Peacemakers Y4U visit Shumei

Farming to Create a Heaven on Earth

In line with the World Environment Day (June 5) the Y4U: Youth for Unity group of the Peacemakers' Circle Foundation, Inc. turned its focus on the growing environmental problems, climate change, food shortages, and increasing poverty in the World. A visit was organized to the Shumei (a Japanese spiritual movement) center to learn about their practice of natural agriculture. However, the visit to the center at Valencia Hills Condominium, Quezon City did not materialize until June 25 (Saturday)... Read full text & more photos

Peacemakers celebrate URI 9th Anniversary with interfaith leaders

The Peacemakers' Circle -- a Cooperation Circle or CC of the United Religions Inititative (URI)-- in partnership with the URI Southeast Asia-Pacific regional office had a beautiful gathering with interfaith leaders and friends on June 25 entitled People for Peace in celebration of URI's 9th Anniversary of its Charter-signing. Around 24 interfaith leaders and representatives braved the Manila typhoon signal warning to grace us their presence to renew bonds and friendships. Old and new friends happily exchanged their interfaith stories and lessons with each other.

The celebration opened with interfaith prayers from Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, Christian, Tibetan Buddhist, Unitarian Universalist, and Brahma Kumaris traditions. We were also blessed with the presence of Shumei and Jeung San Do spiritual movement representatives. Indigenous flute music as prayer was played by Orlan de Guzman Jr. in the background.

The afternoon involved the screening of URI videos and a sharing on how the URI seed was planted in the Philippines. Personal stories about working with URI and experiences with CC members from around the globe were shared by URI Staff and CC members engaging the guests about this extraordinary global initiative and encouraging them to partner in our programs.

We also celebrated the birthday of Shakun Vaswani, PCFI vice president and URI-SEAP regional coordinator.

URI SEAPac and the Peacemakers Circle CC is looking forward to strengthening relationships and its network through continued interfaith dialogue with the faith groups present and those who could not make it due to other commitments.

Next year, on the tenth anniversary of the URI, we are planning to come up with a big celebration to highlight our work on interfaith dialogue and peace building on the ground.














Please click or copy and paste : http://uriseap.ning.com/photo/albums/uri-seapac-celebrates-uri-9th for more photos on the event.

(reported by Sarah Queblatin, URISEAP programs coordinator)

First Symphony of Global Peace Prayers / World Shift Day celebration in Manila successfully held

On May 17, 2009 the Philippines joined more than 52 countries in the world in synergetic harmony as the Global Peace Meditation and Prayer Day / World Shift Day was celebrated with Symphony of peace prayers (SOPP)*, an interfaith program jointly organized by the Byakko Shinko Kai – Philippines (BSKP) and The Peacemakers’ Circle Foundation, Inc. (PCFI), and in partnership with the Center for Peace Education of Miriam College.

Lined with the colorful flags of the different countries in the world, faith symbols, a Peace Pole, mandala artworks, and energized with the presence and prayerful intentions of around 70 peace-loving people representing different spiritual organizations, advocacy groups, cultural workers and artists-- the conference hall of the Environmental Science Institute in Miriam College, Quezon City throbbed with peace vibrations sent out to the rest of the world that Sunday morning.

The program started off with Byakko members engaging everyone in a centering exercise called Ocean Breathing (Kokyuho) while they performed the Divinity-In (body prayer/mudra). This preceded some words of welcome from the founder/leader of BSKP and Peacemakers’ Circle member, Mr. Mario “Toots” Fungo.

The Peace Declaration of the World March for Peace and Nonviolence was then read together as led by Ms. Genie Kupang, a representative of the World Without Wars Movement and the Ang Komunidad (Humanist Movement). This was followed by the Global Prayer for a World Without Conflict and the Prayer for Harmony Between Humanity and Nature (led by Byakko members, Ms. Auchee Villaraza & Ms. Mae Coloma). These were accompanied by live noseflute music rendered by Mr. Leo Emmanuel Castro of SangHabi, Inc.

A dance-prayer was presented by Ms. Lea Tolentino of GINHAWA (holistic wellness center) to the tune of a prayer-song performed live by the young members of Kontra-Gapi (Kontemporaryong Gamelan Pilipino / Philippine contemporary gamelan) —ethnic music & dance ensemble from the University of the Philippines.

One of the highlights of the event was the interfaith peace prayers led by ten leaders and representatives of different faith traditions. They were: Dr. Shakuntala Vaswani of Balmandir Hindu Temple; Mr. Upendra Das of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISCKON/Hare Krishna); Mr. Raymond Cosare (Tibetan Buddhist); Bro. Eli Andrade of Rainbow Peace Mission (Christian); Mr. Alan Berguia (Muslim) of PCFI & Youth for Unity (Y4U); Mr. Satinder Singh of Y4U & Manila Sikh Temple; and Baba Surinder Singh of Guru Nanak Mission (Sikh); Mr. Willi Remollo of Baha’i National Spiritual Assembly (Baha’i Faith); and Mrs. Tomomi Shima of Shinji Shumei Kai (Japanese spiritual organization). Capping off the interfaith prayers was a silent meditation guided by Mr. John Dowling of Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University.

The silence reverberated with powerful peace vibrations that was felt all around, as seen in the serenity on each one’s faces as they slowly opened their eyes. Everyone was then invited to spread the peaceful energy and light to the whole planet through the World Peace Prayer Ceremony which consisted of mentioning the names of the 198 nations in the world and praying for peace to prevail in each one. Byakko members accompanied the 35-minute ceremony with the performance of a Purification In (mudra) for each country, engaging some of the audience to join them.

