GLOBAL PEACE AWARD GALA 2023
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Manilal Chandaria
Legacy of Service and Peace Award
Marco Vinicio Cerezo Arevalo
Legacy of Service and Peace Award
Reverend Father Joseph Mutie
Interfaith and Spiritual Leadership Award
Greg Scarlatoiu
Freedom of Conscience and Religion Award
Conchita Chanyungco
Strengthening Families Award
Markandey Rai
Outstanding Service Award
Steven Tan
Philanthropy and Corporate Citizenship Award
Nicholas Eberstadt
Innovative Scholarship for Peace Award
Bum Hun Lee
Culture of Peace award
Margarita Ballesteros
Moral and Innovative Leadership Award
Hosted by Global Peace Foundation (GPF)
Learn More about GPFMoral and Innovative Leadership Award
The Moral and Innovative Leadership framework asserts that positive development requires innovative leadership guided by a moral compass. This award honors a person who exemplifies and promotes moral and innovative leadership through programs that build good character and cultivate creativity through experiential learning, public and private education, and civil society initiatives.
Culture of Peace Award
The Culture of Peace Award is presented to an individual whose significant work has helped to bridge social divisions, meet critical human needs, or promote a culture of peace through the arts, music, sports, and other creative endeavors.
Innovative Scholarship for Peace Award
The Innovative Scholarship for Peace Award recognizes an individual whose research and issue advocacy at a policy institution or academia has advanced innovative solutions in building peace, social reconciliation, and human development.
Philanthropy and Corporate Citizenship Award
The Philanthropy and Corporate Citizenship Award recognizes leadership that has demonstrated significant commitment to peacebuilding initiatives through funding and partnership engagement that strives to improve and enhance the quality of life for all.
Outstanding Service Award
The Outstanding Service Award honors an individual for outstanding efforts in promoting volunteerism and advancing a culture of service, contributing to substantial progress in youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, environmental sustainability, education, and other areas of social impact.
Strengthening Families Award
The Strengthening Families Award honors an individual for outstanding example and efforts in uplifting the family as the most important social institution and for effectively promoting responsible parenting, committed marriages, and a healthy environment for nurturing and building character in children.
Freedom of Conscience and Religion Award
The Freedom of Conscience and Religion Award honors those who have championed the fundamental freedoms endowed to all human beings by the Creator, the most essential of which is the inalienable right of every person to follow their conscience and to live according to their faith or beliefs. The source of essential human rights is transcendent; hence, those rights cannot be rightfully restricted or proscribed by any government or human institution. This award recognizes outstanding leadership in promoting and advocating these fundamental rights in public policy, government, academia, and civil society.
Interfaith and Spiritual Leadership Award
The Interfaith and Spiritual Leadership Award recognizes the central importance of spiritual leadership as a moral compass and collaborative interfaith action as key to resolving critical social issues and building ethical societies. This award honors a leader who spearheads interreligious efforts to build peace and social cohesion based on universal principles and shared values, thereby advancing a social environment that honors the dignity, value, and God-given rights of all.
Legacy of Service and Peace Award
The Legacy of Service and Peace Award honors distinguished persons whose lifetime achievements have created a remarkable legacy of service for the greater good and striving to build peace. This award recognizes those who have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to uplifting others and taking responsibility to address the most difficult challenges facing their communities and nations. Their principled leadership and enduring impact inspire and motivate the next generation to dream big and strive to live for the sake of others.
Margarita Ballesteros
Dr. Margarita Consolacion C. Ballesteros is the Director of the External Partnerships Service or EPS of the Philippines Department of Education (DepEd). As the head of EPS, she supervises the local and international partnership engagements of the DepEd. Dr. Ballesteros is the Department’s senior focal person for partnerships with multilateral and bilateral agencies, the private sector, local government units, national government agencies, and civil society organizations. Accordingly, she plays a pivotal role in engaging critical stakeholders in realizing a whole-of-nation approach to education and development in the Philippines.
