In these early stages of URI in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, keeping good communications with CCs feels like crossing the Pacific Ocean in a kayak. Nurturing new relationships with people of different cultures and beliefs in different countries in the region takes vision and a lot of energy, commitment, creativity, and a sense of direction.

To get from here to there, a list-serve was created for the region, and Orlan de Guzman, its Information and Communications Officer, was tasked to actively connect with CCs by e-mail and ask them for stories to publish in their bi-monthly newsletter. The newsletter would eventually be placed in a website that the Regional Coordinating Office is currently planning to be able to set-up before the year’s end.

Another possible way that was thought to nurture the spirit of the URI in the region was to post passages from the PPP on the list-serve every week for reflection by CC members. This was hoped to inspire conversation, and keep the communication lines flowing. So far, the lines have been busy with postings from Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Queensland, and Auckland!

On July 7, 2005, Marites Africa met with the Secretary of Foreign Affairs for the Philippines, Alberto Romulo. He was happy to remember URI Representative Monica Willard at the United Nations and said that he would endorse the work of URI in the Philippines as significant to the peace process there. Also, Marites recently spoke with the Regional Director of the Office for Muslim Affairs and the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. The prospect of partnership in the Manila-based grassroots Muslim-Christian peacebuilding programs was mentioned in both conversations, and this gave the Peacemakers Circle and the work of URI a big boost.