URI SEAPac Newsletter Volume 1 Jan-June 2009

URI SEAPac Newsletter 2009 Volume 1 Jan-June

URI Southeast-Asia Pacific engages the Moral Imagination in Peace and Solidarity with Victims of Armed Conflict and Warby Marites Guingona Africa

May 3, 2009

The birth of an idea arising from a need

In April 2009 United Religions Initiative (URI) in Southeast Asia-Pacific (SEAPac) took its first steps towards actively engaging in the endeavor of realizing its vision of peace, justice and healing in the region and began to help build bridges of friendship and solidarity with a group of grassroots Muslim, Christian and indigenous leaders of conflict-affected communities in Lanao del Norte in Mindanao, the southern region of the Philippines.

This unprecedented regional initiative by URI was made possible through the help of Mohammad Musa Sanguila, one of the distinguished members of the Board of Trustees of Pakigdait who is also currently chairperson of the URI SEAPac Regional Council and member of the URI Global Council. In a meeting in Manila of URI SEAPac trustees last October 2008—which was attended by former regional chairpersons Dr. Amir Farid Isahak (Malaysia) and myself (Marites Guingona Africa, Philippines), and Shakuntala Vaswani (URI SEAPac Regional Coordinator), Jessiee Kaur Singh (Commons CC, Australia), and Orlan de Guzman (URI Regional Information and Communications Officer)--the idea was brought forth by Musa. It surfaced during the deliberations on how to put to good use the remaining regional funds of 2008. The trustees warmed up to the idea of using the funds in aid of the victims of the conflict and war in Mindanao.

The idea was supported by Cooperation Circles in the region and a project proposal was submitted to the URI hub in San Francisco, U.S.A. by the Iligan-based PAKIGDAIT, a local interfaith NGO headed by Musa Sanguila, Fr. Reggie Quijano and other distinguished leaders of the local interfaith community in Iligan. Pakigdait is an active Cooperation Circle (CC) of URI in Mindanao and it has been serving the cause of peace, justice and the wellbeing of the people of Lanao del Norte for over a decade.

The project proposal was approved by the global URI hub after the Global Assembly in Mayapur, India last December. It was finally launched in Tubod, Lanao del Norte during the celebration of the Lanao Month of Peace last March before the presence of Governor Khalid Dimaporo. Rev. Charles P. Gibbs, Executive Director of URI, awarded the symbolic check to Pakigdait. He was there to participate in the URI SEAPac Regional Assembly in Tubod from March 15-20, 2009.

Reaching out and touching base with the people in pain

A month later, in April, the gracious and able leaders and members of the PAKIGDAIT CC opened its doors to assist URI in conducting the first of two introduction workshop-seminars on “ENGAGING THE MORAL IMAGINATION IN GRASSROOTS INTERFAITH DIALOGUE AND COMMUNITY-BUILDING” Having attended the two-year action-reflection pilot peacebuilding workshop that was conducted by Dr. John Paul Lederach (a renowned Mennonite trainer and lecturer on peacebuilding and conflict-transformation) and Dr. Herm Weaver for URI (from 2006-08), I volunteered to design and conduct the workshop with the help of Sarah Queblatin, URI Regional Projects Coordinator.Sarah and I left Manila for Cagayan de Oro in Mindanao a day earlier (April 20, Monday) hoping that we would have the chance to meet with the Pakigdait team prior to the workshop. It was a 45-minute flight from Manila to Cagayan de Oro and we were met by amiable driver Lito who took us from the airport straight to the Midway Beach Resort in Initao, Misamis Oriental (halfway between Cagayan de Oro and lligan City).

On our way to Initao, I received a call from Abel Moya, the Projects Director of Pakigdait, informing me that a bomb exploded the Agus Bridge near the Maria Christina Falls in Iligan early that morning and that, although the workshop would push through as scheduled, the number of participants would probably be reduced! The Agus Bridge was a main thoroughfare that allowed commuters travelling along the coast of northern Mindanao to pass through.
Sarah and I spent the day alone in Midway beach, waiting for word from Abel and the Pakigdait team and hoping for the best. The beach always had a seductive effect on me, but that time the concerns of work made me oblivious to its lure. We simply sat under a nipa hut and passed the time discussing the workshop and sharing with each other our personal spiritual journey and our aspirations for peace.

