A Proposed Resolution for the Celebration of the International Day of Friendship

A PROPOSED RESOLUTION FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FRIENDSHIP
by Renee Dominique C. Rodelas, Team Hegemon

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

International Day of Friendship, commonly known as World Friendship Day, is a United Nations (UN) proclamation that highlights friendship - between peoples, countries, cultures and/or individuals – as a fundamental idea to promote peace, unity, solidarity, mutual understanding and reconciliation between domestic and international communities while encouraging the youth, as future leaders, to get involved in activities that promote international understanding and respect for diversity.

Inspired by the friendship celebrations of some South African countries, World Friendship Day started out as a concept proposed by Dr. Ramon Artemio Brachio and his collegues while having dinner on the River Paraguay in 1958. The meeting resulted to a weeklong friendship celebration from 21 to 27 July 1958 with the entire community of Puerto Pinasco, then to Asuncion, Concepcion, Puerto Sastre and Puerto Casado. The following year, the week of Friendship was held from 24 to 30, with July 30 as the closing act of the celebration. This social impact led to the creation of the World Friendship Crusade in 1968, and the establishment of its branches in the Vatican, Canary Islands, Columbia, Tokyo, Jerusalem, United States, United Kingdom, Denmark, France, and Netherlands (History of the World Friendship Crusade, 2008). The Crusade began to lobby to UN for the recognition of World Friendship Day for years until finally, on 2011, the General Assembly decided to designate 30 July as the International Day of Friendship and invited all member-states to observe the International Day of Friendship in accordance with the culture and customs of their local, national and regional communities through education and public awareness-raising activities (UN General Assembly, 2011).

World Friendship Day is also intended to support the goals and objectives of the “Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace”, a UNESCO-proposed initiative that defines the values, attitude, and behavior that rejects violence and prevent conflicts throughout the globe. Adopted in 1999, the Declaration sets out area actions designed for individuals, nations, and communities in order for “culture of peace” to prevail, specifically the promotion of sustainable economic and social development, promotion of international peace and security, support for participatory communication and democratic participation, education, respect for human rights and gender equality, and advance understanding, tolerance and solidarity (UN General Assembly, 1999). This Day also supports the “International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World” proclamation, emphasizing the need for “culture of peace” and non-violence to emanate from adults and be instilled in children in order to the strengthen of international peace and cooperation (UN General Assembly, 1998).

Cebu is and always has been a catering of many cultures. With its strategic location being at the heart of the Philippines itself, Cebu has been a business hub for both local and international businessmen and traders. Historically speaking, Cebu has established economic ties with China, Malaysia, Japan, India, Burma and other parts of Asia even before the Spanish era. Currently, information technology (IT) has been one of Cebu’s economic drivers in the recent years, contributing 56 percent of Metro Cebu’s total economic output, with foreign BPO companies like call center agencies at the forefront of the business (Sicat, 2014). Since 2010, its export growth rate has averaged close to 20 percent, considerably higher than any other province in the Philippines. Its major hubs have helped increased economic activity within its peripheries while supporting the thousands of domestic and international employees, workers and businessmen in the area (Adarme, 2015). This lush attention of Cebu has not only attracted businessmen abroad, but has also fascinated foreigners with its culture and heritage. From old European to the traditional Chinese up to the modern Western culture, its rich collection of culture has made Cebu a well-distinguished cosmopolitan. Tourist arrival statistics to the Central Visayas is now 2.1 million, with Cebu’s tourist arrivals contributing 90 percent to the system (Cacho, 2015). Its famous tourist spots like the Sto. Niño Basilica, Magellan’s Cross, Fort San Pedro, and the old Jesuit House and museums positively impacted tourism in the province, thus hailed as the “Tourism Gateway for Central and Southern Philippines” (Adarme, 2015).

The objective of World Friendship Day is to promote unity and fellowship irrespective of religion, race, colour, class and creed. Despite the gritty and shady past between countries, the Philippines have continuously observe the celebration of its Friendship Day with Spain, Japan and the United States, among others, signifying camaraderie with their former colonizers. While friendship days are commemorations of ties established to celebrate, to remember and to reconcile with each other from a bitter past, the celebration of World Friendship Day can serve as a medium for Cebu to take advantage of its nature as having a mixture of culture, norms and heritages that individuals, regardless of nationality, can commemorate through sharing cultural practices.

