THE international peace advocacy group Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) gathered peace advocates, youth leaders, educators and religious leaders Saturday, July 19, for a screening of the documentary film ‘Peacemaker’ at Red Carpet Cinema 1 in Shangri-La Plaza Mall.
The event highlighted the peace initiatives led by HWPL Chairman Lee Man-hee, a South Korean war veteran and global peace advocate.
The film chronicled Lee’s efforts to end war and conflict through dialogue, cooperation and international solidarity. A key focus of the documentary was the creation of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), a document proposing 10 articles and 38 clauses designed as a legal and moral framework for governments and civil societies to prevent war and institutionalize peace.
Attendees expressed admiration for the global campaigns depicted in the film, particularly HWPL’s grassroots peace education, interfaith dialogues and diplomatic engagements across continents, including efforts in various parts of the Philippines, notably the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (Barmm).
‘Peacemaker’ showcased a global movement involving thousands of volunteers and partner organizations working to make peace a practical reality.
Gregory Banzon, Chief Operations Officer and Executive Vice President of Century Pacific Foods, shared his impressions of the film.
“I found it very interesting. I think the strategy of the chairman is on point, really bringing the issue to a national, global scale, and all the way up to the UN,” Banzon said.
The event also served as a reminder for Filipinos to actively participate in community peacebuilding efforts.
Ivan Gozum, a faculty member at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) and Public Relations Officer for the Religious Educators Association of the Philippines (REAP), said he was deeply moved by the documentary.
“When I was looking at the title I thought… Peacemaker, ito yung papanood ko, ito yung superhero,” Gozum said, reflecting on his initial thoughts.
He added: “Pero while watching the advocacy of Chairman Lee and then we talked about the cessation of war, peace education, religious harmony, I think my impression on the title ‘Peacemaker’ and the [superhero series] is connected because I think, in a certain way, Chairman Lee's advocacy and the HWPL advocacy as a peacemaker is somehow really an effort of a hero, a modern day hero to really promote peace amid conflict, amid wars that are happening in our world right now.”
Hindu priest Rev. Archarya Prem Shankaranand Tirth emphasized the global need for peace.
“Peace in the world is really very much needed. We are humans but we have been divided by religions, by colors, by race, through so many political things. This work of the HWPL is trying its best to make humanity as one,” he said.
He encouraged viewers to “see how common things are there to make us one, not to be divided, but to connect as a human.”
