This year’s celebration of the World Interfaith Harmony Week ( WIHW) In Pagadian City , adopted the theme : “Celebrating the Transforming Power of Love of God and Love of Neighbor for the Common Good”. The celebration was initiated by the Silsilah Forum Pagadian (SFP), who invited some members of the interfaith forum for solidarity and peace and other silsilah alumni members and friends.There were activities during the week long celebration. We connected some public and private schools in the city because we believe that the role of youth is very important specially in our present situation now in building peace.
This were the following activities conducted:The thematic prayer which was participated by some religious leaders,youth and other sectors isince this activity was open for all. The feeding program for the malnourished children particular in Muslim depressed community,one was in Kawit Muslim village ,most of the number of children were sama kabingaan.The other one was in the relocation are in Bulatok this is far from the city because this people were came from sta.lucia in one of the barangay here in pagadian city and they are victim of demolition that’s why they transferred to Bulatok.Most of the people were belong to Indegenious people.The third activity was the Peace Forum with women leaders , this activity aims to determine the role of women in promoting peace and development in the society.Another activity was conducted in Balay Paglaum at Manga,Pagadian City which was participated by the in house youth of balay paglaum the activity entitled Values Formation and Orientation of World Interfaith Harmony Week.Ms Ellen Cuaresma a silsilah forum pagadian core group member handled the lecture on what is world interfaith harmony week and its objective.The role of youth in peace building was another activity conducted by the forum with the help of some silsilah members.Participants were all youth, we believe that nowadays youth plays a crucial role in terms of peace building and how they overcome challenges specially on their age.Simultaneous prayer was done in mosque in even in the the house because the aim of this was the connectedness of the prayer that emphasized prayer was the most important powerful things we can do in order to attend the long lasting peace .Everything we do we need to put ALLAH (SWT) GOD first because HE IS THE ONLY LISTENER OF OUR NEEDS AND PURPOSE IN THIS WORLD.BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF PRAYER.
The role of silsilah during the WIHW 2018 was quite different from the previous celebrations. We initiated the celebration and facilitated all the activities , but we empowered the other members of the forum and some group to be with us not only for the world interfaith harmony week activity but for the whole journey of the forum.Ms.Saida M.Lapasaran explained the objective and rationale of the one week long activity with the support and actively participation of some members in the forum and other friends of silsilah .Ms Ellen Cuaresma as one of the harmony link coordinator in pagadian actively organized the Christian group to had a solemn prayer the last day of the celebration. Silsilah was perceived to be in the back ground during the observance of the WIHW 2018, it was actively giving directions to the whole process of the celebration.
We look forward to the next celebration of the WIHW. We are very much convinced that working hand in hand with differ commitment can help in achieving peaceful leaving among others.”LOVE OF GOD AND LOVE OF NEIGHBOR “ THE COMMON WORD BETWEEN US AND YOU. PADAYON AND GOD BLESS ALWAYS TO ALL.
It was a big lost of one member of the Silsilah core groupmember. Rev.Diosdado Marquez was a very active member of the silsilah and he died during the WIHW celebration because of kidney. Last year kasama pa namin siya sa 2017 WIHW. Every year he was very supported and actively participated in all activites.
