Ten “Jewels of Light” were given awards as “Exemplary Mothers” at the 42nd anniversary celebration of Davao del Norte province in southern Mindanao. The search for the “women of spirit, substance and style” from Davao del Norte’s eight municipalities and three cities was organized by the Provincial Council of Women and Mothers for Peace in cooperation with the Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center of Davao City.

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The UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines named MCW as the sole Philippine nominee for the UNESCO Felix Houphouet-Boigny Peace Prize, named after the first President of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire who was an outstanding peacebuilder. The UNESCO Philippines Chair, Ms. Felice Sta. Maria, in informing Ms Irene M. Santiago of the honor, wrote: “We are very pleased to be backing an NGO that pioneers the once undervalued or overlooked women’s perspective in peace and development in Mindanao.” The final selection is made in Paris by a jury headed by Henry Kissinger. In 1997, the prize was awarded to President Fidel V. Ramos and MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari. Nelson Mandela was the first recipient of the peace prize. Read more about the UNESCO Peace Prize.

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