BAGUIO CITY (PIA) - - The Youth for Peace – Baguio City Chapter, in partnership with Task Force Baguio, the City Government, the Baguio Peace and Order Council and other government agencies, barangays and civil/private society groups, recently convened a peace convention at the Malcolm Square here

 The Peace Convention activity included peace rally, peace walk, along with a concert and cultural performance from law enforcement agencies and other partners.

Officials and representatives from the Youth for Peace, City Government; National Youth Commission; Department of the Interior and Local Government; Sangguniang Kabataan Federation of Baguio City and the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Peace, Reconciliation and Unity also shared messages of support for the whole – of – nation approach in ending local communist armed conflict in the country.

A former rebel also shared her experiences on how extremists lured her into their false idealism and on how the Philippine government helped her realize such mistake and   move to a new and better life.

 Hundreds of event participants also joined in a patriotic oath and the signing of wall of commitment to be advocates of ensuring a peaceful and progressive Baguio City and Philippines, as a whole.

Youth for Peace – Baguio Chapter President Yvonne Losnong expressed gratitude to all the individuals and groups that supported the successful staging of the Peace Convention, which she defined as a patriotic collective gathering for the promotion of socio – political stability and the attainment of just, genuine and lasting peace.

 “Our world is facing profound challenges and yet people are not only heavily affected but they are also front line for actions and solutions. They say that the youth must be the center of effort to face these challenges and build more peaceful place for us to live, that is why we are here standing here in front of you making initiatives and actions to continuously promote peace and community development” Losnong stressed.

LTCol. Dominador Valerio of the Philippine Army 503rd Brigade and the Deputy Commander of Task Force Baguio, praised the Youth for Peace – Baguio for leading the event and thanked   all the government and private sectors that participated, as he outlined the importance of the country to move forward towards lasting peace and development.

 As the New People’s Army celebrate their 52nd year anniversary, we are here to promote the culture of peace in Baguio city. It is about time that we end the more than half a century of their campaign to bring false ideals to destabilize the country and hamper our actions towards peace and development and more importantly to save our youths from their deceiving and harmful ideals and activities, Valerio stressed. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)