PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL IN CHICAGO OBSERVES PEACE DAY WITH INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

The Philippine Consulate General participated in the 34th Anniversary Celebration of Peace Day in Chicago at the Daley Plaza on September 21.

Deputy Consul General Orontes V. Castro joined the members of the Chicago Consular Corps in a special World Peace Flag Ceremony and the Call to Peace with each nation’s flag presented on stage while the prayer for peace is said for that country. Each flag bearer carried one of the flags of the U.N. member countries. The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA-Illinois) Chair Jelly Carandang carried the Philippine flag.

Peace Day has been observed annually since September 7, 1978 when the Mayor of Chicago proclaimed it. Its purpose is to bring focus and energy to aspects of peace building. Every year, Peace Day has included One Minute of Silence for World Peace as well as musical, dance performances and brief remarks by some of Chicago’s prominent peace builders. The Peace School, a non-profit organization, organizes the annual event in cooperation with the City of Chicago Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.

Governor Pat Quinn and Mayor Rahm Emanuel have proclaimed September 7 to 21, 2012 as Peace Days in the State of Illinois and in the City of Chicago honoring the original Peace Day as well as the United Nations International Day of Peace.