Mindanao Week of Peace kicks off in Zamboanga City

by Liza Abubakar-Jocson, MB 

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The 25th year of the Mindanao Week of Peace kicked off at the Paseo del Mar here on Thursday, Nov. 24, attended by hundreds of stakeholders from the religious, civic, education, and government sectors.

STAKEHOLDERS from the academe, civic, religious, security, and other sectors converge at the Paseo del Mar in Zamboanga City for the 25th year celebration of the Mindanao Week of Peace. (Peace Advocates Zamboanga photo)

Spearheaded by the Peace Advocates Zamboanga (PAZ), Interreligious Solidarity for Peace (ISP), and Zamboanga-Basilan Integrated Alliance Inc. (ZABIDA), this year’s celebration has the theme, “Harnessing our Peace Efforts: Towards Solidarity.”

Mayor John Dalipe here, in his message, called on all sectors to live in peace, unity, and harmony with each other regardless of status in life, religion, or culture. 

Dalipe issued Executive Order JD 2022-079 declaring Nov. 24 to Dec. 5 as Mindanao Week of Peace.

The order enjoins the cooperation of all sectors to participate in this year’s activity in line with the Week of Peace celebration.

The celebration is also pursuant to Proclamation Order No. 127 issued by President Gloria M. Arroyo declaring the last Thursday of November up to the first Wednesday of December every year as Mindanao Week of Peace.

Mindanao Week of Peace is also celebrated in other provinces and cities of Mindanao.