The Pakigdait team and their participants arrived late morning the next day (April 21, Tuesday). There were around twenty-four Muslim, Christian, and indigenous grassroots leaders from the four conflict-affected communities of Linamon, Kauswagan, Kolambugan and the City of Iligan in Lanao del Norte that arrived for the workshop. We began the workshop after lunch with interfaith prayers and introductions from Musa Sanguila, and an opening exercise led by Xarifa Sanguila, Musa’s lovely wife (who is also a member of Pakigdait).

After the opening exercises and the expectation check, the first module was Visions of Peace Among Religions (VPAR). A slideshow of images of violence and war were presented onscreen. Then the participants were divided into small groups of five and were encouraged to share with one another personal experiences of violence in their lives. The exercise gave some of the traumatized victims, like Rosie Sobrado, a fifty-year old Catholic church worker from the little town of Inudaran in Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte, the chance to share the horrors that her family experienced when their home was attacked and members of her family shot at and killed by around 50 rebels of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) last August. She spoke of her husband being hit, and of her one-year old grandchild’s belly being slashed open. Her pain was palpable but her courage was awe-inspiring. She held her tears at bay as she told her story before the group that was composed also of Muslims. She said that not all Muslims were bad and that she was willing to work with them to help their community find peace. The Muslim leaders nodded their head in silent agreement.

The exercise of recalling their experiences was painful and difficult, but it was followed by a visioning exercise that helped them momentarily find a way out of their pain. Participants were invited to work together as a group and draw a picture of the community that they wished to see in five years’ time. John Paul Lederach’s Moral Imagination was introduced in helping to make them aware that they were capable of imagining something different, of creating something new and desirable even while they were rooted in the painful realities of their present lives.

The workshop moved on to the module on Conflict Transformation to help them build capacities for realizing their vision of a peaceful community. The participants were asked whether conflict was good or bad. Many said it was bad, but there were a few who acknowledged that it was neither good nor bad; that it was a turning point in their relationships that can be used to strengthen and deepen those relationships. They went on to understand conflict in terms of differences in position, interest, value and need. The first day ended at around six in the evening with sharing of reflections on a personal experience that they had with someone whom they had been in conflict with, and what they imagined the interest, value, and needs of that person might be. This was capped with a slideshow presentation on the studies done by Dr. Masaru Emoto on the effect of thought forms on water crystals. It seemed to be a powerful reminder that the human body (and the planet Earth!), being composed of 70 percent water, is vulnerable to our thought forms and is affected by them in a significant way.

Walking together in oneness along the labyrinth of life

The second day (April 22, Wednesday) began with an interfaith prayer on the beach and a walk in the labyrinth that Sarah drew on the sand. The participants were asked to bring an object that symbolized their “being” as they followed the labyrinth’s path while imagining their life’s journey. They were asked to remember their life’s turning points along the way and how they grew in awareness of the workings of God/Allah. As they reached the center of the labyrinth, they each took a few moments of silence to honor God/Allah in their lives. Ustadz Jawad, a Muslim leader, cried out the shahada, so moved was he by the experience!

The afternoon was spent learning how to see and appreciate differences in people’s position and disposition, and how to deal with them in ways that promoted mutual respect, understanding and cooperation. The meaning of true dialogue in the context of faith was defined, and later a personal exercise in “humanizing the enemy” and engaging heart listening in imagining the “enemy’s” needs and fears gave the dialogue exercise a practical application. The participants shared their experiences on this with the members of their small group, and then they were asked to choose a story that they wished to role play. It was a fun activity that brought laughter to the circle and engaged the participants holistically in the learning experience. At the end of the day, they returned to the labyrinth bearing their commitment to peace and their symbols of themselves which they solemnly offered at the labyrinth’s center.

Although that part of the journey ended, the sense of being in the midst of a new beginning lingered in me. This was the first time in over thirty years that I have returned to my southern homeland—Mindanao--and touched based with the pain of its people! I have been away too long and this labyrinth of peace is leading me back to its heart center! I resonated with Light-- the name an eloquent Higa-onon (an indigenous tribe in Mindanao) wanted to call himself--when he expressed his wish that the workshop could be extended to one more day. One more day of peace is an oasis in the desert of fear and uncertainty that this group of courageous people are experiencing in their daily lives. Hoping for one more day is a heartwarming sign of hope alive, and I was glad that I could still speak the language well enough to understand them and be part of their journey!Heart listening, hope mongering, and hankering to carry on for peace. Our colleagues at Pakigdait advised us to end the workshop by 3:30 in the afternoon so that it would still be light when the participants travelled back home to their communities. This was for safety, they said. Sarah and I rode with Musa and Abel to Iligan after the workshop ended that afternoon (April 22, Wednesday). We were brought to Charebel Suites where we were told that many visiting guests from different NGOs and international aid organizations often stayed. It was safe there, we were told.

