The Naval Forces West (NFW), Philippine Navy joined the Junior Chamber International Puerto Princesa Peacock Inc. on Friday, July 13, 2012 flagging an education for peace campaign entitled “Love + Peace = Lapis”.

LTJG STANLEY VINCE GONZAGA PN, civil military operations unit west officer of the NFW, conducted the information and education campaign at the Napsan Elementary School to children from grades 4 to 6, an initiative aimed at returning the children to the days of qualitative learning on sovereignty and peace with a view to building a critical foundation for its general development.

The Lapis program is part of the PN’s support to the mainstreaming effort of the national government, “Institutionalizing Peace Education in Basic Education and Teacher Education” as provided for under Executive Order (EO) No. 570, as key values of excellence, respect, and integrity which are cited as the values that support success in any community. LTJG GONZAGA encouraged the children to try to develop how to communicate the culture of peace well.

“As we are able to shape the values of each individual, teaching children are sometimes even more influential than traditional IECs,” LTJG GONZAGA said, implying the children’s significant role in peace education.

The “Lapis” program is part of the “AKLAT: Aklat kong Laan ay Talino” project where the Peacock Jaycees gave a mini-library to Napsan Elementary School, the books and shelves were proceeds from the book-run project last March 11.

Aside from the “Lapis” program, school supplies and snacks were given away to all the pupils of Napsan Elementary School.

Elements of the 12TH Marine Battalion Landing Team  (MBLT-12) supported the simultaneous event which provided security, manpower, and an M35 truck of the NFW was used for transportation.

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