THANKS TO THE PROACTIVE AND ENERGETIC SITE

COMMITTEE TEAM!

Ateneo de Manila University

Conference Co-Hosts

Ma. Emma Concepcion D. Liwag

Chair, Department of Psychology

Cristina J. Montiel
Head, Socio-Political Research Unit, CSPPA
Faculty member, Department of Psychology

De La Salle University (DLSU)

Coordinator, Scientific Program and DLSU dinner

Madeline Sta. Maria

Faculty Member, Department of Psychology

Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Coordinator, PUP dialogue

Flora Arellano
Head, Human Rights Womens Desk
Faculty Member, Department of Psychology

Gaston Z. Ortigas Peace Institute (GZOPI)

Coordinator, afternoon dialogue with non-government peace organizations

M y wa r m e s t w e l c o m e t o t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s i n t h e S e ve n t h
International Symposium on the Contributions of Psychology to
Peace and my congratulations to the organizers of this symposium.
The Ateneo de Manila feels privileged to be able to co-host this
symposium through the Ateneo de Manila Psychology Department
and Center for Social Policy and Public Affairs. I understand that
this international symposium is the first of its kind in Asia. All
over our region, the concerns of peace are dominant. This is
true in the Philippines, whether we think of the conflicts in
Mindanao or the larger challenges of overcoming the deep gaps
between the rich and poor in our country. The events of the last
year in the Philippines, which included the war between the
Philippine government and the MILF and the challenges that came
through the impeachment process and the responses to it in the
last months show us what deep gaps we have to overcome to
bring about understanding and peace in our country. We realize
that similar challenges are occurring in Indonesia, in Cambodia,
in East Timor and other parts of our region.

B i e n v e n i d o N e b r e s , S. J.

Acknowledgments

We realize that in the end all efforts at peace must be based on

mutual understanding between peoples and the ability to find
p e a c e f u l way s o f c o n f l i c t r e s o l u t i o n a m o n g g r o u p s . T h e
contributions of peace psychology in this area are quite recent,
but they are most welcome in helping us understand that in the
end peace is not simply between political leaders, but between
the peoples whom we serve.
My warmest welcome once more to the participants in this
conference and we look forward to your contributions to a deeper
insight into how we might bring about better understanding and
better sharing between peoples in our region.

Josephine Perez
Program Director, GZOPI

Miriam College, Center for Peace Education

Jasmine N. Galace
Program Officer, Center for Peace Education, Miriam College

Office of the Presidential Adiviser for the

Peace Process (OPAPP)

Coordinator, afternoon dialogue with non-government peace organizations

Romulo Halabaso
Peace Education Unit, OPAPP

University of the Philippines, Department of Psychology

Coordinator, Conference time-and-motion system

Augusto Legazpi
Faculty Member, Psychology Department

President, Ateneo de Manila University

Diane Brether ton

Coordinator, Tours and Miriam College dinner

Bienvenido Nebres, S.J.

This is the Seventh Symposium of the Committee for the

Psychological Study of Peace of the International Union of
Psychological Science. The Symposium will enable scholars from
around the world to share new concepts and research findings,
as well as insights derived from practice. It is particularly fitting
that the Symposium is being held in the Philippines, a country
that has set an example for the world in using non-violent strategies
for political change. We look forward with great excitement to our
keynote speaker, Former President Cory Aquino, and architect of
People Power. For the first time in the history of the Committee,
peace psychologists and activists from a variety of Asian countries
will be properly represented. Their voice, their values will help
shape a global vision of the role peace psychology in the new
millenium.

Diane Bretherton
Chair, Committee for the Psychological Study of Peace