The next day (April 23, Thursday), we had the privilege of attending and assisting Tina Lomoljo, Executive Director of BirthDev, and her amazing team of young facilitators and volunteers in the Emotional Recovery workshop for the victims of war in Lanao del Norte. This was another component of the URI program under the care of Pakigdait. Sarah and I decided to stay and participate in the experience.

There were two sessions that day. The morning session was held in Barangay Upper Hinaplanon in the municipality of Cabaro, and the afternoon session was in Barangay Tomas Cabili in Ceanuri, Iligan City. These were communities where Muslims, Christians and indigenous people from conflict areas have fled and lived with families and friends.

There were two groups of children (5-8 years old, and 9-12 years old), and a group of around fifteen adults that attended the morning session. I sat with the 9-12 year old group of children; there were about 15 of them, all Muslims. After the introductions and explanation on what emotional recovery meant, they were asked to draw a picture of the recent attack on their home community in order to release or express their emotions. I was deeply moved to see that many of the drawings showed guns firing and killing people, and airplanes dropping bombs or firing at homes and fleeing people. They spoke about the experience shyly and haltingly in a way that almost belied the horrors that they went through. It was heartrending to listen and not be able to do anything much to heal the psychic wounds inflicted on innocent children!

The adults were more articulate in expressing their suffering and fears. They said they could not return to their communities because they feared that fighting would break out again. They expressed hope that both the military and the rebels would settle their differences so that peace could be restored and they could return home at last.In Ceanuri, during the afternoon session, there were more groups of children; this time there was an older age group of 13-17 years of age. Sarah sat with them while I remained with the adults to listen to more stories of their plight.
The stories I heard stayed with me a long time. There was a young Muslim mother carrying an adorable five-month old baby. I was told that she was born at the height of the evacuation. Her husband used to farm in the fields but now, he said, he is forced to live a life of dependency in the city because he could neither read nor write.An elderly Maranao Muslim woman spoke of how she wanted to take off her malong (wrap-around skirt) so that she could run away fast from the military soldiers who were in hot pursuit of the rebels. She said that the embarrassment of running naked was overcome by her fear for her life.

A dignified Sultan spoke painfully of how they could not even bury their dead; they had to leave her body untouched because the military demanded inspection of the body for wounds that would indicate the presence of the enemy.

Before we left the community at the end of the day, we heard the elders ask: “Unsa man ang inyong matabang sa amo?” What can you do to help us? It was a painful question that I struggled to respond to. All I could promise was that URI would continue to be one with them in their journey and will share their stories with people who cared around the world. They heaved a sigh, and I wanted to say more but could not.

At the end of the day, Sarah and I returned to the Pakigdait office with Tina and the amazing group of young facilitators and volunteers of BirthDev to share our experiences of the day. I was deeply moved to hear that despite the tiredness of body, the passion, dedication and commitment to carry on for peace, justice and healing remained strong among them. It was a humbling experience for one who has been away from this southern homeland for over three decades; I must return and continue to speak anew the language that I thought I had left by the wayside and forgotten.

Highlights of the 5th URI SEAPac Regional Assembly

March 16-21, 2009/ Lanao del Norte, Philippines

Day 0: First Gathering

On Sunday March 15, the SEAPac Regional staff and CC representatives arrived in Tubod, Lanao del Norte in Mindanao Philippines for the longest regional assembly and meeting so far. Combined with the Bowes Awarded 2-Day Leadership Training Program and the Moral Imagination Workshop and Forum, the 5^th Regional Assembly was set to be a dynamic and fulfilling activity for everyone.

The delegates were put up at the beautiful Mindanao Civic Center Hotel Musa Sanguila and the Pakigdait CC hosted the regional assembly and set out some activities that involved meeting the local government personalities and civil society members. The Regional Assembly was in partnership with the local government of Lanao del Norte which ensured the safety of the delegates during the visit.

In the afternoon the group was welcomed by the Lanao del Norte Governor's Mother, Imelda Dimaporo, who was also the former Governor of the Province, and treated to a sumptuous afternoon snacks.

After the visit, a Sacred Opening was conducted where in Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, and Sikh prayers were offered. Symbolic of each one's contribution and commitment to URI's vision and mission, Charles Gibbs (Executive Director of the United Religions Initiative), Marites Guingona –Africa (Global Council Trustee and outgoing Chairperson of the Regional Council), and Musa Sanguila (Regional Trustee and host of the assembly) lighted three candles while those present were requested to pour water into one bowl. Each CC representative placed a rose on the water declaring their support for URI declaring:

On behalf of all the members of (CC NAME), I offer this flower as a symbol of our spiritual bond with the URI Family."

