Zamboanga City

With the spirit of the World Interfaith Harmony Week Celebration, Silsilah held a symposium focusing on Dialogue with Creation. Silsilah has been giving special attention to creation as a part of its mission. With this symposium, a documentary about creation entitled the “11^th hour” featuring Leonardo Dicaprio was presented to the participants. At least four hundred participants attended this special event with the hope to understand more the concerns of our environment. This is also an occasion to re-launch and present the Dialogue with Creation Partners Movement and to recognize some of the partners.

Participants from different organizations, institutions and students from different schools registered for the event. People’s Organization from Baluno brgy. also attended the activity. The number of students from different schools was large and they were full of enthusiasm during the event.

The program started with the Welcome address of the President of Silsilah Dialogue Movement, Ms. Aminda E. Saño, EDC. She recognized the different organizations, institutions and schools who are present at the special event. She also shared the significance of celebrating the World Interfaith Harmony Week and the one of the Pillars of Silsilah which is the Dialogue with Creation.

The presentation of the documentary 11^th hour followed after the first speaker which focused on mankind’s stewardship of the planet. The objective of this documentary was to present the different works of people which really affects the nature. On this documentary, it clearly emphasized how exploitation, industrialization, globalization and population extremely damaged our environment to the extent of ravaging our forests for money and infrastructures.

The documentary stated that 11^th hour is a sign of the last moment when change is possible and the last chance for mankind to start repairing the damage.

Students who attended this special event viewed a very educational documentary where we hope, that the students and even other groups and institutions will reflect and redirect our doings for the upkeep of our environment and our common home.

The 2^nd speaker, Prof. Noel Salatan discussed about the “Ridge to Reef”. Ridge to Reef is a program which aims to protect, demonstrate sustainable approaches, and provide better economic understanding of the links between salt and freshwater ecosystems. In relation with the documentary, he explained that the Ridge to Reef program can help in protecting the environment especially the wetland and marine environments. This presentation is also a was to conserve and to solve water pollution.]

The participants were encouraged to raise their questions and clarification for the different presentations and the documentary. The speakers answered the questions like “What is actually acid rain?”. Some students shared what their schools are doing to help protect the environment like proper waste disposal .

Hja. Sarah L. Handang gave the inspirational message for the special celebration. World Interfaith Harmony Week was really a significant week for all. Many activities were celebrated during the week. The symposium on Dialogue with Creation was one of the good initiatives where the event focused not only on the youth and community but also on the need of our environment. Hja. Sarah Handang appreciated this kind of initiative of Silsilah and also recognized the effort of the participants for attending the activity.

The speakers of the special event received a certificate of recognition.

From left: Dr. Reynaldo C. Navacilla, Noel F. Salatan, and Mrs. Hja. Sarah Handang, and Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, PIME.

Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, PIME giving the Closing remarks. Fr. Sebastiano, the founder of Silsilah Dialogue Movement is motivated by many initiatives. Silsilah is the Convener of WIHW and gave full attention and effort in gathering partners for this celebration. The symposium on Dialogue with Creation was one of the initiatives of Silsilah, with the hope that people can learn to take care of our environment as part of our daily mission. The event will help us realize more that our environment needs to be healed.

Our environment is one of the greatest examples we have of God’s power. This special event made a great impact to the participants. We should also make initiatives for our environment and remind people that the growing concern of the environment must be resolved. Our environment has always been a part of our survival. We are called as stewards of creation but we utmost failed to face this challenge. The state of our environment today is challenging us to do more. Silsilah, as the frontline of this mission held a successful event and will continue to do more events in line with this initiative.

World Interfaith Harmony Week 2019 continues its celebration on the third day of February, despite the heightened security in the city. On this special occasion, the National Commission of Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) conducted their first Cultural Summit in Zamboanga City coinciding with the WIHW celebration. In relation with this, the NCMF Regional Director Dr. Zulkifar Abantas, collaborated with the Silsilah Dialogue Movement and decided to visit and conduct a short program in Silsilah, Harmony Village, Sinunuc. A good number of delegates arrived in Harmony Village with Police and Military for security and order. Among the 70 visitors, half of them were delegates from Indonesia and Malaysia who express their deepest gratitude and happiness for an earnest welcome from Silsilah.

The documentary of Silsilah was viewed by the delegates. This documentary introduces the Mission and Vision of Silsilah. It also includes the programs of Silsilah with the four Pillars of Dialogue: Dialogue with God, Self, Others and Creation. With full attention, they watched the presentation and were motivated to know more about the Movement.

