Dialogue with Other Religions, the Philippine Experience

Nov. 2003

Reaching out with joy

A Muslim-Christian Forum held in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, was characterized by openness on both sides, and this leads, inevitably, to mutual enrichment.

Palawan is renowned for one of the most beautiful seascapes in the world. Its more than one thousand islands boast a rich underwater life amid sprawling coral reefs. Likewise, Palawan is considered a sanctuary for wildlife with its rainforests. Tourists are delighted by the splendor of the islands with its breathtaking views, warm and friendly people, and local arts and crafts. But more importantly, Palawan does not only possess beautiful islands, but it also has a good mix of cultures among its peoples. In these islands, there is peaceful co-existence between Muslims and Christians, notwithstanding the terrible hostage-taking incident at Dos Palmas a few years back.
Personal contacts among Muslims and Christians continue to grow and this constant interaction allows the building of deep relationships among them. The people come together not only for fellowship, but also to share each others’ joys and sorrows. It was not unnatural, then, for a Muslim professor to notice that the guests at his sons’ wedding were evenly divided between Muslims and Christians. On that occasion, the Catholic bishop was invited as one of the witnesses at the ceremony. The professor also deemed it necessary to respond, out of love for his Christian neighbor, to the crying baby next door. Finding out that the baby had not had any milk for two days, he was thus prompted to make sure she was fed.

With this background the First Muslim-Christian Forum was held at the Asturias Hotel in Puerto Princesa City last November 29, 2003. The desire to reach out to the others, to welcome them as brothers and to express the reality of this relationship, inspired them to hold this historic meeting of 220 participants, both Muslim and Christian. The afternoon forum had an atmosphere of reunion among brothers and sisters who were coming together.
Bishop Pedro Arigo welcomed the participants, setting the heartwarming tone for the occasion. Relationships that have been built among Muslims and Christians in Palawan are characterized by openness on both sides, and this leads, inevitably, to mutual enrichment. Christians have been invited to the mosques to have meaningful exchanges with Muslim leaders. In fact, Director Abdulwahab Lacsaman of the Al Farouq formation center for Muslim ustadzes emphasized the need for this close relationship. Underlining the need for dialogue among peoples, he stated that the world is not lacking in resources because there really is enough for everyone. Instead people are poor and not united, because they do not love each other. Indeed, Norma Valencia, one of those who have been working for Muslim-Christian collaboration in Palawan, remarked how it is love that brings down barriers and differences.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Idris Kuhutan praised the love he had felt from his Christian brothers. The concern shown him in a most concrete manner has remained indelibly in his memory. These various acts of love between Muslims and Christians have helped pave the way for greater dialogue between the peoples. The sharing of things in common rather than underlining differences has created that special moment of friendship and camaraderie.
And this dialogue of life can intensify with the art of loving, as explained by Costanza Tan, who represented the Focolare Movement. The technique discussed pointers on how we may look at one another, being the first to love the others in order to be one with the others. From the heads nodding in the audience, one could see that many people were deeply touched.
The personal testimonials confirmed the many instances when the speakers found themselves believing in the love between Muslims and Christians. Logically, the Gospel message and verses from the Qur’an serve as a guide in this common journey towards solidarity.
During the fellowship that followed, appreciation for the speakers’ inputs were clear signs of the possibility of bringing ahead unity and brotherhood to an even higher level. Unlike other occasions where Muslims and Christians did not dare reach out to one another, among those present, everyone felt he belonged here; everyone was willing to listen and to make the others feel important. The participants saw something different and that is what they wanted—living out peace and love. Even young people found the gathering beautiful, obviously enjoying it. Everyone was happy to have been an active participant in the meeting.

Palawan boasts of riches far beyond its abundant natural gifts. Underneath the effort to promote dialogue between Muslims and Christians is the joy of sharing a common desire to contribute to imbue human realities with the spirit of communion.

posted by focolare.men.northeastmanila @ 11:59 PM