Dear Friends,
Greetings of peace!
On October 24, 2007, forty imams and priests in Metro Manila learned that dialogue is not only a means to an end, but also an end in itself. They came together for the first time to engage in activities that involved not only speaking to each other with respect, but also listening to each other rightly with the heart; not only learning about each other and seeing similarities between them, but also accepting their differences and appreciating the fact that they are different; not only sharing with each other their hopes for a better world, but also working with each other in small groups to creatively and joyfully express their commitment to their collective endeavors for peace.
This happened when, after seven years of struggle by the Peacemakers' Circle URI CC in Manila to build respectful and harmonious relationships among people of diverse cultures and beliefs, financial support was finally made available. Through the funding of the Australian Embassy's Strengthening Grassroots Interfaith Dialogue and Understanding (SGIDU) Program, the Peacemakers' Circle was able to launch the first level of the IMAMS-PRIESTS DIALOGUE Training Seminar-Workshop that it had been hoping to contribute to the Muslim-Christian Relationship- building endeavors in the Philippines.
Level 1 of the program focused on Building the Foundations of Faith for Interfaith Dialogue , and it consisted of three progressive intra-faith sessions prior to the first meeting of the priest and imam participants. The Intra-Imams and Intra-Priests training workshops that were held on different dates within the months of September and October (in different locations) were crucial to the success of their first meeting on the 24th of October. It was in those separate workshops that the participating religious leaders of Islam and Roman Catholic Christianity were encouraged to "see" and "experience" the teachings and values of their respective faith traditions in the context of "being Muslim" and "being Christian" living in this world with people of "other" religions and faith traditions.
In the Intra-Priest workshops, it was interesting to note that many of the responses that the priests gave to the question, " Why dialogue?" were the same, or similar, to those that they gave to the question: "Why not dialogue?" But the difference, they realized, was in the attitude of heart. The former arose from the heart out of love, and the latter from the mind out of fear. For Christians, dialogue, as a way of being in relationship with others in the world is said to be a way of embodying love for "others" just as Jesus Christ, the Word of God, embodied God's love for the world.
In the Intra-Imam workshops, similar concerns that the priests had about dialogue were expressed by the imams, especially about preaching the faith to non-believers. There was a need to differentiate "preaching doctrine" from the endeavor of "relationship- building. " The training focused mostly on helping to enable the imams (and some representatives of the community of Balik Islam, or Muslim converts) see the teachings and ideals of their faith in the light of the latter. The concept of the "peace jihad" was introduced by Dr. Abdulhusin "Jo" Kashim, a Muslim trustee of our CC. He highlighted the universal human values in the Islamic context under the principle that balanced the profession of freedom ( ibadat) in the spiritual life (akhira) and the profession of justice (akhlaq) in the worldly life ( dunya). It was interesting to bear witness to the animated discussions among the learned Muslim religious leaders. Their comments and suggestions contributed to making this interfaith dialogue training program for imams a first-of-its- kind in our part of the country.
When the priests and imams finally met for the first time on the 24th of October, the day's session was filled with workshop activities that engaged them in various creative and challenging ways. It was heartwarming to bear witness to priests and imams eating together, discussing and practicing their small-group creative drama presentations together, singing together " Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me" and praying in adjacent rooms at noontime together. After halal lunch, the creative drama presentations (of eight groups of priests and imams) on their Visions of Peace enlivened the early afternoon with laughter and a heartwarming sense of camaraderie.
As I bore witness to the ease and spontaneity in which the priests and imams related with one another, I was awed by the realization that something big and beyond me was responsible for making this happen. I was humbled by the fact that despite me and my limitations, fears, doubts, and incapacities, and the difficulties of the challenges that I faced in getting priests and imams together for this training workshop, everything happened beautifully in the end anyway. It was truly humbling to bear witness to the unfolding of such shared goodness, hope, and joy in our midst!
Yesterday, November 12, thirty-five imams and priests met again to organize themselves and form a NATIONAL IMAMS-PRIESTS DIALOGUE FORUM (NIPDF). Through consensus voting they chose a Muslim Secretary General to manage its affairs for the coming year, and a Catholic priest to follow the year after. Our Peacemakers' CC was asked to be its Secretariat. Of course we accepted the responsibility happily and graciously like a mother would in caring for her child!
