QUEZON CITY - As National Peace Consciousness Month (NPCM) commences, Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. has called on all Filipinos to actively engage in the nation's peacebuilding efforts.
According to Philippines News Agency, during his message on Sunday, the month-long observance serves as a "clarion call for collective action," emphasizing the personal responsibility each citizen holds in fostering peace. "It reminds us that peacebuilding starts within each one of us - the way we think, the way we feel, and the way we act. This shift in mindset and attitude creates a ripple effect that enables us to help shape our communities, organizations, and our nation," Galvez stated. He described Peace Consciousness Month not just as an annual event but as a movement encouraging every Filipino to contribute to national peace.
The celebration was officially inaugurated in 2004 under Proclamation No. 675, mandating the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process to lead the observance. The proclamation also calls for participation from all government agencies, the private sector, and civil society groups in the annual peace celebrations.
This year's theme, "Peace Month @ 20: Bagong Pilipinas - Transforming Minds, Transforming Lives," highlights the transformative power of individual and collective action in achieving peace. Galvez led the ceremonial tolling of the peace bell in Quezon City on Sunday morning, marking the beginning of this year's activities. He emphasized that genuine and lasting peace is attainable through collective effort, transforming societal attitudes toward empathy, forgiveness, and unity.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., as noted by Galvez, will lead the NPCM's opening ceremony at Malacañan Palace in Manila on Monday, which also coincides with the 28th anniversary of the 1996 peace accord with the Moro National Liberation Front. Galvez quoted President Marcos, asserting, "Brave may be those who wage wars, but braver are those who seek peace and win that peace."