Simultaneous community candle lighting and prayer activities were conducted Wednesday at the Provincial Capitol Social Hall, in Bacolod City to start off the observance of the Provincewide Peace Month.
Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, Capitol employees, multi-sector representatives, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office Director Col. Romy Palgue, Commander Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte of the 303rd Infantry Brigade and officials from the local government units led the occasion.
They were accompanied by representatives from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and DILG, and other peace stakeholders.
Aimed at instill greater consciousness and understanding among the Negrenses on the comprehensive peace process, the event is also pushing to sustain institutional and popular support for participation in the promotion of building a culture of peace.
The activity is also in line with the National Peace Consciousness Month celebration anchored in the theme, “Mithiing Kapayapaan, Sama-samang Isakatuparan”, which calls for a participative, collective, and inclusive approach towards the shared aspiration for a just, comprehensive, and enduring peace.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said that it is imperative upon everyone to promote participatory governance to attain inclusive and sustainable peace.
“The walk of peace is a long one, and the process of attaining peace cannot be achieved overnight, but with today’s show of unity,” he said.
“I am bound to believe that peace is not a vain aspiration for the Philippines and for Negros Occidental,” he also said.
Aside from the lighting activity, a mural painting dubbed as “Arts for Peace”, in collaboration with the Negros Museum, Art Association of Bacolod-Negros and Orange Gallery, was conducted, too.*
