Zamboanga City

We are happy to inform you that on February 7, 2018 at around 8:00 AM, personnel of Regional Police Community Relations Division headed by PSSUPT MADZGANI M. MUKARAM, Chief, RPCRD in partnership with Darul Iftah headed by Grand Mufti, Sheikh Abdulbaki Abubakar, Ulama Council of Zamboanga Peninsula headed by its chairman, Sheikh Muhaimin Sakili and Sabiel Al-Mohtadeen Foundation as represented by Dr. Sahie Udjah conducted a one (1) day Ulama consultative conference dubbed as ULAMA: Brothers Conversations for Harmony, Mutual Respect and Common Good with a theme: “Fostering Relationships-Bettering Communities” held at the Function Hall, Camp Gen. Eduardo B Batalla, JRT Lim Boulevard, Zamboanga City in observance of the World Interfaith Harmony Week 2018. 

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.

Thereby, a workshop followed which divided the participants into five (5) groups as facilitated by Professor Alih Aiyub and Professor Munib Kahal of Western Mindanao State University. Thereafter, each group presented their outputs by way of raising a problem and finding a solution. Majority of the problems they raised that include an issues of Mistaken Identity, Force Disappearance of the Muslim Comrade, erroneous accusation against a Muslim as an Extremist or Terrorist, Disrespect towards Ulama, Lack of Communication between Security Sectors and the Muslim Community and other Issues concerning Peace and Security. As a result, every members of the group gave suggestions to answer the issue but unanimously they preferred that Ulama should collaborate with the different government agencies to come up with a better solution.

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.

Afterwards, Professor Kahal presented and explained the Ulama-PNP Coordinating Framework, and then a short synthesis was given by Professor Aiyub. Subsequently, a short inspirational message on unity and commitment was given by Gen. Mohammad Nur Askalani (ret.), member of Council of Advisers for Muslim Advancement, Sheikh Muhaimin Sakili, Chairman, Ulama Council of Zamboanga Peninsula, Sheikh Abdulbaki Abubakar, Mufti, Region 9 and Palawan and Dr. Sahie Udjah, representative of Sabiel Al-Mohtadeen Foundation. 

MULTICULTURAL CAMP “CELEBRATING HARMONY AMIDST DIVERSITIES”
Sponsored by: Integrated Resource Development for Tri-People (IRDT)
Peace Connect project
Harmony Village, Pitogo, Sinunuc, Zamboanga City
February 6-7, 2018

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.

United with nature, the campers of this event held their activity at the camp site located at Harmony Village. The name of the place itself gives us many definitions – in harmony with God, nature, the self and neighbors. It is a seamless place to hold the significant activity as the camp’s goal is to “Celebrate Harmony amidst Diversities”.

The Camp started with the usual prayer and orientation of getting-to-know-you activity. A great impact of sharing was felt as the group made their plan of action on what they could do to share the good message of a Multicultural camp to their community. At the end of the activity, the participants then advocated the sense of living in harmony amidst diversities and the love for the common good

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.

Celebrating World Interfaith Harmony Week 2018 was very significant because we could reach people’s hearts with many initiatives. Understanding multicultural diversity brought together a melting pot of different cultures, beliefs, and religions that turned the activity into somewhat of a little mixed family. As young as they are, they must embrace the reality of multicultural diversities and to accept that living in harmony amidst diversities is possible as long as we have respect, harmony and we have God as the center of our lives.

POSTER MAKING: INSTRUMENTALITY TO PROMOTE PEACE AND HARMONY

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.

Prior to the finals, an elimination round was conducted from among the entries submitted for selection and screening. The theme of this year’s celebration was the basis of the inmates’ visual presentation.  After the deliberation, ten qualified entries were chosen from among the entries submitted who will now advance to the final round of the competition. Orientations were given to the finalists.  Ten finalists were  presented and were acknowledged.  Reading of criteria was made and the introduction of the persons in charge to rate the outputs of the finalists. The competition began as the finalists were given ample time to work on their posters.