The delegates viewed the presentation of the HARUM-Malaysia. The presentation is about the famous author Rumi where his book was entitled “Book of love”. They distributed booklets which introduces Rumi and his works to the Silsilah Dialogue Movement.

Dr. Zulkifar Abantas, NCMF Regional Director shared his gratitude and happiness for having this opportunity. To visit the Silsilah in this essential occasion make him feel fulfilled. He thanked Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra for granting his request and spending time together with the Indonesian, Malaysian and National Commission of Muslim Filipinos delegates.

Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, PIME received a symbolic Shawl as a sign of friendship with the Indonesian delegates. Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, PIME was challenged to dream more and to continue his mission for Dialogue and Peace in Mindanao and in Philippines.

Truly, the differences of people can be accepted, if we learn to respect and know them more. Peace is very challenging in Mindanao. It is as if yesterday we made two steps towards peace but in just one act of terrorism, it feels like we were pulled a hundred steps away from peace. However, people with genuine heart and intentions will work to achieve it no matter how tough it will be. Peace will be achieved, if people will never lose the idea of love in their hearts. We are hoping for more symbolic activity of Muslim-Christian Dialogue and to inspire people to thrive more to have a better world and society with restored humanity.

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For the past consecutive years, the Emmaus Dialogue Movement is conducting the activity called “Neighbors in Harmony” every February in line with the celebration of the World Interfaith Harmony Week. The activity aims to gather people in the community to share o how each one can be instruments of peace and to have harmony among themselves and to reflect on any feeling or situation that affect their relationship as neighbors and lastly, to learn how to forgive and learn from the challenges that they faced every day. The Emmaus Circle members also take this occasion to introduce the “Harmony Prayer” to the community. They have also reflected that each one should know and understand that God loves us regardless of our religion, race, beliefs, and status in life. We should to embrace and respect each ones’ personality because we are Authentic in our own way.

The activity aims to widen the imagination and creativity of the participants to challenge them to express and manifest harmony through music and words.

At the end, Emmaus members are “listening to the voice of the Jesus through the poor and those who suffer.”

Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, PIME was invited to share the message of World Interfaith Harmony Week in the Filipino-Turkish Tolerance School. With the Spirit of World Interfaith Harmony Week, this school celebrated the activity with the youth.

The youth of the Filipino-Turkish Tolerance School started the day with the banner making. This banner was made earlier and was used to represent the groups’ name and yells. With full enthusiasm, the activity started with the loud yells and cheers from the students. The banner was creatively designed by the students themselves with the different tribal names of each group. The event was organized by FTTS Faculty and the Student Government of the school.

Ms. Venus E. Montebon – Silsilah staff was the first speaker of the activity. She focused her topic on Culture of Dialogue and the four pillars of Dialogue. Silsilah long reflected on this dialogue and the mission to promote Dialogue and Peace to youths, young professionals and different groups or institutions through seminars and formations.

Ms. Lady Anne Sheena Macero – Silsilah staff, World Interfaith Harmony Week Coordinator was the second speaker of this activity. She started her talk with an activity which required creativity and teamwork. Her topic focused on Culture of Dialogue: Social Transformation. The youth participated with the activity in full enthusiasm and energy aiming to win every round of the activity given to them.

Sets of activity were thoroughly prepared by the speaker and the students were attentively listening to the instructions of the speaker. At the end of the activity, the students learned about the importance of social transformation especially the Pillar of Dialogue which is the “Dialogue with Others”.

The joy of dialogue and learning at the same time is very commendable to the youth to develop proper behavior and reminded by the SSS values, Sincerity, Sensitivity and Solidarity.

Peace is a way of being and a way of living. The Celebration of the World Interfaith Harmony Week has been always promoting peace and harmony for the common good. This activity of the youth is not only to train them to lead but also to learn interreligious dialogue. It is the time to activate the youth of the world. This kind of activity really helps the millennial to be recognizing not only on academics but also to acquire the proper values to have a harmonious society.

To educate and enlighten the youths about social services and also promote goodness in the community, to reconnect people with a common goal, which is to build a better community. The opportunity to have a space for the youth, in the spirit of World Interfaith Harmony Week, is good but it must be done more often. To teach the youth the essence of acceptance, tolerance, interreligious dialogue and love for humanity is very essential. Advocating dialogue with the youth can develop their ideals and hopefully one day, the youth can change the world for the common good.

