Mindanao launces, Peace Week in response to bloodshed by Isis in Marawi

The south of the country is still shaken by the jihadist attack on the mass on 3 December, which also distances the prospects of the return of displaced Muslims from Marawi. Interfaith groups are responding to the violence with initiatives of dialogue and confrontation. Hundreds of people of all faiths have joined the initiative. Conversion of hearts and safe spaces against those who feed terror.

Pagadian City (AsiaNews) - The attack carried out by the Islamic State during a mass on 3 December in the gymnasium of the Mindanao State University in Marawi, with its four deaths and dozens injured, bloodied the 2023 Peace Week scheduled in Mindanao from November 30 to December 10.

The event was promoted and supported by the Philippine Church, which for the archbishop emeritus of Cagayan de Oro, the Jesuit mons. Antonio Javellana Ledesma, was supposed to symbolize the "Homecoming" of peace, harmony and dialogue in the south of the country.

This has been fueling the pain and desperation of the Muslim community and internally displaced persons who continue to suffer from the lack of stable accommodation since 2017, following the siege of the city launched by the Maute group associated with ISIS.

However, the promoters of the Week of Peace and the hundreds of participants underline that in the face of these bloody events, in the face of violence, it is even more urgent and important to respond with dialogue and by carrying out initiatives of meeting and discussion.

Catholic activist Marites Guingona Africa told the 850 people present at the opening day last November 29 in Pagadian City (Zamboanga del Sur), "as a representative of The Peacemakers' Circle, I launched a challenge: to find peace in our homes, where our hearts reside."

Added to this is the workshop the following day focused on the "creation of safe spaces" for dialogue between three different realities: Christians, Muslims and the Subanon tribals, the first project of the Interreligious Forum for Solidarity and Peace (Ifsp) in Pagadian, of recent training. Leading it were Fr. Felix Tigoy, Ifsp coordinator, Timuay Jose Macarial representing the indigenous population, Sister Marjorie Guingona and the Muslim leader Bong Balimbingan.

Over the last 20 years, efforts and initiatives aimed at interreligious dialogue and brotherhood have multiplied in the Philippines, with the attempt to translate projects and initiatives of harmony and solidarity into practical action.

Nonetheless, this philosophy has not yet become a real force for social and cultural change as hoped by its promoters. It is frustrating, says the Catholic activist, due to the "little progress" made so far towards a "true conversion of hearts".

“Wars - adds Marites Guingona Africa - are fought by involving the religious sphere even today. What good is our religion or our faith tradition if it cannot be a resource for peace instead of a source of conflict, if it cannot be a source of comfort to us and a healing force for our weary souls?” the activist finally asks.

“If we want the hope of true and lasting peace to become a reality,” observed Fr. Felix Tigoy, it is necessary to “create safe spaces within and around us, where our hearts and minds can respectfully meet in our diversity”.

The priest believes it is essential to create places where "we can respect our differences and relate to each other beyond a simple invitation to tolerance". True conversion in interreligious dialogue, he warns, is "the conversion of the heart, so that people can see the presence of God in others".

This is what "dialogue beyond tolerance" means, he concludes, but it is only possible when "people manage to bring out the highest teachings and ideals of their respective religions and faith traditions not only through external actions, but above all through work inner".