Prime Minister of Belize Rings FOWPAL’s Bell of World Peace and Love
Calling for Global Unity and Hope
The Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL) arrived in Belize on January 13, 2026, to promote the universal values of conscience, love, and peace. The following day, January 14, FOWPAL hosted a solemn Bell of World Peace and Love ceremony in Belize City.
During the ceremony, Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, President of FOWPAL, explained the profound significance of the ceremony, emphasizing its role as a symbol of conscience and a call to collective responsibility. Following his remarks, the Most Honorable John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize, rang the Bell of World Peace and Love and expressed his heartfelt wish, stating, “We wish Belize and the world love and peace.”
Prime Minister Briceño was formally recognized as the 663rd Bell Ringer worldwide. To date, 663 influential leaders from 158 nations have rung the bell, including 85 heads of state, 15 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, United Nations ambassadors, and global visionaries. The resonant sound of the bell symbolized a shared commitment to peace, unity, and hope for Belize and the international community.
As part of the ceremony, Dr. Hong presented Prime Minister Briceño with a Certificate of Honor and a treasured artwork from the Hong Tao Tze Foundation titled The Power of Peace, symbolizing a descending force of peace erupting in joy and hope. Additional meaningful gifts included the scroll Love of the World, A Declaration of Peace, the Key to the Heart—representing the awakening of love within—and two special publications, The History of International Day of Conscience and Lighting the World with Hope. The publications document the history of the International Day of Conscience and International Day of Hope, both initiated by Dr. Hong, and call for global action toward a sustainable future.
Dr. Hong further presented Prime Minister Briceño with the prestigious FOWPAL Peace Bell Award in recognition of his transformative and visionary contributions to peace, good governance, and the protection of vulnerable populations, as well as his active role in regional and international cooperation and sustainable development.
The ceremony also paid tribute to the First Lady of Belize, Her Excellency Rossana Briceño, who received the Family Empowerment and Social Impact Award. The award recognized her lasting social impact in advancing families, children’s rights, and inclusion. Dr. Hong presented her with a silk scarf as a symbol of appreciation and respect.
In his remarks following the ceremony, Prime Minister Briceño expressed gratitude for the invitation and reflected on Belize’s long-standing tradition as a peaceful nation that values human rights, diversity, and the dignity of all people. He noted that in a world facing wars, climate change, and growing inequality, initiatives that promote love and peace are more vital than ever. He commended Dr. Hong and FOWPAL for their dedication and shared responsibility, saying, “I commend you and thank you for taking on this very important initiative, and I wish you all the very best and much success and God bless each and every one of you, and I wish you all the best in the new year of 2026.”
The successful realization of the event was made possible in part through the support of Patricia McDougall, CEO of Patricia’s Professional Photos, who met FOWPAL at an event in Washington, D.C. Deeply impressed by FOWPAL’s mission, she worked closely with the organization to bring the Belize event to fruition. She shared, “I brought this lovely group here to make sure that you are in this room to see what they stand for, which is love and peace.” She also expressed her gratitude and admiration to the prime minister by saying, “Your words were just amazing, especially good so we thank you, we appreciate it.”
The event concluded with a symbolic artistic presentation titled Children from Heaven. Dressed as angels, FOWPAL members conveyed the message of an ancient legend that humanity was once pure, loving, and guided by conscience. The performance served as a sincere prayer for a world free from war and suffering, reminding all present to awaken the original purity within their hearts.
When asked by FOWPAL members about his thoughts on the cultural performance, Prime Minister Briceño remarked, “I think it was a wonderful performance. They moved with such grace.” He also expressed his appreciation for Dr. Hong and FOWPAL, stating, “I want to thank Dr. Hong for taking on this initiative. Certainly it's an initiative that's very difficult to take on because it requires a lot of discipline and true belief in what you're doing.” He added, “You can feel the peace and the love emanating from all of you, radiating from all of you, and I wish that we can have more people like Dr. Hong and people like yourselves that can be able to transmit and to share the message of love and peace, so I commend you for doing this, and I congratulate you, and hope that you can continue this, because the world more than ever needs love and peace.”
As the event drew to a close, participants departed with renewed inspiration and a shared resolve to work together—guided by love, conscience, and integrity—to create a better and more peaceful future for all.