Afterwards, an orientation on the Regional Assembly was given by Shakun Vaswani, Regional Coordinator. Pakigdait CC as host gave an overview about Lanao del Norte and Mindanao

Day 1: Team Building and Company with Governor

The day started with a courtesy call on Governor Mohammad Khalid Dimaporo, the youngest governor in the country. At 28 years old, the Governor is immersed in political and governance work with impressive work on developing peace building initiatives in his province.

The Governor's staff gave each delegate a Tubao (hand/necker chief with Maranao weave) as a necklace with the provincial seal and the symbolic Sarimanok, a legendary Maranao bird usually depicted in Islamic mythology.

After the visit, Pakigdait CC through Abel Moya, its Programs Director, conducted Team Building activities. Grouped into three, the delegates had to prove their team building and leadership skills as they make the tallest pasta noodle and marshmallow tower. An outdoor activity capped the workshop wherein they played ball to work further on teamwork.

In the evening, the Governor hosted a dinner for the delegates by the hotel pool side. Members of the civil society groups were present and they interacted with CC representatives present exchanging ideas and stories.

During the formalities of the evening, Charles Gibbs (Executive Director of the United Religions Initiative publicly recognized the URI funded URISEAPac project "Building Interfaith Cooperation Towards Peace and Development in Lanao del Norte." The project is in partnership with Pakigdait CC and Peacemakers Circle CC with a total funding of $10,633 from the remaining funds of the region in 2008.

Day 2: Bowes Award Leadership Training

The Peacemakers Circle CC was given the Bowes Award to conduct a leadership training to the URI SEAPac Region representatives with the intention of firming up leadership skills among the CC leaders and members. The workshop was facilitated by Marites Guingona-Africa, the Executive Director of the Peacemaker s Circle Foundation.

First the participants created a collective drawing of their understanding and their dream after seeing the Visions of Peace Among Religions which is a presentation on religiously motivated violence around the world throughout history.

A review of the PPP also took place wherein participants were asked to answer the following:

1. What struck you most about the URI PPP? What attracted you to the URI the most?


2. How is the URI living up to your vision of peace among religions? Or how is it not?


3. What capacities and resources do you wish to see the URI develop in itself and bring to the fore as an agent of change?


4. How do you think you can contribute to this process?

Day 1 aimed at gathering collective insights and visions on URI's organizational structure as a living entity and CC representatives had to find their role as CC leaders within it. Creative juices flowed as groups came up with their own perception on URI's structure as an organism. One group had an image of unique galaxies, spirals, and concentric circles all connected to one main galaxy spiral. Another group had a giant heart as the center with heart expressions emanating out of it. The last group had an octopus with the octopus head as the central force that guides the tentacled members and sub groups.

Day 3: Review of Regional Council By - Laws

On the third day, the dialogue circle assessed the need to review the Regional Council By-Laws. The day was dedicated to reviewing the By-Laws draft prepared by Boni Quirog of Bohol Goodwill Volunteers CC.

The review of By-Laws was facilitated by Dr. Amir Farid Isahak of InSaF CC.

At the end of the day, the Youth CC representatives gathered to meet about upcoming plans that included possible election of representatives per country and a possible youth assembly in Cebu within the year.


Film showings of documentary features, audio visual presentations of United Religions Initiative, Gandhi Puri Ashram CC, COMMON CC, and Pakigdait CC were ongoing from Tuesday to Thursday.


Day 4: Strategic Planning




On the fourth day of the regional assembly, the whole day was given to strategic planning. The assembly reviewed financial reports, programs, and projects for 2008 and for 2009. The Regional Coordinator's Report was conducted by Shakun Vaswani.



It started with the review of the minutes of previous meetings held in Cebu (Regional Assembly 2008), Manila (Trustees Meeting), and Mayapur (Global Assembly 2008). Business arising from the minutes were discussed.


It was recalled that the remaining funds from 2008 will be used for the Mindanao Peace building project c/o Pakigdait CC and Peacemakers Circle CC entitled "Building Interfaith Cooperation Towards Peace and Development in Lanao del Norte" which engages the Moral Imagination Program, Visions of Peace Among Religions, and Psycho-Emotional Healing.


