Pagadian City Celebrates World Interfaith Harmony Week

By JONG CADION

PAGADIAN CITY, ZAMBOSUR (Feb.3, 2014 Frontline News) – The different Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Religious Organizations, Local Government Unit (LGU) and government school teachers and students in Pagadian City celebrated the first World Interfaith Harmony Week on Saturday, February 1.

According to Silsilah Dialogue Movement Pagadian-Christian coordinator for Harmony chain Initiative Corazon Mendoza the weeklong celebration is in line with the implementation of Republic Act No. 10525 declaring every first week of February of every year as World Interfaith Harmony Week in the entire country and mandating its observance by the different government agencies. 

The World Interfaith Harmony Week was initiated by King Abdulah II and Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jourdan following the proposed resolution by 130 Muslim scholars and was adopted by the United Nation through a resolution on 2010 aims to promote harmony between all people regardless of their faith, Mendoza said.

The UN resolution recognized the moral imperatives of all religions, convictions, and beliefs call for peace, tolerance, and mutual understanding encourages all States to support, on a voluntary basis, the spread of the message of interfaith harmony and goodwill in the world’s churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and other places of worship during that week based on Love of God and Love of the Neighbour, or based on Love of the Good and Love of the Neighbour, each according to their own religious traditions or convictions.

Last year through the Silsilah, Zamboanga City was first celebrated The World Interfaith Harmony Week in Zamboanga City, Davao City and Manila

The Silsilah was initiated the lobbying to congress through congresswoman now Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco for the successful creation of Republic Act No. 10525.

The law is a consolidation of Senate bill No. 3276 and House bill No. 6148 waw finally passed on January 28, 2013 and February 4, 2013 respectively and was approved and signed into law by President Benigno S. Aquino III on April 23, 2013.

Republic Act No. 10525 declaring every first week of February of every year as World Interfaith Harmony Week in the entire country and mandating its observance by the different government agencies.

   

The celebration started last Saturday morning through a parade from the City Plaza going to the major streets in down town City of Pagadian and ended at the City Plaza Cover Court with a simple program attended by Vice Mayor Divina Grace Yu.

The parade was participated by selected students of Zamboanga del Sur National High School (ZSNHS) main campus, different religious organizations from the tri-people of Pagadian City and Zamboanga del Sur the Muslim, Subanen, and Christian, the Interfaith Forum for Solidarity and Peace and the members of Moral Recovery Program (MRP-MRND).

Ummah Fi Salam(UFS) Executive Director and Interfaith Muslim convenor Sultan Maguid Maruhom in his message cited the importance of the law mandating all government agencies to lead the celebration for the unity from all walks of life in the community in order to obtain lasting peace.

“The theme of this year’s celebration is ‘Strengthening Love for God and One Another: A Celebration of Hope for Life, Peace and Solidarity,’ is a clear message that the collaborative effort from all religious organizations through Interfaith, CSOs and government agencies is one solution to achieve peace especially in Mindanao,” Sultan Maruhom said.

Vice Mayor Yu cited that the first launching celebration of World Interfaith Harmony Week is also a celebration of World Hijab Day which aim to have one million Muslim and non-Muslim women worldwide wear a hijab for one day to improve religious understanding for peace.

Vice Mayor Yu said that the celebration of World Hijab Day is encouraging all women to try on a hijab in one day is about promoting sisterhood in women around the country and around the world. This celebration at the same time is also one way of promoting peace and understanding which is the main objective of World Interfaith Harmony Week that need all of us to support, the Vice Mayor said.

The launching program in the morning was followed by the concert at the Park in the evening held at the Plaza Luz Taklobo Stage featuring religious songs spearheaded by the members of Moral Recovery Program headed by Pastor Victor Quirim and pastora Ruth G. Tanginan.

During the second day on Sunday will be the information education through a Radio program over RMN-DXPR Kapihan 603 from 9:30 to 10:30 am headed by interfaith convenor Sultan Maruhom and CSOs leaders from UFS Ibrahim Balimbingan,jr. Silcilah group Virgie Cram and Corazon Mendoza to discuss the highlights of the R.A. 10525.

Today Monday February 3, the 3^rd day of the celebration will be Forum, Dialogue with government agencies and CSOs on the peace and order issue to be followed by the Film showing on the documentary film titled as the Imam and the Pastor headed by UFS Board Chairman Ibrahim Balimbingan and on Tuesday the 4^th day is the visitation and relief goods distribution to the Urban Poor muslim village in barangay Kawit, Pagadian City.

On the 5^th day is a whole day bloodletting to be held at the City Commercial Center (C3) Mall. On the 6^th day is the Poster and collage Making Contest for high School and College level to be held at the Victory Hall. On Friday February 7 will be the evaluation of the weeklong activities, planning and recommendation followed by the culmination program and fellowship.