This is the speech delivered in International Women’s Forum 2023 in the Philippines by Ms. Hanako Ikeno, President of GPW International:
Good afternoon, good evening, good morning – women leaders from around the world. I am deeply honored to be with you today on International Women's Day. I am even happier to be here at this conference organized by many of my Titas, who I met last year in December.
I hope all of you know how special the Philippines is. There is a warmth, sincerity, and honesty that I experienced among all of you that shoots straight to the heart. In a heartbeat, we know we're family. I can think of only a few other places and instances that have that. And as our Chairwoman observed when she was there, I believe it is because in all of your hearts is God, faith and family.
The rallying cry, the vision of Global Peace Women and Global Peace Foundation – and this movement building around this shared vision is "One Family under God," but it's not something foreign or inherited; it is deeply a part of who the Filipino family is.
I recall a conversation I had with Tita Baby; she said proudly, we are many islands, many people, many ethnicity, but we are one people. "Maka-Diyos, Maka-tao, Makakalikasan at Makabansa," a nation that seeks to honor God, their fellow country people, and the earth.
So this convening on International Women's Day is that much more special – that my Tita's are leading the program, discourse, and direction. If I can be so bold as to predict, the Philippines will be the place for many of the world's next most significant developments –
And it is in part because of what is in our hearts as women. Our motivating force is the happiness of those we love, our parents, siblings, husbands, sons, and daughters. And this love extends to the world we live in.
The theme I've was asked to speak on is:
"GLOBAL PEACE AS STRATEGIC PREREQUISITE TO EMBRACING EQUITY AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT"
I was intimidated but happy to receive this theme.
This summer, together, my son and I read a book called "Collapsed" by cultural and environmental anthropologist Jared Diamond.
The book is an analysis of civilizations that rose to great prominence only to disappear – leaving only ruins to mark that they once were: Easter Island, the Viking Kingdom, and the Mayan Empire. Then he also critiqued our modern civilizations: urban centers in the United States, China, Japan.
We could have been filled with apocalyptic dread.
I'll admit – I was feeling a little doomed by the last chapter.
But then Diamond offers a solution: a paradigm shift.
This proposition opened a conversation between my son and me that made me incredibly proud to be in the Global Peace family.
Our conclusion was, "Wow, mom is a part of making this paradigm shift. That's what Global Peace Foundation and Global Peace Women are doing."
I want to borrow a quote from Dr. Ricafort to illustrate this paradigm shift.
"The door has been opened to wider horizons that allow women to be leaders, movers, innovators, and agents of change. We have been empowered by the opportunities of independence, education, and technology and now more than ever, in this globalized world, we are in a position to make a positive difference in the lives of many. As human development moves towards the center on the global stage, people's participation in the development process is now recognized as crucial. Suddenly, the world's attention focused on the realities and dreams of the people . . . the quest for a life of dignity and opportunity for all, which we can only achieve when we have global peace."
I put in the first part of the quote because it indicates that we are at a historic opportunity.
With my son, I named organizations, but in many ways, Global Peace Foundation and Global Peace Women are seizing the opportunities afforded by crucial milestones that have been made in human development to facilitate this movement for global peace. So I hope when I feel this pride, many of you on this call who have been engaged in many of Global Peace Foundation and Global Peace Women's ventures feel the same glow – and if you aren't – there is so much room for collaboration. We're ready!
Ladies, and gentlemen – we are standing on the foundations laid by the sacrifices of our ancestors – our mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers – and fathers, and grandfathers – let us not let this opportunity pass by.
I included the second part of the quote because it touches on these milestones, imperative elements needed for Global Peace – which are the prerequisites to sustainable development that consists of the desire and dreams of all for a "life of dignity and opportunity for all."
I want to lift a line from the speech GPW's Chairwoman, Dr. Junsook Moon gave in Clark last December:
"My fellow ates, titas, and anak kos, your history, your heritage, your faith, family, and your personal strengths have prepared you for this moment."
We carry with us every child, woman, man, and family that we love. We are taking on this challenge so that they can live in a world of freedom, harmony, and peace.
There are a few essential milestones that Global Peace establishes for economic prosperity to take place. And, I had to dig a little bit through my son's history books.
Mothers, sisters, daughters, and wives, our part in ensuring peace is irreplaceable. As service-minded women we can animate the vision of "One Family under God" through the experiences in our families and reach across the world. This vision connects the world into one human family. Just as we experience our inter contentedness and recognize and protect the innate value, rights, and freedoms of every member of our family, we can do the same for all people.
As I conclude, ladies and gentlemen, our task is enormous and urgent. We are aiming high; our dream is big.
Many challenges are ahead, but we have witnessed the power of service-minded women. Let us be confident in our strengths.
We have raised children and grandchildren. We overcame COVID-19 pandemic. We are advancing groundbreaking transformation and innovation in education, business, society, and around the world.
With our service-mindedness, we can turn tragedy into opportunity, failure into growth, and hurt into happiness. We respond to injustice and pain with compassion, grace, and hope. And we do this because we are inspired by the vision of "One Family under God." We can become the source of expanding freedom, harmony, and peace for all humanity.
Ladies and gentlemen, I hope you can join the efforts of Global Peace Women as it empowers service-minded women worldwide to advance peace.
I know that the Philippines is where this movement will deepen and flourish. My fellow ates, titas, and anak kos, your history, heritage, faith, family, and personal strengths have prepared you for this moment. We carry every child, woman, man, and family with love. We are taking on this challenge so that they can live in a world of freedom, harmony, and peace. When we put our efforts together and encourage others to do the same, we can embrace this world with love and open a new time for peace and prosperity.
I am honored that we can do this together.
Thank you very much. Salamatpo.