Today, we are happy to say that after seven years of endeavoring to promote interfaith dialogue and relationship- building in various ways, our Peacemakers' Circle CC in Manila has finally gained a measure of respect from members and influential leaders of various sectors of Philippine society. With the help of those who believe in our work, we hope to grow in our capacity to build bridges of mutual respect, understanding and cooperation in our parts of the world, and perhaps be of help also to others elsewhere where our help might be needed.
Please see related story with photos below.
Thank you for your kind attention. May Peace Prevail on Earth!
Yours sincerely,
MARITES GUINGONA-AFRICA
Executive Director
THE PEACEMAKERS' CIRCLE FOUNDATION, INC
A Heartwarming Success
Written by the United Religions Initiative (URI) staff
based on the reports of Marites Africa
November 7, 2007
The Peacemaker's Circle in Metro Manila Philippines has been working tirelessly on local efforts to end the religiously motivated conflicts in their part of the region and has succeeded in bringing Priests and Imams together, not only to talk to each other and make plans for establishing peace, but also to relate with each other on unexpected levels. This is a large, inspiring, and hope-filled step towards ending the violence that has been raging there for decades.
Though this conflict is primarily centered in Mindanao, it is not only affecting the lives of people in that southern region, it is also affecting the wellbeing of all Filipinos. Many Christians and Muslims have fled their southern homeland to seek better lives for themselves and their families elsewhere in the country. Many have settled in Metro Manila.
Says Marites, "I am very encouraged and inspired by the response of our priests and imams to this pilot dialogue project, and I look forward with hope to long-term and sustainable support from those who believe in what we are doing."
On October 30, leaders of various sectors of society attended the Awarding Ceremonies that was hosted by the Peacemakers' Circle in honor of the imams and priests who participated in the dialogue training workshops. Among them were Gen. Ben Dolorfino (Commander of the Philippine Marine Corps), Gen. Verzosa (Deputy Chief of the Philippine National Police), Sec. Gen. Isabel Tobias (Presidential Council for Values Formation), Robin Abdul Aziz Padilla (popular movie actor and respected Muslim convert), Bishop Antonio Tobias and Bishop Deogracias Yniguez (Catholic Episcopal Commission on Ecumenical Affairs), Mr. Quinton Devlin of the Australian Embassy, Mr. Stephen Ashby and Jomar Ascano of the U.S. Embassy, and Dr. Stephen Rood of the Asia Foundation.
The second level of dialogue training will engage the participants in reaching out to their respective members in the grassroots Muslim-Christian communities in Metro Manila, and share with them what they have learned about dialogue and relationship -building. Here, Muslim and Christian religious leaders will partner with secular leaders in the community in promoting the ways of peaceful dialogue in their respective locales.
News of the success of the workshops yielded requests from Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, and other parts of the Philippines for help in conducting similar workshops in their parts of the region.As a way of furthering the work that has already been started, the Peacemakers' Circle CC, in partnership with the Institute of Islamic Studies of the University of the Philippines, will offer training modules on Muslim-Christian Dialogue for Nation-Building in Metro Manila in April-May 2008. This is a pilot program that is hoped to launch a first-of-its-kind Interfaith Peacebuilding Institute in the county. This is another of those dreams that, says Marites, are "made a size too big so that we can grow into them."
(see same article published in the URI website:
http://www.uri.%20org/CC_News/%20SE_Asia_%%2026_the_Pacific/%20IMAPR.html)
based on the reports of Marites Africa
November 7, 2007
The Peacemaker's Circle in Metro Manila Philippines has been working tirelessly on local efforts to end the religiously motivated conflicts in their part of the region and has succeeded in bringing Priests and Imams together, not only to talk to each other and make plans for establishing peace, but also to relate with each other on unexpected levels. This is a large, inspiring, and hope-filled step towards ending the violence that has been raging there for decades.
