LCCian student leaders Joy Jardenil (BS Architecture), Mark Tomolin (BS Tourism), and NSTP-IEAP Coordinator, Mr. Adryan J. Valiao attended the Ecumenical Negrense Youth Colloquium on Challenges to Transcend Armed Conflict organized by the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP) last August 6, 2022, at Negros Residences, Bacolod City.
The PEPP was formed in 2007 with the help and support of the Norwegian Ecumenical Peace Platform, following the Royal Norwegian Government’s role as Third Party Facilitator of peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). Recognizing the importance of the Philippines’ churches in promoting peace as a core gospel value, PEPP was formed to mobilize these faith communities to support the peace process, which aims to end the armed conflict by addressing its social, economic, and political root causes.
The one-day colloquium was spearheaded by Mr. Cesar H. Villanueva, a PEPP core group member with an overview of what PEPP is and the basics of conflict and transformation. It was then followed by a presentation of the survey on the level of awareness of the youth on the peace process by Mr. Renato Bañas and an information session on the history of peace talks in our country. The colloquium has become an effective space for dialogue on peace through group sharings and workshop sessions.
Our representatives at the said colloquium have recognized the importance of working towards a just, equitable, and enduring peace in the Philippines through principled peace negotiations and authentic dialogue.