Word Count: 796

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, in recalling the United Nation Resolution 65/L.72 designating July 30 as the International Day of Friendship inviting all member-states to observe this celebration in an appropriate manner and in accordance to the culture and customs of their local, national and regional communities;

WHEREAS, the celebration of the Philippines’ bilateral relationships with countries such as Republic Act 9187 or the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day, Proclamation No. 905 or the Philippine-Japanese Friendship Day, Proclamation No. 148 or the Philippine-Chinese Friendship Day, and Proclamation No. 811 or the Filipino-American Friendship Day, strengthened by its historical ties and shared cultures, values and traditions, signifies its commitment to unity and camaraderie;

WHEREAS, in reaffirming the statements mentioned above, the University of San Carlos Political Science majors of International Relations of Foreign Service (IRFS) and the Carolinian Circle of Young Diplomats (CCYD) shall partner with the Office of External Relations to celebrate the International Day of Friendship every 30^th of July;

WHEREAS, a World Friendship Day photo exhibit shall be displayed inside the premise of the University of San Carlos – Downtown Campus, showcasing the importance and significance of the celebration, as well as the efforts made by UN member-states in commemorating the event;

THEREFORE, the Carolinian Circle of Young Diplomats in its ___ Parliamentary session assembled and as moved by Rt. Hon. Renee Dominique C. Rodelas and seconded by ______

RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, to request the IRFS 141: Special Topics in International Relations to research the necessary information on the celebration as stated above;

RESOLVED FURTHER, to direct the Ministry of Documentation to furnish copies of this resolution to IRFS 141 Instructor and CCYD Adviser Atty. Archill Niña F. Capistrano, MInternatRel and to the CCYD Ministries for their information and guidance.

Submitted by:

Rt. Hon. Renee Dominique C. Rodelas, MP
Minister of Information and Communication

REFERENCES

Public Holidays. (2015). International Day of Friendship 2015 and 2016. Retrieved August 31, 2015, from Public Holidays: http://publicholidays.global/global-observances/international-day-of-friendship/

History of the World Friendship Crusade. (2008, March 31). Retrieved August 31, 2015, from Gral. Pablo L. Avila Online: http://cplavila.blogspot.com/2008/03/resea-histrica-de-la-cruzada-mundial-de.html

UN General Assembly. (2011, April 21). International Day of Friendship. Retrieved August 31, 2015, from United Nations: http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/65/L.72

United Nations. (n.d.). International Day of Friendship. Retrieved August 31, 2015, from United Nations: http://www.un.org/en/events/friendshipday/

International Day of Friendship - Background. (n.d.). Retrieved August 31, 2015, from United Nations: http://www.un.org/en/events/friendshipday/background.shtml

UN General Assembly. (1998, November 19). International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World (2001–2010). Retrieved August 31, 2015, from United Nations: http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/53/25

UN General Assembly. (1999, October 6). Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace. Retrieved August 31, 2015, from United Nations: http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/53/243

Cebu - Quick Facts. (n.d.). Retrieved August 31, 2015, from Province of Cebu Official Website: http://www.cebu.gov.ph/about-cebu/quick-facts/

Adarme, N. (2015, May 9). 5 Reasons Cebu’s Economy is Growing so Rapidly. Retrieved August 31, 2015, from Megaworld: http://www.megaworldatthefort.com/blog/5-reasons-cebus-economy-is-growing-so-rapidly/

Sicat, G. P. (2014, May 21). Cebu is booming. Retrieved August 31, 2015, from Philstar: http://www.philstar.com/business/2014/05/21/1325390/cebu-booming

Cacho, K. O. (2015, August 21). Central Visayas welcomed 2.1 million visitors this year. Retrieved August 31, 2015, from Sun Star: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/2015/08/21/central-visayas-welcomed-21-million-visitors-year-425971

Proclamation No. 148, s. 2002. (2002). Retrieved August 31, 2015, from Official Gazette: http://www.gov.ph/2002/01/24/proclamation-no-148-s-2002/

Proclamation No. 905, s. 2005. (2005). Retrieved August 31, 2015, from Official Gazette: http://www.gov.ph/2005/08/30/proclamation-no-905-s-2005/

Republic Act 9187. (2002). Retrieved August 31, 2015, from House of Representatives: http://www.congress.gov.ph/download/ra_12/RA09187.pdf

Proclamation No. 811, s. 1996. (1996). Retrieved August 31, 2015, from Official Gazette: http://www.gov.ph/1996/07/17/proclamation-no-811-s-1996/