World Interfaith Harmony Week

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.

The World Interfaith Harmony Week Celebration was spread the message in Brgy. Baluno, a barangay in Zamboanga City located in a mountainous part of Zamboanga far away from the city proper. The Silsilah Dialogue Movement is known in this barangay because of the Silsilah Harmony Zone and the Escuela de Siembradores initiatives of Silsilah.

Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, PIME decided to spread the message of World Interfaith Harmony Week in this area for them to be part of this long week event. Almost 40 people in the community attended the activity.

Mrs. Cristina Santos, a silsilah staff who is also residing in this barangay organized this activity with the help of the Brgy. Kagawad and a staff assigned in Baluno farmers, Christopher Bagay. The event started with the Harmony Prayer lead by Mrs. Cristina Santos.

Mrs. Santos first appreciated the effort of the participants for coming for the event. She shared the importance of the World Interfaith Harmony Week, discussing that this week was yearly celebrated by the Silsilah Dialogue Movement every first week of February.

She shared that she invited people in the community with the hope that they will participate with their own initiatives and activity on the next WIHW.

Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, PIME shared the history of the World Interfaith Harmony Week and how Silsilah became the Convener of this event. He shared the recent bombings and Mindanao and how it affected the people especially the Muslim-Christian relation. He shared the good message of the World Interfaith Harmony Week with the hope that the theme: “Celebrating Truth, Sincerity and Forgiveness” will be reminded to people who experience conflicts.

The people in the community shared their experiences on Muslim-Christian dialogue especially in their Barangay. Confidently, they said that the people in their community is living in respect and harmony with each other and continue to hope that this relationship will last forever.

Mr. Christopher Bagay, a Silsilah staff is in charge of the farmers in Baluno. He shared his experience with Silsilah and how the initiatives of the program help the farmers in Baluno.

In the spirit of the World Interfaith Harmony Week, he shared that this activity is very meaningful to them because they feel that they are part of the celebration. He is hoping for more gatherings like this where they can reflect and share their good relationship among the people in the community.

The activity was successful and the participants gathered together for a group picture. Indeed, World Interfaith Harmony Week is not only for government sectors, schools, youth and religious congregations, but small communities like Baluno can be a venue and be part of this celebration. The people in the community were very glad to have this kind of celebration in a special way. This activity might not be considered as a big event but this activity is a very meaningful activity, where we realize that celebrating an event in small communities will occupy a big space in their hearts.

For 13 consecutive years, it has been an annual tradition to celebrate the Harmony Youth Day. In this year’s collaborative celebration with the World Interfaith Harmony Week, the working committee together with the link moderators of different schools, communities and youth sectors gathered to have a concrete plan on the possible activities for the special event. After a simple yet productive meeting, the team came out with line of activities which includes the Broadway and the first ever “A Path to Harmony Project Runway”.

Given the current situation within the city’s vicinity, the supposed motorcade before the program proper of the 13th Harmony Youth Day was cancelled. However, the participants were advised to went directly to Harmony Village as venue of the program. They were also advised that a call time of 6:30AM to 8:00AM should be strictly followed in order to have an earlier time in ending the program.

The Silpeace Youth Program gave the crowd an extravagant performance with the concept of “Flash Mob” which caught the crowd in surprise and awe. An electrifying energy was brought by performers as the crowd witnessed them. Together with them are the “A Path to Harmony Project Runway” candidates as part of their production number. The loudest cheers from the crowd made the opening salvo an extra ordinary one.

After such, Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, convener of the World Interfaith Harmony Week and the founder of the Silsilah Dialogue Movement gave his warm welcoming remarks to the crowd. He introduced the World Interfaith Harmony Week and its history to the crowd as well as the history of the Harmony Youth Day.

Right after Fr. Seb’s message, the candidates for the first ever “A Path to Harmony Project Runway” which aimed to showcase the beauty of creativity and ideas of young talents in relation to the theme of the World Interfaith Harmony Week celebration. Along with their specialized costumes made from recyclable materials, the candidates confidently displayed their state-of-the-art dresses. There were 10 candidates came from 10 different participating schools who took the opportunity to exhibit their extra – ordinary talents. Each of them were given 2 minutes to give their speeches in line as well to theme of the celebration.

Another highlight of the 13th Harmony Youth Day was the Broadway presentation of 9 participating schools showcasing their creativity in conveying message through this form of art. Each has unique story line in connection with the spirit of the celebration of the World Interfaith Harmony Week. The presentation brought a roller coaster to the emotions and feelings of the crowd. Each presentation lasted for 10 minutes.

In the middle of the Broadway presentation, the working committee of the 13th Harmony Youth Day select some participants from the crowd to have an interview. They have shared their insights and reflections on their experience on the Harmony Youth Day. Some of them also shared on what would be the impact of this kind of special event to the youth leaders of different areas.

On the latter part of the program, after all the Broadway presentation, certificates were awarded to the participants as part of gratitude on their invaluable support and effort in joining the celebration of this special event. Winners on the first ever Project Runway were also awarded.

After the awarding of certificates, Ms. Aminda E. Saño, EDC, president of the Silsilah Dialogue Movement gave her closing remarks. In her speech, she congratulated the working committee as well as the facilitators of the event for a job well done. She also expressed her greatest gratitude, in behalf of Silsilah, to the participants who came a long way to join the celebration.

On the last part of the program, the crowd were introduced to “Yesterday’s Dream”, which was translated in various local dialects and languages, as the community singing. They sang all together as they close this special event. As the program officially came to an end, all the participants took the opportunity to have some photo ops together with Fr. Seb and Ms. Aminda as a remembrance on their unforgettable experience with the 13th Harmony Youth Day.

13th Harmony youth Day Video:

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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