A review of the 2009 Budget of took place afterwards. The budget for 2009 was allocated for the following:

1. Building & Strengthening Regional Coordinating Office

a) Hire a Regional Programs Coordinator.

b) Register the URI SEAP Office as a legal nonprofit organization

c) To improve capacity for regional communication and information dissemination

2. Building Regional Teamwork and Strengthening Leaderships

a) The Regional Assembly 2009 to combine the Bowes Award Leadership Training, the Regional Meeting, and a public workshop forum on Moral Imagination

3. Supporting Local CC Projects and Regional Peace Building

a) IDP Campaign

b) Moral Imagination and VPAR Programs to be conducted in the three zones of the Region. Zone 1 – Vietnam or Cambodia, Zone 2 – Philippines, Zone 3 – Australia

c) Seed Grant Funding for CCs

The Youth CCs had a chance to be highlighted as Sharon Vaswani, Regional Youth Coordinator presented the activities conducted by the youth and the latest news from the Global Youth Council and from the Young Leaders Program participants in Mayapur last year. It was decided that each country will vote for a country representative to report to the Youth Coordinator who will then report to the Regional Trustees.

A special Resource Mobilization Guide presentation was give by Ted Juanite, the Resource Mobilization Officer of Pakigdait wherein tips and information about the fundraising world were shared.

Towards the end of the day, a planning session for the year took place among the following committees:

1. Executive Board - Headed by Chairperson Musa Sanguila

2. Growth and Expansion – Headed by Dr. Amir Isahak

3. Peace and Relationship Building - Headed by Marites Africa

4) Resource Mobilization – Headed by Musa Sanguila

Day 5: Lanao Month of Peace Celebration

The Lanao del Norte Government celebrates the Lanao Month of Peace during March. The Pakigdait CC has played a key role in its declaration and celebration.

The URI SEAP delegates joined the "Panagtagbo" ("Meeting"), an opening activity wherein the Civil Society, Government, and Military start from different origins and meet in the middle signifying the unity of such sectors in promoting peace in Mindanao.

Some delegates were invited to host the interfaith prayers to open the ceremonies. Charles Gibbs, URI Executive Director spoke in behalf of URI's presence in Mindanao.

The closing ceremonies included the release of doves and the planting of the Peace Pole donated by the URI through Mario Toots Fungo (a URI affiliate) of the World Peace Prayer Society.

On the side, the URI SEAP youth delegates worked together with the Interfaith Youth Council of Pakigdait CC in creating a nature mandala out of found leaves and stones around the peace pole. Meditation and interfaith prayers generated a peaceful energy for the creative activity. This was also an activity in solidarity with the Mindanao Peace Power Day celebrated on March 18 with the Sowing Peace Network.


The URI SEAP delegates were graced with the presence of James Lees of the Politic al Affairs Department of the Australian Embassy during the celebration. Mr. Lees was present to meet civil society and grassroots organizations working in partnership with the local government in bringing about peace and development in Mindanao. He stayed with the group until the end of the Regional Assembly.

Field Trip

After a hectic but fulfilling week, the delegates were given an afternoon to rest and explore the beauty of a retreat center called Dapit Alim. One had to climb more than two hundred steps to reach the top. On the top, everyone was treated to large outdoor sculptures which one can interact with – a giant sculpture of the young Jesus, a labyrinth, and an octopus sculpture among others. Animals were free roaming engaging everyone to interact with them. The center is run by a priest and can house several retreat goers.

The delegates were able to relax and breathe fresh air and share powerful energies from the retreat center.

Closing Ceremonies

At the end of the day, the URI SEAPac delegates formally closed the Regional Assembly with a sacred closing ceremony of interfaith prayers and singing. All the efforts and the gift of time by everyone that contributed to the success of the regional assembly were acknowledged that night. Charles Gibbs' inspiring presence was highly appreciated.

Marites Guingona –Africa was honoured as the outgoing Regional Council Chairperson whereas Musa Sanguila was officially recognized as the new chairperson.

Day 6: Moral Imagination Workshop Forum

The final leg of the Regional Assembly was a public workshop – forum on John Paul Lederach's Moral Imagination which URI has embraced as part of its peace building programs. The workshop was facilitated by Marites – Guingona Africa, Regional Trustee and Executive Director of the Peacemakers Circle CC.

The workshop had 50 participants from various sectors : Religious, Civil Society, Government, Military, and Media. The goal was to learn how to use moral imagination as a method in transcending violence and conflict.

