FOLLOW US
Argentina Celebrates UPF Founders’ Birthday
Written by UPF-Argentina
Thursday, February 18, 2016
Buenos Aires, Argentina—UPF Founders Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon were honored in a special birthday celebration on February 18, 2016 at the splendid Alhambra Hall(*) in Buenos Aires’ Spanish Club. As was done for similar events in other countries—with the main celebration in Korea—the program for the event included the showing of a video, speeches, heartwarming musical performances, cake cutting, and lunch. At this event, UPF-Argentina reaffirmed its commitment to the principles and values practiced and promoted by the founders of the UPF and its affiliated organizations, the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU), the Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP), and the Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles (CARP). The goal of these organizations is to build a peaceful world, like a great family under God.
Peace Culture
Mr. Miguel Werner, secretary general of UPF-Argentina, welcomed the guests and explained the significance of the celebration. Mr. Sergio Castellón a member of FFWPU’s board of directors and UPF’s Peace Council shared a particular experience he had in the 1980’s, when Rev. Moon introduced him to the person who became his wife, Mrs. Rosetta Conti (who is Italian), president of WFWP-Argentina. They now have two grandchildren. Afterwards, the video, “As Peace-loving Global Citizens” was shown, whose introduction was: “Today we celebrate the birthday of two incredible people…who devoted their lives to do God’s will, so His kingdom of love and peace would reach the Earth and the Heaven.”
Art can bring people together and thereby contribute towards reconciliation, coexistence and peace. This was the purpose of the musical performances. Mrs. Ría Sinuhaji performed “Mis pasos” (My Steps), a song from Indonesia, her homeland, and “Saranghe,”a traditional Korean song. Her outstanding voice and melody moved the guests. Then, a young international couple, Mr. Lucas Castellón (Argentinian) and Mrs. Irene Schenkermayr (Austrian) sang “True Colors,” which was followed by a singing of “Sakura” (cherry blossom in Japanese) by Japanese assistants, Mrs. Reina Kawanami; Mrs. Ikumi Sasaki and Mrs. Yui Takajashi. Last, but not least, a group of young people from CARP-Argentina sang the song, “He de serte fiel” and “Cielo.”
Peace Principle
During the cake cutting, representatives from local organizations were invited to speak. Dr. Julio Schlosser, president of the Delegation of Argentine Jewish Associations (DAIA), reaffirmed the importance of spiritual values for peace. He expressed, “God created us for peace,” and repeated concepts from a speech he gave at UPF’s World Summit in 2014. When he shared that he was about to celebrate 50 years of marriage with his wife Susana Degetman, everyone clapped loudly. Ambassador for Peace Mrs. María Teresa Narváez emphasized that “life is beyond us” and that “there is much more to do in this world.” She then asked all the attendees to stand up and sing “happy birthday.” Poet Mr. Donato Perrone, a member of the UPF’s Peace Council, shared some inspiring words for the toast.
Afterwards, a delicious lunch with international dishes was served, and everyone received a souvenir with the message: “We should have, once more, the pure heart we had as a child in order to heal a hopeless world with no love. The way to relinquish any ambition of possessing even more and to recover our beautiful human essence is reviving the breath of love and peace principle we received when our father carried us on his back” (quoted from the autobiography of Rev. Moon, As a Peace-Loving Global Citizen).
(*) The Alhambra Hall is decorated with Arabian art and its walls were painted by husband and wife, Mr. Francisco Villar Prieto (from Spain) and Mrs. Léonie Matthis (from France).
If you find this page helpful and informative please consider making donation. Your donation will help Universal Peace Federation (UPF) provide new and improved reports, analysis and publications to you and everyone around the world.
UPF is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization and all donations are tax deductible in the United States. Receipts are automatically provided for donations of or above $250.00.
|
Donate to the Universal Peace Federation: Your donation to support the general programs of UPF. |
Donate to the Religious Youth Service (RYS): Your donation will be used for service projects around the world. |
Donate to UPF's Africa Projects: Your donation will be used for projects in Africa. |