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One of the relevant initiatives done during the World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW) 2018 in Zamboanga City was the  Gathering of the (Arabic Learning and Islamic Values Education) ALIVE Teachers of  Department of Education (DepEd). This was an initiative done in collaboration with Department of Education and Silsilah Dialogue Movement. The (Arabic learning and Islamic Values Education) ALIVE program of Department of Education is a special program for  Muslim Teachers who teach every week in public schools.

 We are lucky that the head of this program in the Department of Education is a committed member of Silsilah and she is Hadja Sarah Lucman Handang.  Last year with the help of Silsilah Dialogue Movement she was able to take a special course in Rome, Italy. It was a scholarship offered by the Vatican to different religions that want to know more about Christianity. The offer of the Vatican is the same that maintains relations with the Team of Amman which the Vatican created after the publication of the open letter “A Common Word between Us and You”.

The number of the ALIVE Teachers who were invited for this activity during the World Interfaith Harmony Week was almost 250. In this connection a good number of Principals of public schools participated to know more about this effort. The Silsilah sponsored this event in the spirit of Dialogue with the hope that this gathering would give to the ALIVE teachers a clear understanding of the concept of Interreligious Dialogue while they are entrusted to teach what is part of their curriculum. Silsilah, for many years, has been in the frontline of the gathering of the Madaris Guru (teachers of the Madrasah schools) “ALIVE Teachers” and Christian Catechists. But on this occasion of the World Interfaith Harmony Week the special attention was given only to the ALIVE Teachers. This activity was conducted at Astoria Hotel and it was a very intensive day of sharing to encourage the teachers to be more faithful to the effort done by the government for the teaching of Islamic Values with the hope that this teaching will spread in a more dialogical approach in society and can counteract radicalism with the presence of Madaris in different parts of Mindanao sponsored by different groups who promote  radical violence.

On that occasion Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, PIME, the convener of the World Interfaith Harmony Week and founder of the Silsilah Dialogue Movement, delivered a message to present the importance of the World Interfaith Harmony Week and the theme: “Celebrating the Transforming Powers of the Love of God and the Love of Neighbor for the Common Good”. The day was enriched with inputs and testimonies given by respected Muslim leaders from Zamboanga and other parts of the Philippines encouraging the ALIVE Teachers to be always responsible and become a sign of hope for the education of Muslim children who need positive formation in the spirit of Islam as a Religion of Peace and not as a religion of violence, as promoted by some groups in Mindanao, like in the Marawi siege by the ISIS.

We are grateful to Hadja Sarah L. Handang who put all her energy and skills to prepare this activity. Hopefully this can be multiplied in the local and national levels.

The Tulungatung National High School-Peace Club sponsored this activity with the goal to demonstrate to teachers and parents the mechanisms on natural farming and holistic care. In relation with the celebration of World Interfaith Harmony Week, many institutions and partners were encouraged to develop helpful programs that would promote the theme: Celebrating the Transforming Power of the Love of God and the Love of Neighbor for the Common Good.

The holistic care From Soil to soul In Dialogue with creation for harmony and peace activity demonstrated to the teachers and parents the goodness and benefits of natural farming. It was discussed during the activity that natural farming is a traditional form of agricultural practice popularly associated with a back-to-nature effort. Through this activity of World Interfaith Harmony Week 2018, the voice of nature and the environment was heard and reflected. It was also mentioned in the activity the essence of holistic care. As known, holistic care is an integrated approach to health care that treats the “whole” person, not simply the symptoms and disease. It is also understood that mind and body are integrated and inseparable. It is reflected in holistic care that there is holiness to experience wholesomeness.

This initiative is very environmental and it gives a lot of inspiration. The spirit of World Interfaith Harmony Week 2018 is taken in an environmental perspective where the love for God is in connection with the Love for all of His creation. The Love for nature will give us the motivation to take care of the resources that are to be nurtured for the next generation. Understanding the nature of life with a life-giving caring system is very essential. It gives the opportunity for God’s creation and humanity to live in harmony. It builds a healthy home.

At the end of the activity, The Transforming Power of the Love of God and the Love of Neighbor for the common Good builds the hope for the parents and individuals. Life will be full of holiness and heart that creates a goal to care for the environment because caring for environment will save our brothers and sisters from worst calamities in the future. Will this initiative bring Harmony and Peace? In fact yes, because there is continuous regeneration of life — nourishment, cleansing and balance in nature. This is a good initiative because at the end, it reflected the theme of the celebration. It is believed that the result of caring for the creation is also caring and loving God and your neighbor for the common Good. Padayon!

