Manila, Philippines - The Speaker of the Philippines House of Representatives, Hon. Jose de Venecia, Jr., headed up the welcoming committee for Dr. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon. A police escort sped the party to the historic Manila Hotel, General MacArthur’s residence and headquarters during World War II. More than 3,000 well-wishers lined the roadway leading to the hotel, waving flags and holding banners.

After greetings, two members of the delegation went to lay a wreath at the memorial of the country’s founding father, and national hero, Dr. José Rizal. Rizal's life and works, like those of Mohandas Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore in India, and Sun Yat-sen in China, catalyzed anti-colonial politics in Asia during the latter years of the 19th Century and Rizal is rightly referred to as “the First Filipino.”

Father and Mother Moon had lunch with the Speaker de Venecia and many Ambassadors for Peace. Lunch interaction was friendly and light. The meeting with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was warm and affectionate. She recalled that her own father former President Diosdado Macapagal had attended a number of Summit Council for World Peace meetings some years ago. She said she was very aware of the many initiatives that Father and Mother Moon have carried out in the Philippines and around the world. Father Moon encouraged the President to have courage, and to consult with the many spiritual leaders in the nation for wisdom and guidance, particularly in times of challenge and difficulty.

Guests greeted by tour display report

Dr. Moon at the podium in Manila

The inauguration of the Universal Peace Federation was attended by more than 5,000 guests. The program included lively entertainment and a multi-faith invocation. Speaker De Venecia spoke passionately about the importance of interreligious harmony as the basis for world peace, referring to so many trouble spots in the world, where the religious discord contributed to conflict. He spoke about President Arroyo’s support for the interreligious council initiative at the United Nations, and about the fact that she had chaired the Security Council of the United Nations, the most powerful decision-making body in the world, and had convened the interreligious summit at the opening of the 60th General Assembly in September in New York.

In his peace message, Father Moon spoke about cross-cultural marriages as a way of linking and building harmony among people of different races, nationalities, religions, and ethnic groups.

The event included an invitation for couples to join in a world peace blessing toast of marriage rededication.

At the close, Father Moon wrote a celebration calligraphy, roughly translated “The Clean Ocean and Clean Mind are the Fragrances of Flowers of the Eternal World.” Leadership and Good Governance awards were conferred on Speaker de Venecia and Hon. Alvarez.

To read the inaugural peace message, click here.
To download a report booklet of the UPF Founders' 2005 World Peace Tour, click here.