The Commission on Human Rights and Western Mindanao State University made their effort to gather Fourth year Mass Communication students at the College of Liberal Arts to lend their time to participate in the Freedom of Speech forum for them to also gain information that can be used in their respective fields. In recognizing current issues, the media plays a vital role in the dissemination of information to contribute in giving light to situations and challenges that our society is facing.

            In connection with the Celebration of the World Interfaith Harmony Week 2019, our freedom of speech should be done to build a connection with people and the society rather than to destroy the people and our society. We must be dialogical in every way that we can. We must also speak the truth with sincerity in spreading factual information that can help in creating solutions than making additional problems that could be detrimental to humanity and the society.

            At the end of the day, the activity helped us realized that the things that we do must always be linked to our Almighty God so we can do what is best for ourselves, others and our society. Part of what makes us better persons is doing things or uttering a word that comes from the bottom of our hearts and Truth, Sincerity and Forgiveness should be practiced even after this weeklong celebration.

One hundred fifteen Tricycle drivers from different associations gathered to participate the annual, “Forum with the Tricycle Operators and Drivers “. The activity started with the hanging of the symbolic flag let which symbolizes, Peace to all people of sincere hearts, who believed that peace is possible and in spite of the current issues that affects the Muslim and Christian relation, them as tricycle drivers can be instrument and catalyst to spread the message of peace to their passengers and other people living in our society.  The flag lets where placed at the front of the mirror side of the tricycle to be in solidarity with other groups in prayer.  The activity aimed to encourage the drivers to spread the essence of Interfaith Harmony to the respective passengers and individuals in their daily routinely activity. The forum includes the basic matters and concerns of the Tricycle drivers among passengers and others. This activity inspired the tricycle drivers that harmony and peace begins with yourself and it is like a chain relation where you can share it to others especially to passengers and from passengers to their families and friends.

Ms. Erlinda Mandi 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.

Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, the founder of Silsilah gave the closing message and he promoted the Harmony prayer to the Tricycle drivers, he said that the essence of Interfaith Harmony can be shared to their passengers. This activity promotes peace and harmony not only to Religious leaders but also to Tricycle drivers where they have more interaction to ordinary people and have the greater chance to spread the spirit of Interfaith Harmony in their own simple way. These tricycle drivers can earn for a living and at the same time they could share the essence of compassion of mercy to their passengers along the way.

As we celebrate the World Interfaith Harmony Week 2019 with the theme “Celebrating Truth, Sincerity and Forgiveness” the Department of Social Welfare and Development IX conducted their Ecumenical Prayer and celebrated their 68^th Anniversary last February 1, 2019 held at the Regional Office, Conference Hall, Zamboanga City.

In our present situation, the Ecumenical prayer aims to bring Muslims, Christians and other living faiths to be in solidarity with all to celebrate the spirit of the World Interfaith Harmony Week and to also help bring Peace to the Community and the Family setting. In this special gathering, three (3) different religious leaders gave their meaningful messages that should be pondered by all.

  Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, PIME the convener of this weeklong celebration (World Interfaith Harmony Week) and the founder of Silsilah Dialogue Movement emphasized that everyone must reflect about what is happening in our society. We must also spread positivity instead of spreading negativities that is deteriorating the good relationship between Muslims and Christians. Truth, Sincerity and Forgiveness should be always in our hearts so we can do our mission better and together we can do something good.

Ustadz Abdulwakil Kasim, from the Ulama Council of Zamboanga Peninsula and the chairman of Ulama Crisis Management Committee pointed out that Islam is a religion of Peace and Islam is for Peace. Misconceptions about Islam is because of social media. However, we must not let other people divide us, Muslims and Christians, who are working together for Peace and for the common good. And lastly, Rev. Arturo A. Veladiez, from the United Church of Christ in the Philippines said that we must always have faith and we have to see the real image of God in us. As faithful human beings, we should discuss the things that unite us and not the things that divide us.

This gathering has brought Muslims, Christians and other living faiths to be as one in this week’s special celebration and to continue to work together for Peace. In addition, we must be Truthful and Sincere in everything that we do and Forgiveness should be always in our hearts for us to be a better person.

As one of the religions of peace, Muslim leaders has always been part of the celebration of the World Interfaith Harmony Week. With the initiative of Silsilah Dialogue Movement, a congregation prayer for Muslims were being held annual as part of the celebration. It is usually held every Friday within the week, as part of Friday Khutbah Prayer. The initiative was to share to the world the message of our Muslim brothers and sisters with their participation on the World Interfaith Harmony Week.

