[HWPL]

[HWPL] HWPL and Parañaque City Public Library of Manila Sign an MOU and Open a ‘Peace Room'

A memorandum of understanding (MOA) signed by and between HWPL and Parañaque City Public Library in Manila, Philippines for peace education, including the establishment of a 'Peace Room'

Residents of Mindanao, Philippines, who suffered a bloody conflict for more than 40 years, are not oblivious to January 24, 2014. Since the civil peace agreement made on that day, which was dramatically established through the mediation of Man-Hee Lee, Chairman of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), an air of peace has continued to spread through various peace projects, and residents are experiencing peace unlike anything felt in decades. Precious peace has been established on the island of Mindanao as a legacy for posterity. Extending beyond Mindanao, HWPL's civil peace agreement in other regions of the Philippines has equally served as exemplary peace education for posterity.

Chairman Man-hee Lee of HWPL and his peace delegation, who were visiting the Philippines on their 30th peace tour, sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Parañaque City Public Library (PCPL) Manila on February 15, 2019. The MOU was signed by Chairman Man-hee Lee of HWPL, Edwin Olivarez (Mayor of Parañaque), Eric Olivarez (Member of Parliament for Parañaque City District 1), and Cissette Ricardo (manager of PCPL). Prior to the signing of the MOU, an inaugural ceremony for the installation of an HWPL Peace Room at PCPL was also held. PCPL provided an easily accessible space on the first floor for residents to come and witness an exhibition of HWPL's peace education.

Parañaque City Public Library (PCPL) and HWPL sign an MOU for peace education at PCPL, Manila, Philippines on February 15, 2019

A commemorative photo of HWPL Chairman Man-hee Lee and officials of Parañaque City Public Library (PCPL) at the 'Peace Room' on the first floor of PCPL, following the signing of the MOU

Through this memorandum of understanding (MOU), the two organizations were able to establish a close working relationship based on the values of mutual respect and trust to promote HWPL's peace movement to youth and people throughout the Philippines. The MOU serves to establish and ensure the required cooperation between the two organizations for the implementation of peace promotion.

HWPL agreed to provide materials and publications, including HWPL Monthly Newsletter, HWPL books, magazines, DVDs and other related peace content. Furthermore, with the approval of the library, the decision was made to decorate and design a space, named 'HWPL Peace Room’, on the first floor of the library building totalling an area of  41.57m². 

The library also designated a librarian to coordinate, promote and maintain this space and it promised to provide related activities to spread the culture of peace promulgated by HWPL.

In this MOU, the two organizations agreed to establish a close collaborative relationship based on mutual respect and trust in order to promote HWPL's work to youth and people throughout the Philippines, and it ensures the required communication and collaboration between the two organizations to implement peace promotion.

HWPL agreed to provide materials and publications, such as the HWPL Monthly Newsletter, HWPL books, magazines and DVDs and other HWPL peace-related content, and the decision was made to decorate and design the space agreed upon by PCPL.

PCPL provided a space for the ‘HWPL Peace Room' located on the first floor of the PCPL building with an area of 41.57m², and it made the decision to designate a librarian to coordinate, promote and maintain this space, and to provide peace-related activities for collaborative peace culture projects.

The MOU signing ceremony was attended by representatives of Parañaque City Public Library (PCPL), local officials, and students.

Youth engage with 'The True Story of HWPL: Peace and Cessation of War' book detailing the Civil Peace Agreement in Mindanao, Philippines at the 'Peace Room' in Parañaque City Public Library (PCPL), following its installation

An HWPL 'Peace Hall' had already been established in Davao City, Philippines on January 26, 2016, when the Museo Dabawenyo ('People's Museum') opened a special exhibition of HWPL's peace activities in Mindanao.

Davao City's museum and public library decided to keep records of HWPL's peace activities in its building, and to conduct ongoing education for citizens and students to raise awareness of peace. At that time, Rodrigo Duterte, Mayor of Davao City (current President of the Philippines) said, “I realized each of our community members needs to take actions in order to be strong proponents of peace. I hope news of this ceremony spreads beyond the Mindanao region and sets an example for the rest of the world to follow.” He praised the culture of peace.

‘Peace Hall’ in Museo Dabawenyo ('People's Museum'),  Philippines, where HWPL’s peace activities in Mindanao was exhibited. HWPL records are on display at the Davao City Public Library.

An HWPL Peace Library was also installed at Tarlac State University in the Philippines.

On March 14, 2016, Muna Malari, Dean of Tarlac State University in the Philippines, who attended the DPCW proclamation ceremony in Korea, said in an interview with this paper, “We have created a peace library in our university and a peace room so that all HWPL videos can be viewed.” In reference to the HWPL peace education craze blowing in the Philippines, he said, “I will inform the whole of the Philippines about HWPL’s progress.” During the 26th peace tour in January 2018, HWPL signed an MOA for peace education with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to spread peace education in the Philippines.

As such, the local community acknowledged the sincerity of HWPL's peace movement. On the morning of October 7, 2018, SBS 'Sunday Special Documentary' entitled 'Peace, a long way to go' captured the local situation in the region of Mindanao in the southern Philippines. Most of the episode aired on that day was dedicated to HWPL's peace movement.

In the episode aired that day, Dr. Julieta Paras, Regional Director of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Region 2 said, “There have been many conflicts and civil wars in the Philippines. Peace education is being taught in the higher education course, and this will be a good opportunity to change the painful past of the Philippines.” She also said, “Peace education is an important process for a peaceful life, free from conflict, by fostering understanding of different religions, preventing violence caused by conflicts between religions, and acknowledging different lifestyles.”

Regarding the civil peace agreement mediated by HWPL, the documentary reported, "In 2014, a civil peace agreement was signed between the Islamic and Catholic leaders of Mindanao in 2014, where more than 120,000 soldiers and civilians died during a bloody 40-year conflict between Catholics and Muslims." It also reported, “These efforts soon led to an official peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Islamic Autonomous Army.”

The unveiling ceremony of the HWPL Peace Monument is held at the base of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the province of Sultan Kudarat, Mindanao, Philippines during the 2nd anniversary of the ‘Mindanao Civil Peace Agreement’ on January 24, 2016

Peace!