MANILA, Oct. 28, 2011?A peace exhibit that recounts the life-changing experiences of 31 high school students who participated in a peace camp is currently on tour across the country aiming to promote peace and encourage Filipino youth to become peace advocates.
Launched by Communication Foundation for Asia (CFA), the traveling peace exhibit, dubbed “Peacebook” features a video documentary bearing the same title and the artworks of young students who participated in a peace camp.
The peace exhibit is a showcase of the experiences of Christian and Muslim high school students who took part in 2010 peace camp organized by CFA.
Already third of a series that CFA began in 2006, the 2010 peace camp has gathered 31 high school students from Ramon Avanceña High School, Nazarene High School, and Notre Dame RVM-College of Cotabato to share on how they can contribute in the promotion of peace in spite of cultural differences.
Transformed by their camp experience, the young peace advocates captured the event on paper through etchings, journal entries and photographs, which is now part of the traveling peace exhibit.
Fr. Carlos Reyes, executive secretary of the CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on Interreligious Dialogue commended the peace camp project, stressing “that communication, mutual respect and values, and forgiveness are the three basic foundations to bring about peace.”
The exhibit was first unveiled to the public on September 16, attended by teachers and camp participants from Ramon Avanceña High School and Nazarene High School together with representatives from Focolare, Peacemakers’ Circle, the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Inter-religious Dialogue and the Young Moro Professionals Network.
CFA president Fr. Filoteo Pelingon reminded young participants of the true meaning of peace, saying that it is “not simply the absence of conflicts but the meeting of minds, and that accepting the presence of diversity builds friendship.”
He thanked the guests for their continuous support of CFA’s endeavors and acknowledged everyone who contributed in the successful completion of the project.
The peace exhibit was also shown to more than 100 school administrators and teachers during the convention of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) in Davao City last September 22. (CBCPNews)