The interfaith prayers—combined with the prayers for each country-- brought the experience to new heights as everyone shared a general feeling of accomplishment and joy for having been able to contribute in their own simple way towards an elevated shift in human consciousness for a more peaceful and harmonious world. Dr. Shakuntala Vaswani, Peacemakers’ Circle Vice President and United Religions Initiative Southeast Asia-Pacific regional coordinator, noted this in her closing remarks and she extended deep gratitude and appreciation for everyone who took part in the successful activity.

In high spirits, the event concluded with everyone exchanging greetings of peace from the heart and sharing a simple feast of vegetarian noodles, biscuits and fruits, while jamming to the chanting, drumming and gong music of ISKCON, Kontra-Gapi, and SangHabi.

Infinite gratitude once again goes to all participating groups: World Peace Prayer Society-Phils., Integral Art Metta, Inc., Ang Komunidad (Humanist Movement), World Without Wars movement, SangHabi, Inc., Ginhawa, Inc., U.P. Kontra-Gapi, ISKCON, Y4U, Peace Rainbow Mission, Guru Nanak Mission, Baha'i National Spiritual Assembly, Shumei Phils., Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University, URI-SEAP, and many others!

*Symphony of Peace Prayers (SOPP) is a yearly event that started at the Fuji Sanctuary in Japan —home of the Byakko Shinko Kai (“white light organization”--see www.byakko.org). Now on its fifth year, SOPP has extended its celebration to engage local connecting events in different countries on the same day. On 2007 the World Peace Prayer Society –International and the Club of Budapest came together to make the SOPP its official kick-off event to launch the Global Peace Meditation and Prayer Day / World Shift Day each year (see www.globalpeacemeditationprayerday.org).

A similar event was also simultaneously organized by a small interfaith group in Cagayan de Oro, Mindanao on the same day.

Symphony of Peace Prayers - May 17 (Global Peace Prayer & Meditation Day-World Shift Day)

Byakko Shinko Kai - Philippines

in partnership with
The Peacemakers' Circle Foundation, Inc. and
Center for Peace Education - Miriam College

invites everyone to join the rest of the world in celebrating

Global Peace Prayer & Meditation Day - World Shift Day 2009

with a

SYMPHONY OF PEACE PRAYERS

an interfaith service

on May 17, 2009 (Sunday)

8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

@ the Conference Hall, Environmental Science Institute (ESI)
Miriam College, Katipunan Ave., Loyola Heights, QC


For more details, please contact Orlan at 0918-7822805 / 0906-3286441 / 920-7622
Email: mandalamanila@yahoo.com.ph

www.mandalamanila.blogspot.com

Earth Day interfaith celebration @ La Mesa Ecopark (April 18th)

On April 18th, 2009 The Peacemakers' Circle Foundation, Inc. (PCFI) and Y4U (youth for unity) interfaith circle participated in the World Drum Project's interfaith celebration of Earth Day at the La Mesa Ecopark in Fairview, Quezon City.

read more and see photos here

Easter 2009 greetings

To all our dear Christian friends & family in the Peacemakers' Circle,

We REJOICE with you in this season of

NEW LIFE,

NEW HOPE, and

NEW BLESSINGS!

From The Peacemakers' Circle staff

Introduction to Muslim-Christian Dialogue for Christians

This Workshop is RESCHEDULED... please see new date below:

Dear Peacemakers and Friends,

Greetings of peace!

I am pleased to inform you that over the past four years the Peacemakers’ Circle has been engaged in building relationships of mutual respect, understanding and cooperation among Muslims and Christians in four grassroots communities in Metro Manila, namely: Baranggay 188 in Tala, Caloocan City; Salam Compound in Culiat, Quezon City; Maharlika Village in Taguig City; and Quiapo in Manila.

Our efforts in those communities have resulted in the creation of a Muslim-Christian Peacemakers’ Association in Tala, Caloocan City and a United Muslim-Christian Peacemakers’ Association in Quiapo, Manila. A six-month feeding program for malnourished Muslim children is about to be launched in Maharlika Village in Taguig City in partnership with the St. Joseph’s Parish, and a Muslim-Christian Dialogue Circle is currently being organized in Culiat, Quezon City.

It is in the spirit of dialogue that we at the Peacemakers’ Circle, in partnership with the Australian Embassy, invite Christians to join us in the endeavor of building mutually respectful relationships with our Muslim brothers and sisters in Metro Manila. A group of learned Muslim religious leaders and members of the Salam Compound in Culiat, Quezon City have completed twelve capacity building workshop sessions (based on the teachings of the Holy Qur’an) that were geared toward preparing them for dialogue with their Christian neighbors. We invite you to support their efforts and join them in a Muslim-Christian Dialogue and Friendship Circle!

For those who are interested, please attend an intra-Christian workshop in preparation for dialogue and friendship-building with Muslims in Culiat.

You are invited to

Introduction to Muslim-Christian Dialogue

A workshop-seminar for Christians

On April 28, 2009 (Wednesday)

From 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

At the Ugnayan Hall, 3^rd Flr. PhilDHRRA Partnership Center

59 C. Salvador Street, Varsity Hills

Loyola Heights, Quezon City

Registration fee: Php 50.00 (includes lunch and snacks)

Space is limited to 20 participants. Please request for a registration form from shekinah8@gmail.com on or before April 6 (Mon). For further information, please contact Orlan at 920-7622 / 0918-7822805 / 0917-5389358.