MANILA, Philippines -- Despite failed efforts by past administrations on peace process, Muslim leaders said Wednesday that they are still hopeful that peace will soon be achieved in the Philippines. This developed as President Benigno Aquino leads peace awardees at the 4th Peace and Unity International Forum Albani Peace Awards to be held at the historic landmark Manila Hotel on April 16, 2011.
“Hindi pa ako pinapanganak, nag-uumpisa na ang peace process.
Ang dami-dami ng peace process. Sana under the new administration, masolusyunan na ang peace process,’’ said peace advocate Shariff Albani, founder of the peace and unity awards. (We have so many peace process events in the past. I just hope that peace will be finally achieved under the new administration).
Another Muslim leader also said that solving peace should not be discussed in the context of the Constitution.
“They say that peace should be discussed in the context of the Constitution. Pero siguro hindi lahat ng bagay dapat naaayon sa Constitution. Minsan kailangan din natin maging radical para mabigyan ng solution,’’ Ping Mugong, political adviser, Albani Peace Awards. (They said that peace should be discussed in the context of the Constitution. But I think in some cases, we have to be radical to come up with a solution.)
Albani said that the group is still hopeful that peace can still be achieved these days.
“We appeal to the latest panel that peace will be finally achieved in the country. Kasi kung hindi mabigyan ng solution ang isang problema sa loob ng limang minuto, they I think we cannot solve the problem in 10 years.
Albani said that the late President Cory Aquino, known as “Asia’s Icon of Peace and Democracy,” will be conferred the Special Posthumous Award along with other prominent foreign peace advocates during the awards ceremonies.
The Muslim leaders also cited actor Robin Padilla for his efforts to achieve peace in the country.
But Albani said that Padilla himself cannot solve the peace problem alone. “It should be a united effort, it cannot be solved by one person alone, so we appeal to all the people to cooperate in solving peace in the country.’’
The awarding of the Albani Peace Prize Award is staged as one of the highlights of the Peace and Unity International Forum held every three or four years in the Philippines and elsewhere in the world.
Robert Requintina, Manila Bulletin
