THE special course in the 2010 Summer Course on Muslim-Christian dialogue is centered on the topic "Promoting the Culture of Dialogue in Schools and Communities: How and Why".
The "why" is very clear since the Silsilah Dialogue Movement has for the past 26 years dedicated itself to the pursuit of its vision of "...life- in- dialogue for all Muslims, Christians and peoples of other living faiths in respect, trust and love for one another, and moving together towards an experience of harmony, solidarity and peace." Silsilah's resources of people and material goods have been dedicated to the pursuit of this vision, which remains as clear as the beauty of sunlight on a bright sunny day.
But how can this vision be shared with more people? How can we bring people, adults and the youth, to know of this vision and bring them to commit themselves to its pursuit? How do we make our communities develop the culture of dialogue? These are questions of great import to Silsilah.
As an integral preparation for the Special Course, a survey was conducted to determine respondents' opinions on a number of points. The 310 respondents who returned the survey forms were made up of Christians (63%) and Muslims (33%) and the rest believers of other faiths.
About a third of the respondents belonged to the 20-29 age bracket; about 17% were younger than this age bracket while the rest were older. A good 93% of the respondents said that the Silsilah concept of dialogue is possible in our world and that it should be pushed because it promotes peace; it is one that strengthens spiritual life according to one's own religion.
The 32 participants of the Special Course - teachers, workers in government offices and the community, priests and imams, and student leaders- actively joined the sessions that developed from the presentations made by the resource persons invited for the course.
The participants, being residents of Mindanao and in touch with the realities of Mindanao - degradation of the environment, poverty, prejudice, the unresolved issues in the ongoing peace negotiation, violence stemming from militarization and criminality - contributed their own inputs to the discussions and moves towards considerations of feasible "how" in the promotion of the culture of dialogue.
The ideas generated in the discussions will eventually be put together as a guide in the development of source books or modules for "culture of dialogue" education. This will become one more step in the many steps that will have to be taken in the establishment of the culture of dialogue in our world. In the words of the late Bishop Tudtud to Fr. D'Ambra, "Your work will be a work of one hundred years."
Among those who helped to run the different sessions were: Prof. Alih Aiyub who presented a case study on Culture of Dialogue as a Community Organizing
Paradigm for Peace-Building in Sta. Cruz Island; Prof. Alzad Satar -- presented the topic Towards a Culture of Dialogue in Different Countries: The case of Lebanon; Sr. Marion Chipeco,RGS - presented the Dialogue Decalogue: The 10 Commandments of Dialogue; Ms. Connie Emborag who gave the Overview of Peace Education in Schools; Ms. Jona Preagido presented COD and Peace Education; Dr. Elpidio Biton, Jr. & Ms. Husna Bruno Lim were reactors to a paper presentation and Mrs. Remedios MarmoleƱo who gave the results of the survey. (Press release)