Persons and associations who are planning to set up events and activities in the Philippines in line with
the 3rd World March met up, August 7, to share images and to interchange how to move forward and
continue preparing for the visit of the WM Team.
Present were: Tiziana Volta (WWWV World Coordination Team, Philippines WM Coordinator), Margherita Maffeis-Natale (Maffeis Network-Culture Ticino Network Association, Lugano, Switzerland), Guinell Flores (Philippine Italian Association), Jennifer Espinosa (Culture Ticino Network Association, Paombong), Dom-An Macagne (Sagada, Philippines) and, Karina Lagdameo Santillan (Pressenza).
An engaging and inspiring interchange and sharing followed.
Tiziana Volta, as the Philippine WM coordinator, is making a draft of the program and working to finalize the schedule of the 3rd WM passage to the Philippines. At present, the 3rd WM plans to be in Manila, Malolos, and Sagada (Baguio). The dates of the 3rd WM being the Philippines is either from October 18-21 or October 17-20. Tiziana will be meeting soon with Rafael de la Rubia, founder of World without Wars and without Violence, main promoter and world coordinator of the World March for Peace and Nonviolence, to finalize the dates.
At present, logistics for the visit of the World March are being ironed out. This is considering that the plan is for 3rd World March activities to be done not just in Manila, the capital city, but will travel to Malolos, a town in the province of Bulacan, and go up north to Sagada and Baguio. Schedule-wise, there will be an evening event in Manila depending on the time of arrival of the team. And, the team coming here could also be divided into two to be able to be in all the cities and towns.
Liter-of-Light.
Guinell Flores of the Philippine Italian Association shared their current plans– the installation of solar
lights in a landmark Manila venue, having a peace symbol and some painting installations thanks to the
collaboration of the Liter of Light Foundation and its creator Illac Diaz. These are activities being planned to move forward with the help of students. Meetings with universities and student orgs can be
set up, once the break is over and schools have started. Nine schools have initially responded. Live
cultural performances for the 3rd WM can also be explored by asking the Dean of the St. Scholastica
College of Music to hold a live event. Come September, the plan is to spread the word about the 3rd WM via social media. And, the association can also donate solar lights to Malolos.
Malolos Constitution
In Malolos Bulacan (historic city where the first Philippine republic and constitution was founded in 1899), the Culture Ticino Network Association, Paombong, as represented by Jennifer Espinosa and
Margherita Maffeis-Natale (Maffeis Network), initial plans will be finalized (i.e. with The Rotary Club and schools) once the dates of the WM team’s presence in the Philippines are finalized.
Sagada: Panoramic view.
Sagada, Ilocos Norte.
Dom-An Macagne from Sagada, a town in Ilocos Norte, shared that Sagada was first to be declared a
peace zone in the Philippines. The 3rd WM for peace and nonviolence in Sagada will reinforce this even
more. October is also Indigenous Peoples month, so the WM can have an intercultural event and get the
voices and perspectives of children, youth and women. September is the month of peace. There is a plan
for schools to make 1M paper doves which can be made an offering for peace and an installation in
October. There is also a plan, an idea to work for a legislation to legally proclaim Sagada as the town of
peace and non-violence, aside from being a tourist destination. The next steps are to form an organizing
team and to look for sponsors to help with the logistics.
Tiziana Volta will be meeting with Rafael de Rubia soon to finalize the dates and plans can be finalized.
She shared that an official mailer for the universities has been finalized which can be used in contacting
and working with students for the WM. And, there is a plan to set up an international universities network that will meet twice a year where the Malolos university and others can be invited to be a part of.
All in all, the 3rd World March for Peace and Non-violence in the Philippines is moving forward. Thanks to the images, plans and efforts being made by the team.
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With the antecedents of the 1st World March 2009-2010, which travelled through 97 countries and five
continents for 93 days. With the Philippines being the third country in its global route. The 2nd World March for Peace and Nonviolence, 2019 to 2020 was:
To report the dangerous worldwide situation with increasing conflicts, to keep on creating awareness, to make the positive actions visible, to give voice to the new generations who wish to install the Nonviolence culture.
The 3rd World March for Peace and Non-Violence 2024-2025 starting this October 2 is counting on
accumulated experience and on sufficient indication of participation, supports and even more
collaborations.
For further information: info@theworldmarch.org