A local of Baguio City, Joshua Cachin Agpaoa, will be joining the Global Peace Chain’s (GPC) 2021 summit, representing the Philippines and as the only delegate from the ASEAN community.
The event will be in Istanbul, Turkey, from Oct. 27 to 30.
An initiative of the GPC, the Global Peace Summit Turkey gathers young individuals who identify and aspire to be leaders and peace builders. It aims mainly to guide youth about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and help them in achieving these 17-point SDGs.
The conference will provide an opportunity for participants from around the globe to exchange ideas and projects related to peace. Focus areas include peace-building, inclusivity, innovation, and curiosity. Emphasis also covers ideas within the themes beyond disability, a trip down the Covid-19 saga, and diversity as dream city.
Agpaoa says he is thrilled to be joining the summit, especially at a very challenging time. Despite hesitations due to the pandemic, he has been motivated to push through as it has always been his goal to attend international conferences to gain new perspectives in global issues.
He said this year’s topic on religious tolerance, diversity, and inclusivity is relevant to his context as a Filipino and member of the ASEAN community. He sees it as particularly relevant in addressing regional maritime disputes and religion-related insurgencies.
Agpaoa has been into studying Philippine-China relations, specifically in understanding Filipino perceptions and public opinions of China. He envisions attaining knowledge and training in policy development and policy making in the education and international relations sectors as he pursues a Master of Laws in International Relations degree at the Jinan University in China.
Agpaoa said this stint aligns with his aspirations as a Baguio local, an artist, and a youth ambassador. He said he has seen how his cultural roots and academic training come together through the years and from his experience in different countries.
“During my studies in Indonesia, my art practice as interpreted in the traditional Indonesian textile design, batik, conveyed political and religious sentiments,” Agpaoa said.
Part of his proposal for the summit is to be introduced to the ASEAN education network and its work on policy development. He hopes to contribute later to opportunities to maximize cooperation and unity in the ASEAN, in the education sector.
Agpaoa graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Visual Arts at the University of the Philippines Baguio and has previously been a participant in the Asia Pacific Youth Forum 2016 in Nepal, the ASEAN Youth Volunteer Program 2017 in Malaysia, and the World Bank Youth Summit 2018 in Washington D.C., USA. – UPB release
