Miss Aliah P. Cali-Pascan
Institute for Peace and Development, MSU Main Campus, Marawi City
Mindanao State University, Marawi City through Institute of Peace and Development in Mindanao (IPDM) celebrated Mindanao Week of Peace with its theme, “MSU as National Peace University: Preserving Mindanao History as a Path to Peace and Development.” The celebration aimed to gather peace champions, peace advocates, bishops, ulama, academe, non-government, civil society organizations in making awareness, promoting and sustaining peace in Mindanao. It had kick off ceremony program last November 24, 2022 which was attended by students of Mindanao State University.
ED Acram Latiph, Ph. D gave his welcome remarks. Each sector on peace and development delivered the message of peace. Bishop Edwin Dela Pena dwelled on the return of the Internally Displaced Persons of the Most Affected Areas in Marawi City. While, Aleem Anwar Radiamoda discussed about the kinds of Peace in Islam.
The two former Executive Directors of IPDM were also present. Prof. Moctar Matuan shared the historical events that paved the way for policy formulation of MWOP. While Prof. Dipunudun Maruhom thought of discussing the ARMM to BARMM as new regional government.
Dean Abdulcader Ayo shared informations on their extension services that contribute to Peace and Development. Dir. Saidamen Limgas also told the participants to make peace with love, understanding and respect. Whereas, Dir. Norkaya Mohammad emphasized the souls forPeace. And lastly, former VP Prof. Datumanong Sarangani asked about the search for Peace, its freedom and human rights.
Prof. Corazon Mangelen also gave her closing remarks by sharing her thoughts for peace.
Indeed, the opening program achieved its aim by bringing them all together to promote and converse about peace.
Meanwhile, the 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜 together with the Law Student Practitioners conducted the 𝙁𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙇𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙡 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚 on November 24-25, 2022 at IPDM, MSU, Marawi City.
In this activity, it highlighted the legal assistance to avoid adversarial action in conflict and disputes. This activity brought together students, academicians, religious leaders, Civil Society organizations and peace builders to the advancement of peace efforts. It was participated by the Law Student Practitioners (LSPs) who rendered free legal services such as legal consultations, notarial services, and drafting of legal documents for the clients of the said activities with the supervision of 𝘼𝙩𝙩𝙮. 𝙅𝙤𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙝 𝘾. 𝘼𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙤𝙜-𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙘𝙤𝙧, Assistant Dean, Clinical Legal Education Program (CLEP). 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐲. 𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐞 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐡 𝐂. 𝐏𝐚𝐳𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐧 & 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐲. 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐇𝐚𝐞𝐛𝐚 𝐀. 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫 were attending lawyers for the activity.
On November 25, 2022, the day was focused and allotted on the involvement of various student organizations in the university. IPDM and Inspired Young Optimist Guild called it as youth peace day. Early in the morning, students gathered around to attend in the briefing before conducting the tree planting and growing activity. The said tree planting and growing was in partnership with 1st Provincial Mobile Force and Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Lanao del Sur, Buklod Multipurpose Cooperative, youth organizations such as Mindanao Interfaith Youth Circle, Asosasyon ng Magaaral ng Kasaysayan, Department of Economics, College of Business Administration and Accountancy, Department of History and Physical Plant Division. At around 9 o’clock in the morning, the students again showcased their talents and skills in arts and literary writing composition and poster making contest in paper and in digital arts. The youth had fun. They realized that they promote peace sustainable peace by expression and showing their inclusion. They are primary movers and drivers for peace.
IPDM sees that MSU must have youth development programs as extension programs either in peace action initiatives and peace education. This is part of the agenda of the MSU System President Atty. Basari D. Mapupuno making MSU as National Peace University.