Dr. Ballesteros has long advocated for youth empowerment, 21st-century skills, awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals, and civic consciousness as core competencies for today’s learners. This work has been closely tied with her many years of engagement with the Global Peace Foundation in the areas of transformative education, moral and innovative leadership, and peacebuilding. Director Ballesteros has been a strong and proactive leader in GPF’s education-related activities, including the Transforming Education Forum, the Ukit MARANGAL Workshop series, and the Global Peace Leadership Conferences. Her leadership and support have been critical for GPF Philippines’ work in raising the next generation of moral and innovative peacebuilders.
Bum Hun Lee
Since 2018, Chairman Bum Hun Lee has held the prestigious position of President of the Korean Fine Arts Association, demonstrating unwavering dedication to the Korean Dream Movement spearheaded by Dr. Hyun Jin Moon. A fervent advocate for realizing the Korean Dream through the medium of art, he orchestrated a compelling exhibition in 2018, featuring 80 masterpieces from Korean, Chinese, and North Korean artists. Timed with the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, this exhibition passionately called upon global society to surmount the divisions of the Korean Peninsula and embrace a path toward mutually beneficial reunification.
In 2019, his commitment to fostering unity found expression through the North-South Peace Art Exhibition, an integral part of the Korea Art Festival, the world’s largest art event. Simultaneously, the North-South Art Exhibition at the National Assembly served as a powerful testament to his vision. These events underscored his conviction that the realization of the Korean Dream could harmonize the global community as one peaceful family through the language of art.
Elevating his influence in 2020, he assumed the role of the 28th President of the Federation of Artistic and Cultural Organization of Korea, the largest entity in the Korean art landscape. In this capacity, he coalesced efforts with the Federation to champion the Korean Dream 10 Million Campaign, rallying 1.3 million Korean artists to actively contribute to this transformative movement. His biography is a testament to a life dedicated to uniting nations through the universal language of art.
Nicholas Eberstadt
Dr. Nicholas Eberstadt is Henry Wendt Chair in Political Economy at the American Enterprise Institute and is Senior Adviser to the National Bureau of Asian Research. He is also a founding member of the U.S. Committee for Human Rights in North Korea and a member of the advisory council for the Korea Economic Institute. His many books on Korean affairs include The Population of North Korea and The North Korean Economy Between Crisis and Catastrophe. His AB, MPA, and Ph.D. are from Harvard, and his M.Sc is from the LSE.
Dr. Eberstadt has provided significant thought leadership and extensive writings on political economy, providing valuable insights for addressing complex issues such as those manifested on the divided Korean peninsula. His engagement with the GPF and AKU network of scholars and academics through the International Forum on One Korea has inspired much-needed international support and attention to the issue of Korean unification. His writings have been significant in shedding light on the plight of the North Korean people, the dangers of complacency for the South and its allies while still offering hope for the many opportunities afforded by a peaceful Korean unification.
Steven Tan
Mr. Steven Tan’s leadership at SM Supermalls extends far beyond the boundaries of the retail sector. Not only does he lead one of the region’s most prominent retail figures as its president, but he is also a passionate advocate for social change and global peace. Mr. Tan’s commitment to SM Cares and the Global Peace Foundation’s initiatives and proposals is evident in his unwavering support for the Global Youth Summit (GYS). Since 2017, he has been the primary force behind this transformative platform, offering partnership, venues, and logistical assistance for its execution.
Mr. Tan’s commitment to GYS spans a half-decade of ceaseless endeavors. As the summit enters its eleventh iteration in 2023, the milestones achieved under his support are considerable: 586,500 engaged youth, 950 schools reached, and a remarkable presence in 62 countries. Mr. Steven Tan continues to empower the next generation by fostering dialogue and understanding and creating positive global change through service. His legacy as a genuine advocate for inclusion, women, and youth empowerment has enriched many lives while helping to set a new standard of cooperation between public, private businesses, and nonprofit organizations.