Though this conflict is primarily centered in Mindanao, it is not only affecting the lives of people in that southern region, it is also affecting the wellbeing of all Filipinos. Many Christians and Muslims have fled their southern homeland to seek better lives for themselves and their families elsewhere in the country. Many have settled in Metro Manila.
Says Marites Africa, a member of URI and one of the leading contributors to the efforts of the Peacemakers' Circle, "Not many Filipinos are aware of the fact that there are now over 1.5 million Muslims and over 104 mosques in Metro Manila, and that wherever there are mosques there are thriving Muslim communities. Many of the mosques are adjacent to or are in the vicinity of Catholic parishes. In view of this, we at the Peacemakers' Circle deem it of urgent importance to work where we are in helping to heal the wounds of our people that are being aggravated by the raging conflict in Mindanao. I believe that we do not have to be in Mindanao to help the people of Mindanao. There is a lot that we can do here where we are."
She was right.
The Peacemakers Circle, in conjunction with the Imam Council of the Philippines, the U.P. Institute of Islamic Studies, and the Episcopal Commission on Interreligious Dialogue of the Catholic Bishop's Conference of the Philippines, with the support of the Australian Embassy's Strengthening Grassroots Interfaith Dialogue and Understanding (SGIDU) Program, conducted an IMAM-PRIEST DIALOGUE Training Workshop-Seminar, a relationship-building program designed to prepare Muslim imams and Catholic priests in Metro Manila for Muslim-Christian dialogue and collaborative work in their respective grassroots communities. The program was aimed to help the participants undergo two progressive levels of preparation for and engagement in Muslim-Christian Dialogue. These were intra-faith dialogue and interfaith dialogue.
The first level of preparation for Imam-Priest Dialogue was Building the Foundations of Faith for Interfaith Dialogue. About fifty imams and priests from various Muslim communities and Catholic dioceses and seminaries in Metro Manila participated in a three-day series of training workshops that were conducted separately for the two groups of religious leaders. The Intra-Imam training was held at the Salam Hall of the University of the Philippines' Institute of Islamic Studies on September 25, October 2 and 29; while the Intra-Priest training was held at the San Carlos Minor Seminary on September 27, October 4 and 11. The separate training workshops for the imams and priests were deemed necessary to the process of preparing these two groups of religious leaders for dialogue with one another.
The Muslim program framework and contents for the "Intra-Imam Training Workshop" were largely conceived and designed by Dr. Abdulhusin "Jo" Kashim, a distinguished Muslim lecturer on international relations now turned peace advocate and lecturer on "peace jihad." The program included the basic teachings of Islam and verses from the Holy Qur'an that encouraged Muslims to engage in dialogue with their Christian counterparts and build bridges of mutual respect and understanding with them. Dr. Kashim was assisted in crafting the workshop design (and in conducting it) by Dean Mashur Bin-Ghalib Jundam of the U.P. Institute of Islamic Studies, Aleem Said Basher of the Agama Islam Society, and Imam Ebra Moxsir of the Imam Council of the Philippines.
This Intra-Imam Training workshop for Interfaith Dialogue was a success. Its proponents take pride in the fact that this is a "first of its kind program", and are pleased to be able to contribute this to the endeavor of Muslim-Christian relationship-building in Metro Manila. It was well-received by the imams who participated in it, and the process yielded from them valuable suggestions for improvement.
Its counterpart, the "Intra-Priest Training Workshop," was likewise well-received by the distinguished priests who participated in the program. This was designed by Marites Guingona-Africa, a Catholic laywoman, based on her M.A. thesis on MAKING SPACE FOR INTERFAITH DIALOGUE: A Formation Program for Catholics in the Philippines. Also integrated into the workshop were principles of the Moral Imagination in Peacebuilding, learned from the workshop currently being undertaken by the Peacemakers' Circle team, led by Dr. Kashim, Marites Guingona-Africa, Lee Collano and Akmad Wahab. This team works under the United Religions' Initiative's Peacebuilding Program which is conducted by Dr. John Paul Lederach (world renowned lecturer and skills-builder on Conflict Transformation), and Dr. Herm Weaver (gifted musician and advocate of peacebuilding through the moral imagination and beyond.)
