FORT BONIFACIO, Metro Manila – The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Gen. Cirilito E. Sobejana and the Commanding General, Philippine Army Maj. Gen. Andres C. Centino led the unveiling of the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations Monument today, June 1, 2021 at Fort Bonifacio, Metro Manila.
The Peacekeepers monument honors the heroism, bravery, and sacrifice of the Army and AFP since the UN’s inception in 1945. Their determination to build peace has been crucial to the UN’s journey of overcoming armed conflicts.
The Philippine Army warrior peacekeepers proudly served alongside their counterparts from other troop contributing countries in UN peacekeeping missions in Liberia, Haiti, Syria, Golan Heights, Aceh, Burundi, Ivory Coast, Iraq, Sudan, India & Pakistan, Abyei, South Sudan, and Central Africa.
Currently, the Army’s 4,000-strong “warrior-peacekeepers” continuously serve in areas across the globe where they are needed — bringing with them the brand of Filipino courage and compassion that has become a source of pride for the nation.
“There is no denying, that one of the things that makes me proud as a Filipino, is this very ability for us to heed the call of others in the name of freedom, peace, and democracy, in times when we are waging our own internal battles. For even if we have different cultures, beliefs, or social standing — peacekeeping is our common ground — it is our shared sense of humanity.” Maj. Gen. Centino said.
“May this Peacekeeper Monument serve as a stark reminder to the public of the bravery of our soldiers abroad, and encourage the rest of our troops here to emulate in their respective fields of competence the courage that our Filipino UN Peacekeepers have shown all these years,” said Gen. Sobejana in his remarks. #