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. 

PROMOTING INTERFAITH HARMONY THROUGH NOAH’S PUDDING

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.

To have a clear view of what Ashura all about, two active students from that mentioned learning institution gave a brief history and background of what Ashura is all about.  Accordingly, Ashura or Noah’s Pudding is given to individuals whose desire to live in peace and harmony with other people of various faiths, for giving of Ashura signifies peace and harmony, in other words it is a food for unity.  To have clear idea on its preparation, a short video presentation was shown.

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.

Forum on Early Detection and Prevention of Breast Cancer

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.

Mortality rates are also ballooning. To help combat the dreaded disease, local health advocates are promoting the National Screening Program especially among high-risk groups, including immediate family members and relatives of cancer patients.

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.

WIHW- Sharing Food at Ward 8 and Ward 9 at Zamboanga City Medical Center

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.

On 7^th of February 2018, Silsilah teachers along with guardians of their pupils and General PTA Officers were tasked to distribute packs of food to the patients at the Zamboanga medical Center formerly known as the General Hospital.

It was the second time to give and share food with the patients at Ward 8 but still it was with mixed feelings. Actually the moment we got there what I actually witnessed was sadness and suffering, and it deeply touched my eager and curious reaction of the patients in the ward.

In the morning we distributed food in Ward 8 where the patients are mostly children then when through the psychiatric ward in the afternoon.

There is a saying that “It is better to give than to receive” regardless of the amount. It is always a joyful thing to help even in a very simple way most especially to the poor and needy ones. Seeing the joy and gratitude in their smiling eyes every time they received the food is what really counts more after all.

Hopefully, and wishing that there would be more people or organizations out there somewhere in every part of the world aside from the government program willing to help the needy and less privileged individual like the Silsilah Dialogue Movement. It was a great challenge to live up with sense of helping others, a peace loving and working towards a common good of all humanity regardless of religions and culture without an alarming conflict in the world.

Sharing the Gift of Hope

On February 7, 2018 a Testimonial Gathering titled “Sharing the Gift of Hope” was conducted by the Zamboanga City Medical Center at Alavar Seafoods Restaurant, this City. This was sponsored by the Women and Children Protection Unit, the Psychiatry Department and the Mental Health Program of the Regional Health Office. 

The objectives were as follows:

    For fully recovered patients and strugglers to:

     – celebrate Transformation

    –   inspire and share the gift of unending hope

    –  empower one’s coping ability to transform and be productive members of society.

There were 40 participants who came mainly physically and sexually abused women, Rehabilitated Drug Dependents and Psychiatric Patients that are now economically productive with no reference to religion and social strata. The whole day activity was centered on the testimonial sharing of some survivors, their challenges and coping mechanisms and support received during their periods of difficulty. There were also sharing from the Psychiatrists/VAWC (Violence against Women and Children) and Clinic Physician who journeyed with them. In the Afternoon, the Emmaus Formator gave a sharing on the four pillars of Dialogue as a way of life and finally a “Kumustahan” session. 

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. 

In conclusion, we say all the objectives were met.

One of the relevant initiatives done during the World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW) 2018 in Zamboanga City was the  Gathering of the (Arabic Learning and Islamic Values Education) ALIVE Teachers of  Department of Education (DepEd). This was an initiative done in collaboration with Department of Education and Silsilah Dialogue Movement. The (Arabic learning and Islamic Values Education) ALIVE program of Department of Education is a special program for  Muslim Teachers who teach every week in public schools.

 We are lucky that the head of this program in the Department of Education is a committed member of Silsilah and she is Hadja Sarah Lucman Handang.  Last year with the help of Silsilah Dialogue Movement she was able to take a special course in Rome, Italy. It was a scholarship offered by the Vatican to different religions that want to know more about Christianity. The offer of the Vatican is the same that maintains relations with the Team of Amman which the Vatican created after the publication of the open letter “A Common Word between Us and You”.

