Mindanao school intensifies peace advocacy through curriculum

MANILA, Philippines — A Mindanao Catholic school has intensified its peace advocacy by incorporating peace education in its academic curriculum, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said. The CBCP website (www.cbcpnews.com) said Assumption College of Davao (ACD) head Sr. Marietta Banayo stressed this is in line with their belief Catholic institutions play a key role in peace. "It seeks the establishment of a 'peace culture' that respects the dignity of life and creation and commitment to the principle of freedom, justice and solidarity among peoples," she said. "It is also for this reason that peace education is being integrated in the different disciplines in the department," she added. Banayo said the Religious and Values Education provides deeper theological reflections on the dream of God for humanity and what the Prince of Peace came to establish. "It further provides perspectives, which make it easier for the students to see the connection between the faith it teaches and how the forces in society work together towards lasting peace," she said. She also cited Araling Panlipunan that provides a systematic social and structural analysis on the causes of conflicts, war, and violence in the local, national and global scenes. "The creative expressions of these scenarios are manifested in MAPEH (Music, Arts, Physical Education and Health), English and Filipino through dramatics, speech, choir, dances, poster making, and poem and essay compositions," said Banayo. Also, she said the school has been actively participating in prayer-rallies and mass mobilizations, through a comprehensive exposure-immersion program. During celebrations of the Mindanao Week of Peace held every last week of November and first week of December, ACD collaborates with other churches, non-government organizations (NGOs), and the government in the defense and promotion of peace in Mindanao. "As an Assumption community, the challenge is formidable. We live in a society characterized by conflict and division, corruption, and greed for power. There is intense poverty and abuse of human rights that dehumanize the dignity of creation," she said. "We cannot close our eyes and remain unmoved by the realities around us. We need to be vigilant; to do something in our own modest way to help transform structures of domination and to make peace an achievable goal," she added. - GMANews.TV