Interfaith Initiatives BY and IN the Philippines towards Dialogue (2007) Marawi City, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Philippines “Faith is a primordial need in the human condition offering hope, confidence, courage, and the commitment to lead a good life on which the family, society, and civilization are based,” Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Interfaith (or multi-faith or inter-religious) dialogue has become an integral part of peacebuiling efforts in settings where religion is intricately linked with conflict. Interfaith dialogue brings together people of different faith traditions with the goal of fostering a wider understanding of other religions and thus religious tolerance among the participants - Amina Rasul, Convenor, Phil. Council for Islam and Democracy. At the United Nations, the Philippines initiated a resolution entitled Promotion of Interreligious Dialogue, co-sponsored by 45 member-states and approved by a general consensus of the General Assembly. The text affirms the need for all states to continue international efforts to enhance dialogue and broaden understanding among civilizations in an effort to prevent the targeting of different religions and cultures. It also underlines the importance of promoting understanding, tolerance and friendship among human beings in all their diversity, belief and language. The Security Council Summit on 14 September 2005, chaired by President Arroyo, adopted Resolution 1624 calling upon all States to continue international efforts to enhance dialogue and broaden understanding among civilizations, in an effort to prevent the indiscriminate targeting of different religions and cultures. There was also recognition given to interfaith dialogue in the World Summit outcome document, including the role of interfaith dialogue in combating terrorism and the expanded scope of interfaith dialogue to encompass the promotion and protection of human rights Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations Lauro Baja cites the following developments to promote interfaith dialogue: - Philippine-initiated Informal Meeting of Leaders on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation chaired by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in September 2005 and the interfaith conference chaired by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo in June 2005. - Albania hosted in December 2004 the Tirana Summit on Inter-Religious and Inter-Ethnic Dialogue in South-East Europe participated in by 13 leaders of the region, adopting the Tirana Summit Declaration. - Alliance of Civilizations is a 2005 initiative by UN chief Kofi Annan and the prime ministers of Spain and Turkey aimed at bringing together institutions and civil society to bridge prejudices and misunderstandings between peoples of different cultures and religions. - A Conference on Religion in Peace and Conflict: Responding to Fundamentalism and Militancy was held on April 2005 in Melbourne, Australia. The representatives of 15 countries from Southeast Asia and the Pacific Region adopted the Melbourne Declaration. - The Second South Summit of the 132 member countries of the Group of 77 which took place in Qatar last June adopted the Doha Declaration in which the leaders recognize that the respect for religious and cultural diversity in an increasingly globalizing world contributes to international cooperation, promotes enhanced dialogue among religions, cultures and civilizations, and helps to create an environment conducive to exchange of human experience. - The Foreign Ministers of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) met in Doha last June and adopted the NAM Ministerial Declaration. They expressed the view that the promotion of a culture of peace, dialogue among civilizations and inter-religious cooperation are some of the significant measures and approaches that could contribute towards international peace, security and harmony… - The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) on Interfaith Dialogue was held in Bali, Indonesia, on 21-22 July 2005 on the theme Building Interfaith Harmony within the International Community. ASEM is made up of the EU Member States and Southeast and Northeast Asian countries. The Bali Declaration acknowledged the importance of interfaith dialogue and cooperation among UN initiatives in promoting the culture of peace, the inclusion of interfaith studies in post-elementary curricula, the education of grassroots communities on pluralism and diversity, the need for close cooperation between government and civil society sectors to share best practices and promote interfaith dialogue and cooperation, and the need to combat corruption in all its forms. - The tripartite Conference on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace was held last June 2005 in the United Nations, sponsored by 16 governments, UNDESA, UNESCO, the World Bank and the Committee of 110 Religious NGOs accredited with the UN. The outcome of this historic conference was circulated as General Assembly document A/60/269, which I commend for transmittal to capitals, to afford them the opportunity to consider the conclusions and recommendations of that conference. - The ASEAN Regional Forum, the only security-oriented organization in Asia, adopted a Ministerial Statement on 29 July 2005 in Vientianne. The Ministers welcomed the enhancement of inter-faith dialogues aimed at promoting mutual understanding and trust among people in the region, such as the Conference on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace, the Dialogue on Interfaith Cooperation in Yogyakarta and the ASEM Interfaith Dialogue in Bali, Indonesia. At the homefront, the Philippines hosted the Global Interfaith Dialogue on January 27, 2006 attended by 10 major political parties from 8 nations in Asia. CHRISTIANS and Muslims join leaders from other major religions in the Global Interfaith Dialogue organized by the Centrist Democrat International (CDI). Cebu hosted the Dialogue on Regional InterfaithCooperation for Peace, Development and Human Dignity (in attendance were the Ministers of New Zealand and Indonesia ) on March 14-16, 2006, acknowledging media and education’s role in interfaith understanding. Manila hosted the ASIAN gathering of Muslim Ulama and Christian Bishops on Aug. 18-20, 2003. Just a week before, the RP-Iran Bilateral Conference on Dialogue Among Civilizations was held on