Th e C o o p e r a t i o n

CIRCLE
A United Religions Initiative in South East Asia and the Pacific Vol. IV. No. 2 July - December 2009

URI Community Participates in the Parliament of

World’s Religions 2009

The world’s biggest interfaith festival, the Marites Africa, a Trustee from the SEAPac Region
Parliament of the World’s Religions, was held in shared about her interfaith work in the Philippines
Melbourne, Australia from December 3-9, 2009. during the International Plenary and fellow
With the theme “Making a world of Difference: Trustee Dr. Amir Farid Isahak facilitated several
Hearing Each Other, Healing the Earth ” it attracted sessions.
over 4,000 people from an amazing variety of
On December 2, COMMON CC and GreenFaith CC,
religious, spiritual as well as indigenous traditions.
It hosted more than 500 programs including the URI Cooperation Circles in Melbourne, hosted
dialogues, workshops, symposia, cultural a welcome gathering at Jessiee Kaur Singh’s home
performances and exhibits. The delegates had a for the URI members attending the Parliament. A
unique opportunity to expand their worldviews bigger reception for URI members and friends was
and learn from one another. hosted at the Parliament venue on December 5 by
URI Executive Director Rev. Charles Gibbs and
The URI Southeast Asia and the Pacific (URI Global Council Chair Yoland Trevino.
SEAPac) Regional Coordinator Shakun Vaswani
facilitated URI hospitality and presence at the Delegates from many faiths and cultures
Parliament. URI shared a booth courtesy of the interacted with URI’s presence at the Parliament
Dharma Realm Buddhist Association. Over thirty and more bridges and friendships were built over
presentations on different specializations related the course of the week-long event. Everyone went
to interfaith dialogue, peacebuilding, home inspired with the hopes of fostering the
URI SEAPac cross-cultural cooperation, youth initiatives, and connection with new found friends who wish to
Welcomes New CCs spiritual practices were delivered by the URI work with URI in promoting a culture of peace.
community members.

Mindanao Peace Garden Higa-onon Ha Migsabuwa Ta Lanao Ranao Muslim-Christian

Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines Iligan City, Philippines Movement for Dialogue and Peace.
Iligan City, Philippines
 editorial*