After relaying three stories from John Paul Lederach, Marites Africa encouraged the participants to exchange their stories of moral imagination, of creative ways of transcending conflict. Some of the stories worth noting were shared by the Governor who was born from Muslim and Christian Peace activist political rivals; a woman Pastor who worked with Muslims and braved the threats of the military; a young political intern who gave light to a controversial issue by reminding political leaders of their religious values; a civil society leader who convinces the President to invest on a national sports event in his location in order to ensure the protection of his people; and a story of a young man taking care of his sick grandmother in the midst of the MILF attack of their town.

The workshop ended with meaning to those present as they look forward to a more intensive moral imagination engagement from the URI within the next few months.

Farewell Dinner

Pakigdait CC hosted a special dinner al fresco under the stars with special Maranao dishes to the delight of everyone. An added attraction was a videoke activity that kept everyone entertained with the chance to show off their singing talents. Thank you Pakigdait CC for your beautiful presence and warm hospitality!

Vol.III, No. 2 (Jul-Dec 2008)

Contents:

PILGRIMS OF PEACE gathered for the URI GLOBAL ASSEMBLY in MAYAPUR, INDIA

The United Religions Initiative (URI) held its second Global Assembly (GA08) on November 27^th to December 5^th, 2008 in Mayapur, West Bengal, India. The much-anticipated event brought together in one unprecedented grassroots global gathering some 200 global interfaith leaders and around 100 interfaith youth delegates representing diverse religions, spiritual expressions and indigenous traditions from 44 countries... read more

Editorial: SOWING PEACE

by Marites Guingona-Africa , URI Global Trustee & URI-SEAP Regional Council Chairperson

Last September, in the Southeast Asia Pacific region, the desire for lasting peace in the conflict-prone Mindanao region of the Philippines motivated the Peacemakers’ Circle to take the lead in bringing together peace advocates in Manila in support of those adversely affected by the conflict that had flared up in the wake of the aborted signing of the of the Memorandum of Agreement on the Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP)... read more

LOVE IN LUJIANG: Finding the meaning of true love and healing through filial piety

Reflections by Dr. Amir Farid Bin Dato Isahak, URI - SEAP Global Trustee

My second trip to China this year was again at the invitation of the Most Venerable Master Chin Kung, founder and spiritual sifu of the worldwide Buddhist Amitabha society. In May, I went with him, his disciples and Malaysian religious leaders on an educational tour of Beijing and Xinjiang.

This time we went to Tangchi, a small rural agricultural town with about 50,000 residents. It is located in Lujiang county, Anhui province. The area is calm and serene, with padi and tea cultivation being the main economic activities. It has many hot springs that provide pure alkaline water, something we were able to enjoy since it was piped into our rooms. It was autumn and the cool weather was just pleasant. Now the town is also filled with love... read more

Updates from Manila: PEACE DAY 2008

FAITHS IN HARMONY SOWING PEACE THROUGH PRAYERS, LIGHTS AND SOUNDS
The Peacemakers’ Circle Foundation, Inc. (PCFI) and the United Religions Initiative Southeast Asia & the Pacific (URI-SEAP) Regional Office joined forces with the Sowing Peace for Mindanao network* in organizing a back-to-back peace event in Quezon City, Metro Manila on Saturday September 20, 2008, eve of the UN International Day of Peace.

Just before sunset a motley crowd of more than a hundred people lined the sidewalk along Katipunan Avenue-- in front of Miriam College-- to make a stand for peace and call for the cessation of violence in Mindanao. They were students, teachers, artists, lay and religious, members of the interfaith community, NGOs, and employees who took time from their busy schedule to gather together in order to make their voices heard. In solidarity, they wore white, and brought flowers, musical instruments and food to share... read more

Updates from Manila: SOWING PEACE CARAVAN & INTERFAITH EIDL FITR CELEBRATION

MANILA, PHILIPPINES -- An historic event took place in Metro Manila on Thursday October 2, 2008. About 30 motorcyclists and 12 vehicles carrying colored flaglets and banners of the Sowing Peace for Mindanao network drove through the streets in a Peace Caravan that called for a more intensified campaign for awareness and solidarity for the growing number of people affected by the conflict in Mindanao. Escorted by MMDA mobile traffic enforcers and several media crew, the convoy—composed of members representing the different peace organizations, religious communities and interfaith groups had earlier assembled at the Miriam College parking lot in Quezon City, and traveled all the way to Maharlika Village in Taguig City... read more

Updates from Manila: GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP TRAINING WORKSHOP ON MUSLIM-CHRISTIAN DIALOGUE