Fr. Andre De Bleeker, CICM (Maryhill School of Theology), Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, S.J. (President of the Episcopal Commission on Interreligious Dialogue), and Fr. Carlos Reyes (Executive Secretary of ECID) contributed their expertise to this training on interfaith dialogue for Catholic priests. They gave excellent presentations on the Teachings of the Catholic Church on Interfaith Dialogue, on Muslim-Christian Relations in History, and on the contributions of the Catholic Church to Interfaith Dialogue in the Philippines.
On the 24th of October, the forty imams and priests who underwent the series of three separate training workshops were brought together for the first time, and this first meeting was prepared for with a sense of apprehension by the facilitators. Although they were hoping that this first meeting would result in friendships among the two groups of religious leaders, they did not know how this would actually turn out. However, according to Marites Africa, "The whole-day workshop turned out to be a heartwarming success! The imams and priests who participated in it seemed very eager to carry on with working together in the endeavor of promoting ongoing dialogue and collaboration among them. How heartwarming it was to bear witness to priests and imams laughing, eating, and singing together "LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH AND LET IT BEGIN WITH ME!"
This enthusiasm carried throughout the entire workshop, which consisted of different activity modules. In one module there was an invitation to share "Visions of Peace Among Religions," an invitation which all of the Priests and Imams eagerly responded to by working together in small groups to come up with a creative expression of their shared vision. Eight groups of imams and priests took turns in presenting their vision through creative drama, and those who bore witness to it knew that it was a moment in history that was filled with the light of joy and hope.
At the end of the day, after the priests and imams expressed their commitment to interfaith dialogue and relationship-building, they approved a motion to meet again on November 12 to discuss the agenda of organizing themselves and creating an Imam-Priest Conference of the Philippines that would complement the work of the Bishops-Ulama Conference in Mindanao.
Says Marites, "I am very encouraged and inspired by the response of our priests and imams to this pilot dialogue project, and I look forward with hope to long-term and sustainable support from those who believe in what we are doing."On October 30, leaders of various sectors of society attended the Awarding Ceremonies that was hosted by the Peacemakers' Circle in honor of the imams and priests who participated in the dialogue training workshops. Among them were Gen. Ben Dolorfino (Commander of the Philippine Marine Corps), Gen. Verzosa (Deputy Chief of the Philippine National Police), Sec. Gen. Isabel Tobias (Presidential Council for Values Formation), Robin Abdul Aziz Padilla (popular movie actor and respected Muslim convert), Bishop Antonio Tobias and Bishop Deogracias Yniguez (Catholic Episcopal Commission on Ecumenical Affairs), Mr. Quinton Devlin of the Australian Embassy, Mr. Stephen Ashby and Jomar Ascano of the U.S. Embassy, and Dr. Stephen Rood of the Asia Foundation.The second level of dialogue training will engage the participants in reaching out to their respective members in the grassroots Muslim-Christian communities in Metro Manila, and share with them what they have learned about dialogue and relationship -building. Here, Muslim and Christian religious leaders will partner with secular leaders in the community in promoting the ways of peaceful dialogue in their respective locales.News of the success of the workshops yielded requests from Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, and other parts of the Philippines for help in conducting similar workshops in their parts of the region.As a way of furthering the work that has already been started, the Peacemakers' Circle CC, in partnership with the Institute of Islamic Studies of the University of the Philippines, will offer training modules on Muslim-Christian Dialogue for Nation-Building in Metro Manila in April-May 2008. This is a pilot program that is hoped to launch a first-of-its-kind Interfaith Peacebuilding Institute in the county. This is another of those dreams that, says Marites, are "made a size too big so that we can grow into them."
(see same article published in the URI website:
http://www.uri.%20org/CC_News/%20SE_Asia_%%2026_the_Pacific/%20IMAPR.html)
FINAL STATEMENT OF THE FIRST IMAMS-PRIESTS INTERFAITH DIALOGUE ENGAGEMENT IN METRO-MANILA
All praises and thanks are due to God, the Most Loving, Most Gracious, Most Merciful!