As we draw 2009 to a close, we reflect on our strengths

and challenges. When we look back, the URI SEAPac
has grown from its humble beginnings and its birthing
pains into a tree with many branches with its own
unique fruits. With over twenty Cooperation Circles to
date, URI SEAPac continues to envision a world
without conflict through interfaith dialogue and
cooperation.
The region is proud to have launched its own
peacebuilding projects like the workshops in
Mindanao, where decades - long struggle for peace is
still ongoing. Addressing this issue was also the pilot Peacemakers’ Circle and URI SEAPac
project of the URI Travelling Peace Academy in the Launch the Travelling Peace Academy in
Region. We are likewise proud to have co-hosted and
represented URI during the recent Parliament of
the Region
World’s Religions. Last November 19-22, 2009 the Peacemakers’ Circle CC together with the URI
SEAPac Regional Office and Pakigdait CC hosted a workshop in Manila, Philippines
In this issue of the URI SEAPac Newsletter, you will read entitled, "Engaging the Moral Imagination in Grassroots Interfaith Dialogue and
about everyone’s work on the ground that makes Community-Building in Conflict Areas in Mindanao." The leadership workshop is
impact on conflict prevention in the region. As we part of the URI Travelling Peace Academy (TPA) program.
grow together in enriching our capacities and our
strengths in various forms of peacebuilding work, let The TPA is an initiative by the members of the URI Peacebuilding Satellite. The
Satellite works with the URI President’s Council in developing and strengthening
us continue to share our stories, experiences, and best peacebuilding efforts through trainings and workshops for grassroots leaders
practices. around the world.
Salam to All! Grassroots leaders who work with members of conflict-affected communities in
Mindanao Philippines—Lanao del Norte and Sur, Cotabato, Maguindanao, and
Musa Mohamad Sanguila Basilan were invited. The partner organizations represented in the workshop were:
Pakigdait of Lanao del Norte, United Youth for Peace and Development,
Bangsamoro Successor Generation Network-Lanao, Mindanao Dynamic Culture of
Peace, Inc., Oblates of Mary Immaculate, Notre Dame Peace Center, Kauswagan
EDITORIAL STAFF Ulama Forum, Prelature of Marawi, United Youth of the Philippines, Kutawato
Council for Justice and Peace and the Mindanao People’s Caucus.
Editor-in-Chief Musa Mohamad Sanguila The workshop aimed to focus on building partnerships with Mindanao grassroots
Managing Editor Shakuntala Vaswani leaders and providing the basics on moral imagination approaches to interfaith
Publishers United Religions Initiative dialogue and relationship-building. The organizers intend to build bridges of
SEAPac Regional Office communication and partnerships in collaborative action for the upholding of
Contributors human rights and the promotion of peace and development in Mindanao
between participating grassroots leaders from the abovementioned conflict
Shakuntala Vaswani URI -SEAPac affected areas and their peacebuilding counterparts in Metro Manila. Together
Marites Guingona - Africa Peacemakers Circle CC they will serve as catalysts for change in their respective communities and form a
Musa Mohamad Sanguila Pakigdait CC network that will help build the foundations for grassroots-led vision in action,
Padmini Solomon Nur Damai CC and bridging partnerships with leaders of various sectors of government and civil
Indra Udayana Gandhi Puri Ashram CC society in the National Capital Region.
Jamel Kaur Singh GreenFaith Australia CC
After the workshop, a public forum with 70 attendees from the media,
Orlan de Guzman Peacemakers Circle CC government, civil society and the academe in interaction with the grassroots
Jessiee Kaur Singh Center for Melbrourne leaders was held. They discussed plans for a community based theater that tells
Multifaith and Others Network CC stories of peace on the ground, an interfaith council and network working for the
Sam An Ros Interfaith Youth Circle Cambodia CC promotion of the MOA on Ancestral Domain, and initiatives for peaceful and clean
elections in the Philippines this coming May 2010.
Noemi Alindogan Mindanao Peace Garden CC
PK Moorthy INSaF CC Nur Damai CC from Malaysia was represented in the workshop-forum by its CC
Lanelio Sangcoan Higa-onon Ti Magsabuwa Ta leader Padmini Solomon, who shared her knowledge about peace building and
Lanao CC conflict resolution. Plans are ongoing about expanding the reach of the
Design and Lay - Out Sarah Queblatin peacebuilding workshop to the rest of South East Asia and the Pacific Region.
2009 INTERNATIONAL DAY Pakigdait CC: Peace through Ramadan Talk, Coastal Clean Up,
OF PEACE CELEBRATIONS and Community Celebrations
As part of the International Day of Peace celebrations Pakigdait joined the
International Coastal Clean Up Campaign and together with the community
Kalinaw CC: September Declared as Interfaith Month members cleaned the coastal town of Kulambugan. On September 19, Musa
in Cebu City Sanguila, a Muslim, shared about Ramadan and Fasting with the Tubod Catholic
Priests of Lanao del Norte.
Through the initiative of the ten - member Interfaith Council of Cebu
City (established earlier with the leadership of Kalinaw CC), the local During the Eid al-Fitr celebrations last September 20, they held their annual
government of Cebu City has declared the month of September each "Pagtagbo alang sa Kalinaw" (Meeting for Peace). The event gathered the
year as Peace and Interfaith Month. This is a great boost for interfaith Christian community to celebrate with the Muslims on the grounds of a Masjid.
bridge building in this predominantly Catholic City in the Philippines. They invited people of different faiths, the Bishop of Lanao del Norte, and the
Brigade Commander to give their messages of peace. The community's Muslim
Also, this year, as part of the celebrations of the International Day of Youth performed traditional songs and dance. Christians in return gave flowers to
Peace, the Kalinaw CC, in cooperation with the University of Cebu, the Muslims and offered tokens of friendship in the form of fruits during the
organized on September 26 a Good Citizenship peace concert program. Later they all ate together at one table filled with Maranao delicacies.
featuring neo-folk artist Joey Ayala. With over 5,000 students present
this was the biggest gathering ever to celebrate this day of peace in
Cebu.
Peacemakers' Circle & URI-SEAP office: Peace Arts Mosaic
The Peacemakers Circle Foundation CC and the United Religions Initiative
SEAPac Regional Office partnered with lead convening organization,
InSaF CC: Multi-Faith Gathering Launches IDP Generation Peace (GenPeace) youth network and its Peace NGO partners for
the 2009 IDP. The Youth for Unity (Y4U) of the Peacemakers’ Circle led the
The Interfaith Spiritual Fellowship CC in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia celebrated the interfaith prayers that set the mood for a contemplative celebration of peace.
International Day of Peace with an official launch marking this UN Celebration as They also prepared copies of a mini brochure on the Ways of Peace for inner
an annual celebration in Malaysia. Senator Kihilan Pillay, the Deputy Minister of peace, harmony with others, and the healing of the earth to give away
Foreign Affairs in Malaysia and the UNICEF representative graced the during the event.
celebrations.
Youth from the CC’s four community partners joined the Peace Mosaic
Prayers from the different faith traditions - Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, painting and installation with their message for Peace in conflict affected
Sikh, Baha`i, and Indigenous Spirituality, along with a Universal Prayer were the Mindanao. The CC booth hosted a sacred space for meditation and
highlight of the celebrations. This augurs well for interfaith relationships in the reflection. Y4U created a labyrinth walk to encourage people to walk for
multi-cultural society of Malaysia. inner peace.
.

