants will get to exhibit their works while qualifying for an art contest. Winners will be selected through on-site and online balloting. The exhibit will run for a week at the House of Representatives.

On September 24, the EU will be launching the first Peace Journalism Awards in Cotabato City to encourage print, broadcast, and online journalists to produce more peace stories and mainstream peace reporting. The grand winner will win a trip to Brussels, Belgium.

On September 27, OPAPP will host Basketball for Peace, a basketball exhibition game and clinic for children coming from different religious backgrounds. The event will be led by peace ambassador Gerald Anderson.

At the same time, OPAPP just launched ‘People for Peace,’ an online photography contest open to professional and amateur photographers. Running until September 30, contestants are encouraged to send photographs, featuring people or scenes with people, that tell a story about peace. They may log on to www.opapp.gov.ph/people-peace-photography-competition for details.

OPAPP takes the lead in the celebration of Peace Month by virtue of Proclamation No. 675 series of 2004.