Issued on 24 October 2007 at Balay Kalinaw, University of the Philippines,
Diliman, Quezon City
“Let there be peace on earth. And let it begin with me,” so goes the lyric of a popular song that steered the process of our discussion.
After enriching and fruitful interfaith dialogue among ourselves today, the 24th of October 2007, which was marked by mutual respect, harmonious ideas, open deliberation, and visible brotherhood, we, the Imams and the Roman Catholic Christian Priests, as leaders of our respective communities in Metro-Manila, do hereby issue this Final Statement as an act of deepening interfaith dialogue in our country and of expressing our common concerns vis-à-vis the challenges and dangers that threaten the march of peace, cooperation, and understanding in our society.
I. Principles and Guidelines
We affirm our commitment to interfaith dialogue and endeavor to build Muslim-Christian dialogue and relationship in our society within the purview of the following principles and guidelines:
1) We believe that the present-day threat to life, property, and freedom is terrorism. The culture of violence that it spawns, which thrives on the innocence of religions—distorted and manipulated—creates widespread fear, religious hatred, and open hostility that divide society.
2) We believe that all religions and spiritual traditions that exist today do not teach and promote violence, nor conflict and war. Every religion and spiritual tradition that exists today submits to peace as a way of life; and in time of conflict and war, they provide basic peace values to ensure the survival of the people and the society.
3) We believe that Islam and Christianity are founded on firm traditions of peace, which are culturally amenable to one another and socially capable of construction to achieve peace in the society.
4) We believe in interfaith dialogue as the most effective mode of promoting peace among peoples. The capacity to possess it, particularly along the need to build peoples or community relationship, is indispensably important that need to be promoted and shared.
II. Organizational Forum
In pursuit of the above principles and guidelines, we have unanimously adopted a Resolution calling for an organizational meeting among us on November 12, 2007, to craft the needed “Imam-Priest Forum of the Philippines” as a nationwide implementing network.
III. Thanks and Gratitude
We express our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the following institutions that have contributed to make this dialogue a success:
1) The Peacemakers’ Circle Foundation, Inc., for initiating the sponsorship of this dialogue which, despite the initial fears of “proselytization” among us, turned out to be a historic success story on all counts;
2) The cooperating partners: The Episcopal Commission for Interreligious Dialogue, the Imam Council of the Philippines, Inc., and the UP-Institute of Islamic Studies; and
3) The funding institution: The Australian Embassy in the Philippines through its “Strengthening Grassroots Interfaith Dialogue and Understanding” (SGIDU) program.
Let there be peace on earth. And let it begin with each of us!
Unanimously adopted this 24th day of October 2007 in the City of Quezon, Philippines.