Nur Damai CC: Film Showing and Discussion about

Interfaith Dialogue
Gandhi Puri Ashram CC: Interfaith Activities for Peace
Nur Damai celebrated the UN International Day of Peace on Sunday,
Gandhi Puri Ashram CC Celebrated the International Day of Peace with interfaith September 13th by showing a documentary film “The Imam & the
prayers and dialogue at a gathering of youths and community members. The activi- Pastor” which depicts the reconciliation between Imam Muhammad
ties included tree planting in the Mahatma Sacred Garden. A statue of Confucius Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye, and the peace-making initiatives
was also installed in the compound. To entertain everyone, young dancers which have flowed from it. The film, narrated by Rageh Omaar,
performed a Balinese dance. dramatizes their remarkable story. It showed the dynamics of
forgiveness and challenges that arise in Christian-Muslim partnership
and how they can be resolved.

The invited audience of around 50 included some community,

Bohol Goodwill Volunteers CC: News Column Balitang Maayo
Qnahanglan! (Good News is Needed!)
Boni Quirog, CC Leader of Bohol Goodwill Volunteers wrote a column, about
the International Day of Peace on September 21 in the local paper The Bohol
Chronicle. For the celebration, he said he would like to initiate that good news
must be published so there will be lasting peace in all aspects - culture,
economy, and politics. He also mentioned that the Bohol Goodwill Volunteers
will be hosting the Interfaith Consumers’ Rights and Welfare Conference which
is funded by the URI SEAPac’s Seed Grants Program.
political leaders, and police personnel among others. Padmini
Solomon, the CC leader, highlighted the vision of the URI in her
COMMON CC: A Gathering on Sharing our Water address at the film showing. Nur Damai also launched their website at
the gathering.
A public gathering for understanding the spiritual and scientific
principles of water in our lives was hosted by COMMON CC in
Melbourne. Adults and children participated in a plenary, games,
and discussions in understanding and taking action for water
conservation in Australia. (Read the Report on CC News Section).
Read URI SEAPac’s Latest News on www.uriseap.ning.com