On November 28, 2022, this day was for designing peace, a peace exhibits. We were creating positive vibes that were pleasant to the community. We showcased good delivery of service by exhibiting one stop shop for everyone. Students also showed their peace campaigns in an exhibits. Civil society organization demonstrated some alternative dispute resolution techniques and tools. Some books related to peace were also displayed in one booth for one week. Another pleasant to the eyes of the constituents was display on agricultural and food products. Agricultural products were harvests from the College of Agriculture such as petchay, cabbage, banana, tomatoes, egg plants and mushrooms. Food products were from entrepreurs that were supported by MSU in innovation and technology. One of the participants in the Peace Exhibits organized by MSU IPDM is MARADECA Incorporated. It is non-government organization caters programs and services on Peace and Governance. They are also into linkages and Networking. They also have thrust on Institutional Development. Another participant was the FABLAB office. They also displayed ceramics products like flower vase made of clay, table markers, fabricated materials. The OKIR group composed of student artists in the university also conveyed their support by having art exhibits that talked about peace and development.
For two days (November 28-29, 2022), National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Lanao del sur always supported the activities of MSU by bringing their personnel to IPDM for the issuance of tribal certificate and conduct the blood sugar examination. Aside from being of free service, these activities provided an assistance in making the clients to know about the significance of their office in terms of peace building in the celebration of Mindanao week of peace. The tribal certificate is useful to the students who will have on the job training abroad by securing one and in support of application of passporting. Peace to humanity prescribes to provision one’s need.
The University Medical Services, College of Health Sciences and Amai Pakpak Medical Center joined celebration by having blood letting and providing medical services to students and constituents and other clienteles. Protecting our bodies and caring for our health is attaining self peace.
On November 29, 2022, we had Peace challenge activity. This activity started with Peace Walk and Hataw participated by students from Civic Welfare and Training Services and line agencies like National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, Lanao del sur. Students showed their placards and signages expressing their statements on peace. Some of the placards stated like, “PHP” means Possess Harmony Progress. Nobody can bring you peace but yourself signified peace oneself. One placard also told story like Peace begins with a smile.
Yes, this is PEACE Walk where it can be a platform that can raise voices by gathering all peace stakeholders to send message about peace.
Our partners for the peace walk and hataw were the Office of the President headed by MSU System President Atty. Basari D. Mapupuno for the issuance of memorandum in the observance of Mindanao Week of Peace, NCMF Lanao del Sur, all bureau chiefs and all staff, Director Abdurashid Lucman, Former Dir. Bazar, all the CWTS students, Dean Hendeley Adlawan and CSPEAR students, Strategic Communication and Capacity Building and Singanen o Mindanao, youth volunteers, IYOG, and lastly the History and Economic Departments for the support.
The second program on the peace challenge day, November 29, 2023, was an award program recognizing the winners in the literary and poster making contests. Most of the winners were Fundamental of Peace Education 101 students. The prize awards were provided by Strategic Communications and Capacity Building Project (SCCB) project and Singanen ko Mindanao. During the program, the message of the MSU System President Atty Basari D. Mapupuno was shown via zoom. He said, “Peace is an act. Peace is love. Love is a precondition for peace. By caring for and loving one another, despite our differences, by being more open and accepting of these differences, by being kinder, understanding and forgiving, and through empathy, which is one of the basic teachings in Islam, we help create a more harmonious, peaceful, and better world.”
There were lecture series during the program. Dr. Rebeka Alawi discussed gave her message on “Racism as a barrier to communication and the attainment of peace” and Dr. Sorhaila Latiph of cultural heritage office also had lecture on the importance of communication in peace and development.
In separate days November 26 and December 3, 2022, IPDM and Inspired Young Optimist Guild conducted a Youth Leadership Training and Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism. The UNDP supported the training workshop by giving meal assistance to the participants. The training workshop was held in IPDM Convergence Hall. The participants learned to combat violence by knowing spoilers of peace. After the training workshop, the participants developed the proactive attitude in addressing violent extremism and threats on peace and security.
IPDM concluded the celebration of 2022 Mindanao Week of Peace by having a Peace Bazar from December 4-12, 2022. On December 4, 2022, the donors collected for the Tabang for MSU Maguindanao was also delivered to the recipients by the disaster risk, reduction management office headed by Dir. Basher D. Mapupuno and Director Datudacula Mandangan of Supply Management Office.
