Pilgrimage for Peace to start April 23
Preparations are underway for the 2007 Pilgrimage for Peace covering Panay-Guimaras-Negros Islands on April 23-27 and April 30 - May 3, 2007.
As the name implies, the Pilgrimage will center on the word PEACE. For the organizers this means PRAYERS for peaceful election; EDUCATION towards responsible exercise of the right to suffrage; ADVOCACY for clean and honest election; establish/strengthen COOPERATION among individuals, groups, organizations and institutions that seek and advocate for peace; and ENDEAVOR towards the development of the culture of peace and understanding.
The Regional Pilgrimage is spearheaded by Central Philippine University in partnership with the Convention Baptist Ministers Association, Iloilo Coalition of NGOs and POs (ICON) and the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches. Leading the University's team are the University Outreach Center and Chaplain's Office with the support of the CPU Republic, National Service Training Program, Office for Student Affairs and External Affairs Office,
The two-week pilgrimage will have a short stop in every town for distribution of voter's education materials and prayer for peace. A Voters' Forum and Peace Rally will be conducted on two strategic locations in every island which will culminate with a Peace Rally on May 5, 2007, 4:30 pm at New Provincial Capitol Ground, Iloilo City. Highlighting the event is the symbolic signing of commitment for peace among individual candidates, political party and party list representatives, and other groups and organizations.
In Panay Island, the pilgrimage participants will converge in front of the University Church on April 23, 7:00 am. Enroute North Iloilo towards Capiz, the first major stopover will be at the Filamer Christian College, Roxas City for a Voters' Forum. Traversing the province of Aklan towards Antique, the next major stop will be in San Jose, Antique for an Ecumenical Peace Rally. In Guimaras, the activity will start at Jordan while in Negros, the route will commence in Bacolod City moving north with stop over in San Carlos. From there, participants will take the Canlaon route towards La Castellana and moving south of Negros.
Pilgrimage for Peace is a response of local Christians to the universal call for peace. It will be recalled that in May 2004, the first Pilgrimage of Peace-Panay wide was started by Central Philippine University, Convention Baptist Ministers Association, Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches, and the Iloilo Coalition of NGOs and POs (ICON) National Council of Churches in the Philippines and, and other individuals, groups and organizations. For the May 2007 Election, the movement will reach out to Guimaras and Negros with broader participation of individuals, groups and organizations. As of press time, the following organizations have already signified to join, namely: Creative Community Foundation, Share An Opportunity, Christian Ministerial Fellowship, Filamer Christian College, Lifeline, Convention Baptist Youth Fellowship of the Philippines, National Council of Churches in the Philippines, Evangelical Ministers Foundation of Iloilo City, Rotaract Club of Jaro Centraline, Alliance of Social workers, welfare and development, advocates for Integrated services and Nationalism (ASIN), North Negros Baptist Bible College, Cipher Large Format Printing, Coca Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc. -- lloilo, and Globelines.
Interested parties may contact Rev. Edwin I. Lariza at the University Outreach Center, CPU at 3291971 local 2142 or 09198757724, University Chaplain's Office or the office of the CPU Republic President Marvin A. Segura at 3291971 local 1025 or 09273965558.