The number of the ALIVE Teachers who were invited for this activity during the World Interfaith Harmony Week was almost 250. In this connection a good number of Principals of public schools participated to know more about this effort. The Silsilah sponsored this event in the spirit of Dialogue with the hope that this gathering would give to the ALIVE teachers a clear understanding of the concept of Interreligious Dialogue while they are entrusted to teach what is part of their curriculum. Silsilah, for many years, has been in the frontline of the gathering of the Madaris Guru (teachers of the Madrasah schools) “ALIVE Teachers” and Christian Catechists. But on this occasion of the World Interfaith Harmony Week the special attention was given only to the ALIVE Teachers. This activity was conducted at Astoria Hotel and it was a very intensive day of sharing to encourage the teachers to be more faithful to the effort done by the government for the teaching of Islamic Values with the hope that this teaching will spread in a more dialogical approach in society and can counteract radicalism with the presence of Madaris in different parts of Mindanao sponsored by different groups who promote  radical violence.

On that occasion Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, PIME, the convener of the World Interfaith Harmony Week and founder of the Silsilah Dialogue Movement, delivered a message to present the importance of the World Interfaith Harmony Week and the theme: “Celebrating the Transforming Powers of the Love of God and the Love of Neighbor for the Common Good”. The day was enriched with inputs and testimonies given by respected Muslim leaders from Zamboanga and other parts of the Philippines encouraging the ALIVE Teachers to be always responsible and become a sign of hope for the education of Muslim children who need positive formation in the spirit of Islam as a Religion of Peace and not as a religion of violence, as promoted by some groups in Mindanao, like in the Marawi siege by the ISIS.

We are grateful to Hadja Sarah L. Handang who put all her energy and skills to prepare this activity. Hopefully this can be multiplied in the local and national levels.

The Tulungatung National High School-Peace Club sponsored this activity with the goal to demonstrate to teachers and parents the mechanisms on natural farming and holistic care. In relation with the celebration of World Interfaith Harmony Week, many institutions and partners were encouraged to develop helpful programs that would promote the theme: Celebrating the Transforming Power of the Love of God and the Love of Neighbor for the Common Good.

The holistic care From Soil to soul In Dialogue with creation for harmony and peace activity demonstrated to the teachers and parents the goodness and benefits of natural farming. It was discussed during the activity that natural farming is a traditional form of agricultural practice popularly associated with a back-to-nature effort. Through this activity of World Interfaith Harmony Week 2018, the voice of nature and the environment was heard and reflected. It was also mentioned in the activity the essence of holistic care. As known, holistic care is an integrated approach to health care that treats the “whole” person, not simply the symptoms and disease. It is also understood that mind and body are integrated and inseparable. It is reflected in holistic care that there is holiness to experience wholesomeness.

This initiative is very environmental and it gives a lot of inspiration. The spirit of World Interfaith Harmony Week 2018 is taken in an environmental perspective where the love for God is in connection with the Love for all of His creation. The Love for nature will give us the motivation to take care of the resources that are to be nurtured for the next generation. Understanding the nature of life with a life-giving caring system is very essential. It gives the opportunity for God’s creation and humanity to live in harmony. It builds a healthy home.

At the end of the activity, The Transforming Power of the Love of God and the Love of Neighbor for the common Good builds the hope for the parents and individuals. Life will be full of holiness and heart that creates a goal to care for the environment because caring for environment will save our brothers and sisters from worst calamities in the future. Will this initiative bring Harmony and Peace? In fact yes, because there is continuous regeneration of life — nourishment, cleansing and balance in nature. This is a good initiative because at the end, it reflected the theme of the celebration. It is believed that the result of caring for the creation is also caring and loving God and your neighbor for the common Good. Padayon!