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The World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW) 2017 celebration reminds us of its theme: “Celebrating life in the Spirit of Mercy and Compassion.”

In the midst of so much violence justified often by different ideologies, we, Muslims, Christians, and people of all living faiths and cultures express our solidarity to defend and protect life in this “wounded world” and commit ourselves to become “wounded healers” in this difficult time of climate change and violent ideologies that threaten all forms of life and deteriorate the ethical and moral values in contrast to the sanctity of life and the respect of Human Rights that we uphold to protect.

The WIHW is an initiative of the United Nations which guides humanity to reaffirm and promote love of God, love of Neighbor, and love of Common Good. It is a “Spiritual Reminder” for humanity that we reaffirm and promote.

Convinced of the importance of these values respected and treasured by cultures and religions as it is expressed in the “Golden Rule,” focused on “love,” we celebrate life in this special occasion and we encourage all to join in this mission that reaffirms the “common good.”

May God help us in this common mission of harmony, solidarity, and peace.

Many Schools and Institutions have promised to participate on this Special Week-long Activities of the World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW) through the listed activities of the program.

Special Acknowledgments go to:

• Ateneo de Zamboanga University
• Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology (ZSCMST)
• Secondary Schools Under DepED
• Commission on Higher Education (CHED)

February 1, 2017 (Wednesday)

Blood and Milk Letting

Doing this kind of activity will be a big help to those people (babies and adult) who are most in need. We are also helping to overcome cultural and religious barriers. physical and Cultural sensitivities are considered and respected.

Venue and Parter/s:

Sinunuc Barangay Covered Court and Health Center, Sinunuc, Zamboanga City
9am -12NN
Sponsored by: Zamboanga City Medical Center

Building and Harmonizing Communities: Partaking of Noah’s Pudding 
(Ashura Ceremony )

Sharing of joy with the neighbors, friends and the people who are in need via Ashura, to unite in diversity, solidarity, and living in harmony.

Venue and Partner/s:

Filipino-Turkish Tolerance School Campus, Pitogo, Sinunuc, Zamboanga City
9am -11am
Sponsored by:
Filipino-Turkish Tolerance School

Forum with the Tricycle Operators and Drivers

This activity aims to inform the drivers the essence of Interfaith Harmony in order to share also this spirit to the passengers.

Venue and Partner/s:

Small Conference, Pastoral Center, Nuñez Extension, Zamboanga City
10:30am – 12NN
Sponsored by: Silsilah Dialogue Movement and Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association

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Acupuncture

To balance the energy in the body.

Venue and Partner/s:

Center for Holistic Center, Harmony Village, Pitogo, Sinunuc, Zamboanga City
1:00pm – 4:00pm
Sponsored by:
Center for Holistic Health Care

February 2, 2017 (Thursday)

Symposium on “Religions for Peace”

For the formation of the student leaders, faculty members, parents, and the Barangay Tulungatung Community Leaders

Venue and Partner/s:

Tulungatung National High School Campus, Tulungatung, Zamboanga City
1:00pm – 4:00pm
Sponsored by:
Tulungatung National High School and Silsilah Formation Team

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Healthy Body, Heart, and Mind.
Medical Check –up with Random Blood sugar, Cholesterol and Uric Acid

1. Facilitate maintenance of sound and healthy body and mind.

2. Enhance harmony with the self by staying fit and healthy

Venue and Partner/s:

Emmaus Padayon Center, Martha Drive, Sta. Catalina, Zamboanga City.
8:30am – 12:00NN
Sponsored by: West Metro Medical Center and Emmaus Dialogue Community

Convergence of Leaders at the Barangay level

1. Educate and inform barangay leaders regarding Children and Women Protection Policies and laws.

2. Reflect and share on the possible ways and means of rehabilitation of drug users / cases

Venue and Parner/s:

Sapphire Hall, Grand Astoria Hotel, Mayor Jaldon St. , Zamboanga City
8:00am -5:00pm
Sponsored by: DILG – Zamboanga and the Interfaith Council of Zamboanga City

February 03, 2017 (Friday)

Silsilah School of Holistic Care

Closing celebration of the Five-Week Silsilah School of Holistic Care.  During this closing activity, the invited guests share experiences and messages to highlight the importance of this school in relation to the WIHW celebration.

Venue and Partner/s:

Crystal Hall, Grand Astoria Hotel, Mayor Jaldon St. , Zamboanga City
2:00pm – 5:00pm
Sponsored by: Center for Holistic Health Care of Silsilah Dialogue Movement

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Presentation of the World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW) in Muslim communities.

To build friendship and harmonious relationships among people of different religions and cultures and encourage all Muslim communities to spread the message of Interfaith Harmony.