Markandey Rai
Dr. Markandey Rai is the Chairman of the Global Peace Foundation India. He has had a long, distinguished, and dedicated career in various capacities for the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT). Dr. Rai has tirelessly advanced the vision of One Family under God and spearheaded Global Peace Leadership Conferences and other cutting-edge peace fora in India, Africa, Korea, the Philippines, and other parts of the world, including Civil 20 (C20) of the G20 in 2023.
He has provided vital leadership to global peace and the cause of the Indian diaspora as the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the India Council for International Cooperation (ARSP) and as a member of GPF’s Global Leadership Council. Dr. Rai has also served as Chairperson of the Joint Advisory Committee, which advises the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) to promote innovative solutions for peace and development. He was also elected President of the Nairobi Staff Union of UNON. He has served on the boards of many academic, cultural, and social bodies in different countries, promoting the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi. He is the founding Chairman of the Indo-Pacific Peace Forum and President of the Global Peace and Development Service Alliance.
Conchita Chanyungco
Conchita “Ching” Chanyungco is a wife, mother, entrepreneur, and religious and civic activist. She is most proud of her role as wife to a CPA and former Rotary President, Jose “Boy” Chanyungco, a mother to her three adult children and grandmother to five grandchildren following in her footsteps to serve their wider community. With her children now raising their own families and starting their careers, Ms. Chanyungco has devoted her focus to the Catholic church and other civic duties.
Drawing on her years of experience raising her family and serving her community, Ms. Chanyungco has chaired and supported committees and initiatives that strengthen families and thriving communities through service projects, international exchange, and various relief efforts with GPF and GPW. She now serves as vice president of Global Peace Women in the Philippines and as a dynamic Charter President of YWCA-FFPI Marikina Chapter, the National Treasurer of both the Inner Wheel Clubs of the Philippines Foundation Inc., the National Council of Women of the Philippines Inc., and chairperson of the Youth Cluster of NCWP.
Greg Scarlatoiu
Born and raised in communist Romania, Greg Scarlatoiu learned firsthand that human rights and freedoms are fundamental to peace and development in a society. Already fluent in Romanian, French, and English, his university studies in South Korea exposed him to the realities of the divided Korean people and enabled him to become fluent in Korean. Later, as a naturalized U.S. citizen, he became the Executive Director of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) in Washington, D.C., promoting the need for human rights to be the central pillar of policies regarding North Korea.
Through extensive research, his organization gathers facts and reports on the real plight of the North Korean populace. He currently teaches at Yonsei University and is a frequent guest for news channels, including CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera, Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, and more. He has testified before Congress on the human rights issues of North Korea and has been a strong partner with GPF in working towards a free and unified Korean peninsula, as outlined in the Korean Dream.
Reverend Father Joseph Mutie
Reverend Father Joseph Mutie is the National Chairman of the Interreligious Council of Kenya (IRCK) and the General Secretary of the Organization of African Instituted Churches – Kenya Chapter (OAIC-K). Under his leadership, the council has used interfaith relations, shuttle diplomacy, and mediation to provide moral guidance to the nation. As the Chairman of the Interreligious Council of Kenya, Rev. Mutie has promoted peace, interfaith cooperation, and unity. He has engaged and inspired significant participants of differing faiths, fostering solid partnerships beyond the boundaries of religion, race, or tribe.
In partnership with the Global Peace Foundation Kenya, interfaith outreach during local and national elections has mitigated the traditional cycles of election violence. He has also inspired faith leaders to join together to tackle important issues ranging from ending child marriage to delivering tests and treatment for COVID-19 and reversing environmental damage through Global Peace Foundation Kenya’s tree-planting initiatives. Father Mutie believes in a ministry of presence, of being present in every challenging circumstance and bringing spiritual values into the civic discussion, as a natural part of building peace.
Marco Vinicio Cerezo Arevalo
Former Guatemalan president Vinicio Cerezo is a visionary leader dedicated to peacebuilding. Since the founding of the Global Peace Foundation, he has worked to advance the noble goals and projects of the foundation, not just in his homeland but throughout Latin America and the world. As a member of GPF’s International Leadership Council and a staunch ally of Dr. Moon, he has invested his heart and soul into this important work.
