By Gideon C. Corgue
PAGADIAN CITY, Dec. 22 (PIA) – To show a meaningful commitment to supporting peace, schoolchildren from the different schools of Zamboanga del Sur have converged recently at Bishop’s House, Balangasan District to learn visual arts that promote peace.
The one-day interfaith visual arts workshop was one of the lined-up activities for the Mindanao week of peace on Nov. 26- Dec. 10 with the theme: “Mindanaoan’s aspirations for peace”.
Bishop Emmanuel T. Cabajar, a peace advocate and, at the same time, a skillful artist in his message said he initiated the activity to encourage the young people not only to learn visual arts but to learn how to embrace peace.
“Ang inyong pag-anhi dinhi dili lamang pagkat-on sa visual arts kung dili aron makakat-on usab kamo kung unsaon paghalog sa kalinaw (Your coming here is not only to learn visual arts but to learn how to embrace peace),” Cabajar told the young participants composed of Christians, Muslims and Subanen.
Cabajar said peace and unity have been long dreamed of by the people of Mindanao.
With the activity, Cabajar said the young participants would know each other and become friends regardless of their religious affiliations.
Meanwhile, Mariano Vidal, a famous visual artist from Cebu was very happy to share his skills in arts to the participants.
Vidal encouraged the participants to be artists saying that there are many benefits and advantages from being artists.
“Buot nako nga mamahimo kamo nga visual artists aron nga kung pagdako ninyo makatabang kamo pagpalambo sa kalinaw nga gidamgo sa Mindanaoans,” Vidal concluded.
(I want you to become visual artists so that when you grow, you can help promote peace that has long been of dreamed by Mindanaons.)
Vidal cited the instances where he unexpectedly met popular persons such as former US president Jorge Bush, Philippine presidents Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada, celebrities, etc.Vidal was invited by the bishop to share his talent to the participants and to encourage them to become like him when they grow up. (FPG/GCC/PIA-Zamboanga del Sur)