Venue and Partner/s:

Muslim Communities, Mosque, Madaris and Alive Teachers are invited during the Friday Prayer or other time of the week  to present the spirit of the WIHW.

Symposium on the Importance of Strong Inter-Religious Faith in the Campus

Commemorate the WIHW 2017 stressing and addressing the importance of Faith in the daily life of individual/students in coping college life.

Venue and Partner/s:

Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology (ZSCMST)
10:00am
Sponsored by: ZSCMST

February 5, 2017 (Sunday)

Harmonizing Communities through:
World Interfaith Harmony Prayers and Messages at the Eucharistic Celebration and Services in different Christian Communities

To spread the spirit of the World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW) especially on Sunday inviting those present to Christian Celebrations to internalize  the spirit of the WIHW. The Commission on Interreligious Dialogue of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga (CIRD –AZ) prepared  guidelines and reflections for the Catholics. Other Christian denominations will also spread the spirit of the World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW) in their communities.

Venue and Partner/s:

Parishes of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga and other Christian Denominations. Sponsored by: the Commission on Interreligious Dialogue of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga (CIRD-AZ) and other Christian Churches.

February 6, 2017 (Monday)

Flag Ceremony of various agencies and offices commemorating WIHW

To give attention to the celebration of the World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW) 2017 and to inform the public on the message of “Love of God and Love of Neighbor and the Love of the Common Good” we propose to all sectors of our society to give special attention to this event on February 06, 2017 (Monday).

Venue and Partner/s:

This activity is traditionally sponsored by the Interfaith groups of Zamboanga, schools, and other government institutions.
The ZSCMST on this occasion will have an inter-College Extemporaneous speech competition

Sharing and Bonding with the Elderly

Giving one’s time to care for the old people especially those who were abandoned by their families. To let them feel they are being loved and cared for by others.

Venue and Partner/s:

Home for the Elderly, Talon –Talon, Zamboanga City
9:00am – 11am
Sponsored by: Commission on Higher Education (CHED)

Education-Formation for Zamboanga City Jail Male Inmates: “Poster and Slogan Making Contest”

Poster and Slogan Making Contest. These initiative is added to the weekly Formation given in the City Jail by Silsilah. These can give hope, love and courage to the detainees of Zamboanga City Jail.

Venue and Partner/s:

Zamboanga City Jail, Zone I, Valera St., Zamboanga City
9:00am – 11:00am
Sponsored by : Silsilah Peace and Development Services (SPDS)

February 7, 2017 (Tuesday)

Symposium on Harmonizing  Tri–people in the community

a. To foster closer relationship among tri ­– people in the community.

b. To instill awareness on the culture of the tri –people.

c. To create a peaceful tri–people community living harmoniously.

Venue and Partner/s:

Barangay Hall, Sta. Catalina
8:00 am – 12:00 noon
Sponsored by: National Commission on Muslim Filipinos and Zamboanga City Police Office-PNP

 Harmony Youth Day

This activity aims to create an avenue for the young people of diverse cultures and religions to come together to experience and establish good relationships and to strengthen the common good between Muslims, Christians and people of other living faiths. “The Love of God and Love of One’s Neighbor” is a ground of understanding for all, engaging the youth in creating a more peaceful world. At the same time this is also a gathering of student leaders coming from different schools, colleges and universities.

Venue and Partner/s:

Royce Convention Center, Grand Astoria Hotel, Mayor Jaldon St., Zamboanga City
2:00pm-5:00pm
Sponsored by: Silpeace Youth (School-Based), DepEd, and CHED.

 

The Primer (World Interfaith Harmony Week)

What is the “World Interfaith Harmony Week”?

A: The United Nations (UN) on October 20, 2010, recognizing the need for dialogue among different faiths and religions and their contribution for peace in the world, declared the first week of February of every year as “World Interfaith Harmony Week” between all religions, faiths and beliefs. The UN encourages “all States to support, on a voluntary basis, the spread of the interfaith harmony and goodwill in the world’s churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and other places of worship during the week. The celebration is based on the love of God and love of one’s neighbor or on the love of good and love of one’s neighbor, each according to their own religious traditions or convictions” (for more info. visit the website – worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com).

Why do we promote this special week?
A: Because we believe in the spirit of this initiative. It unites us with many in the world who are joining together to rediscover and celebrate “Interfaith Harmony” guided by the basic principles or commandments of the love of God, the love of neighbor and the love of the common good. This special week is gaining great attention in the world and it is a sign of hope.

There are already many other initiatives of dialogue and peace, why this new one?
A: The United Nations as an international body realized that there is a need for a specific attention on the “interfaith harmony” guided by the love of God, the love of neighbor, and the love for the common good. This is a move towards a more “spiritual approach to dialogue and peace”. The United Nations is convinced now more than ever that development and peace without “love” cannot be achieved in the world. Thus, it is a new paradigm of dialogue and peace that finds many willing to rediscover and celebrate together “harmony among God’s People”.

