GaKap 2025 awards: A celebration of hope, courage and resilience

One of the most highly-anticipated events of our peace partners during the National Peace Consciousness Month celebration held every September is the Gawad Kapayapaan or Gakap Awards.

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Spearheaded by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), the GaKap is a fitting conclusion to Peace Month, as it highlights the stories of remarkable men, women, and organizations who have championed peace.

The event is a heartfelt tribute to the courage, perseverance, and dedication of individuals and institutions who have dedicated their time, energy and resources to fostering harmony, mutual understanding and respect.

This year’s GaKap awardees were His Eminence Cardinal Orlando Quevedo, KAPATIRAN Chairperson Veronica “Ka Inca” Tabara, and the Provincial Government of Basilan. Each of them best exemplifies what a true peace champion should be.

I met Cardinal Quevedo many years ago when I was a young military officer stationed in Mindanao. What struck me the most about the cardinal was his quiet strength, humility and wisdom.

Born in Ilocos Norte but raised in Mindanao, he experienced firsthand the challenges being confronted by the tri-people of Mindanao — Christians, Muslims, and Indigenous People — and how these concerns largely impacted their lives.

In his acceptance speech, Cardinal Quevedo reminded us that the roots of the conflict in Mindanao, particularly in the Bangsamoro, lie in the historical injustices committed against the people.

Instead of being disillusioned, the cardinal used dialogue as an instrument to engage and bridge the gap among the tri-people and unify them. He declared that “Peace comes from mutual love in the heart. It resides there, grows there, and radiates outward.”