1. Rev. Fr. Richard Babao
Diocese of Makati
Parish Priest – Parish of the Holy Cross
2. Imam Abdulmajied, Al-Hadramie
Rahma Qur`anic Learning Center & Mosque Foundation, Inc
Culiat, Quezon City
3. Rev. Fr. Arnulfo Castillo
Chaplaincy Service, Northern Police District, Camp Crame
4. Imam Abdul, Mohaimin Macapundag
Al-Noor Mosque, Tala, Caloocan City
5. Rev. Fr. Ronillo Datu,
Chaplaincy Service, Manila Police District, Camp Crame, QC
6. Imam Ansary, Mustapha Casib
Caloocan Grand Mosque, Tala,Caloocan City
7. Rev. Fr. Victor de Jesus, S.J.
Rector, San Jose Seminary
Ateneo University, Quezon City
8. Imam Bantawi, Abdulbayan Sultan
Alhuda Mosque, Phase 12, Tala, Caloocan City
9. Msgr.Clemente Ignacio
Diocese of Manila, Quiapo Church
Parish Priest-Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene
10. Imam Daguit, Abdulhadi Tahir
Al-Ummah Mosque, Maharlika, Taguig City
11. Rev. Fr. Antonio Labiao
Diocese of Novaliches
Parish Priest-Our Lady of Mercy Parish
12. Imam Darangina, Syed Ali
Masjid Al-Ikhlas, Culiat, Quezon City
13. Rev. Fr. Leonides Laguilles
Diocese of Novaliches
Parish Priest-Parokya ng Ina ng Laging Saklolo
14. Imam Giamadin, Amin Zainal
Masjid An Noor, Malaria Village, Taguig City
15. Rev. Fr. Marlou Lemaire
Diocese of Novaliches
Parish Priest-Divine Savior Parish
16. Imam Halun, Buani Mantok
Ever Mosque, Commonwealth Fairview, Quezon City
17. Rev. Fr. Jayzon Ortizo
Chaplaincy Service
Taguig City
18. Imam, Alimozaman Saro
Caloocan Grand Mosque, Riverside, Tala, Caloocan City
19. Rev. Fr. Carlos Reyes
Executive Secretary-Episcopal Commission on Intereligious Dialogue,
Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines
20. Imam Kulas, Ulomodin Dumagay
Mubarak Mosque, Barangay Commonwealth, Litex, Quezon City
21. Rev. Fr. Eligio Santos
Don Bosco Center of Studies, Makati City
22. Imam Mao, Isah P.
Al-Noor Mosque, Phase 12, Caloocan City
23. Rev. Fr. Rudy Tulibas, Diocese of Novaliches
Parish Priest-Our Lady of Fatima Parish
24. Imam Parasan, Norwin Hamza
Al-Noor Mosque, Rogan St., Malaria Village, Taguig City
25. Msgr. Rey Urmeneta, Driector of Chaplaincy Service
Chaplaincy of Camp Crame
26. Imam Pigkaulan, Abdulhamid Akil
Green Mosque, Lower Bicutan, Purok 3, Taguig City
27. Rev. Fr. Montecarlo Viloria , Diocese of Novaliches
Parish Priest-Our Lady of Mercy Parish
28. Imam Mohaemen Salic S.
Al-Noor Mosque, Blk. 59 Lot 31, Caloocan City
29. Rev, Fr. Victor Virtudazo, Diocese of Pasig
Parish Priest
30. Imam Mustapha, Shaha Dianalan
Al-Noor Mosque, B-L-3 Malaria Village, Taguig City
31. Rev. Fr. Georg Ziselsberger, SVD
Director -Geochris Foundation, Inc.
32. Imam Salik, Abdulkahar Mendoza
Abdul-Aziz Mosque, Pasong Tamo, Quezon City
33. Imam Sultan, Abdulkarim S.
Al-Noor Mosque, Phase 12, Riverside, Tala, Caloocan City
34. Imam Moxsir, Ebra
Imam Council of the Philippines
35. Aleem Said Basher
Agama Islam Society, Quiapo, Manila
36. Imam Wahab, Akmad
Filmus Foundation, Inc.
37. Imam Bala, Ramuros
Al-Noor Mosque, Tala, Caloocan City
38. Imam Abdurahman de Guzman
Al-Iman Mosque, San Ildefonso, Bulacan
Supporting Muslim Religious & Community Leaders
39. Pres. Macklis Bala
Al-Noor Mosque, Tala, Caloocan City
40. Almarez, Jamil
ISCAG, Dasmarinas, Cavite
41. Mata, Ibrahim
ISCAG, Dasmarinas, Cavite
42. Peñalber, Omar
ISCAG, Dasmarinias, Cavite
43. Roca, Jibril
ISCAG, Dasmarinias, Cavite
44. Velasquez, George
Al-Iman Mosque, Alaminos, Laguna
Supporting Roman Catholic Religious Leaders
45. Most. Rev. Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, D.D
President - Episcopal Commission on Intereligious Dialogue
Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines
46. Most Rev. Antonio R. Tobias, D.D.
Bishop of Novaliches, Quezon City
47. Most Rev. Deogracias S. Iñiguez, Jr., D.D.
Chancery of the Diocese of Caloocan, Caloocan City
48. Rev. Balaguer, Leo
San Jose Seminary, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City
49. Rev. Cambe, Don Einar
San Jose Seminary, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City
50. Rev. Gabinete, Christian Emmanuel
San Jose Seminary, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City
Issued on 24 October 2007 at Balay Kalinaw, University of the Philippines,
Diliman, Quezon City
“Let there be peace on earth. And let it begin with me,” so goes the lyric of a popular song that steered the process of our discussion.
