Lanao del Sur Gov Mamintal Adiong Jr unveils the bronze Tree of Peace monument at the Lanao del Sur Provincial Capitol. With him is Unesco Goodwill Ambassador Hedva Ser, a renowned sculptor, and the rest of the Unesco delegates. -Courtesy of Pia Region 10
MARAWI CITY, Philippines: This city, which rose from the rubble of the five-month war in 2017, has been awarded the first Tree of Peace monument by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (Unesco) in South-East Asia.
During the unveiling of the sculpture, Unesco’s Goodwill Ambassador for Cultural Diplomacy Hedva Ser said that the “Tree of Peace” stands as a symbol of promoting dialogue and reconciliation, particularly among children and young people.
She cited the sculpture’s branches, which represent giving and holding hands.
She said the sculpture was not merely a piece of art, but also represented respect for dialogue as a way of achieving peace.
The sculpture, which was unveiled on the facade of the Lanao del Sur Provincial Capitol here on Nov 29, was the first award the international agency gave in South-East Asia.
Ser also said that Marawi City in Lanao del Sur stood out from among its previous recipients, which consisted mostly of universities.
“This place experienced a terrible, terrible battle,” she said, referring to the five-month battle between government forces and Islamic State-inspired Maute Group that killed more than a thousand and displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians. She said that Marawi’s experience and how it rose from the rubble of war through peace and reconciliation set an example for the rest of the world.
“We have to have a dialogue, we have to talk to each other. Peace is a solution for everything,” she said.
Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. said the Tree of Peace monument in Marawi City was significant given that the city, once devastated by the 2017 siege, now stands as a testament to resilience, strengthened by the unity of its leaders and the determination of its people.
“This Tree of Peace reminds us that healing is possible, reconciliation is essential, and peace is always worth fighting for,” he said.
Adiong thanked Ser for entrusting Marawi and Lanao del Sur with the first Tree of Peace monument in Southeast Asia, saying the sculpture speaks to the city’s soul and honors its ongoing journey toward peacebuilding.
Witnessing the unveiling were members of the South-South Cooperation Council (SSCC), a global non-government organisation that promotes south-south dialogue through cultural diplomacy and arts programmes.
Victor Sebek, SSCC chairperson and 2025 GUSI Peace Prize awardee, said Marawi’s Tree of Peace could also serve as a tourist attraction symbolising the city’s recovery, transformation, and commitment to peace.
“I commit myself on behalf of the South-South Cooperation Council and all our members, that wherever we go, wherever we speak, we will always quote the example of Marawi and your great success in overcoming the pain of the past into the bright future,” he said.
Cecile Guidote Alvarez, SSCC Policy Advisory Board member and Unesco Artist for Peace, said the Tree of Peace should inspire action, particularly in education. She noted that a lack of understanding of Muslim Mindanao stems from false narratives that obscure the region’s cultural diversity.
She also cited the limited awareness of historical figures such as Sultan Kudarat, whose heroism rivals that of Rizal, Mabini, and Bonifacio, but whose story had not been widely taught in schools.
She challenged universities, including Mindanao State University, to adopt programmes that document the heritage, traditions, and religious beliefs of Mindanao’s indigenous Muslim groups, and to create an “encyclopedia of Muslim heritage” to promote understanding and peace.
Alvarez also stressed the role of the arts and education in instilling peace, saying children who visit the Tree of Peace should internalise its lessons and carry them back into their homes, schools, and communities.
The installation of the sculpture coincided with the celebration of Mindanao Week of Peace, observed this year from Nov 27 to Dec 3.
Brig Gen Billy O. Dela Rosa, commander, 103rd Infantry ” Haribon” Brigade, led the Unesco delegates inside Kampo Ranao, where they viewed the “Tears from Heaven” monument, where names of the 168 security forces killed in the five-month Marawi siege were etched.
Dela Rosa told Inquirer that the monument will be transferred to the most affected area in the Marawi siege so that people can view the memorial. - The Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
