by Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY (December 1) -- The Diocese of this city spearheaded the conduct of the celebration of the Mindanao Week of Peace with the theme: "A Reconciled Family: Agent to Reconciliation".

In line with the said celebration, activities were conducted to promote peace in Mindanao. Among those include the celebration with the prisoners at the Provincial Jail of Agusan del Norte and with the Street Children.

Meanwhile, the Catholikks Youth Apostolate also hosted the SALIMA, a multi-media storytelling concert performance that tackles the peace situation in Mindanao. It tells the tale from the perspective of a child evacuee named Salima and her journey from peacefully living in a rural area to her new home in an evacuation center.

This concert is in consonance with the ongoing peace campaigns of the local areas and for raising funds for the evacuees in Mindanao.

SALIMA production is organized by Mindanao Peace Advocates Conference (MPAC) network organizations through the parishes/parish priests and the Mindanao Sulu Pastoral Conference (MSPC) Youth Councils.

This is conceived and directed by Geejay Arriola, and written by Palanca 2003 awardee Arnel Mordoquio, featured 14 original musical compositions collectively woven by Davao's best homegrown artists led by prolific music composers Gary Granada, Popong Landero and Eric Gancio (formerly of YANO Band).