By Brent Harvey S. Jimenez

The Al Qalam Institute, in partnership with the Notre Dame of Marbel University (NDMU), continued to push for peace with the second installment of the peace forum at the NDMU auditorium in Koronodal, South Cotabato on Tuesday, February 26, 2013.

Representatives from the government, civil society and business sectors gathered at the South Cotabato forum, which followed the successful peace forum in Kidapawan City, Cotabato last Thursday.

With the theme Moving forward for peace and environmental protection in Mindanao, the forum sought to emphasize the legal and environmental issues surrounding the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB).

The forum aimed to inform and bring greater understanding and appreciation of, as well as to stimulate discussion on the FAB and the Mindanao peace process.

Forum participants were shown a video presentation which highlighted and discussed the key issues and implications of the FAB and the peace process.

Speakers of the forum included Datu Mussolini Sinsuat-Lidasan, who emphasized Islamic principles which declare the importance of protecting and conserving the environment, relating them to the legal and environmental issues of the FAB.

Prof. Abonawas Pendaliday, representative of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 12/ARMM, returned from last Thursday’s Cotabato peace forum to discuss the environmental provisions within the FAB, relating them to Islamic ethics.

Environmental advocate Gina Lopez, managing directorof the ABS-CBN Foundation, also graced the event to further discuss the importance of environmental conversation and eco-tourism in the context of province of South Cotabato. Lopez highlighted the environmental implications of mining in Tampakan and its effects on the province.

The Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro is a preliminary peace agreement between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Signed on October 15, 2012, the FAB calls for the creation of the Bangsamoro, an autonomous political entity which would replace the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The FAB is hoped to lead to a final peace agreement between the GPH and the MILF, which will establish the necessary reforms in the political structure of the ARMM, as well as ensure a lasting culture of peace in Mindanao.

By Brent Harvey S. Jimenez

Representatives from the government, civil society and business sectors converged in a peace forum to discuss the legal implications of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) held at the Kidapawan gymnasium, Kidapawan City, Cotabato on Thursday, February 21, 2013.

The Ateneo de Davao University’s Al Qalam Institute of Islamic Identities and Interreligious Dialogue (Al Qalam) joined hands with the Provincial Government of Cotabato to hold a peace forum in Kidapawan City to discuss the legal challenges, as well as the environmental implications of the FAB.

With the theme Moving forward for peace and environmental protection in Mindanao, the forum sought to emphasize the legal and environmental issues surrounding the FAB.

Datu Mussolini Sinsuat-Lidasan, Al Qalam director, said the forum was intended to shed light on the FAB and to discuss its challenges and opportunities. He added that one of the forum’s important objectives was to “identify areas of convergence for a multi-sectoral action at the community level.”

Speakers included Atty. Johaira Wahab, chief of the GPH peace panel’s legal team, who spoke about recent updates on the Mindanao peace process.

Atty. Vincent Paul Montejo, ADDU professor, discussed the legal challenges of the FAB.

Meanwhile, Prof. Abonawas Pendaliday, representative for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 12/ARMM, highlighted the environmental challenges of the framework agreement.

The Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro is a preliminary peace agreement between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The FAB calls for the creation of the Bangsamoro, an autonomous political entity which would replace the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The FAB is hoped to lead to a final peace agreement between the GPH and the MILF, which will establish reforms in the political structure of the ARMM, as well as ensure a lasting peace in Mindanao.

The agreement was signed and sealed in the Malacanang Palace in Manila, Philippines on October 15, 2012.

By Brent Harvey S. Jimenez

They say a picture paints a thousand words. In this light, the Ateneo de Davao’s Al Qalam Institute of Islamic Identities and Dialogue in Southeast Asia (Al Qalam) brings a different twist to this year’s celebration of interfaith harmony.

Together with the Davao Association of Catholic Schools (DACS) and the Silsillah Forum Davao (SFD), the Al Qalam joined the rest of the world in celebration of the World Interfaith Harmony Week with a Photo-Dialogue exhibit from February 4-8, 2013 at People’s Park, Davao City.

Gathering peoples from various religious traditions in the city, the week-long celebration at People’s Park reaffirmed the importance of mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue in sealing a lasting culture of peace in Mindanao.

While interfaith prayers and cultural presentations still formed part of the celebration, this year’s Interfaith Harmony Week saw the launching of the Photo-Dialogue Project, which aimed to use visual anthropology through a curated photo exhibit to showcase the rich history of the peoples in Sulu, Cotabato, Lanao, Zamboanga, Basilan and other provinces in Mindanao.

A key objective of the Photo-Dialogue was to relate the past to the present in appreciating interreligious dialogue, promoting a greater understanding and appreciation of the common history and various cultural identities of the peoples of Mindanao. The exhibit was also aimed to better relate to and spark interest in the students and the youth.

Mussolini Sinsuat-Lidasan, Al Qalam director, said the essence of dialogue is to know and understand peoples’ identities and cultural roots. He said that defining who we are as individuals and peoples and what future we want for our children is a critical element in interreligious dialogue.

“Dialogue is the essence of interfaith activities. However, ‘photo-dialogue’ is a visual anthropology of sharing peoples’ way of life at a certain point in history,” Lidasan said.