Azkals lend support to peace talks, initiatives

Azkals lend support to peace talks, initiativestting a boost from the men’s national football team, the Azkals, which will dedicate all its games in September for peace.

Azkals team manager Dan Palami said they will hold a football clinic at the kickoff dubbed “1Goal for Peace” at the PhilSports Complex on September 2, in support of National Peace Consciousness Month.

“We are actually dedicating all our games this September for peace,” Palami said, according to an article posted on the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process website.

At Sunday's clinic, the Azkals are expected to share their skills with some 100 underprivileged children on the basics of the sport, as part of the peace month celebration.

Azkals team captain Aly Borromeo said the team players, who are preparing for this year’s Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup, will take part in the peace month, as new Ambassadors for Peace, through teaching football which he said is a “great avenue” to promote peace.

“Just like (in playing football as a team), if you want to promote peace you need to work together, you put aside the differences," he said.

“In the peace process no one’s the same. (But) it’s really about finding a way to explore everyone’s uniqueness to increase the welfare of everybody. With football, being part of the team…we need to add on the strengths of each other to maximize the welfare. Just like when we are trying to promote peace or resolve conflict, we have to do the same,” Azkals Jason Sabio said.

Palami said observing peace month is an avenue to “raise awareness of the situation of peace problem here in the Philippines.”

He said the team “is happy to be a part of this” celebration and hopes that “we can finally see an end in the conflicts that we have in the Philippines.”

“1Goal for Peace is the kick-off ceremony for Peace Month. The OPAPP said September has been declared as the Peace Consciousness Month since 2004.

Meanwhile, OPAPP spokesperson Polly Michelle Cunanan said the OPAPP has lined up several activities this month “to mainstream the peace process and promote" the peace process to the general public.

For her part, presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles said the government is glad in getting the support of the Azkals, who are much admired by Filipino youth.

“I am, and I’m sure the country is thankful to the Azkals and the PFF for their support to achieve peace in the country,” she said.

OPAPP leads the annual festivity of peace month with the theme “Ako. Ikaw. Tayo. Magkakaiba, Nagkakaisa sa Kapayapaan.”

It urges different sectors, including government agencies, private and civil society organizations, to contribute in achieving a just and lasting peace for the country.

The “1Goal for Peace” event will be spearheaded by OPAPP and the PFF, and will see participation by various peace process stakeholders to drive home the message that peace building requires hard work, collective efforts, and support of all members of the Philippine society.

Peace fair

During September, a peace fair will be held in partnership with the People Power Volunteers for Reform (PPVR), together with non-governmental organizations including the Asian American Initiative, Generation Peace, PNoyPinay, and Muslim Alliance for National Advancement.

The peace fair will gather Muslim and Christian children to give them the opportunity to know each other and participate in fun activities.

Other activities in line for Peace Month include:

- a massive “I Am for Peace” campaign involving famous celebrities launch on September 14 - KaPEACEtahan, the Peace Month’s main event on September 21, a cultural and gala program showcasing peace process milestones coinciding with the International Day of Peace - simultaneous “I Want Peace” Concerts on September 28 in key cities in the country - “Peace Lens” photo exhibits in various malls in Metro Manila throughout the month - “Teem up for Peace”, a golf fundraising tournament on September 28.

Several online contests will also be held via http://opapp.gov.ph/peace-month-2012. —ELR, GMA News