After enriching and fruitful interfaith dialogue among ourselves today, the 24th of October 2007, which was marked by mutual respect, harmonious ideas, open deliberation, and visible brotherhood, we, the Imams and the Roman Catholic Christian Priests, as leaders of our respective communities in Metro-Manila, do hereby issue this Final Statement as an act of deepening interfaith dialogue in our country and of expressing our common concerns vis-à-vis the challenges and dangers that threaten the march of peace, cooperation, and understanding in our society.
I. Principles and Guidelines
We affirm our commitment to interfaith dialogue and endeavor to build Muslim-Christian dialogue and relationship in our society within the purview of the following principles and guidelines:
1) We believe that the present-day threat to life, property, and freedom is terrorism. The culture of violence that it spawns, which thrives on the innocence of religions—distorted and manipulated—creates widespread fear, religious hatred, and open hostility that divide society.
2) We believe that all religions and spiritual traditions that exist today do not teach and promote violence, nor conflict and war. Every religion and spiritual tradition that exists today submits to peace as a way of life; and in time of conflict and war, they provide basic peace values to ensure the survival of the people and the society.
3) We believe that Islam and Christianity are founded on firm traditions of peace, which are culturally amenable to one another and socially capable of construction to achieve peace in the society.
4) We believe in interfaith dialogue as the most effective mode of promoting peace among peoples. The capacity to possess it, particularly along the need to build peoples or community relationship, is indispensably important that need to be promoted and shared.
II. Organizational Forum
In pursuit of the above principles and guidelines, we have unanimously adopted a Resolution calling for an organizational meeting among us on November 12, 2007, to craft the needed “Imam-Priest Forum of the Philippines” as a nationwide implementing network.
III. Thanks and Gratitude
We express our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the following institutions that have contributed to make this dialogue a success:
1) The Peacemakers’ Circle Foundation, Inc., for initiating the sponsorship of this dialogue which, despite the initial fears of “proselytization” among us, turned out to be a historic success story on all counts;
2) The cooperating partners: The Episcopal Commission for Interreligious Dialogue, the Imam Council of the Philippines, Inc., and the UP-Institute of Islamic Studies; and
3) The funding institution: The Australian Embassy in the Philippines through its “Strengthening Grassroots Interfaith Dialogue and Understanding” (SGIDU) program.
Let there be peace on earth. And let it begin with each of us!
Unanimously adopted this 24th day of October 2007 in the City of Quezon, Philippines.