COOPERATION CIRCLE NEWS
Walking Humbly on the Murray: a GreenFaith
CC Pre-Parliament Event
GreenFaith Australia CC hosted a Pre-Parliament of World’s Religions
Event during November 26-29, 2009 with the support of the Victoria
Multicultural Commission and URI SEAPac’s Seed Grants Program.
The organizers engaged different communities and environments
within the south eastern Murray-Darling Basin in Victoria for the
journey. Around one hundred participants from different faiths
experienced learning, friendship-building, celebration and awareness
- rising about this ecologically imperilled, brave and beautiful part of
Australia. One of the highlights of the journey was a visit to the
Kinglake area where they witnessed the devastation and healing that
was taking place after the Black Saturday Bushfires earlier in the year.
The beautiful Nagambie Lakes Park Resort which is bordered with the
Goulburn River on one side and the Nagambie Lakes on the other side
was the base camp for the journey. The theme of WATER, its
significance and importance in our lives and within our faiths were
incorporated in the activities. The next two days engaged the
participants on a spiritual, fun and educational journey through the
towns of Shepparton, Echuca (Barmah Forest), Castlemaine and
Bendigo where they had the opportunity to listen, learn and be with
these communities; together enjoying Aboriginal ceremonies,
interfaith dialogue and multicultural entertainment, sight seeing and
ecological awareness raising along the way!
Mindanao Peace Garden CC: Promoting URI in
the City
The newly formed CC in
Cagayan de Oro City,
Philippines is actively
promoting interfaith
dialogue. They have a
weekly radio program
DXKO, RPN based in Gusa,
in Cagayan de Oro City in
which URI and its principles
are promoted.
On November 26, 2009,
they installed a Peace Pole
at the Peace Park of Xavier
University through the
generosity of its donor,
Okada Shunichi San and
the support and
cooperation of administrative officials of Xavier University.
MAY PEACE PREVAIL IN MINDANAO!
Pakigdait CC: Joining Hands with UN's ACT
for PEACE, Addressing Climate Change, and
Remembering the War of 2008
Pakigdait CC in Iligan City, Philippines has been actively
working on peace building and sustainable rehabilitation for
Muslim, Christian, and Lumad communities in Lanao Del
Norte. Their current project is a partnership with the United
Nations ACT for Peace Program. The partnership is working
with 6 Barangays (small community units) under the UN Act for
Peace Program. These are those that are part of peace and
development communities identified by the Moro National
Liberation Front and the Government of the Philippines who
are mandated to rehabilitate the communities as part of their
peace agreement. In 1996 after the signing of an agreement,
they have also been guided by principles of faith in their
negotiations.
In several partner barangays, Pakigdait has been working on
data gathering, establishing a pharmacy, mass feeding, disaster
risk management workshop, livelihood programs for women,
helping build fish cages for fishermen, developing water
systems, teaching simple bookkeeping, training coastal
resource management, and establishing core shelters for 250
families.
On August 18, they commemorated the 1st year remembrance
of the atrocities in their communities which displaced
hundreds of people (both Christians and Muslims), and left
some as collateral damage of the ongoing war between the
national government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Currently, efforts are focused on developing peace and
rehabilitation initiatives and in moving forward for sustainable
development.
Last October 10, as part of its monthly meeting for the
interfaith council in Lanao, they had a Church-Masjid visitation
for Muslims and Christians at Una Poona Piagapo where
majority are Muslims. The place was a battle ground of the
August 18, 2008 attacks.
Higa-onon Ha Migsabuwa Ta Lanao CC:
Peace Festival with Tri-people of
Mindanao
The Tri-People CC Higao-onon Ha Migsawbuwa Ta Lanao
composed of the Higa-onon Indigenous Peoples (Lumads),
Christian and Muslim supporters held the Kaamulan Peace
Festival for Understanding last November 26 to December 3,
