Teachers, students join peace camp in Lanao

TUBOD, Philippines - More than 3,000 teachers and students had participated in the 4th Northern Mindanao Peace Village held Oct. 27-30, 2008 in Tubod, in the southern province of Lanao del Norte. The 4-day activity, which was held at the Mindanao Civic Center, aimed to educate young students to become peace advocates and achieve a state of oneness among the Muslims, Christians and indigenous peoples in their locality. “Our objective is to promote tolerance, goodwill and respect for the diversity of each other’s culture and faith,” said Estrella Abid-Babano, regional director of the Deptartment of Education-Region 10. The event, spearheaded by DepEd, was participated in by the 12 schools divisions of the region: Iligan City, Cagayan de Oro City, Ozamiz City, Gingoog City, Tangub City, Valencia City, Oroquieta City, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental. DepEd’s assistant Secretary Jonathan Malaya said the agency is impressed with this year’s turn-out of the Peace Village. “The peace education gained through the key Peace Village activities is DepEd’s contribution to the continued search for lasting peace in this part of the country,” Malaya said. - Ric Clet, GMANews.TV