Is this celebration for all or only for Muslims/Christians?
A: The United Nations invites all countries and religions to celebrate this interfaith harmony week, including indigenous people and even non- believers. However, in this primer we focus our attention on Muslims / Christians who represent the two largest religions in the world and are the largest presence in the Philippines, especially in Mindanao. We are convinced that in the heart of each person, there is a felt need to celebrate the love of God in order to rediscover the love of neighbor in all religions and cultures as part of the human family “linked” to God, as our common Creator.

What about the issues that we need to face in the Philippines, especially in Mindanao related to the recognition of historical rights, poverty and peace?
A: The World Interfaith Harmony Week celebration does not directly face these issues. This is not to ignore them, but we believe that this new approach can bring people closer to one another and motivate them to face together all the issues of society with a “new spirit”. Thus, this celebration is an opportunity to rebuild love, friendship, sincerity, sensitivity and solidarity. In one word, the initiative can create “harmony” starting from our personal faith and belief in life.
It is a spiritual approach to dialogue and peace as an expression of “love”. This is needed today as the foundation of all the issues for a sustainable peace in our society.

Christianity and Islam are two different religious movements; in “celebrating harmony” is it better to emphasize the common points or the differences?
A: The basic principles of interfaith dialogue and harmony among people of different faiths are to approach others with Sincerity, Sensitivity and Solidarity (three S). Thus, the celebration has to be an expression of “sincerity”, guided by “sensitivity” in order to promote “solidarity”. This spirit of dialogue is in order to develop different dimensions and attitudes to take in the spirit of the acronym C.A.R.E: “Courage” in those who are convinced on the importance of interfaith harmony; “Appreciation” of what we have in common; “Respect” of our differences and; “Example” in order to move together guided by the common good of our society.

What can we answer to those who are afraid of this form of dialogue and confuse it with “syncretism” and, as a result, they say that Christians and Muslims are almost the same and one can easily change religion, especially if one finds the change advantageous for one reason or another?
A: No, the mixture of different religious beliefs or syncretism, and the attitude of some who use dialogue in order to convert others is not a genuine dialogue. Dialogue first of all is a spirituality and not a strategy. Real dialogue brings us to love and respect the differences, convinced that dialogue is the attitude of God in creation and in all the manifestations of life where we find commonalities and differences. Love cares for all and respects all.
Real dialogue is expressed in an attitude of love which celebrates the love of God in freedom. Thus, dialogue is an expression of the love which is the “goal” of dialogue and in the process love becomes also the “means” that can bring people to the final goal that is peace on earth and in heaven.

There is always the tendency of the majority religious groups in a country to put down the minority groups; this is also true in the Philippines where in some places Christians are the majority and in some other places Muslims are the majority. What can we do?
A: This is one of the great challenges of today. People of dialogue have to help overcome prejudices and biases among religions and share more about the common good of not only one group or religion, but of society as a whole. If we believe in solidarity, freedom of religion, respect, harmony and peace we can “dream” that time will come when majority and minority will respect and help each other , in Europe, in Arabic countries, in China, and even in the Philippines: in Manila, in Marawi, in Davao, in Jolo, in Zamboanga, in Basilan, etc. This should be borne out of respect based on the fundamental rights of each person and on love, not out of respect based on fear or vested interest.

Harmony among Religions: The Golden Rule

It is an amazing discovery that in spite of differences, all major religions share the same “Golden Rule” of the love of neighbor.

– Hinduism: “This is the sum of duty: Do not do to others what would cause you pain if done to you.”
( Mahabharata 5: 15-17)

– Buddhism: “Hurt not others in ways that you would find hurtful” (Udanavarga 5:18)

– Confucianism: “It is the maxim of loving kindness:” Do not do unto others what you would not have them do unto you.”
(Analects – Rongo – 15:23)

– Judaism: “ What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow man. This is the entire law; all the rest is commentary”
( Talmud, Shabban 31a)

– Christianity: “I give you a new commandment: love one another, you must love one another just as I have loved you”
( Jn. 13,34)

– Islam: “ No one of you is a believer until he loves for his brother that which he loves for himself.”
( The 42 Traditions of An-Nawawi)

Thus, the GOLDEN RULE is the most fundamental, common, ethical denominator of all religious and non-religious belief systems on earth. This convergence of love encourages us to reaffirm that dialogue is the expression of love and it is not only a means, but also a goal in life. This relation or dialogue that starts from God becomes a spirituality when we experience it in our life. It moves us to work together for the common good.