MANILA, PHILIPPINES— The Peacemakers' Circle Foundation, Inc. (PCFI) CC, with the support of the Australian Embassy's Strengthening Grassroots Interfaith Dialogue and Understanding (SGIDU) Program, has been conducting a GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP TRAINING WORKSHOP ON MUSLIM-CHRISTIAN DIALOGUE in four communities in Metro Manila since June 2008. The participating communities are: Maharlika Village in Taguig City, Salam Compound in Culiat, Quezon City, Quiapo in Manila, and Tala in Caloocan City... read more

Update from Manila: ENGAGING THE MORAL IMAGINATION IN THE SEARCH FOR PEACE IN MINDANAO

MANILA, PHILIPPINES-- The Peacemakers' Circle CC, with the help of its network of partners in SOWING PEACE FOR MINDANAO (SPM), the U.S. Embassy in Manila, and the Mindanao Peoples' Caucus, successfully followed up the series of projects and activities they conducted (from August to October) with a dialogue workshop-forum last October 23, 2008. This was entitled: IN SEARCH FOR PEACE IN MINDANAO: Engaging the Moral Imagination in Community Dialogue and Relationship- Building (a leaders' dialogue workshop-forum).

The October 23 workshop-forum was held at the Hotel Rembrandt in Quezon City and was hosted by Jasmin N. Galace of the Center for Peace Education of Miriam College. Over one hundred representatives of organizations from various sectors of society--government, media, civil society, academe, religious and interfaith institutions, and the diplomatic community-- attended... read more

Updates from Kalinaw CC - Cebu

Cebu holds big International Day of Peace 2008 celebration

CEBU, PHILIPPINES— On September 19, 2008 (Friday), Kalinaw (“peace”) CC collaborated with the University of Cebu’s Civic Welfare Training Service - National Service Training Program (CWTS-NSTP) and the Advocates of Living Values Education (ALIVE) in organizing one of the biggest UN International Day of Peace celebration in the SEAP region. With over 5,500 people gathered at the newly constructed Cebu Coliseum, the grand event saw the city’s largest participation and widest collaboration so far of multisectoral, multifaith and multicultural celebration of the UN IDP in one venue.

Around 3,000 NSTP-CWTS students from the University of Cebu (UC) were joined by 2,000 from ten other schools and colleges, plus about 500 participants from local government units, civil society groups and non-government organizations... read more

Updates from Cebu Youth CCs

CEBU YOUTH CCs ENGAGE IN PRAYERS FOR MINDANAO ON PEACE DAY

Reported by Jaimini dasi Araneta

CEBU, PHILIPPINES-- Youth for Peace (Prayers for Mindanao) was a very successful and very heartwarming event for all the participating youths. Giving, Respect, Opportunity, Wisdom, Transcendence & Harmony (GROWTH) CC, in cooperation with Mugna Kabataan (“youth…create!”) CC and supported by the Kalinaw CC, gathered together at the Multipurpose hall around 30-40 youths from the National Service Training Program (NSTP) of the Lyceum of Cebu (LC)... read more

Updates from Pakigdait CC- Mindanao

Pakigdait CC Leads the 27th International Day of Peace

LANAO DEL NORTE, Mindanao -- The civil society organisations of Iligan City and Lanao del Norte gave recognition to a member of the peace panel, Prof. Rudy Rodil, at the celebration of the International Day of Peace (IDP). The network of civil society organisations of Iligan City and Lanao del Norte, through the initiative of Pakigdait, Inc. CC-- in partnership with the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD-UK)-- commemorated the Peace Day on September 21, 2008 at the Balay Mindanaw Peace Centre in Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City... read more

We Continue Interfaith & Cultural Solidarity Amid Armed Conflict in Lanao

KOLAMBUGAN, LANAO DEL NORTE, MINDANAO-- It was a moving moment. Christian leaders waited outside the town’s main Mosque in celebration of solidarity with Muslims on the last day of Ramadhan. Muslims were greeted outside the Mosque after they completed their worship (Sambayang) by the Christian leaders with offering of warm embrace, flowers, garlands, and fruits. It highlighted the celebration of the Eid’l Fit’r, the feast signifying the end of the month-long fasting... read more

Updates from MALAYSIA CCs

International Day of Peace – Malaysia

PETALING JAYA & TAIPING, MALAYSIA--The 2008 International Day of Peace is commemorated in Malaysia in many fronts. In one of these celebrations the Interfaith Spiritual Fellowship (INSaF)/KLCC, and Malaysian Interfaith Network CC, joined partners--the Service Civil International (SCI)-Malaysia, Malaysia for World Peace (M4WP), and Malaysian Indian Youth council -- in a 2-day event aimed at touching the hearts of the participants with peace activities that involved children, youth, schools, non-government organizations (NGO), and local council units... read more

