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September 22, 2011, 2:41 PM

IDP in Quezon City

Our celebration of the International Day of Peace today was particularly meaningful to many of us because of the aching need among our people for peace to come about in Mindanao amid the uncertainty of the outcome of the 'peace talks' between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Muslims, Christians and indigenous peoples in that conflict-ridden southern region of our country have been suffering the hardships of violence and war for decades, and hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people continue to hope against hope that someday soon they will be able to return with their children to their homes and live their lives in peace, without fear.

Interfaith prayers were said at the Peace Bell in the Quezon City Memorial Circle today, and hundreds of youths came to participate in the ceremonies, to visit the bazaar exhibits, and join the games that followed later. The four grassroots Muslim-Christian communities which our CC has been serving under our URI Peacebuilding Program--Tala, Salam, Quiapo, and Maharlika--were well represented by eager Muslim and Christian youths accompanied by their elders.The spirit of the "moral imagination" which we passed on to them seemed to be alive and well in their midst and it was wonderful to behold, and the camaraderie and friendship that the Bowes Award project fostered among them (under the leadership of Orlan and Alan) is giving new energy and meaning to our "marathon" endeavors for peace!
 
 
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As we celebrate the International Day of Peace with everyone today, I humbly share with you good news about our CCs ongoing effforts at promoting peace in our parts of the world--

1. We are inviting Christians to reach out to and dialogue with Muslims in the SALAM DIALOGUE CIRCLE of the conflict-ridden and proverty-stricken community  of Salam this Sunday afternoon (Sept 25) to listen to their hopes, dreams and sentiments concerning life in a predominantly Christian environment. We hope  that this will create a safe space, a common ground where Muslims and Christians in and around the communtiy can meet, speak, hear each other with their  hearts rightly, and build friendships together.

2. We are organzing a dialogue circle for a focused discussion on the Mindanao challenge on September 28, and Senator Teofisto Guingona III has confirmed his  attendance. We are happy that the honorable senator has agreed to engage in an open conversation with Muslim and Christian thinkers and peace activists  who are concerned about the welfare of the people of Mindanao. It is our hope that this will serve as a humble contribution to civil society's endeavors to be  actively involved in the peace process of our country. Our very own Muslim peacemaker, Dr. Abdulhusin "Jo" Kashim will present to the honorable senator his  views on "Building consensus for peace in Mindanao". 

3. We are in the process of building partnerships with other organizations and institutions in moving forward our project on INTRA-faith dialogue for Interfaith  understanding. this is a 3-day workshop for Christians and Muslims which we hope to conduct (separately for each faith group) in the various areas of  Mindanao, Visayas, and Luzon (including Metro Manila) to help address the problem of prejudice and discrimination that is hindering us from reaching out to  the "other" and building relationships of mutual respect, understanding and cooperation with them.

I thank our friends in the URI around the world for the inspiration that you have been to us--especially our friends in the Middle East who remain hopeful in their struggle and aspiratins for peace.

May Peace prevail on Earth!

Posted By:

The Peacemakers' Circle CC

The Peacemakers' Circle CC
Region:

Southeast Asia and the Pacific

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