Saturday, August 26, 2015, will be a very big day for the people of San Enrique, a tiny municipality in the province of Iloilo. The Light of Peace in San Enrique will finally happen. For those who would like to know how to become a part of it, just read on.
Students and parents meditate in Catan-agan Elementary School (Photo Credit: MMI)
What does it take to create an Inner Peace Town? Or some would even change the question and ask if it is possible to have one. After working with the people of San Enrique in the Province of Iloilo for about a couple of months already I can truly say that it is possible albeit challenging.
Leaders from the Church, San Enrique Local Government Unit, Academe, Barangays and MMI light candles to celebrate the 10,000 Brightness
Challenges. Now that was a very common thing encountered in the course of the project and even now that the Light of Peace in San Enrique is fast approaching. Yes, there were a lot of challenges
It may be fate or destiny. Hon. Ramona Go, the Mayor of San Enrique, calls it providential. I am referring to the first meeting of Mayor Go and the Director of Middle Way Meditation Institute - Iloilo (MMI), Ven. Burin Thitakusalu. I have heard the story told several times but I also would like to share it with those who do not have an inkling about it.
I first heard about it from Ven. Burin himself. It was when we were choosing the schools to be included in the list of model schools for the Inner Peace Leader Philippines Project. He wanted to include San Enrique Central School which is a small one unlike the other schools which are quite big in terms of area and population. He said he knew personally the Mayor in this tiny municipality in the Province of Iloilo. He then proceeded to narrate how he was approached by Mayor Go in the airport
It was only last year when I got to have a chance to join the Light of Peace in the Philippines and that started the ball rolling. After that I told myself that I won't miss the next ones and that's exactly what I am doing right now - getting involved in another Light of Peace in the Philippines event. How different is this though from the previous ones?
The year 2015 is indeed auspicious for Iloilo Science and Technology University or ISAT - U. The institution's status has been elevated to university after a grueling process. At the same time, it has been declared as the first Inner Peace University. To celebrate these achievements, a U Light of Peace was held last June 30, 2015 and with more than a thousand people, mostly students, in attendance. The MiddleWay Meditation Institute - Iloilo, the organizer of the Light of Peace events, headed by its Director, Ven. Burin Thitakusalu, and the university's administration under the leadership of Dr. Raul Muyong, ISAT U's first president, worked together to ensure its success.
The last time I was in the island of Negros was in September just this year. Just like most of my travels, it was something unplanned. We just went to DepEd VI office to present something and when we asked how we can get in touch with the different schools division faster, we got invited to join in their management committee meeting in Campuestohan, Talisay. It was an opportunity too good to let go. What else do we do but to go.
Signpost Philippines Inc. (formerly Signpost
International, Inc.) is an independent NGO that works hand in hand with the
people and empowers them to take an active role in the transformation and
development of their respective communities. To help create an awareness
regarding various social concerns, we will have an on-the-spot advocacy poster
making contest on August 19, 2014 at the Activity Center of SM City,
Mandurriao, Iloilo City. There will be three different categories namely
Elementary, High School and Open Categories. The selected entries will be used
as advocacy posters that will be utilized as information and education
materials in the community.
On-the-Spot Advocacy Poster Making Contest Mechanics
