     2006: The Philippines launched the Tripartite Forum on. Interfaith Cooperation for. Peace, which was historic in bringing together 54 governments, 15 agencies of the UN system and 110 religious NGO's. 2007: On the occasion of the UN GA's High Level Dialogue on Interreligious and Intercultural Understanding and Cooperation for. Peace in New York, the Philippines proposed, among others, the institutionalization of interfaith initiatives among UN Member-States and the establishment of interfaith centers in schools of higher learning. 2010: The Philippines successfully hosted the Special Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Meeting on ‘Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and Development in Manila, attended by 124 country delegations, as well as hosted the International Workshop of Civil. Society and Faith Based Organizations on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and Development. Recently, the Philippines was host to the annual World Interfaith Harmony Week in support of UN. GA Resolution 65/5 adopted on 23 November 2010. Presently, the Philippines is one of the convenors of an ongoing series of Asia-Pacific interfaith dialogues and also co-sponsors the annual Asia-Europe Meeting Interfaith Forum, which started in 2005. Indeed, the Philippines acknowledges and values the importance of interfaith and intercultural understanding among peoples, and has taken more than a lip service in this acknowledgment. The Philippine Government also recognizes the value of convergence with civil society initiatives, as well as interfaith dialogues at the grassroots level. The Philippines continues to pursue its interfaith advocacy in various multilateral and bilateral fora, as it is of the view that intercultural and interfaith dialogue can be an avenue for dismantling the culture of violence. It is our national experience that promoting respect for cultural and religious diversity facilitate the promotion of a culture of trust, improve relations and openness among religious leaders, and enhance cultural sensitivities in policy formulation and program implementation. It can, in fact, provide an enabling environment for relative peace to flourish in conflict-affected communities and help provide a platform for conflict-resolution, healing, and reconciliation. Thank you very much.