Imam Jay Jikiri, a Muslim leader and one of the Silsilah Staff, gave the crowd of Muslim  brothers and sisters a khutbah on a Friday prayer. On his khutbah, he mentioned the essence of being a Muslim and a believer of Allah. He said that as one Muslim, it does not end in believing only in oneness of Allah, but loving all the creation that He made. Imam Jay also gave emphasis on the role of Muslims as keepers of peace and harmony in this world. He also did mention that despite all the efforts of those bad elements to bring the name of Islam to dirt, a true Muslim must not lose hope in sharing the real goodness in an Islamic perspective.

            On the latter part of his khutbah, he reminded everyone that with the celebration of the World Interfaith Harmony Week, it is an opportunity for them to take an initiative or a single step to start the journey together with Silsilah Dialogue Movement.

Breast Cancer is a form of cancer which has started affecting hundreds of women and few men around the world. Awareness campaigns like forums and sessions of different organizations are doing their best to inform people about the symptoms and preventions of this illness. With the spirit of World Interfaith Harmony Week, the Mindanao Breast Cancer Support and Empowerment Association, Inc. held their Breast Cancer forum for the women from the different Barangays of Sinunuc, Zamboanga City. Silsilah helped the MBCSEA organize this event. The activity aims to increase awareness about breast cancer and to give hope to people by informing them that early detection of this disease can help the patient have a better quality of life.

Women from Sinunuc Barangay and Silsilah staff members were invited to attend, 37 participants were registered. The Forum on early detection of Breast Cancer will give the participants the knowledge to either prevent the disease or to know the symptoms of this disease as early as possible.

Ms. Florence Alcazar, the President of this Association welcomed the participants on this special event. She introduced some of the members of the Association who are breast cancer survivors. She also discussed the objectives of this activity and why they were making this kind initiative. The association is also an active partner of Silsilah during the celebration of World Interfaith Harmony Week.

Dr. Marissa M. Lim, the adviser of the Association and the speaker for the activity started to share her experiences as a doctor of breast cancer patients.

The speaker begins with the questions, “what is breast cancer? How does it affect us?”

Awareness campaigns like the initiative of MBCSEA tells the women about breast cancer, the symptoms, the diagnosis and the signs which appear with the instructions especially for women to get checked once in a while. Although the disease is more common in women, men also fall target to breast cancer. Dr. Marissa shared that throughout the years of her service as a doctor, she had 3 men diagnosed with breast cancer.

With this initiative of awareness forums, women are more inclined to know about the disease and get them checked instead of ignoring this life-taking disease.

The topic ended with the advice to know yourself and your body more for you to know what is wrong. She also advised to check oneself more often and get diagnosed if symptoms were found.

The participants were encouraged to raise their questions to the speaker. The participants usually asked where to go once they see the symptoms of the disease and what are the prevention for those who are at high risk of this disease.

World Interfaith Harmony Week is a great opportunity to gather people for this kind of initiative. Breast cancer is a term which has now become well-known in all societies around the world. It will be a great opportunity to spread awareness of this disease to women for them to be more conscious about their health and getting checked. In collaboration with Silsilah and with the spirit of the World Interfaith Harmony Week, the special activity was made possible. Hopefully, people will be aware that early detection of the disease saves lives which is better than cure.

With the mission of the Zamboanga City Medical Center to save precious lives, they gathered people who are willing to donate. Blood, from the students, teachers and other people who believes that donating their blood will extend somebody’s life and they still can continue to fulfill their hopes and dreams. Milk, from loving mothers who also want to share the healthy benefits of their milk to nurture babies who needs it. Through this, the Human Milk bank and the Hospital Blood bank can keep an adequate supply of these donations to continue to help people and save lives.

            As one with the celebration of the World Interfaith Harmony Week 2019, together we can do something good for others and offer something that no money can buy. This activity also aims to overcome cultural and religious barriers. Physical and cultural sensitivities are also considered and respected. It is indeed true that in sharing, we are blessed. The genuine effort and sincere love of the people who are willing to give without expecting something in return is the kind of people that the world needs.

            At the end of the day, the spirit of the World Interfaith Harmony Week 2019 was indeed celebrated meaningfully through an act of sharing and kindness. When we share, what matters the most is that we are being truthfully happy in what we are doing.