Pray and pursue peace in Mindanao

The history of the celebration of the Mindanao’s Week of Peace can be traced back to the Presidential Proclamation No. 207 on March 2000, four months after President Joseph Estrada declared an “all-out war” against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). It seemed impossible to commit peace in Mindanao then. But there have been people and different groups who continually gathered and initiated activities to pursue peace.

Slated to kick off every fourth Thursday of November, this started last November 25 until December 1, 2021. The Bishops-Ulama Conference (BUC), the convenors of this annual celebration, chose the theme of this year’s celebration, “Interfaith Unity Inspiring Health Protocols”. Being on the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the BUC said in its Joint Statement that this theme is “extremely important and necessary.”

Rev. Fr. Pedro Lamata, Director of the Archdiocesan Commission on Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Dialogue (ACEID) of the Archdiocese of Davao, said in the radio during the Ambit GN program of 89.9 SPIRIT FM DAVAO that, “the theme is very important especially in our present situation”. He also shared the BUC Joint Statement which was signed by the convenors Archbishop Emeritus Fernando Capalla in the Archdiocese of Davao, Judge Abu-ali Cali of the Ulama League of the Philippines, and Bishop Emeritus Hilario M. Gomez of the United Church of Christ of the Philippines.

When asked by Denis Mabayao, one of the anchors of the said radio program regarding the long-lasting challenge in pursuing peace, Fr. Lamata answered, “it is not only the work of the one person or a group but it is lasting because of the help of each and everyone, especially the Bishops-Ulama Conference.” He continued saying, “Since we are believers, let us continue to pray; there is nothing impossible in the trusting, loving, and joyful prayer.” Although we, Christians, Muslims, Lumads and other religious, have different concepts and ways of relating to our God, we can find a common ground in prayer.

Moreover, in the same radio program Reverend John Patrick Pelonio, one of the Deacons of the Archdiocese of Davao happily announced that as a way to respond to the said celebration, different members of the Tripartite Youth had the virtual concert. Rev. Pelonio added, “The virtual concert had a positive effect for those who participated the program. He said that he is “very happy and at the same time excited to have joined the said program because of its newness and his first time to witness a concert done in online platform.”

Reverend Haniel Taganas of the United Church of Christ and present chaplain at the Brokenshire College, happily announce that the Brokenshire College will host a Forum on Peace to respond to the Mindanao Week of Peace. Their main participants are the faculty and staff of the Brokenshire College. This will be held on December 5, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. Although, the Mindanao Week of Peace culminated on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, our pursuit for peace is not only during Mindanao Week of Peace but all the days of our lives.

In his message in the previous years’ celebration, Archbishop Emeritus Fernando R. Capalla, one of the BUC convenors, recognized that “the pandemic involves thoughts and emotions, that is, both the head and the heart must be involved, and harmony and peace are achieved when the following simple principles of authentic, human and fraternal dialogue are followed”. (Bro. Soren Abellanosa)