Marawi Bishop Edwin dela Peña during a press conference on the Church’s rehabilitation plans for Marawi. —INQUIRER file photo / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

ILIGAN CITY – Religious leaders in Mindanao called on the people to celebrate the gains of the long years of peacebuilding work done by individuals and institutions so these are valued and treasured in their everyday lives.

Marawi Bishop Edwin dela Peña issued the call as the country observes the Mindanao Week of Peace starting last Nov. 28, with the theme “Sustaining the Gains of Peace, Solidarity, and Resilience.”

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Dela Peña said the challenge to sustain peace, unity and harmony among Mindanao’s diverse population must be responded to in the people’s day to day interactions.

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Bishop Stephen Villaester of Iligan City’s Anglican Church and executive director of the local government’s Moral Recovery and Values Transformation program, said the occasion must be an opportunity to look back on “our commitment to strengthening and fostering harmony, understanding, solidarity and inclusivity in our communities.”

“This celebration reminds us of the beauty and strength found in unity amidst diversity. May these two celebrations inspire us to transform conflict into hope and opportunities for understanding, and nurture a shared vision for a better future,” Villaester said.

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READ: In Mindanao, religious leaders join hands to promote peace

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Columban missionary priest Rex Rocamora said some 100 Christian, Muslim and Lumad youth from Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City are set to join the peace caravan to Marawi City on December 4 as a show of interfaith solidarity during the culmination phase of the weeklong observance.

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Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. cited the importance of interfaith dialogue in fostering peace and mutual understanding in Mindanao.

“This year’s theme compels us to look back and learn from the lessons of the past, as we look ahead to the future and move towards our collective vision: a peaceful, prosperous and progressive Mindanao,” Galvez said in a statement.

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“The remarkable transformation that is taking place in Mindanao did not happen overnight. It is the result of years of hard work, dedication and commitment of individuals coming from diverse backgrounds, cultures and faiths who have tirelessly worked for a common cause,” he noted.

“What we have achieved in Mindanao is a testament to the power of synergy, collaboration and inclusiveness. Let us continue to work together and write a new chapter in the narrative of Mindanao – where its people are prosperous, empowered and resilient,” Galvez further said.

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