SOPP 2010: Global Peace Meditation & Prayer Day / World Shift Day

Symphony of interfaith prayers for world peace 2010 in manila

In the heat of the summer sun on May 16th, 2010 at the Riverbanks Plaza of Marikina City, the Philippines once again participated in creating a wave of prayerful vibrations around the globe as the Global Peace Meditation and Prayer Day / World Shift Day was celebrated with the Symphony of peace prayers hosted by the Mandala Peace Arts Initiative (MPAI), and made possible by Byakko Shinko Kai, in partnership with The Peacemakers’ Circle Foundation, Inc. (PCFI) and the Riverbanks Center.

View complete report and photos here: http://sopppilipinas.blogspot.com/2010/05/sopp-2010-global-peace-meditation.html

Date:	Sunday, May 16, 2010
Time:	8:30am - 12:00pm
Venue:	Riverbanks Park, Marikina City

The Symphony of Peace Prayers (SOPP) is an inter-religious, intercultural and inter-spiritual public event that is open for all. On this day we honor and give gratitude to the beautiful peace prayers from different faith traditions (Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, etc.) in order to create and spread a wave of peace, harmony, light and love to all corners of the Earth, and to elevate the consciousness of all humanity, so that peace may be realized as soon as possible.

Since 2005, the main SOPP has been held at the Fuji Sanctuary in Japan hosted by the Byakko Shinko Kai (see: www.byakkoblog.typepad.com/sopp/).

Last year (2009), Manila was among the 400 locations from over 50 countries around the globe that participated in this powerful and moving worldwide synchronized event.

To help you remember last years' celebration, see photos below at earlier blog post... click here: Symphony of Global Peace Prayers 2009 celebration in Manila


Come join us again this year!

WE WELCOME REPRESENTATIVES FROM DIFFERENT FAITH TRADITIONS TO SIGN UP IF YOU WISH TO PARTICIPATE AND OFFER A PEACE PRAYER FROM YOUR FAITH TRADITION...

ARTISTS/PERFORMERS are also welcome to volunteer their talents to enliven the program..

Thank you and See you all again!

--Posted By Mandala Peace Arts Initiative - Manila

program of activities:

8:30 - Arrivals and registration

9:00 - Welcome, Introductions and Acknowledgments

9:15 - Opening the Sacred Space (Sayaw Bathala by neo-babaylan Prof. Grace Odal-Devora)

9:30 - Interfaith Prayers

- Kokyuho Ocean Breathing

- Budyong (Call to Prayer)

- Entering into Peaceful Silence (Guided Meditation by Brahma Kumaris)

- Hindu Prayer (Ms. Trishna Hemnani)

- Tibetan Buddhist Prayer (Mr. Reimon Cosare)

- Christian Prayer (Sr. Vida Cordero, SFIC)

- Islamic Prayer (Mr. Alan Berguia)

- Hare Krishna Prayer (ISCKON)

- Shumei Prayer (Ms. Tomomi Shima)

- Baha'i Faith Prayer (choral song)

10:00 - Global Prayers

- Prayer for a World Without Conflict

- Prayer for Humanity between Humanity and Nature

10:15 - Musical Upliftment by Green Kaya Band

10:30 - World Peace Prayer Flag Ceremony (Ms. Yeyette San Luis)

11:00 - Everyone Hand-in-hand in Silence

11:05 - Messages of Gratitude

11:15 - Sikh Prayer for Peace (Guru Nanak Mission)

11:20 - Greeting each other Gestures of Peace

11:30 - Sharing blessings of food (by ISCKON with Musical Upliftment & Chanting)

PLEASE CONFIRM YOUR ATTENDANCE Contact Orlan at telephone # 920-7622 or cellphone #0918-782-2805; or email peacemakerscircle_uri@yahoo.com. Thank you!

Taguig Feeding Program & Self-Development Workshops

The feeding program for malnourished Muslim children of Maharlika Village was launched on August 9th, 2009 by the St. Joseph Parish & Caritas in partnership with the Muslim-Christian Peacemakers of Maharlika and the support of The Peacemakers' Circle Foundation, Inc.