Human Rights Education & Dialogue on Gender and Development (GAD) with special focus on R.A 9262 Violence against Women and their Children (VAW-C)

In line with the celebration of the World Interfaith Harmony Week (1^st week of February) as per Republic Act No. 10525, with this year theme: “Celebrating the Transforming Power of the Love of God and the Love of Neighbor for the Common Good” this regional office in partnership with Western Mindanao State University conducted an orientation and dialogue with its students and luckily we were able to gather 100 participants from the School of Liberal Arts and the BS Social Work students. The topic discussed is on Gender and Development (GAD) with special focus on R.A 9262 Violence against Women and their Children (VAW-C). The objectives of this activity were to promote greater respect for human dignity, to promote gender sensitivity and gender equality and the elimination of discrimination on women and gender bias. As this celebration promoted harmony and peace the activity was able to convey the message of respecting each other’s differences in faith, belief, race, color, gender and the like. Also instilled into the students was the importance of promoting and protecting human rights especially the rights of women, children and other vulnerable sectors. After the talk constructive questions make raised and Atty. Judelyn Macapili, the speaker of the day, was able to answer them on every point. Ma’am Elizabeth Solis of SILSILAH closed the program and introduced to the students the Harmony Chain Initiative and promoted to them to continue doing the chain. The activity was a success and we ended by praying together the Harmony Prayer.

On the occasion of the World Inter-Faith Harmony Week 2018 with the theme “Celebrating the Transforming Power of the Love of God and Love of Neighbor for the Common Good.” the Emmaus Volunteers made an effort to reach out to the community of Culianan to gather their friends and neighbors to join the “Neighbors in Harmony” activity and to be one in celebration of the World Inter-Faith Harmony Week 2018.

The World Inter-Faith Harmony Week is celebrated every year in the first week of the month of February. It is the time of the year that we are called and reminded to be in dialogue among different faiths and religions. Praying the “Harmony Prayer” together can unite people regardless of what they believe in and it is a Universal prayer that can bring and lead people back to God. Our differences should not be a hindrance to show our love and respect to everyone. We must learn to appreciate the individuality that each of us have. The “Four Pillars of Dialogue” will serve as our guide through our journey in living our lives in dialogue. We need to be in Dialogue with God where one should go back to one’s religion and deeply understand God’s dialogue, mercy and compassion to us, to humanity. We need to be in Dialogue with our Self, this will help us to hear God’s voice within us, it will give us time to reflect and to embrace the wholeness of our being. We need to be in Dialogue with Others, having good relationship with the people around us means that we see God in other people and we see the goodness in them. And lastly, it is important for us to be in Dialogue with Creation, we need to be in dialogue with nature, we need to protect our environment and prevent it from destruction. Caring for Mother Earth, is caring for our home and for humanity.

In the end, learning to love one’s self is acceptance of our flaws and imperfections, of who we really are and what we believe in, through this, we will also learn to accept and love others without criticizing them for who they are and what they also believe in. We should keep in mind that God loves us the way we are, we must learn to embrace and respect each other’s uniqueness because in the eyes of God, we are all his children and we are all the same.

 

“Health Professionals Delivering Total Patient Care in a Multicultural and Multi Religion Setting”

West Metro Medical Center is happy to be again part of this year’s celebration of World Interfaith Harmony Week by hosting a forum entitled “Health Professionals Delivering Total Patient Care in a Multicultural and Multi Religion Setting”. It was held at West Metro Conference Room. On February 7, 2018 at 1:30pm.

Two health professionals with decades of experience shared insights into how they carried out holistic patient care, including the spiritual aspect, in their patients, especially those who are of  different faiths.

The forum was an attempt to look into how interfaith dialogue takes place in a health care setting.

This was attended by instructors from different nursing schools in Zamboanga, members of the Silsilah Dialogue Movement, and the West Metro doctors and nurses.

 

 

INTER-RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY EXPOSURE AND GATHERING

THEME: “Connecting Dots of Harmony through extensive Interreligious Engagement”

Date: February 4, 2018
Venue:: Pantano, Upper Calarian, Zamboanga City

In line with the celebration of World Inter-Faith Harmony Week 2018, the Integrated Resource Development for Tri-people, Inc. (IRDT) and through the support of the Asia Foundation held a one-day Interreligious Community Exposure and Gathering with the theme “Connecting Dots of Harmony Through Extensive Inter-Religious Engagement.” the Part 1 of the activity was the immersion of the participants to the community. Group 1 was assigned in the Community of Sumariki while Group 2 was assigned in Upper Calarian.

Cultural Diversity is existing in many communities in Zamboanga City. Pantano Upper Calarian is just one of the communities where one can observe the diversity of cultures and religions in the area. The Christian participants had an opportunity to be with Muslim families while the Muslim participants had an opportunity also to be with Christian families, for them to know and understand how they maintain their good relationship with their neighbors despite having differences.

Most of what the participants have observed is that “Respect” is very essential in maintaining good relationship with each other. Embracing the differences that we have and Acceptance of people for who they are and what they believe in without criticizing them is just one of the key to become a better person and to have a better community.

