Global Peace Festival Foundation
Philippines
4th IPEC resolution calls for character and peace education in every nation’s education program
Educators and experts in various disciplines call for national leaders to incorporate character and peace education in the nation’s education program at the 4th International Professors and Educators Conference (IPEC) in Manila Hotel, Philippines. The conference that was held from November 14-16 concluded with a written resolution, citing the significance of character and peace education in developing moral citizens who will take the lead in national and global economic progress and sustainability.
The 4th IPEC Resolution appeals to all national leaders to promote moral citizenship and the culture of heart and peace in their respective countries by including Character-based and Peace Education in their Educational Programs.
Signing the resolution are hundreds of educators, experts, students, GPFF partners, and representatives from various organizations such as Technical Educations and Skills Development Authority (TESDA); Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC); Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA); Palafox Associates; Service For Peace (SFP) Philippines; Philippine National Chapter Global Cooperation Society International, Inc.; Philippine Society of NSTP Educators and Implementers, Inc. (PSNEI); Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MFI); Villar Foundation; Hongkong Lifelong Education Organization; and Catholic Bishops’ Commission on Health Care.
A copy of the resolution will be sent to all national presidents or heads of states and to their ministry of education in order to raise awareness and encourage involvement.
The role of various sectors in expanding the culture of peace and moral citizenship
Top: (left to right) Congresswoman Cynthia Villar and Dr. Lee Ye Lick.
Bottom: Fr. Luke Moortgat at the 4th IPEC concurrent sessions.
While Dr. Salvador cited the importance of fostering unity to attain national progress, distinguished speakers from different sectors shared how each can contribute to the establishment and expansion of the culture of heart or character education, and the culture of peace during the plenary and concurrent sessions.
“International educators are themselves ambassadors of goodwill and peace of the nations they represent,” Dr. Emerlinda Ramos-Roman, Professor of College of Business Administration in the University of the Philippines told the international and local delegates as she confers on ‘The Role of International Educators in the Expansion of Culture of Peace and Unity towards Economic Progress.”
“Through education and with the help of our international colleagues, we are able to learn about other options and alternative ways to deal with problems and issues that transcend national boundaries. That we face the same problems, so may it bring us together and unite us in the effort to find solutions to them,” she added.
Hongkong Lifelong Education chairman Dr. Lee Ye Lick, Villar Foundation managing director and Congresswoman Cynthia Villar, and Metrobank Foundation Inc. President Mr. Aniceto “Chito” Sobrepeña discussed on “Society’s Role in Establishing a Culture of Heart in Politics, Business, and Community.”
Red Cross governor and Service for Peace Philippines chairperson Hon. Leonida “Baby” Ortiz commended three women leaders - Dr. Lourdes Navarro, Dr. Marylou Aragon and Lariben Taraboc of Davao del Norte in Mindanao for their efforts in uniting Christians and Muslims in La Paz, Carmen through community-driven development programs supported by GPFF and Service for Peace.
Fr. Luke Moortgat, executive secretary of Catholic Bishops’ Commission on Health Care, also shared on “Expanding the Culture of Heart in Interfaith Harmony,” while Dr. Florida Labuguen, executive director of Philippine Society of NSTP Educators, and Ann Marlita Montejo-Arevalo, curriculum developer and GlobALS program manager of GPFF Philippines, discussed on “Peace Education and the Transformation of the Nation.”
“When people’s character is weak, selfish and self serving, nation-building is impossible; hence, character building is nation-building,” shared Dr. Ricardo Wagan, President of Philippine National Chapter of Global Cooperation Society International on the topic of “Character-Based Education as Foundation in Developing A Nation of Character.” With him in the same session is Dr. Crispina Zafra, education supervisor of Department of Education in Region III.
Prof. Marilou Tan from University of Sto. Tomas and Prof. Teresita Atienza from Polytechnic University of the Philippines conferred on “Character Education as an Integral Part of Youth Leadership.” In the same topic, Dr. Edmon Pacson, board member of Global Peace Youth Corps Philippines, concluded that in order to overcome limitations, “we need to bring our youths to not just the four corners of the classroom, but also provide them with the necessary environment and engage them in community service.”
In a nutshell, the 4th IPEC Resolution ‘appeals to the United Nations Organization and to all member-nations to include in their respective Educational Reform Agenda/Programs a course of study aimed at promoting and developing good citizens of the world for global peace and economic progress.’
“The 4th International Professors and Educators Conference is a reaffirmation of the collective wishes of people for a better world through education,” said Dr. Samuel Salvador, vice president for academic affairs of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. “May this conference, through the gathering of various sectors today, foster unity, which is needed to attain progress,” he declared. Dr. Salvador is also among the principal author of the resolution.