Updates from COMMON CC - Australia

Sharing our Space: Multi-faith Healing Conference held by COMMON CC

VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA-- In celebration of the UN International Day of Peace 2008 Center for Melbourne Multifaith and Others Network (COMMON) CC successfully organized the annual MULTI-FAITH WEEK that kicked off with a Multi-faith Healing Conference entitled: SHARING OUR SPACE—held on its first day on September 21, 2008... read more

URI BOWES AWARD 2008 in SEAP

The Bowes Awards were established by the URI to recognize and catalyze innovation and cooperation among Cooperation Circles and the individuals and organizations in their communities. CCs are doing amazing interfaith work throughout the URI community, and the Bowes Awards is to lift up model action projects in each of the eight regions, all which embody the Preamble, Purpose and Principles of URI.

The Bowes Award Project, Leadership Training in SEAP Region will be conducted on March 16-18 in conjuction with the next Regional Meeting which will be held in Lanao del Norte, Mindanao (Southern Philippines)... read more

HONORING MOVERS in the Southeast Asia & the Pacific

by Marites Africa & Shakun Vaswani

As we take the next steps forward in our journey towards building and strengthening URI in our region, some of us who have journeyed the longest--and have seen how URI in our region has grown through the years-wish to express our gratitude to all the wonderful people in the region who have helped give birth to URI in our part of the world.

In the spirit of gratitude, joy, and love, we have humbly attempted to recognize and honor them--the MOVERS of URI in Southeast Asia-Pacific--by presenting each one of them to the URI global list serve (one person a week in the past few months) with a brief write-up on their invaluable contributions to the URI in our region. We hope you will be inspired, as we have been, by the beautiful and colorful tapestry of diversity and uniqueness that is being created by the efforts and contributions of each precious MOVER in our part of the world. We give you a glimpse of a few of these MOVERS here—the past and present Global Trustees of SEAP…read more

Reflections/Quotes on Mayapur GA08 from SEAP delegates

Padmini Solomon (Nur Damai CC - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

In a world where there is much religious exclusivity and negative religious fundamentalism, the fact that ISKCON opened its doors to the URI GA is amazing and impressive. It shows what friendships across religious barriers can achieve as well as how the “moral imagination” of URI’s global and regional leadership enables diversity to thrive and be honoured and celebrated...

... read more quotes

CATHARSIS OF THE SOUL: A Young Leader's Experience in Mayapur

YLP delegates sharing on the role of the youth in global interfaith action

Reflections on the Young Leaders Program & GA08

By Sharon Danisha M. Vaswani*

Who would have thought that a short stay in a little rural town with a population of just over 9,000 in West Bengal, India would have such a profound effect on me?

Not that long ago, my world was amazingly cosmopolitan in comparison to the outlying villages around Mayapur but, I must admit that when I first arrived in Sri Mayapur Dham last November 24, I was surprised at the big complex of the Temple and buildings, all painted pink & white in a garden setting and at the bare foot ISKCON pilgrims walking across the campus silently chanting the Hare Krishna mantra with their prayer beads. Mayapur Dham, 130km north of Calcutta across the Ganges River, is the Spiritual Capital of ISKCON. Considered as one of the most holy and peaceful places in all of India, it amazingly houses over one million pilgrims each year.

Mayapur Dham was also the venue for the Young Leaders Program and the 2^nd Global Assembly of the United Regions Initiative held from November 24 to December 6, 2008 where I was privileged to be part of the delegation from the Philippines and experience beautiful and enriching moments... read more

A message from the URI hub: Mayapur GA08 Reflections

a letter from URI Executive Director,
REV. CANON CHARLES P. GIBBS

The Global Assembly that once unimaginably far off is over. The seeds planted here in these two weeks will grow and bear fruit for decades to come. None of the pilgrims who were privileged to pass this time in Mayapur will ever be the same. And neither will URI. We will be challenged, grow and flourish in ways we can't begin to predict because of all the connections that have been made here by URI's pilgrims of peace from many paths with one purpose.

At one point in our closing ceremony, I found myself in a large circle 300+ people of diverse religions, spiritual expressions, and indigenous traditions from throughout the world as we honored the pilgrims from each region by calling them into the center of the circle, where they were graced by a special song sung by a fellow pilgrim from a different region... read more

Prayer Song for Peace

This is the third prayer from the eight prayers of Lord Chaitanya sung by devotees. See Lyrics