Peace na, Peace Tayo!
Did you know that the month of September is National Peace Consciousness Month in the Philippines? September was declared such under Proclamation No.675 signed on 20 July 2004 by then President Gloria Macapaga-Arroyo. The Presidential Proclamation was issued to "instill greater consciousness and undertanding among the Filipino people on the comprehensive peace process to strengthen and sustain institutional and popular support for and participation in this effort, as well as in the global movement spearheaded by the United Nations to promote a Culture of peace based on nonviolence, respect for fundamental rights and freedoms, tolerance, understanding and solidarity. " September was chosen because several peace-building milestones happened during this month, like the signing of the 1996 Peace Agreement between the government and the MNLF on 2 September 1996, and the UN Declaration of 21 September as International Day of Peace. Presidential Adviser on the Peace Proces