[The Path of Peace - Ep. 5] Bridging Faiths and Media: Raising the Banner of Peace in the Philippines and Thailand

In June 2013, following the historic declaration of the World Peace Declaration in Seoul alongside 30,000 global youth, HWPL Chairman Man-hee Lee set out for Southeast Asia. His 5th World Peace Tour brought a concrete vision for global peace and the cessation of war to two major nations: the Philippines and Thailand.

This 10-day tour marked a significant expansion into interfaith cooperation, high-level diplomatic dialogue, and broad-scale media engagement.

Media Spotlight in Manila: Peace as a Universal Responsibility

Upon arriving in Manila on June 12, the delegation was met with intense coverage from over 30 major Philippine news outlets, including the Global News Network (GNN), national radio stations, and print publications.

During a press conference on June 13, reporters questioned Chairman Lee on the realization of peace and the reunification of the Korean Peninsula. Emphasizing that peace is not an isolated national issue, Chairman Lee explained:

"When peace is established globally across all continents, peace will naturally arrive on the Korean Peninsula as well. Peace is a shared responsibility for the entire global family."

The media interest was so high that radio station DZUP 1602 extended its live broadcast by 30 minutes due to overwhelming listener requests.

Engaging Religious Communities: Seminars Attended by 5,000

Beyond media dialogues, the 5th World Peace Tour made a deep impression on local religious networks. While initial expectations anticipated a modest gathering, two consecutive seminars drew an unprecedented audience of over 5,000 pastors and believers.

Impressed by Chairman Lee’s structured, unscripted explanation of biblical prophecies and their fulfillment, over 100 local pastors gathered voluntarily for an additional seminar before the delegation's departure. Local Christian leaders expressed deep gratitude for bringing a fresh message of spiritual clarity and unity to the Philippines.

Diplomatic and Interfaith Dialogue in Thailand

Moving to Thailand from June 18 to 20, Chairman Lee continued to expand the peace network across political, religious, and youth sectors:

• Interfaith Synergy with World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB): Meeting with Phallop Thaiarry, then-Secretary-General of WFB, Chairman Lee advocated for direct cooperation between Buddhist and Christian leaderships to unite millions of believers toward global peace.

• Diplomatic Engagement: In a meeting with Rommanee Kananurak, then-Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairman Lee highlighted the role of youth through the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) and called on world leaders to back international agreements for conflict resolution.

• Youth Empowerment: Chairman Lee addressed local youth assemblies, encouraging young leaders to actively lead peace initiatives within their communities.

Broad Resonance Across Regional Media

Over 50 media organizations across both nations reported on the 5th World Peace Tour. Senior journalists from major outlets like The Nation, MVTV, and NBC Thailand noted the pragmatic drive behind Chairman Lee's efforts, emphasizing that his message transcended cultural and linguistic boundaries.

By connecting political figures, interfaith leaders, news networks, and the youth, the 5th World Peace Tour reinforced a vital lesson: lasting peace requires the active participation of every sector of human society.

Source: https://tinyurl.com/4mamzd2w