Aug. 4-6. The British Embassy funded a major interfaith conference at the Asian Institute of Management, Makati City with Oxford Center for Islamic Studies. Director Farhan Nizami as keynote speaker. CIVIL SOCIETY COUNTRY INITIATIVES The country has a rich history of faith-based initiatives brought on by a colonial past which divided the native peoples. Churches as part of their evangelization process engaged in interreligious dialogue. Every three years since the 1970, the local churches of Mindanao come together focused on “Church of the Poor Towards Communion and Mission in Asia,” where interfaith solidarity is one agenda. Another reason spurring interreligous dialogue is demographic – 10 % of this Catholic-dominated country belong to the Muslim faith and other denominations. Another factor are the commonalities in the monotheistic religions – for instance, belief in Mary, Jesus and the Holy Books. A round-table discussion was held on inter-faith initiatives during Sept. 2004 at the Asian Institute of Management. Faith-based organizations were present. Pakigdait, Inc. (mutual understanding) is a multireligious organization that brings together Muslim leaders and representatives from five different Christian denominations (Roman Catholic, Protestant, 7th Day Adventist, Aglipayan, and the Assemblies of God). Pakigdait focuses its efforts on the different communities in Mindanao that have been severely affected by the ongoing conflict, working to strengthen the relationships between the Muslim and Christian communities by allowing their members to draw on their common experiences and from there to work collectively to secure peace in their areas. Chevening scholar Musa Sanguila, Pakigdait’s Executive Director, recounted how he grassrooted his UK study on Government-Non-Government Relations, successfully linking up with the local government of mutli-religious Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte to institutionalize the annual celebration of the “Kauswagan Week of Peace.” Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte was the site of former President Estrada’s “all-out war’ which he declared on March 2000. Following the war, civil society groups like Pakigdait, with the support of the local government, worked to transform the community’s experience from that of “all-out war” to “all-out peace.” The provincial government of Lanao del Norte under Governor Dimaporo has now taken up the initiative of Pakigdait in Kauswagan and declared March as the “Month of Peace.” The group is now hoping to expand this initiative to include the neighboring province of Lanao del Sur. It works with UK’s Volunteer Service Overseas (VSO) and British Council. Muslim World League’s Aleem Elias Macarandas has been involved in interfaith work for 18 years. He helped pioneer interfaith dialogue between Muslims and Christians in Lanao del Norte at a time when the conflict was at its most intense and there were few, if any, opportunities for peaceful dialogue between Muslims and Christians. His work with the Ranao Muslim-Christian Movement for Peace and Develoment (RMMDP) and the success of the group’s interfaith work led to his involvement with the Bishop-Ulama Forum (BUF) of Mindanao. He is a founding member of the Forum and is still a part of its tripartite committee. The BUF has been a strong and effective advocate for peace in the region through its various dialogue activities and mediation efforts in Mindanao. It is comprised largely of middle- to top-level religious functionaries - the Ulamas (Muslims clerics) and Catholic and Protestant bishops. Because of the nature of its membership, the BUF has managed to put a high-profile face to peacemaking in Mindanao. However, Ustadz Macarandas noted that it has also been very difficult to bring down to the grassroots level the lessons gained from the BUF’s activities. This encouraged him to organize the Philippine Muslim Welfare Society with the explicit goal of bringing interfaith dialogue to the grassroots level. The involvement of local religious leaders, according the Ustadz Esmail Ebrahim from Cotabato and Ustadz Alih Bud from Tawi-Tawi, is crucial to the success of interfaith work in their respective provinces. Religious leaders have the capacity to guide and motivate their members to move from fear and prejudice toward greater understanding and tolerance. And because they are trusted and respected in their communities, their involvement in interfaith work lends credibility to the programs. In Cotabato, Muslim religious leaders have actively participated in interfaith activities with their Christian counterparts as, for example, in the recently held dialogue sponsored by the Association of Women Religious in the Archdiocese of Cotabato (AWRAC). This particular activity, according to Ustadz Ebrahim, facilitated the decision by both Christian and Muslim leaders to craft a common stand regarding the ongoing conflict, which they hope would guide future negotiations between the government and Muslim rebel groups. Former Local government executive and businessman Datu Ibrahim “Toto” Paglas’ wide experience with peacemaking has shown him that very often peace is better advanced when the needs of the local communities are first acknowledged and addressed. In Mindanao, the issue of poverty and the lack of development in Muslim areas have often served as a rallying point for the Muslim struggle for independence in the south. This is why Datu Paglas’ approach to peacebuilding has been to first usher in economic development in the communities and then to provide opportunities for more peaceful interaction between Muslims and Christians in these areas. He successfully brought in foreign investors from Saudi Arabia, Europe and the United States to support business ventures in both Muslim and Christian communities in Maguindanao. He then organized a values formation program for the Muslim and Christian workers in his plantation that allows them to not only learn more about their own faith but also to gain a deeper understanding of other religions. He also brought in an Israeli to serve as a consultant; he supported a Gawad Kalinga project in Datu Paglas, which saw Christians working to build houses for the Muslims; and at one point he agreed to help distribute bibles. Similarly, Tabang Mindanaw (Help Mindanao) pursues peacebuilding through its humanitarian and development efforts in Mindanao. Tabang Mindanaw is a multi-sectoral