On October 22nd, 2009 The Peacemakers' Circle distributed relief goods to the families in Maharlika affected by the typhoon Ondoy...

Among those affected are the families whose children are in the feeding program, as well as some of the Muslim-Christian volunteers of the project...


Nov. 4th, 2009 workshop
Part of the Feeding Program is a series of self-enrichment workshops conducted by The Peacemakers' Circle for the mothers and parents of the malnourished children...

Y4U ushers 2010 with iTrip gathering

--- On Tue, 19/1/10, Youth for Unity (via Multiply) wrote:

Youth for Unity (info_y4u@yahoo.com) has posted a new album.

Y4U iTrip 2010 (12 photos)

Ringing in the new year with Y4U, 13 youths from different faiths (and nations!) gathered last January 9th, 2010 (Saturday) in the afternoon to hangout, chillax, meet, have fun, and plan activities for iTrip program of 2010. The Peacemakers' Circle interfaith dialogue center played host to Y4U's first gathering for the year which started with interfaith prayers from the Christian, Catholic, Muslim, Shumei, Hindu and Earth faith traditions. It was indeed a colorful and diverse group not only in terms of religious affiliations, but because the youths came from different cultures as well-- Indian, Japanese, Indonesian, African, Mexican, Brazilian, aside from the local Pinoy! View all 12 photos in this album audio reply video reply Add a Comment

to view this article click here or copy this link: http://youth4unity.multiply.com/photos/album/14

Peacemakers help in Ondoy & Pepeng victims

Last October 2, the Peacemakers Circle and its youth arm Youth 4 Unity joined forces to bring relief goods and aid from friends and donors to 500 Muslim and Christian families affected by Super Typhoon Ondoy (international name Ketsana) last September 26 in Tala, Caloocan City, Philippines. Noted as the worst flooding in the country with more rains dumped than Hurricane Katrina, Typhoon Ondoy brought about almost 300 dead and thousands displaced.

With eager anticipation, affected community members waited at the basketball court for the relief goods to be distributed. Macklis Bala of the Muslim Christian Peacemakers CC assisted in the relief distribution by calling out the names of the families needing aid.

Donations of food - noodles, crackers, juice, milk, and basic toiletries were distributed in packs for each family to help them go through immediate recovery while they rummage through
whatever they can revive from their damaged homes, furniture and appliances.

Because of the clear sign of climate change as cause for the extreme weather that caused the flooding, an orientation about how to segregate the wastes was given before distributing the goods in plastic bags, one of the main causes of pollution and climate change. Plastic bags were required by the National Disaster Coordinating Council which is why donated goods came in them. Waste from donated goods will be transformed into resource through funds to be generated from collected bottles, aluminum from canned goods, and paper from boxes, and residual plastics. Funds raised will be used to repair the damaged Mosque and Chapel in the
community.

Despite the grief, the members were still able to smile in between, a unique cultural character of Filipinos - always resilient despite all the natural and economic hurdles that come their way.

To read more about the stories of the community members of their experience of the flood, visit Marites Guingona Africa's blog on this link: http://uriseap.ning.com/profiles/blogs/the-river-flowed-through-it with photos on: http://uriseap.ning.com/photo/albums/typhoon-ondoy-affects-tala

Her account on the felief and aid at Tala on October 2, 2009 by the Peacemakers Circle Staff, Members and Friends can be read on this link:http://uriseap.ning.com/profiles/blogs/peacemakers-circle-gives-1 with photos on: http://uriseap.ning.com/photo/albums/peacemakers-circle-tala-relief

Youth-led World Peace Day celebration in Manila

On September 21, 2009 Manila joined the rest of the world in celebrating the International Day of Peace. The celebration this year was extra special because it was organized and led by the youth!

The Peacemakers Circle Foundation, Inc. (PCFI) and the United Religions Initiative SEAP Regional Office partnered with lead convening organization, Generation Peace (GenPeace) youth network and its Peace NGO partners, student organizations, the staff of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, and the World March for Peace and Nonviolence, in coming up with a program held at the Peace Bell area of the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City.

