Every October 20, Baha'i's all over the world celebrate the Birth of the Bab. The Bab (which means "gate") was a holy man, a prophet and precursor who prepared the people for the coming of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i Faith. The Bab can be compared to... John the Baptist (of the Christian faith) who foretold of the coming of Jesus.
Through creative drama & presentations led by youths, The Peacemakers' Circle learned more about the Bab and the Baha'i Faith during the program last October 19 at the Baha'i Center (1070 Roxas St., Singalong Subd., Malate, Manila).
On October 12, 2010 (Tuesday) The Peacemakers' Circle and the Medicine for Gaia Cooperation Circle visited the Hindu Temple in Paco, Manila to join the fifth night of celebration of the Navratri Festival.
Navratri (meaning "nine nights") is a festival of nine consecutive nights in honor of the feminine aspects of God, in the personification of the three goddesses: Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati.
On September 11, 2010 (Saturday) The Peacemakers' Y4U (youth for unity) and the United Religions Initiative - Southeast Asia-Pacific (URI-SEAP) celebrated "Peace in Diversity" with more than about 25 youths from diverse faiths and different nationalities and cultures in an Interfaith Youth Dialogue held at the Partnership Center in Loyola Heights, Quezon City.
The participants were Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, Hindus, Baha'i's and Multifaith youths from (aside from the Philippines) Malaysia, China, Myanmar, Laos, and Korea. They were representatives from the Institute of Formation Fondacio Asia (IFFA); Columban Missionary; Environmental Broadcast Circle Peace Program; Culiat Muslim community; and the Baha'i community.
After the dialogue circle, The Peacemakers' Y4U and members of IFFA proceeded to the Ramadhan Fair held at the Commission on Higher Education in UP Diliman to celebrate the Eidl Fitr with our Muslim brothers and sisters.
At the spur of the moment, the interfaith youths (who were mostly Christians) were able to dialogue and interact with Muslim youths from Culiat at the lobby...
On August 30-31, 2010 The Peacemakers' Circle facilitated a two-day workshop on Youth Action for Interfaith Dialogue for young leaders from all over the country organized by the U.S. Embassy's Cultural Affairs Section. Below is an article about the event published at Philippine Daily Inquirer, written by Annelle Tayao...
‘It’s just opening ourselves to something as simple as conversation’(PDI article by Annelle S. Tayao (First Posted 22:05:00 09/11/2010)
A SEMINARIAN, a Philippine Military Academy student and the first woman president of Mindanao State University’s student government—they, with other youth leaders from all over the country, made their voices heard at the recent interreligious workshop “yPeace: Youth in Action for Interfaith Dialogue.”
Initiated by the US Embassy and facilitated by the Peacemakers’ Circle Foundation Inc., yPeace gathered 34 participants, some from as far as Tawi-Tawi, who, aside from representing schools and peace-related organizations, also served as spokespersons for their different faiths: Catholic, Protestant, Born-Again, Pentecostal, Church of Christ, Islam, as well as indigenous beliefs.
Held Aug. 30-31, the two-day intensive workshop was at Hyatt Hotel in Malate, Manila.
In group discussions and creative presentations, participants related personal stories on conflicts in their respective communities, and their hopes for better interreligious coexistence in the country...
Halfway through the holy month of Ramadan Muslims continue to fast from first light until sundown, abstaining from food and drink. The fasting during this time is regarded principally as a method of self purification. By denying oneself the worldly comforts of life and things desired for , a fasting person gains true sympathy with those who go hungry as well as growth in one's spiritual life.
The holy month of Ramadan unites all Muslims in fasting, worship and prayer. It is a time for contemplation, spirituality and brotherhood.
In honor of all Muslim peacemakers and in solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisters who are observing Ramadhan, The Peacemakers' Circle organized an afternoon of
SOLIDARITY & DIALOGUE
with
Muslim and Christian grassroots community leaders
From Quiapo, Tala in Caloocan, Culiat and Maharlika Village in Taguig
&
MR. IKEBAL PATEL
of the AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION OF ISLAMIC COUNCILS
on
Islam & Interfaith Relationship-Building
Date: August 31 (Tuesday) Time: From 2-4 o'clock in the afternoon Venue: Ugnayan Hall, PhilDHRRA Partnership Center, 59 C. Savador St., Varsity Hills, Loyola Heights, QC.
10 years of enduring daily interfaith cooperation in creating cultures of peace and healing for the Earth and all living beings...
THE PEACEMAKERS' CIRCLE (a founding member/Cooperation Circle of URI) through its interfaith youth arm, YOUTH FOR UNITY (Y4U) in partnership with MUSLIM-CHRISTIAN PEACEMAKERS ASSOCIATION CC, the UNITED MUSLIM-CHRISTIAN PEACEMAKERS SEA-K, and the MUSLIM-CHRISTIAN YOUTHS FOR PEACE & DEVELOPMENT
successfully conducted an interfaith community service program:
TREE-PLANTING ECO-WASTE MANAGEMENT SEMINAR
for the benefit of the Ondoy-affected Muslim-Christian grassroots community of Tala last JUNE 26th - Saturday, 8am - 12nn at Brgy. 188, Phase 12, Tala, Caloocan City
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.
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.
