Asia-Pacific leaders unite to overcome global divisions

Somying Buabut, former senator and member of the parliament in Thailand, waves the official flag of the First Asia-Pacific Family Peace Leadership Conference during the event's closing ceremony at Manila Hotel in Manila, the Philippines, Sunday. Courtesy of Family Peace Association Asia-Pacific

By Ko Dong-hwan

• Published Jul 24, 2024 9:00 AM KST
• Updated Jul 24, 2024 10:29 AM KST

MANILA, the Philippines — Educators, religious leaders, and professionals from different fields across Southeast Asia and the Pacific region came together at the First Asia-Pacific Family Peace Leadership Conference, Saturday, to advocate for a new god-centered civilization aimed at overcoming global divisions and building stronger alliances across nations and social ranks.

Arranged by the Family Peace Association Asia-Pacific, the three-day conference from Friday to Sunday drew hundreds of visitors from countries in the region. Under the motto “One Family Under God,” they discussed strategies for applying this vision in key areas such as interfaith initiatives, women’s rights, educational reform, family strengthening, and youth engagement.

The motto “One Family Under God” was first coined in 2007 by Moon Hyun-jin, the founder of the Global Peace Foundation (GPF), a non-governmental organization, and its affiliate, the Family Peace Association, which has since established regional congregations worldwide starting in 2017.

Samuel Salvador, the chair of the conference and chairman of the Asia-Pacific Regional Peace Council of Professionals, expressed his hope that the conference would reignite a commitment to the core principles of unity, love, and compassion.

“We’ve seen various civilizations rise and fall throughout history and yet, none has achieved lasting peace,” he said.

“Will we allow this era to be marred by the same conflicts and habits that have plagued previous civilizations, or will we strive to create a civilization of lasting peace?”

At the conference, speakers both warned of potential dangers and proposed solutions for overcoming global divisions.

Kim Soon-jeong, president of Global Peace Women Korea, raised awareness about the record-low birthrate and fast-aging society in Korea. Expressing her shame at having to reveal the country’s crises that lead to its potential extinction, she urged the audience to avoid following those dark paths.

Meanwhile, Yoo Kyung-myung, international vice president of family and education under the association, illuminated the concept of a god-centered family, emphasizing that it represents a “new global identity” rather than sectarian ideologies.

Moon Shin-ha, international vice-president of the association and daughter of Moon Hyun-jin, invoked the audience to treat each of their families as a “nucleus” that makes up “one large extended family” across the world.

The conference created an emotional atmosphere, deeply moving many of those in attendance.

Gabrellie Faith Catabay, a student leader at Bulacan Polytechnic College in San Jose del Monte, asked a poignant question during the youth plenary roundtable.

“What is the purpose of our lives?” she asked the audience.

With tears welling in her eyes, she urged her fellow youths to start by transforming themselves, embracing self-confidence, and seeking divine guidance for their futures. Her heartfelt plea was a powerful challenge to the younger generation to reflect on their personal growth and spiritual direction.

“I’ll answer your question,” said Mercedes Pleyto San Pedro, a Manila-based dentist who moderated the roundtable, immediately following Catabay’s speech.

“I’ll live and love for god, live and love for my family, my people and neighbors," she said.

At the conclusion of the conference, the attendees presented a series of resolutions directed at the United Nations. They called on the U.N. to integrate the conference’s motto, “One Family Under God,” into its policies and strategies. The resolutions urged the organization to allocate resources to educational initiatives that emphasize the values of unity and to establish a new platform that fosters collaboration among governments, civic organizations, religious leaders, and youth to promote the motto’s principles.

Golden Leaf Awards

On the sidelines of the conference, the Golden Leaf Awards took place on Friday. The awards recognized individuals and organizations for their exemplary commitment to family values across various categories, including cinematic work, youth, sports, interfaith efforts, philanthropy, and family.

“Family Matters,” directed by Nuel Naval in 2022, won the Outstanding Family-Oriented Movie category, while Ven. Noppadon Siriwangso, head of the Dharma Practice Division and Assistant Director at Phra Dhammakaya Temple in Thailand, received the award for Interfaith for Peace. Camille Villar, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives and district representative for the Lone District of Las Piñas City, was honored in the Youth Role Model category.

Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, former senator of the Philippines and better known as one of the most successful boxers in the world with 12 major world titles, won the Sports and Philanthropy award. Salvador Pleyto Sr., congressman of the sixth District of Bulacan House of Representatives, won the Model Family award.

The inaugural awards recognized and honored individuals, organizations and institutions that exemplify outstanding leadership and demonstrate commitment to family values.

“Through these awards, we aim to celebrate and promote the crucial role of strong leadership and family unity in building harmonious and resilient societies,” said an official at the award organizing committee.

Community outreach

A day prior to the conference, key participants and local youth volunteers in the Philippines joined community outreach activities.

Over 20 members of Bayanihan Youth for Peace, a philanthropic organization based in Quezon City, visited Handicapped Center Lourdes in Manila to provide children with disabilities at the institution with financial donations and daily necessities.

Veronica Delima, the center's coordinator and teacher, taught the visitors basic sign language and demonstrated the activities the institution uses to engage children with impaired vision, hearing, or mental illnesses.

Father Luke Moortgat from Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Missionaries, who built the center from scrap and opened it in 1993, presented the youth with a certificate of appreciation.

The volunteers then visited a poverty-stricken community in Tatalon in Quezon City to provide residents with a range of free services — from medical checkups to dental examinations, optometry tests, legal consultations, haircuts and massage therapy. Members of the Family Peace Association Quezon City Barangay Chapters and the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants were also part of the one-day volunteer force.

The organizer also received blood donations from the volunteers, distributed school supplies to local children and made "bibimbap" (steamed rice mixed with vegetables, meats) with the residents.