Commentary
Designation of Casa Dayang Kalibo as a UNAP Peace Center in honor of Juan “Johnny” P. Dayang
by: Reflective Diplomat Juan ‘Jed’ E. Dayang Jr.
The Dayang family wishes to express our deepest gratitude to the Global United Nations Association of the Philippines (UNAP) for honoring our home, Casa Dayang Kalibo, as a designated Peace Center. This recognition holds deep meaning for us as we remember our father, Juan “Johnny” P. Dayang, and the values he stood for—truth, justice, and peace.
Our father was tragically taken from us in our own home in Kalibo, Aklan, on April 29, 2025, a day that also marked the feast of St. Catherine of Siena, patron saint of journalists and public opinion. The loss has been devastating, and justice remains a hope we continue to hold onto. Yet, even in grief, we are heartened by the support and solidarity extended by so many, especially by organizations like UNAP and UNESCO.
The designation of Casa Dayang as a Peace Center is not only a tribute to our father’s life and work but also a reminder of the enduring importance of peace—beginning in the home and radiating outward into community and nation. This home was built by our parents as a place of refuge, dialogue, and service, and it is humbling that it now stands as a symbol of the values they upheld.
We accept this honor with humility and a renewed commitment to carry forward our father’s legacy. May the United Nations flag raised over our home serve as a beacon of peace, justice, and truth—not only for our family but for all who seek a better, kinder world.
Acceptance Speech
Good day to everyone.
On behalf of our family, I want to begin by saying thank you—from the bottom of our hearts.
To Global UNAP President Ric Cruz, thank you for your leadership and your unwavering belief in peace as a living, local commitment.
To all the officers and members of the Global United Nations Association of the Philippines, and to those who stand with us in this moment of remembrance, thank you.
We also wish to acknowledge, with deep gratitude:
• Sr. Esther A. Bravante, OP, President of Sa Catalina College
• Dr. Dante Liban, respected public servant, educator, and DBP Director
• Cecile Guidote Alvarez, cultural icon, Magsaysay awardee, and a tireless advocate for peace through the arts
• Dr. Rosalina Wee, whose quiet strength and service alongside Ambassador Leehiong Wee reflect the best of ASEAN partnership
• Ambassador Grace Princesa, a true champion of inclusive diplomacy and human dignity
• And UNAP Secretary Pilar Bautista, for her steady and compassionate work behind the scenes
Your presence here is a comfort to our grieving family.
Today’s recognition—declaring Casa Dayang Kalibo a UNAP Peace Center—comes at a time of deep personal loss. We are still trying to make sense of our father’s tragic and senseless killing. The pain of that day, and the days that followed, will stay with us for a long time.
And yet, even in mourning, we have felt the strength of community. We have felt the weight of our father’s legacy—in the words of friends, in messages of support from across the world, and in the powerful statement issued by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, who reminded us not only of what we lost, but of what he stood for.
Our father passed away on April 29, the feast of St. Catherine of Siena, patron saint of journalists. It felt like more than coincidence. St. Catherine spoke truth to power. She believed in the force of words to heal, to challenge, and to call people higher. That’s who our father was.
As a journalist, a publisher, and a fierce defender of press freedom, he believed that words matter. That truth matters. And that peace is impossible without justice.
He often said: “Peace begins at home.”