1. Rev. Fr. Richard Babao
Diocese of Makati
Parish Priest – Parish of the Holy Cross
2. Imam Abdulmajied, Al-Hadramie
Rahma Qur`anic Learning Center & Mosque Foundation, Inc
Culiat, Quezon City
3. Rev. Fr. Arnulfo Castillo
Chaplaincy Service, Northern Police District, Camp Crame
4. Imam Abdul, Mohaimin Macapundag
Al-Noor Mosque, Tala, Caloocan City
5. Rev. Fr. Ronillo Datu,
Chaplaincy Service, Manila Police District, Camp Crame, QC
6. Imam Ansary, Mustapha Casib
Caloocan Grand Mosque, Tala,Caloocan City
7. Rev. Fr. Victor de Jesus, S.J.
Rector, San Jose Seminary
Ateneo University, Quezon City
8. Imam Bantawi, Abdulbayan Sultan
Alhuda Mosque, Phase 12, Tala, Caloocan City
9. Msgr.Clemente Ignacio
Diocese of Manila, Quiapo Church
Parish Priest-Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene
10. Imam Daguit, Abdulhadi Tahir
Al-Ummah Mosque, Maharlika, Taguig City
11. Rev. Fr. Antonio Labiao
Diocese of Novaliches
Parish Priest-Our Lady of Mercy Parish
12. Imam Darangina, Syed Ali
Masjid Al-Ikhlas, Culiat, Quezon City
13. Rev. Fr. Leonides Laguilles
Diocese of Novaliches
Parish Priest-Parokya ng Ina ng Laging Saklolo
14. Imam Giamadin, Amin Zainal
Masjid An Noor, Malaria Village, Taguig City
15. Rev. Fr. Marlou Lemaire
Diocese of Novaliches
Parish Priest-Divine Savior Parish
16. Imam Halun, Buani Mantok
Ever Mosque, Commonwealth Fairview, Quezon City
17. Rev. Fr. Jayzon Ortizo
Chaplaincy Service
Taguig City
18. Imam, Alimozaman Saro
Caloocan Grand Mosque, Riverside, Tala, Caloocan City
19. Rev. Fr. Carlos Reyes
Executive Secretary-Episcopal Commission on Intereligious Dialogue,
Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines
20. Imam Kulas, Ulomodin Dumagay
Mubarak Mosque, Barangay Commonwealth, Litex, Quezon City
21. Rev. Fr. Eligio Santos
Don Bosco Center of Studies, Makati City
22. Imam Mao, Isah P.
Al-Noor Mosque, Phase 12, Caloocan City
23. Rev. Fr. Rudy Tulibas, Diocese of Novaliches
Parish Priest-Our Lady of Fatima Parish
24. Imam Parasan, Norwin Hamza
Al-Noor Mosque, Rogan St., Malaria Village, Taguig City
25. Msgr. Rey Urmeneta, Driector of Chaplaincy Service
Chaplaincy of Camp Crame
26. Imam Pigkaulan, Abdulhamid Akil
Green Mosque, Lower Bicutan, Purok 3, Taguig City
27. Rev. Fr. Montecarlo Viloria , Diocese of Novaliches
Parish Priest-Our Lady of Mercy Parish
28. Imam Mohaemen Salic S.
Al-Noor Mosque, Blk. 59 Lot 31, Caloocan City
29. Rev, Fr. Victor Virtudazo, Diocese of Pasig
Parish Priest
30. Imam Mustapha, Shaha Dianalan
Al-Noor Mosque, B-L-3 Malaria Village, Taguig City
31. Rev. Fr. Georg Ziselsberger, SVD
Director -Geochris Foundation, Inc.
32. Imam Salik, Abdulkahar Mendoza
Abdul-Aziz Mosque, Pasong Tamo, Quezon City
33. Imam Sultan, Abdulkarim S.
Al-Noor Mosque, Phase 12, Riverside, Tala, Caloocan City
34. Imam Moxsir, Ebra
Imam Council of the Philippines
35. Aleem Said Basher
Agama Islam Society, Quiapo, Manila
36. Imam Wahab, Akmad
Filmus Foundation, Inc.
37. Imam Bala, Ramuros
Al-Noor Mosque, Tala, Caloocan City
38. Imam Abdurahman de Guzman
Al-Iman Mosque, San Ildefonso, Bulacan
Supporting Muslim Religious & Community Leaders
39. Pres. Macklis Bala
Al-Noor Mosque, Tala, Caloocan City
40. Almarez, Jamil
ISCAG, Dasmarinas, Cavite
41. Mata, Ibrahim
ISCAG, Dasmarinas, Cavite
42. Peñalber, Omar
ISCAG, Dasmarinias, Cavite
43. Roca, Jibril
ISCAG, Dasmarinias, Cavite
44. Velasquez, George
Al-Iman Mosque, Alaminos, Laguna
Supporting Roman Catholic Religious Leaders
45. Most. Rev. Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, D.D
President - Episcopal Commission on Intereligious Dialogue
Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines
46. Most Rev. Antonio R. Tobias, D.D.
Bishop of Novaliches, Quezon City
47. Most Rev. Deogracias S. Iñiguez, Jr., D.D.
Chancery of the Diocese of Caloocan, Caloocan City
48. Rev. Balaguer, Leo
San Jose Seminary, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City
49. Rev. Cambe, Don Einar
San Jose Seminary, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City
50. Rev. Gabinete, Christian Emmanuel
San Jose Seminary, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City
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