COTABATO CITY (September 26, 2020) – Filipino journalists from various media outlets attended the online media forum hosted by the Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), an international peace non-government organization in consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on September 17, 2020.

The topic was "The Role of Mass Media in Peace-building.”  Five (5 )speakers discussed the vital role of the media in peace-building amidst the challenges that they are facing especially during this time of the pandemic and civil unrest.

"The role of the media is to share facts that will foster peace, just like how parents share truthful knowledge to their children, which builds trust and peace among the family," said Theofel Santos from Radyo Veritas.

MJ Balaguer from Diaryong Tagalog also emphasized that dialogue, honesty, understanding, love, and respect are all essential for the press to pursue a "lasting and sustainable peace” not only in the Philippines but elsewhere in the world. 

The participants also discussed the main challenges that they are facing in publishing timely and well-researched news in terms of financial stability, competition between media entities, and lack of legal protection to exercise freedom of speech. 

In the open discussion during the second session, they also discussed ways to address these challenges. 

Junex Doronio, the former Director and Secretary of the National Press Club encouraged mass media practitioners “to strive to be truthful to their calling, to report objectively, without fear or favor." He stated that if journalists liberate themselves from “their own fears", then mass media can help in achieving world peace.

At the end of the forum, all the journalists who attended agreed that responsible and factual journalism is essential for peace-building.

HWPL also hosted another media forum entitled, “Our Attitude to Deal with the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020” on September 26, 2020 attended by journalists from Hongkong, Indonesia, Nepal, Taiwan, and the Philippines.