The World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW) was celebrated in Cagayan de Oro last 1st week of February of this year with the theme, “Celebrating Harmony in the Spirit of Mercy and Compassion.” This week-long celebration is a Resolution 65/5 proclaimed by the UN General Assembly on October 20, 2010 that every first week of February is the World Interfaith Harmony Week between all religions, faiths and beliefs. Hence, we are all encouraged to promote interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for the elimination of all forms of intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief. Thus, there is a need to re-affirms that mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue constitute important dimensions of a culture of peace.
To promote harmonious relationship and better understanding between and among people of the different living faiths, the Interfaith Forum for Peace Harmony and Solidarity whose members are UCCP Pastors, AFP Chaplain(Methodist), IFI priests, Roman Catholic Priests-Nuns & Lays, Imams and Ustadj of the Muslim community, IP-Higaunon of Dansolihon, Campus Ministries and Peace Projects of Xavier University, Students of XU Sira’j Muslim Religious Organizations and Muslim Youth Council conducted series of activities in Cagayan de Oro City. The first day of the week-long celebration was graced by an ecumenical prayer service hosted by Senior Minister Reverend Ricardo Yañez Jr of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines – Cagayan de Oro. Each Church representative was assigned to specific intentions to pray for. But prior to the prayer, Archbishop Antonio J Ledesma, SJ DD of the Roman Catholic Church gave the introduction and the rationale of the said celebration. After which, Fr. Vic Arellano of Igelsia Filipina Independiente expressed his prayer intention for solidarity and unity in the midst of divisions, confusions and conflicts not only in Mindanao but to the entire inhabitants of the world. 
Thus it is imperative that one has to be concern with the other notwithstanding each other differences. In the same manner, AFP Chaplain of the Methodist Pastor Eduardo Copliting expressed also his prayer intention for the peace processes in Mindanao to push through in spite and despite of the very challenging situations right now between the GRP-NDF and the Bangsamoro people. Ustadj Edris Salic of the Muslim community here in Cagayan de Oro conveyed his prayer intention for world peacespecially of the many innoc
ent lives that died in the name of war and armed conflicts in the Middle Eastern part of the world. Nevertheless, Gail dela Rita of Xavier University and Pastor Goel Bagundol of UCCP conveyed their intercessory prayer for the care of the environment and to engage in all forms in the disaster risks reduction management especially that Cagayan de Oro had experienced an unexpected flooding two months ago.
Last February 3, our Muslim brothers and sisters of the Oro Jamaah Mosque in Cogon open its doors in welcoming the religious sisters and catechists of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro headed by Archbishop Antonio Ledesma and some UCCP Pastors headed by Pastor Ricardo Yañez for the Muslim Friday Dohor or noon prayer observance. After the prayer, Ustadj Anas shared something on the beauty and richness of Islam as well as its commonality with the Christian faith. He said that there are only substantial commonalities than differences. Hence, religious tolerance, mutual acceptance, appreciation, respect must prevail since we only have one God though called in different names.
On the other hand, the Sira’j Muslim Religious Organization of Xavier University spearheaded a symposium dubbed as Ummah 2.0 bearing the theme: ‘Enlightening the Youth and Reviving the Imaan (aka Faith). The said symposium was attended by some Muslim students form other schools and university in Cagayan de Oro City. One of the remarkable topics that were discussed was the true essence of Jihad that a Muslim and Non-Muslim should know particularly the great Jihad by Atty. Hamid Barra, former co-convenor of the Bishops-Ulama Conference. Some emerging and prevalent issues were also tackled by the distinguished speakers. Moreover, challenge the Muslim youth in Cagayan de Oro to get involve in promoting a culture of peace and dialogue with their fellow youth so as to create more spaces for mutual understanding and respect with one another and the “otherness” of the others.
Lastly, the WIHW concluded its activity in the Pamumulakaw-Panulak ta Wahig last March 4, 2017. This is an annual ritual of the Higaunon Tribal communities in Dansolihon, Cagayan de Oro City in order to give thanks, to say sorry and protection from the dwellers (guardians) of the Cagayan de Oro river to never again experience the 6-years ago tragedy (Sendong) that Kagay-anons could not forget. In this gathering were the people in Brgy Nangka, Libona Bukidnon, the members of the Interfaith Forum, XU Year of Service Volunteers, XU Socio-Anthro Dept., members from SACDO, Parishioners of Barra, Opol, Columban priests, seminarians and lay missionaries from Tonga, Fiji and Peru witnessed and participated during the celebration. The ritual was also graced by the simultaneous prayers of the Baylan (Datu), Priest and Pastor during the pamatbat (incantation). This IP ritual reminded us of our responsibility to be a true steward of God, Bathala or Allah’s creation.
– Mona Lisa D Pangan
Silsilah Forum Cagayan de Oro
When we realize that the goal of every religion is essentially the same – the search for truth and peace then we can stand-in an attitude of open dialogue and mutual exchange of ideologies. Through the correct practice of religion, we should develop not only harmony between faiths and nations but a harmony or state of peace within ourselves.