initiative of business, private foundations, church and the media in partnership with the government. Under its Integrated Return and Rehabilitation Program (IRRP), the tri-people (Muslims, Christians, and Lumads) in Mindanao who were victims of the war are empowered to rebuild their communities as “Sanctuaries of Peace” using an integrated development framework. Through the process of rehabilitation, the tri-people in Mindanao gain a deeper understanding and respect for religious and cultural diversity and in the end strengthen their commitment to jointly work for lasting peace in Mindanao. Tabang Mindanaw’s Peace and Development Program for Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi (BASULTA) is likewise anchored on the principles of cultural integrity and religious diversity. It follows an integrated framework of social and income-generating services in order to address the long-term peace and development needs of the impoverished communities in these three provinces. The Consuelo Zobel Alger Foundation and the Philippine Business for Social Progress are two of the collaborating organizations for the program. The strategy, as explained by Fely Rixhon, the Executive Director of the Consuelo Zobel Alger Foundation, is to focus the resources of each participating organization to advance a common agenda for peace and development in the three provinces. The Notre Dame University (NDU) is a key institution for peace studies in Mindanao. It is the first in the country to offer a graduate program on peace and development education. The University also successfully integrated peace studies and dialogue into its undergraduate curriculum. There is a core course on peace education for all undergraduates. In addition, students are required to participate every year in day-long seminars/workshops that focus on peace education themes. NDU freshmen, for example, undergo an inter-faith dialogue. These seminars, observed Norodin Salam of the NDU Peace Center, have been particularly successful in helping students overcome stereotypes and prejudices against those from other faith communities. NDU also reaches out to the communities through its Peace Education Center. The Center conducts trainings for teachers and administrators from other institutions to assist them in developing a curriculum that meaningfully integrates the values and principles of peace education. It has also taken on a more active role in peace advocacy and intervention, most notably during the administration of Fr. Mercado. With the local government units and other concerned civil society groups, the Peace Center organized quick response teams and implemented ceasefire-monitoring initiatives. The Peacemakers’ Circle, a Cooperating Circle of the United Religons Initiative (URI) is an interfaith organization dedicated to the promotion of dialogue. Although its activities are concentrated in Metro Manila, the group has had experience in dealing with Muslim-Christian relations through its community-building effort in a village in Caloocan City that has seen a steady rise in its Muslim population. In a major controversy regarding the building of a Muslim prayer area at a mall, the Peacemakers’s Circle stood staunchly in support of the project despite the strong opposition the homeowners and a prominent media executive in the country. The Young Moro Professionals Network with its website bangsamoro, which I am co-founder of, concentrates its efforts on policy advocacy. Seeking space for educated Muslims, many of its members have been beneficiaries of the Chevening grant, using their learnings to pursue reforms in their fields of expertise. As part of its policy advocacy, the group advocates for the full implementation at all levels of governance of the GRP-MNLF peace agreement provision on affirmative action for Muslims. Using information technology and their own voices, their goal is to ensure that: first, the tri-people framework in Mindanao is acknowledged and celebrated; second, the need to co-exist peacefully within this framework is recognized; and third, the concept of peaceful co-existence eventually translates into equal opportunities for the Muslims, Christians, and the Lumads. With British Embassy’s support, the YMP convened a forum, MEDIA, TERRORISM AND RAMADHAN, designed to bring stakeholders to address the fundamental roots of conflict. Conclusion, Future Steps Indeed, the goal and work towards interfaith understanding must be pursued at different levels - the local, national, international - using multi-pronged approaches to generate attention and seep in the public consciousness . As a media professional, I see the need for creative engagement with CNN, BBC and pop culture so that the wider message of interfaith dialogue can be disseminated. Communications is vital to dispel prejudices and misconceptions. Champions, if possible with celebrity status and especially within the Muslim world, to promote peace and unity must be given airtime. AIDS awareness campaign has been effective. How can we also mainstream YOUR FAITH, MY FAITH, ONE IN MANY FAITHS? Giving a face to the “different” is important. Articles about Muslim success stories ie corporate executive, musician etc. should be written. Education and the sharing of technologies is crucial as an instrument of democratization and reform. The developed world must invest in peace in the developing world. Affirmative action to support minorities should be supported. Exchange of papers, students, faculty between Islamic, Mindanao institutes and Western institutions ie defense, foreign affairs, universities would facilitate deeper analysis of the roots of conflict, terrorism beyond a poverty or peace and order perspective. Better communications facilitate better relationships. Sources: Rasul, Amina. . Interfaith Approaches to Peace and Development in Mindanao, Based on Round Table Discussion conducted on 07 September 2004 by the PCID and the AIM Policy Center as well as further research Ledesma SJ, Bishop Antonio, Healing the Past, Building the Future: Soundings from Mindanao, Jesuit Communications Foundation Inc, Episcopal Commission for Interreligious Dialogue, Manila, 2005. Intengan SJ, Fr. Romeo. Christian Social Ethics and the Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development, Moro Kurier, 1996 United Nations website
Posted on: Sun, 13 Jul 2014 04:54:31 +0000
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