2009 at Rogonon, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte Philippines. The
celebration was a gathering for understanding among faith
and cultures to promote peace in Mindanao where conflicts
on ancestral domain have been ongoing for decades.
Peacemakers’ Circle: Reaching Out to Muslim Christian Peacemakers
CC after Hurricane Ketsana
Marites Africa led the Peacemakers' Circle team to visit the grassroots community of Barangay 188
in Tala, Caloocan City where 447 families, mostly members of the Muslim-Christian Peacemakers
Association CC, were displaced by Hurricane Ketsana (Local name: Typhoon Ondoy ) last September
26. They were shocked to see the extent of the devastation caused by the raging waters from the
rising river that lashed through the community that fateful day.
The destruction was cruel in the midst of utter poverty. Yet the people smiled, grateful for the visit;
and the children traipsed around the muddy puddles as though nothing unfortunate had happened
to them.
URI friends around the world sent in donations through the URI Global Hub. These were used for
purchasing sleeping mats, blankets, and towels for the victims in Barangay Tumana in Marikina City.
The Peacemakers' Circle and friends conducted a relief mission in the flood affected community of
Barangay 188 last October 2. Generous relief that were given contained canned sardines, rice,
noodles, toiletries, biscuits, etc. Emotional Recovery sessions were conducted in partnership with
Balay Rehabilitation Center who helped in addressing emotional problems of the community
members who have been directly affected by the floods.
*The Peacemakers’ Circle CC and
the Muslim – Christian
Future initiatives for recovery and healing of the community include more workshops on self Peacemakers Association CC
development, relationship building, and a possible social entrepreneurship project.
would like to thank the entire URI
community for sharing their gifts
of love and resources with the
Gandhi Puri Ashram: people of Tala and Tumana for
their recovery and rehabilitation
Promoting Peace through from the floods.
Cultural Events and Talks
Last December 8-12, 2009, Gandhi Puri Ashram CC gathered the interfaith community
in a program entitled, "Friendship through Culture and Peace." The event showcased
different cultural traditions through performances such as folk contemporary dances,
classical, and contemporary music.
Activities also included academic seminars on Cultural Diversity and Community
Dialogue and Peacebuilding. Through these, they were able to bring awareness on
the rich, cultural diversity in the community and that they can unite in action for
peace and harmony in Bali.
Sharing Our Water with COMMON CC
COMMON CC hosted a public event entitled, “Sharing our Water” at the Fitzroy Town
Hall, Melbourne on the International Day of Peace on September 21. It was supported
by the Victoria Multicultural Commission, Yarra City Council, URI-SEAPac seed Grant
and many members of the community at large.
The event was opened by Indigenous elder, Uncle Colin Hunter with a smoking
ceremony and was followed by Multifaith presentations by various community
representatives. Each faith made a blessing and presented a gift to the Wurrunjeri
Community as the Kulin Nation custodians of Melbourne.
Adult participants had a panel discussion addressing the spirituality of water from
both the indigenous and deep ecological perspective. Indigenous elders described
the process which Aboriginals have used to preserve the Barmah State Forrest.
Overall the event sent these messages across: Water is sacred because it is intrinsically
a part of the great sacred whole of Life itself; and in order to preserve water the nation
should engage the innate ancient knowledge of the indigenous Aborigines. Other
suggestions included: promoting awareness; supporting a national water charter
adopting indigenous practices; diverting and recycling of water; changing water
usage habits; reforestation, developing farming methods; and lobbying for stronger
policies.
The children participated in games and activities like Bollywood dancing and theatre
that engaged learning about water. The event finished with a MultiFaith performance
