Congratulatory Remarks at 2023 HWPL Global Peace Leaders Conference – ②

 

Hon. Ahod B. Ebrahim, AI haj
Chief Minister, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in MusIim Mindanao (BARMM), Philippine

 

 

Bismillahhir rahmanir Rahim. Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. (In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the merciful. May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be with you).

A very pleasant and peaceful day to everyone. My courtesies to our great leader, HWPL Chairman Man-hee Lee, our great leader advocating peace in the whole world. Likewise, to the other leaders today, my courtesy to everyone. I know that everyone gathered here speaks of the common language of heavenly HWPL, which is heavenly world peace.

I join the Heavenly Culture, World Peace, and Restoration of Light and every peacemaker and advocate across the world in celebrating the 9th anniversary of the September 18 World Peace Summit. This occasion is a testament to more than nine years of the continuing commitment of the Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light, or HWPL, in pursuit of peacebuilding and conflict resolution in the Philippines and overseas.

I can vividly recall when I was in this country, on September 18, 2015, when I attended the last Annual Commemoration of the World Alliance of Religions’ Peace, or WARP Summit, and gave a message in which I highlighted the need for all of us to come together and continue to work towards our shared vision of peace and justice. I also shared that during that time we had ended more than forty years of unrest in the Southern Philippines when we signed the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro with the Government of the Philippines in 2014. Today, I stand before all of you with utmost humility and say that the Bangsamoro is now a land of peace, prosperity, and justice where Muslims, Christians, Indigenous Peoples, and our Lumad brothers and sisters co-exist and live in harmony. Alhamdullilah (Praise God).

Despite the challenges we have faced during the early years of the transition period, we have endured and continue to create a bureaucracy that is rooted in the aspirations of the Bangsamoro people. During this time, we have achieved key legislation, such as the Bangsamoro administrative code, civil service code, education code, and electoral codes. These measures ensure that the foundations of this government are strong and affirmed by everyone in the area.

 

 

In order to ascertain our goal of an empowered, cohesive, and progressive Bangsamoro, this current administration has introduced a 12-point priority agenda centered on moral governance. These 12-point priority agendas shaped our budget, legislation, programs, and policies for the Bangsamoro region and its people, which have long been neglected. As we move to the next chapter of the transition period, these agendas will focus on moral governance, economy, social services, peaceful and resilient communities, climate-resilient infrastructure, culture and identity preservation, and education.

With humility, I share with you that the Bangsamoro Region, the poorest region before, is now the second fastest-growing region in the country, with an economic performance of 7.5 percent. We accredited this success to the significantly better peace and order situation in the region. This is the overarching guidepost of our model of governance: moral governance. We give the best programs and services that the people deserve in accordance with the supreme law of Allah, the Almighty.

If I may also share, earlier this year, during the 32nd World Peace Tour of our great, great leader, the HWPL, Chairman Man-hee Lee joined me in Camp Darapanan, our modest camp, when I signed the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War and announced that January 24 in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region is a declaration of HWPL Peace Day.

I likewise presented to Chairman Man-hee Lee a model of a tool: a sickle which is a representation of the tools of the farmers in our area, and I told him that now, we decided to melt our guns and convert it into sickles for our farmers. I did this because I was very much inspired by the very strong activities of HWPL in order to attain total peace in this world and that is a recognition of our joining him in his campaign. So I now officially declare to all of you that we are one with Chairman Man-hee Lee in his campaign for peace, heavenly peace in this world.

Finally, as we embrace a new age in the name of peace and development, I call upon everyone, every influential leader, policymaker, and peace advocate in all parts of the world to become a catapult that promotes peace, disarmament, and a sustainable future. Let us continue to write a story of peace. One that is firmly based on our shared dedication to the common good and common goodwill.

In that spirit, I wish you all a meaningful commemoration of the 9th anniversary of the September 18th World Peace Summit. May this auspicious day inspire you all to become an instrument of social change and justice and peace.

Shukran. We are one!

Wa billahi taufiq wal hidayah wassalamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

 

Thank you.