SULU, Philippines - The first league of the youth symposium on the “Voice of the Youth for Dialogue and Peace: An Urgent Concern of the Times” was held at the Bishop Ben’s Hall of Notre Dame of Jolo College, June 29.
The Silsilah Dialogue Movement, Zamboanga City, through its Peace Youth Program in the joint effort with the Silsilah Forum-Jolo, organized it.
This was participated by young Muslim and Christian active leader’s ages 15 to 25 who belong to different youth organizations, groups and institutions of the province.
The symposium was intended to help the youth to voice out their concerns, issues, and experiences and to share their ideas on dialogue and peace as experienced in their respective faith teaching experiences in dreaming a peaceful Mindanao with a specific focus in their own native land, Jolo, said Fr. Sebastiano D'Ambra, PIME, Silsilah founder, Zamboanga City.
Attorney Eidilwasif T. Baddiri and Dr. Reynaldo Q. Pescadera III presented the Muslim and Christian perspective on the importance of dialogue and peace respectively, while Kamala Sangkula-Elam and Abdelnazir Tagayan were the panel of reactors.
“I salute Silsilah for its efforts in fostering to maintain peace and harmony between people of different faiths. The youth has the indefatigable passion to work for change and achieve the ideal. We are the nucleus of what the society is to become. The ‘becoming’ of civilization depends on our present efforts and actions. It is therefore necessary that we assume the responsibility of purpose,” said Baddiri.
On the other hand, according to Pescadera, “A symposium like this is important in addressing youth of today to be concerned with what is happening now in our community. This is an urgent call for the youth to be aware of what is our part in today’s problem. Let us act now and be a part of it.”
Brian Alawi from the Mayor’s Office Municipality of Jolo; Ahmaden Nass Mina from the Office of Muslim Affairs and Ustadz Sauqani Kimpa representative from the government lent support to the symposium.
“It is in partnership that has helped make our homeland more secure. I look forward to your cooperation and support to bring positive change to our municipality."
"I do know that if we continue to rely on each other as partners; friends; then we will be safer. Indeed, a dialogue movement such as Silsilah, truly plays as an important element in peace building in this community by promoting deeper understanding and better relation between Muslims and Christians and among religious sector,” said a solidarity message from the Mayor of Municipality of Jolo, Hussin U. Amin.
The participants had their chance to be heard during the open forum; and address their hopes and common aspirations in attaining a peaceful Jolo and their contribution as young Tausugs on the workshop and plenum. Department of Education province of Jolo, Sulu also attended in the said symposium.
At the end of the symposium, 20 young Muslim and Christian men and women who participated were chosen to attend the 1st Regional Youth Peace Summit which will be held on August 22-24, this year at the Harmony Village, Sinunuc, Zamboanga City. (Santosh Digal)
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