As everyone gathered in a human peace sign the members of the Youth for Unity (Y4U) of the Peacemakers Circle led the interfaith prayers that set the mood for a contemplative celebration of peace. They also prepared copies of a mini brochure on the Ways of Peace for inner peace, harmony with others, and the healing of the earth that were given away during the event.

Peace Mosaic by Muslim and Christian Youth
Youth from the four communities under the PCFI Muslim-Christian Dialogue program -- Tala, Culiat, Quiapo, and Taguig-- painted peace tiles that were installed on the Peace Wall at the Quezon City Memorial Circle. The wall was installed by the GZO Peace Institute GenPeace and the Quezon City government to feature peace messages and symbols by youth all over the Philippines affected by conflict and/ or promoting peace.

Sacred Space, Sacred Circles, Sacred Music
Hosting a sacred space for meditation and reflection as a booth served as a refreshing way for visitors to learn about different faiths as they view the different faith symbols hung around with a giant mandala for peace intentions available for everyone to write on.

During the day, youths from Y4U, Integral Art Metta, Inc. (IAM), and Binhi ng Kapayapaan, Inc. ("seeds of peace") collaborated in creating a stone and tile labyrinth beside the stage for everyone to walk with the intention of seeking inner peace.

PCFI partner SangHabi, provided indigenous music and engaged people in a dance around the area towards the peace wall for the unveiling of the mosaics.

Throughout the program, solidarity messages and cultural presentations by children and youths enlivened the celebration. Another highlight was a video presentation prepared by GenPeace which featured stories of struggle and peace work by youths from different conflict-affected areas in the country (especially Mindanao).

Overall, the event was a huge success with more than 200 participants in attendance. We look forward to more and more youth involvement in celebrating World Peace Day in the coming years!

See more photos here at uriseap.ning.com or here at youth4unity.multiply.com

May Peace Prevail on Earth!

Kapayapaan Nawa'y Manaig sa Daigdig!

PCFI leads interfaith prayers @ OPAPP launch for Peace Month

On September 1, 2009 (Tuesday) The Peacemakers' Circle facilitated the multifaith prayers that started the program launching the Peace Consciousness Month 2009 organized by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), held at the Peace Bell area of the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City.

Among the faith representatives were Sanghabi (indigenous call to prayer), Fr. Jose Souza, SJ (Catholic prayer), Alan Berguia (Muslim prayer), Shakuntala Vaswani (Hindu prayer), Raymond Cosare (Tibetan Buddhist prayer), and Tomomi Shima (Shumei prayer).

OPAPP has been organizing this program every year on the first of September for the past 5 years since the signing of the Presidential Decree declaring September as the Peace consciousness month in the Philippines.

For more photos click here

Y4U Interfaith Encounter with German Youths of the Archdiocese of Hamburg

On August 22nd (Saturday) about 25 German youths and representatives from the Archdiocese of Hamburg-- along with their Filipino hosts from the Federation of Asian Bishops Conference (FABC) youth desk-- visited The Peacemakers' Circle (PCFI) office and had an interfaith encounter with 11 members of the Y4U (Youth for Unity) circle.

Starting off with interfaith prayers from representatives of different faiths, the session began with PCFI vice president and URI-SEAP regional coordinator, Shakun Vaswani, welcoming the young visitors to the intimate space and giving an introduction to PCFI and URI interfaith peacebuilding work. The PCFI documentary DVD was then shown to give them further orientation and exposure to the work of interfaith cooperation and relationship building in the local grassroots communities.

Y4U members Sharon, Trishna, and Rishi (Hindus), along with Lea (Catholic), Kenta (Shumei), Orlan (Indigenous/Folk Spirituality), Alan, Alih, Norodin and Salma (Muslims) then facilitated the interaction and small group discussions among the youths as they shared on their insights and impressions from the video they saw. The lively conversations and sharing between the all-Catholic German visitors and the interfaith local youths went on throughout the warm afternoon as they compared situations of peace and interfaith relations in their respective locations.

View more photos here