The day was beautiful and sunny as the huge tarpaulin was laid out in the middle of the oval ground on February 15, 2010 that signaled the grand opening of the Global Peace Festival UMak-2010. The theme of the Festival was, “UMak for Peace – One Family under God”. The activity formally commenced with the ribbon cutting led by Dr. Edita I. Chan, Executive Vice-President, University of Makati.

The plan was to have ‘Human Hand Printing’ on the gigantic tarpaulin. The activity was called “Thousand Hands for Peace”; a weeklong endeavor to complete the formation of the Global Peace Festival (GPF) logo in consonance with the GPF UMak’s campaign for the promotion of peace, unity and harmony through arts on the campus level. The human hand printing itself was accomplished 3 days earlier by the school officials who made the first handprints, encouraging the student body to take ownership of the GPF’s vision of building “One Family Under God”. The fact that this was completed very quickly only further signified the unity and commitment of UMak’s faculty and its student body. GPF-UMak also aims to impact other colleges and universities to do the same and to proudly be the first to establish this powerful peace initiative.

“Teachers refuse Mindanao Assignments,” read the headlines of an article in The Manila Times on Nov. 11, 2009. The beheading of school principal, Gabriel Canizares, on Monday sent a shock of fear throughout the Department of Education and the nation of the Philippines.

Against this morbid background, the Mindanao Peace Symposium scheduled for Nov. 11-12, 2009 went on undeterred. “It was the first time Pentecostal pastors dealt directly with Muslim leaders on issues of peace, cooperation and mutual understanding,” said Dr. Massimo Trombin, International Field Director, Global Peace Festival, one of the sponsoring organizations.

Service For Peace is developing an exciting project that will Empower 900 Filipino Youth in Peace Building. Find out more at www.globalgiving.com/4054 and join in an effort to bring peace in Mindanao, Philippines.

The Global Peace Festival sponsored fifty Young Muslims in Davao City to study Shielded Metal Arc Welding course at Joji Ilgan Bian (JIB) Welding Academy. The scholarship recipients were trained from July 20 to October 15, 2009.

Pangasinan’s pride, the Asian Fisheries Academy (AFA) is now home to Mindanao fisher folks through the Harvest of Hope Project, a partnership between the Global Peace Festival Foundation (GPFF) and the National Fisheries Research and Development (NFRDI). Students came all the way from Cotabato, Iligan, Surigao Del Sur, Cagayan De Oro, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, and Misamis Oriental to learn AFA’s advanced technology in aquaculture under Dr. Westly Rosario, Interim Executive Director of NFRDI.

On September 3, 2009, the first batch of 28 students graduated from the 10-day training course on aquaculture technology. They received practical trainings on both traditional and modern aquaculture technology in oyster, sea urchin, sea cucumber, tilapia, white shrimp, and catfish production. Also, students learned important techniques on fish processing such as deboning, smoking, bottling and canning of fish like popular Bonuan Bangus.

Believe it or not, the Manila Hotel was actually the residence of General Douglas MacArthur from 1935 to 1941. Participants of the 2009 Global Peace Convention will be staying at the world famous Manila Hotel in Manila, Philippines! Check out the Manila Hotel.