On 24 January 2014, Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) achieved peace as a testament of their earnestness in their work to strive for sustainable peace through peace education and cultural activities after the initial peace agreement. This article will cover the course of HWPL's civilian peace agreement and its aftermath.

Following the peace agreement signed in 2014, a culture of peace has since then been cultivated in Mindanao, Philippines, a land that has been suffering from severe conflict for more than half a decade. The implementation of the agreement has raised awareness of peace among the local residents. This agreement has contributed to creating an atmosphere of peace to kickstart the progression of a peace agreement between the government of the Philippines and the local Moro people.

HWPL and Peace in Mindanao

Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) has held various events and activities in the Philippines since June 2013, including bringing relief to the slums, holding conversations with religious leaders for interfaith harmony, and establishing a youth network for peace. Later, the head of HWPL Chairman Lee Man-hee was invited to visit Mindanao by H.E. Antonio J. Ledesma, Archbishop of Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro, to support and facilitate with the local religious conflict between the Muslims and Catholics.

At that time, Mindanao was a war zone. It was not an easy decision for Chairman Lee Man-hee, an 84-year-old man, to risk his life travelling to a region of constant conflict. However, Chairman Lee thought to himself, "I cannot deny this request when asked to come to advocate peace as peace activist," hence he agreed to travel to the region despite the risks.

In January 2014 in Mindanao, General Santos, Philippines, a peace walk was held. Over 1,000 people, including believers from both religions, and students from the International Peace Youth Group, participated. The participants were encouraged to shout slogans of peace while holding banners promoting peace while they walked around the city. After the peace walk, Chairman Lee spoke about the necessity of peace to both the Catholic and Muslim leaders, youth groups, and university professors at a hotel in General Santos.

"God's will is peace, not war." He then asked the attendees, "Do you want peace or do you want war," and had them raise their hand if they wanted peace. When all the attendees raised their hand, Chairman Lee then called the Catholic and Islamic representatives to the stage and told them, "Then sign the peace agreement."

On the same day, H.E. Fernado Robles Capalla, D.D, Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Davao, and Esmael G. Mangudadatu, Governor of Maguindanao, signed an agreement for the creation of peace and the cessation of war as the representatives of Catholicism and Islam respectively.

The Mindanao peace agreement mediated by HWPL proposed a "civilian-centred" approach to promote peace. In line with this approach, HWPL began its wide-spread peace activities across the Philippines, including Mindanao, to raise public awareness of the universal peace principles of mutual understanding, respect, and harmony. HWPL is also carrying out peace initiatives centered around civil society, including education, religion, youth, and women, in order to eliminate the causes of conflict and to strengthen the core values for a peaceful and sustainable development in the region.

Hwpl.kr