IT is indeed thrilling to be joining the Global Peace Summit 2021 in Turkey at a very challenging time. At first, I had a lot of hesitations knowing that Covid is still on, but being selected as a funded delegate motivated me to push through and have a sense of ownership. My goal has always been to attend international conferences to gain new perspectives and knowledge and gain new networks to build something that can significantly contribute to global issues. This year's topic on religious tolerance, diversity and inclusivity will be relevant to my context as a Filipino and as an Asean representation, especially in addressing regional maritime disputes and religion-related insurgencies.

As a Baguio local and a Fine Arts graduate of the University of the Philippines Baguio, never in my mind have I crossed the idea of thriving on international relations work and graduate studies. As a Master of Laws in International Relations student in China and joining my 5th international involvement, being a representative of the Philippines and Asean in the coming Global Peace Summit 2021 in Turkey, clearly defines my future aspirations as an artist and a youth ambassador. Over the years, my interests have evolved, and I have seen how the two concentrations can potentially go together. During my studies in Indonesia, my art practice as interpreted in Batik Art or the traditional Indonesian textile designing conveyed political and religious sentiments. For example, my paper presentation on Indonesian religious tolerance, which concludes in an art exhibit, prompted possibilities for tackling political issues while presenting the uniqueness of religions. With this, I was able to address religious and political disputes in Southern Philippines and Eastern Malaysia through art education. Moreover, the death penalty as capital punishment in Indonesia has otherwise been questionable but has a lot of justifications in terms of religious beliefs and their life applications.