presented by Australian Interfaith and Multicultural Australian Ambassador, Dya
Singh and family joined by Indigenous Elder, Uncle Reg Blow on the didgeridoo.
 YOUTH ACTIONS
Mindanao Peace Garden CC:
Engaging Young People in Peace
Education
Mindanao Peace Garden CC from the Philippines joined
YOUTH ACTIONS
URI last August 2009. One of their first activities was to
involve the youth in Interfaith Prayers and Dialogue at
their Peace Garden. The event was attended by a number
of Muslims, Christians and Baha’i youth. A representative
of each of the three religions led prayers and later shared
with the whole group their respective beliefs and
practices. It was an uplifting experience for the
participants.
The CC has introduced the URI Principles in the course
Gender and Peace Education at the Mindanao University
of Science and Technology (MUST) in its five classes with
a total of 192 students.
In celebration of the Mindanao Week of Peace, the CC
involved students of the Gender and Peace Education
classes at the university in a simple ceremony where
students pledged what they can do for peace in their
respective families and communities.
Gandhi Puri Ashram CC: Dharma
Ashram Retreat Program for
Multi-Faith Youth
A retreat program for the youth was conducted from
June to October, 2009 at the Gandhi Ashram to inspire
them to live a spiritual way of life. More than 200 young
adults benefited from this transforming experience.
The CC also held workshops on composting, tree
planting, yoga, and meditation. Seminars on Peace and
Terrorism, Peace and Education, Peace and Environment,
and on Youth and HIV Aids were part of the program.
Peacemakers' Y4U: Interfaith
Encounter with German Youths of the
Archdiocese of Hamburg
On August 22 about 25 German youths and
representatives from the Archdiocese of Hamburg, along
with their Filipino hosts from the Federation of Asian
Bishops Conference (FABC) youth desk visited The
Peacemakers' Circle (PCFI) office and had an interfaith
encounter with 11 members of the Y4U (Youth for Unity)
circle.
Starting off with interfaith prayers from representatives of
different faiths, the session began with PCFI vice president
and URI-SEAP regional coordinator, Shakun Vaswani,
welcoming the young visitors to the intimate space and
giving an introduction to PCFI and URI interfaith
peacebuilding work. The PCFI documentary DVD “In the
Light of the Crescent Moon,” a film about relationship
building between Christians and Muslims in Metro Manila,
was then shown to give them further orientation and
exposure to the work of The Peacemakers’ Circle. A
dynamic dialogue among the youths followed.
Interfaith Youth Circle of Cambodia CC:
Planting Seeds of Peace
The Interfaith Youth of Cambodia CC organized an
International Day of Peace activity at Chres secondary
school located in Chres commune, Chantrea district and
Svay Rieng province. Around 132 people - secondary
school students, villagers, school teachers and Buddhist
monks participated in the campaign. 210 tree seedlings
were planted in the school compound and along the
village road which they promise to nurture.
 south east asia and the pacific

Unit 105 PHILDHRRA Partnership Center

59 C. Salvador St., Loyola Heights
Quezon City, PHILIPPINES
(+632) 920-7622

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“We must be the CHANGE we wish

to see in the world.”
- Mahatma Gandhi

what’s inside*
URI Community Participates in the
Parliament of World’s Religions

Peacemakers‘ Circle & URI SEAPac

Launch Travelling Peace Academy in the
Region

International Day of Peace Events

Cooperation Circle News from:

Center for Melbourne Multifaith
and Others Network (COMMON),
Australia
Gandhi Puri Ashram, Bali,
Indonesia
GreenFaith Australia, Australia
Pakigdait, Philippines
Peacemakers’ Circle, Philippines
Nur Damai, Malaysia
Mindanao Peace Garden,
Philippines
Higa-onon Ta Migsabuwa Ta Lanao,
The purpose of the UNITED RELIGIONS INITIATIVE
Philippines is to promote enduring daily interfaith
Youth Actions from: cooperation, to end religiously motivated violence
Youth for Unity, Philippines
Interfaith Youth Circle, Cambodia
and to create cultures of peace, justice, and
Mindanao Peace Garden healing for the Earth and all living beings.
Philippines
Gandhi Puri Ashram, Bali,
Indonesia