Of particular note, Vinicio Cerezo is a founding member of the GPF-affiliated Latin American Presidential Mission—a collaborative effort involving more than 30 former Latin American presidents committed to regional integration, effective and transparent governance, and sustainable and equitable development. The Presidential Mission has focused on these goals for over a decade while helping raise up a new generation of emerging leaders.
In 2008, he founded the prestigious Esquipulas Foundation for Central American Integration based in Guatemala to carry on his peacebuilding work. And In 2017, he was elected the first-ever former president to serve as Secretary General of the Central American Integration System (SICA), comprised of the governments of eight countries.
Indeed, Vinicio Cerezo embodies servant leadership and is a deserving recipient of accolades at this awards ceremony.
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Early Life and Education
Marco Vinicio Cerezo was born in 1942 into a well-known liberal family, the son of Supreme Court judge Marco Vinicio Cerezo Sierra. His political activism started early during his student years at the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC), where he played a significant role in national protests against the government of Miguel Ydígoras in 1962. He joined the Guatemalan Christian Democrats (DCG) in 1964, a crucial step in his political career. He graduated in Judicial science from USAC in 1968, the same year the DCG was legalized, and became its Secretary in 1970.
Political Career and Presidency
Cerezo’s political career progressed when he was elected a deputy in the National Congress in the 1970s. During his tenure, he faced significant challenges, including surviving three assassination attempts, the most severe in February 1981, when his vehicle was attacked with hand grenades and machine-gun fire. He was elected as Guatemala’s first civilian president in fifteen years in 1986, a notable achievement considering Guatemala’s history of military rule and political instability. His election and five-year tenure are significant against Guatemala’s violent political turmoil since the 1940s.
As President, Cerezo faced enormous social, economic, and political challenges. Guatemala’s economy was in a dire state, with high inflation and unemployment, compounded by a long history of social and political unrest. Despite these challenges, Cerezo’s belief in resolving armed confrontation through political negotiation shaped his approach to governance. His tenure was marked by attempts to curtail domestic violence and initiate peace negotiations.
Regional Peacemaking and Legacy
Vinicio Cerezo played a significant role in Central American peace initiatives, demonstrating his leadership at regional conferences and international platforms like the Organization of American States and the United Nations.
Post-Presidency
After his presidency, Cerezo became a member of the Central American Parliament and continued to be actively involved in regional politics. He founded an NGO named Esquipulas Foundation, focusing on furthering the integration of Central America. His appointment as the Secretary-General of SICA in 2017 and his recognition as a Peace Ambassador by the Guatemalan Government highlight his ongoing commitment to regional peace and integration.
Manilal Chandaria
Dr. Manilal Chandaria is the Chairman and CEO of Comcraft Group, a business conglomerate that oversees operations in over 40 countries throughout the world. Hailed as one of Kenya’s leading industrialists, Dr Chandaria is a respected known for his extensive charitable work and contributions to the community.
A founding chairman of the East African Business Council, he is also a former Chairman of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers and has been recognized as the most respected Chief Executive Officer in East Africa for three consecutive. Over the course of his career, he has served on various government commissions for reducing poverty, promoting economic development and reforming the government.
His work in partnership with the Global Peace Foundation has been highly touted as a critical factor in resolving election violence and promoting the new Kenya Constitution. His guidance and support on the Board of GPF Kenya has helped to create character education initiatives, promote entrepreneurial skills for youth in the schools, and establish the Million Tree planting project.
Passionate about youth and education, he has created the Chandaria Foundation which has endowed Chandaria School of Business at USIU, and Chandaria Business Innovation and Incubation Centre at Kenyatta University to help students nurture their skills and knowledge. Mr Chandaria was recognized by the Kenyan government with the Elder of the Order of the Burning Spear and granted the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth in 2003 in recognition for his community work and promotion of Kenyan-British interests.