ISA Supports a Forum on Just and Lasting Peace

To celebrate National Peace Consciousness Month, the Institute of Spirituality in Asia (ISA) supported a forum organized by the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP), the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC), the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP), the Save Our Schools (SOS) Network and ANAWIM MISSION.

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“A JOURNEY WITH THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES: A CALL FOR PEACE”   was held on September 14, 2018 at the College of Accountancy Hall, University of Santo Tomas.

The forum was in support of a just and lasting peace for the lumads of Mindanao, whose community life and education of the young have been severely displaced by the intensifying armed conflict there.

Highlights of the forum included a talk by Atty. Florin Hilbay of the University of the Philippines College of Law (topic: “National Sovereignty”) and another by Rey Casambre, a representative of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (“Perspectives on Peace and Updates”).  

Sr. Patricia Fox, NDS, Catherine Dalon of the SOS Network and a representative of the lumads  gave testimonies.

Bp. Ciriaco Francisco of the United Methodist Church led the Opening Prayer while Bp. Deogracias Iniguez, PEPP Head of the Secretariat, and Mark Anthony Abenir, Ph.D. of UST Simbahayan, a publication of the Ecumenical Resource Center-Pilipinas,   welcomed the participants.

Forum Convenor Pastor Aldrin Penamora of PCEC presented the objectives of the gathering. 

Fr. Rico Ponce, O.Carm., co-convenor of ANAWIM MISSION, and Sr. Elenita Bernardo, RMS, a member of its Council of Leaders,  were present to support the activity.

Rommel Linatoc, Ph.D., National Council of Churches of the Philippines   representative in the ANAWIM MISSION, presented a biblico-theological reflection on peace.  

Kerlan Fanagel, chairperson of the Confederation of Lumad Organizations and head of the Immersion Committee of ANAWIM MISSION, issued  words of challenge. 

The gathering ended with a solidarity lunch.

 

By: Dr. Carmen Alviar