The conference started with the Qur’an Reading and Opening Duwaa of Sheikh Abdulquddus Samad. Then, followed by a welcome remarks and rationale given by PSSUPT MUKARAM who made a gradual introduction of the conference as it aims firstly, to resolve issues and concerns on Social Media amounting to Cyber Bullying act and secondly, to strengthen the relationship among and between Ulama and the Community. Afterwards, the lecture proper started on understanding Cybercrime Law by PCINSP JOEL C TUTTUH, Chief, Regional Anti-Cyber Crime Office. Then, PCINSP KARIB A MUHARRAM, Chief, Salaam Police Center presented an Actual Case on Cyber Bullying which includes a recent online defamatory and libellous article or blog confronted by the Ulama.
Fortunately in the afternoon, two (2) distinguished Foreign Muslim Scholars sincerely attended the conference and were acknowledged to give message. Sheikh Imran Anggulia Alhafidz, Singaporean and Habib Sholeh Al-jufri, Indonesian expressed their good intentions and convey their words of praise to the PNP for its valuable effort to initiate the conference. In return, RPCRD gave them a certificate of appreciation and a token of gratitude as a symbol of hospitality and remembrance.
Different people have different views of things, likes or dislikes, agreements or disagreements. Multicultural communities is a controversial issue in the world especially in Mindanao. In multicultural diversities, communication and barriers to effective communication works alongside one another. Barriers of effective communication can be simple or complex from time to time. Sometimes, the differences in beliefs, faiths, and language may lead society, especially the youths, to misunderstandings and conflicts. However, the celebration of World Interfaith Harmony Week 2018 in Zamboanga City with the theme: Celebrating the Transforming powers of the Love of God and the Love of Neighbor for the Common Good” give the Integrated Resource Development for Tri-People (IRDT) the opportunity to conduct a significant initiative for the young generation to be in harmony with other cultures and religions in the 2 days Camp at Harmony Village, Pitogo, Sinunuc, Zamboanga City.
They shared and presented personal experiences, learned lessons of life, and valued the significance of being different. The camp provided the youth with the platform to conduct their personal reflections on cultures other than their own. This activity created an avenue for the young people of different cultures and religions to come together and appreciate the richness of diversities.
The Persons Deprived of Liberty (PsDL) of San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm became part of the World Interfaith Harmony Week Celebration through the Poster Making Activity which happened last February 05, 2018. The main objective of this was to discover potentials and enhance the inmates’ skills and visual creativity and color harmony.
The time allotted for the activity had lapsed. The finalists were required to say something on the poster that each one had made, as the judges were listening attentively. The announcement of the winners followed. Of the ten finalists, seven received tokens of participation as consolation prizes while three of the finalists emerged as the first, second and third winners respectively. Winners received prizes for their participation. The participants took their lunch together as one family. 
Another activity that gives highlight of the weeklong celebration of the World Interfaith Harmony Week was the sharing of Ashura (Noah’s Pudding) held at Filipino Turkish Tolerance International School last February 03, 2018. This activity aimed to unite people of different faiths, traditions and diverse culture for harmony and peace.
Filipinos has its local version of Noah’s Pudding. For the Christian it is called “ Guinataan” while for Muslims, they called it “ Sindul” majority composed of root crops. Each one partook the food for unity. A game of self – expression was organized and participated by all. Everyone was led to view the mural painting prepared by some students. After a short description of the painting, everyone was invited to leave a mark of their palm using the paint provided. Joyfully each one palm leaves a mark on the wall using their palm. A group picture taking followed raising their palm with paint as a sign of oneness for harmony and peace. The activity ended at 4:00 in the afternoon.
In connection to the celebration of the World Interfaith Harmony Week the Mindanao Breast Cancer Support and Empowerment Association joins the event by initiating a Forum on Early Detection and Prevention of Breast Cancer on February 3, 2018. As the news reported by the Manila Times in February 9, 2017 says that in 2016, the Philippines topped 197 countries with the most number of cases of breast cancer, data released by Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society have shown. It is also one of the countries worldwide with the highest prevalence rates of cancer.
Thus a big thanks to the group of women (survivors of breast cancer) for conducting this kind of forum to help the grassroots mothers to have a knowledge and skills on how to have a self- breast examination, be aware of the signs and symptoms and how to live a healthy lifestyle. Having a regular breast examination is the single best way to detect the disease at the earliest possible stage. At the end the organization advised the mothers to be strong, courageous and hopeful in life.
World Inter-faith Harmony Week is occasionally mandated to be celebrated every first week of February of which the Silsilah Dialogue Movement is on its frontline.
At the end of the day’s activity, all attendees both from the facilitators and participants wore a smile on their faces. They were grateful for the opportunity given to them to listen to positive stories and to commune with one another. They were also grateful to Silsilah for spearheading the celebration of the WIHW.