(first in a series)
From October 20 to October 23, 2024, the 3rd World March for Peace and Nonviolence was in the Philippines. It was a 4-day passage, going to three cities in different parts of the archipelago to bring its message of peace, to share a vision of a world without wars, without armed conflicts, without nuclear arms so that the horrors that happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki when the US detonated the two Japanese cities would never happen again, without violence in any of its forms. A program of activities and events was prepared for the 3rd World March in three cities so that its message of peace could reach and be heard, could inspire Filipinos, and could help build the kind of peaceful and conflict-free society where everyone can live, freely, decently and happily.
Wilfredo Alsen arrived the day before after a long trip from Chile, South America as a World March base team representative to join the World March events prepared by volunteers and peace advocates in three Philippine cities. Accompanying him were two humanists– Karina Lagdameo Santillan and Enrique Gutierrez. And so, traveling from Metro Manila, the capital city of the Philippines, the 3rd WM in the Philippines began.
Day 1, October 20, 2024. MALOLOS. A historic city in the Bulacan province where the constitutional convention of 1898, known as the Malolos Convention, led to the establishment of the First Philippine Republic, at the sanctuary of the Barasoain Church. Here, a community feeding program for children was organized and sponsored by the Maffeis Network, the Association Culture Ticino Network in Switzerland, a non-profit association founded in 2011, passionately committed to promoting a culture of peace and human rights.
Day 2, October 21, 2024. BAGUIO CITY. A 1st class city in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Philippines, called the City of Pines and known as the “Summer Capital of the Philippines”, it is a highly urbanized city in the Cordillera Administrative Region, with universities and resorts. Here, an evening dedicated to peace and non-violence was organized by the students and teachers, graced by distinguished guests who spoke about peace-building in different fields and committed supporters of the World March mission.
Day 3, October 22, 2024. SAGADA CITY. Another mountain city high in the Cordilleras, it is known for its rice terraces and for being the first city declared to be a peace zone in the country where guerrillas in different areas still operated, which is why the military is posted in different areas. Here, a gathering of students, professionals and military personnel came together for a peace conference with speakers who shared their thoughts, insights and experiences about peace and non-violence and engaged in a lively interchange with everyone present. The day ended with a short award-winning film by an independent film-maker entitled, DAD-AAN-NA, (Her Walk)
Day 4, October 23, 2024. TRAVEL BACK TO MANILA. Baguio and Sagada are cities high up in the mountains of Luzon Island, it was a day of travel through the provinces to return to the capital city. Fortunately, the storm entering the Philippines hadn’t reached its full intensity for safe travel back to Manila.
The passage of the 3rd World March in the Philippines was an enriching, inspiring and meaningful experience for everyone the World March touched.
As the events and activities unfolded, participated by various groups, this is the first in a series of write-ups on the 3rd World March, to share the Philippine Experience to one and all.
