Education of the Heart: Reflections from the 2017 Global Peace Convention

Naomi Yakawich
March 15, 2017

“Attending this convention widens my horizon and enables me to go beyond the four corners of my school. It was a wonderful and meaningful experience to communicate with various foreign and local delegates, mingle with different nationalities, deepened my passion in transforming education through different avenues.” -Leyma Galicia

The 2017 Global Peace Convention gathered thousands of educators, administrators, experts and students from around the Philippines and the world to take on the challenge of Transforming Education to equip students with the tools to tackle the challenges of the 21st century through Moral and Innovative Leadership. 

The convention, held from February 28 through March 3 shared best practices, innovative projects, and moral leadership initiatives in six unique tracks to tackle today’s most pressing global issues.

Here are some reflections from participants and speakers of the Tranforming Education track.

Thousands of educators participate in the 2017 Global Peace Convention

“The heart of education is the education of the heart. Genuine education should not be just an education of the mind; character and attitude towards what you do and your relationship with others is far more important than just mere intellect. I am grateful to Global Peace Foundation (GPF) and privileged to be part of CCI-IT (Character and Creativity Initiatives- Innovative Team) Core. Attending this convention widens my horizon and enables me to go beyond the four corners of my school. It was a wonderful and meaningful experience to communicate with various foreign and local delegates, mingle with different nationalities, deepened my passion in transforming education through different avenues and exchange ideas in positive social change in different context. It awakened my limited understanding of GPF and its advocacies.”  -Leyma Galicia (KJCMES)


“Attending the Global Peace Convention was really a great experience, meeting people in different parts of the world, knowing their culture and ideas as well as about the topics being discussed. As an educator, I realized that education really plays an important role in addressing peace around the world. We teachers have a great impact on our pupils’ lives, but how can we teach them if we don’t have peace within ourselves?

Since peace starts at home, in our community, our country and especially within, I cannot teach what I do not have. So, I can start by having a special mindset everyday, especially when facing my students so that I can bring out the best in them, believe in their capacity, encourage and share with each and every one of them, trusting that they can do a lot of things. By doing that, we bring more to the table; not just technology but also helping students build strong character with good values such as love, hope, trust and respect. And so, they can be a good leaders.

Educator’s workshop engages students and teachers at the 2017 GPC

For my colleagues, I will try my very best to be a good model of peace in all aspects. I will communicate to them always, since having dialogue with them will let us get to know each other best. Thank you Global Peace Foundation for the opportunity to attend this convention. It was really indeed a spectacular one!” -Jocelyn Layar (KJCMES)


“Thank you for the opportunity to speak about our education initiatives at your blockbuster convention. The Education track had an impressive attendance and excellent speakers. I am sure many appreciated it. Thank you for being very organized. It helps us as speakers to know where to go and what to do all the time. Again, thanks for the opportunity. I am looking forward to collaborating more in the future. -Andrea Escalona (IBM)


“It was a truly international gathering and I must congratulate the organizers for a job well done.”-Ricardo Pama (AUAP)

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