UNYAP Will Join the UN International Peace Day Celebration on September 21

For inquiries please contact:

Alexander Santos
UNYAP Commissioner for Peace and Human Rights Education
De La Salle University- Dasmarinas
+639064959175
alexander_jr14@yahoo.com

The UN-declared International Day of Peace and Nonviolence is at hand. We will be celebrating it on 21 September. It is a good day to educate and raise the awareness of young people on peace and armed conflict in the country. At the same time, the date marks the commemoration of the declaration of Martial Law and it is befitting to link the peace and nonviolence movement in the country with our historical sense of an authoritarian rule.

In line with this, Generation Peace Youth Network (GenPeace) with its partnership with UNDP-OPAPP-Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding Programme, would like to invite you to take part in the Peace Day 2010 Celebration. By the way, GenPeace is a national youth network that promotes peace, encourages young people to be peace advocates and supports the peace process tracks of the Bangsamoro and Communist struggles. GenPeace convenes the preparatory committee for this year's celebration along with a host of civil society organizations, schools, youth clubs, religious groups and the local government of Quezon City.

Last year, we celebrated the Peace Day by installing a permanent Peace Wall collective art in QC Circle, a national effort of the youth to present their peace messages in a creative way. We sang “Mabuting Pilipino” of Noel Cabangon, long before it became a hit in the PNoy Inaguration. We remembered Martial Law, the armed conflicts, and celebrated the Eid’l Fitr with our fellow Muslims last year. In 2009, we also created a short documentary film on the youth success stories for peace, it was a fruitful and meaningful 2009 celebration indeed!

For this year, we will have a celebration with the theme "Sustaining the Youth's Engagement, Bridging the Peacebuilding Gaps," recognizing the different gaps (i.e. between youth and elder advocates, between apathetic and socially-active youth, etc.). We invite you and your organization to partake in the celebration on 21 September at the Peace Bell of the Quezon City Memorial Circle from 9:00AM to 1:00PM. We will have solidarity messages, exhibit booths, poetry reading, cultural presentations and musical renditions for peace. While snacks will be served, we also encourage you to bring some food to share with friends for our potluck "community" lunch. Please see the attached draft program and visit: http://genpeace.tk/ for Peace Day Celebration details.

We would like a broad and collaborative celebration with our community and we want you to take part as we remember a day of peace with the rest of the world. Kapayapaan sa ating lahat!

Sincerely,

(sgd)

Nikki Al Ben S. Delfin

GenPeace Secretariat

generationpeacenetwork@gmail.com

tel.024266122

mobile 09178660405

Generation Peace Youth Network

Peace Day 2010: Sustaining the Youth’s Engagement, Bridging the Peacebuilding Gaps

Quezon City Memorial Circle 9:00AM – 1:00PM, 21 September 2010

PROGRAM

I. Interfaith Prayers for Peace 9:00-9:10

- FEU (Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, etc. prayers)

- Peacemakers’ Circle

II. National Anthem 9:10-9:20

- Quezon City Orchestra

III. Overview of Peace Day 9:20-9:25

- Debbie Cabanag, GenPeace National Coordinator

IV. Opening Remarks

- Hon. Joy Belmonte, Vice Mayor of Quezon City 9:25-9:40

- USEC Luisito Montalbo, OPAPP 9:40-9:55

- Risa Hontiveros, GenPeace Elder 9:55-10:05

- Chito Gascon, GenPeace Elder* 10:05-10:15

V. Solidarity Messages

- Bakwits from Mindanao 10:15-10:17

- YMPN/Group Aid 10:17-10:19

- AMRSP – JPICC 10:19-10:21

VI. Performances Set 1:

- Quezon City Performing Arts* 10:21-10:40

- Poetry Reading from selected entries in “Pieces of Peace” 10:40-10:50

- PWU High School 10:50-10:55

VII. Solidarity Messages

- Peace Educators Network 10:55-10:57

- Representative from Local Government of Bukidnon

(Ernie Edralin) 10:57-11:00

Judge Aurora Navarette Reciana – UNAP President

VIII. Performances Set 2:

- Samba Club Miriam High School 11:00-11:15

- Stella Maris Choir 11:15-11:25

- SIKAP/INSA 11:25-11:30

IX. Solidarity Messages

- MSN/Balay 11:30-11:32

- Renauld Meyer, UNDP Country Representative * 11:32-11:35

- Akiko Abe, UNV Director*

X. Tribute to Peace Advocates 11:38-11:50

- (i.e. tribute to Mommy Jean, Bishop Claver, Ka Oca, etc.)

- Short tribute message from friends

- Song: “Walang Hanggang Paalam” by Joey Ayala performed by the Quezon City Orchestra

- Songs from the Quezon City Orchestra

XI. Performances Set 3:

- Music from Crazy As Pinoy and Noel Cabangon* 11:50-12:10

XII. Closing Ritual: Forming the Peace Sign 12:10-12:30

XIII. POTLUCK COMMUNITY LUNCH**

* To be confirmed

** Bring some food to share with your friends/organization for our potluck ‘community’ lunch.

***Free ice cream scoops and peace stamps will be available at the venue.

**** Exhibit booths from different advocacies: Installed all throughout the venue during the Peace Day celebration.