The Liwanag World Festival and the Threefold Society Concept

by Truus Geraets

The initiator of this festival, celebrated January 29–February 2, 2013 in Davao, Philippines, is Nicanor Perlas, who ran for the Philippines presidency in 2011. Nicanor is a networker per excellence as shown in the contributions of hundreds of presenters, artists, and volunteers behind the scenes, all of whom gave their time and expertise without remuneration. Nicanor has been introducing the idea of MISSION (Movement of Imaginals for Sustainable Societies through Initiatives, Organizing and Networking, see www.imaginalmission.net) with seminars for Personal Mastery and Social Transformation across the Philippines’ 7000 islands.

The five-day Liwanag festival brought political, cultural and economic presentations like “The Strategic Importance of Independent Media” by Maria Ressa, for 20 years a journalist with CNN; “Climate Change” by an Al Gore-trained presenter; and Gina Lopez on “Mobilizing Business to Defend Nature.” To the logo of three interweaving petals, for the three spheres of society, is added an inner flame, the inspiration that carries us forward into the future. For details of the program see liwanagworldfest.net.

Many anthroposophists know Nicanor’s book Shaping Globalization but not its impact far beyond the anthroposophical world. His latest book, 'MISSION POSSIBLE!' has the subtitle, “Sow Courage; Harvest a New World.” Here we have an anthroposophist who is at the same time a man of the world. Under the Marcos regime he chose to follow his conscience and so faced the possibility of death. The strength of this decision is tangible. This grand “social forum” and these specific approaches want to prepare us for the very different tasks we will need to fulfill in the future. Are we prepared to face attacks to our humanity through genetic engineering, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence? So far this work has developed mostly in the Philippines but the name World Festival expresses already the scope. Yet, it is not for nothing that this grand scheme could unfold in the Philippines. I experienced the people as genuine, ready to overcome their tumultuous past. Social Initiative Forums have been made now in Brazil, South Africa, and California. In preparation are Social Forums in Bogota, in India (November 2013), and at the Goetheanum in Switzerland where all the different sections of the School for Spiritual Science will cooperate to host a World Social Forum October 16–19 in 2014.

Costa Mesa, CA — E-mail: truus.geraets@gmail.com