Medical Mission with Hand Washing Demonstration, Breast Cancer Detection, Career Guidance and Feeding Program

A medical mission was held at Phase 1 Masepla in Barangay Mampang last February 5 (Monday) in partnership with Batch 1993 of the Zamboanga Chong Hua School, Cuidad Medical Zamboanga, Zamboanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc. and the Silsilah Dialogue Movement. The said medical mission in is line with the celebration of the World Interfaith Harmony Week who catered to about 150 residences, which has simultaneous checkups on mothers and children. Most have benefitted on the Consultation, Breast Cancer Detection, Hand washing, Career guidance and feeding program. With the help of the Barangay Council of Mampang and the Task Force Zamboanga the mission became orderly and peacefully.

This medical mission was an instrument to displaced people living in the area- people who cannot go to hospitals, people who were malnourished because of scarcity of food, people who do not bear in mind of their hygiene because they don’t have a good place to stay and people who don’t follow the doctor’s prescription because they do not have any money.

Residents of barangay Mampang expressed their deepest gratitude to the said medical mission. And the recipients knew that some people are willing to reach out and still care for them.

Thus, the partners are looking forward to another collaboration to assist the needy. They may not be able to cure everyone, but at least they haveenlightened them that there are groups who are always there to try to assist the best way they can.

 

Harmony Award Initiative

It is a beautiful day to gather special people for the essential event called the Harmony Award Initiative. This initiative is part of the World Interfaith Harmony Week celebration. The Harmony Award is given to Muslim and Christian families chosen among those families who are examples of dialogue and peace in the community. This award is sponsored by the Comunita’ Dialogo- Italy and the Silsilah Dialogue Movement.

The Harmony Award Initiative was formed last December to gather people who have taken great initiatives on their respective communities and became an example to others to do more with an intention to achieve in the spirit of the Love of God and the Love of Neighbor for the common good.

Testimonial sharing was given by two (2) foster parents from Barangay Lower Calarian and Barangay Sta. Catalina, they shared their experiences together with their Muslim and Christian friends, that regardless of what religion they practice, we are the same, we all love God, and if we love God we should also love our neighbors. We don’t treat them differently from us, but as one of us.

 

This award is also to commemorate the late Fr. Salvatore Carzedda, PIME, who is a symbol of hope to all.  On the sharing of Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, PIME, we quote “To help is not only money; to help is in many ways.” Truly, we may not have enough, yet we can make that enough- to many others.

 

 

LEADERS SUMMIT:  A GENUINE MANIFESTATION OF GENUINE INTERFAITH HARMONY

Another activity marked the celebration of the World Interfaith Harmony Week celebration was the gathering of all local and national leaders for the covenant signing and reaffirmation on the message of this year’s theme the “ Celebrating the Transforming Power of the Love of God and the Love of Neighbor for the Common Good” held at Celebrity Hall of the grans Astoria Hotel.

Hundreds of invitees from the different partner – agencies and sectors came to witness the gathering including those from the military sector, academe, religious sector, social and civic organizations, government and non – government agencies and private individuals.

Messages and reaffirmations on Interfaith Harmony were given by representatives of the different World Interfaith Harmony Partners from Zamboanga City even from across the land. Mayor Maria Isabel Climaco – Salazar gave an encouraging message on Interfaith Harmony including success stories through the collaborative efforts of interfaith partners.

Signing of the covenant followed by  Heads of Offices of the partner agencies, representatives, Harmony partners, advocates of peace affix signatures as a manifestation of the full support of dialogue in the Zamboanga City as an instrument in attaining peace and harmony in the City of Zamboanga.  The afternoon’s activity ended with a group picture taking.

KICK ACTIVITIES OF THE WORLD INTERFAITH HARMONY WEEK 2018 COMMENCED

The activities of the World Interfaith Harmony Week for 2018 were all set in place and will be conducted in different venues.  The celebration started with a forum of all tricycle Drivers and Operators of the City of Zamboanga eventually held at Pastoral Centre located at Nuňez St.,Zamboanga City last February 01,  from 10:30 in the morning until 12:00 noontime duly sponsored by  the Responsible Union of Empowered Drivers Association (RUEDA) and the Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association of Zamboanga City.  The activity aimed to encourage  the drivers to spread  the essence of Interfaith Harmony to the respective passengers and individuals in their daily routinary activity.

 

A total of more or less two hundred – five drivers to include the operators convened at the stipulated venue for the said gathering.  Mrs. Erlinda Mandih Luello from the tricycle Adjudication Board and Mr. Hermogenes Awid, the President of Tricycle Operators and Drivers of  Zamboanga City were present to clarified and justified some problems and issues which gave satisfaction to all drivers including the operators.

The gathering ended with satisfaction and were given assured solutions to the problems and concerns raised during the conversation.