Official Cubao high school class 1962

Yea Yes Yes!!!

Calling all Cubao Elementary School Batch of 1958 & Cubao High School Batch of 1962 to have fun in our Year End Bonding for the year 2016

December 30, 2016
Lunch (Potlock)
@
Playlab Activity Center
Alley 32, Road 1, Project 6

(In going to the place, the biggest land mark is the Quezon Memorial Circle {QMC} or the Eliptical Road. Turn right at Visayas Ave. then turn left at Road 1 (Mc Donald at the corner), then turn left on the fourth Alley to your left… )
(Bring plenty of JOKES & STAMINA)
Please confirm of your ATTENDANCE

See you on December 11,

Exploring interfaith dialogue for lasting peace

M. A. P. Insights
Jaime S. de los Santos

Posted on November 08, 2016

(This is part of a lecture delivered in August during the Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations held at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. The symposium tackled the issues related to the alternative approach to conflict resolution with special emphasis on interfaith dialogue.)

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Last Sept. 2, 2016, a bombing at a night market in Davao City caused 15 deaths and 70 injuries. In Thailand, tourist attacks were the targets in August 2016. In January 2016, Jakarta was the scene of an ISIS attack that claimed 7 people and injured 23 more. The specter of terrorism looms large and dangerous in our region, and the challenge of securing people and property remains.

THE THREAT OF ISLAMIC TERRORISM
International Islamist terrorism may arguably be the single most serious challenge facing us all today. Its scope is global -- without regard for national boundaries and borders. Its victims cut across nationalities, cultures, classes, ages, and genders. It undermines foundations of international cooperation and understanding already established, and exploits differences and distrusts to create new conflicts.

In Southeast Asia with its significant Muslim population, Islamist terrorism threatens to drown out generally moderate voices of the Islamic faith. Generally, Southeast Asian societies and governments are tolerant, representative, and responsive. The region has its own indigenous Islamic militant groups but the linkages among these groups have been traditionally and relatively weak, with most operating only in their country, focusing on domestic issues, such as promoting the adoption of Islamic law (sharias), and seeking independence from central government control.

Recent developments show that the conjunction of several phenomena has allowed Islamist terrorists, such as al Qaeda and ISIS, to make significant inroads into the region by forging links with these domestic radical groups. These include frustration arising from repression by secularist governments, and the desire to create a pan-Islamic Southeast Asia.

While the threat of terrorism in the Southeast Asia has strategically been contained into a local concern owing to the active collaboration of law enforcement agencies within the region, terrorism is far from defeated. Governments and their peoples have to remain vigilant and focus their efforts in addressing the root causes of extremism, one crucial part of which is bridging the Muslim-Christian divide, or the perception of it.

INTERFAITH DIALOGUE INITIATIVES
Southeast Asia, given its high cultural diversity, is vulnerable to this “divide-and-rule” tactic by terrorists. Governments and peoples should, therefore, continue if not reinforce current initiatives in interfaith dialogue as part of a broader regional strategy to counter terrorism and preserve diversity.

Interfaith dialogue is a process of bringing together groups coming from different religious affiliations for the purpose of listening and try to understand each other’s beliefs, how they worship and live. It does not make a comparative study of religions nor try to persuade and embrace another’s religion. Interfaith dialogue can rebuild relationships in conflict-affected areas even if religion is not the root cause of the problem. It helps advance reconciliation and cures traumatic experiences in conflict, and can bring down the barrier of a Christian-Muslim divide.

The Philippine experience in interfaith dialogue attests to the important role that civil society plays and the necessity of government-civil society collaboration. It is national policy in the Philippines that “government-civil society partnership shall be strengthened to serve as the backbone of the country’s interfaith advocacy in the international community.”

Within civil society, the Philippines has a rich network of interfaith groups and organizations which, together with the Philippine Government, have been instrumental in fostering a culture of peace, cooperation, and development, especially in the southern part of the country.

These programs, however, were not significant enough to influence peace initiatives. It means that a lot of opportunities are available that can be exploited and pursued that promise positive results. The program can be directed both from the institutional and educational dimensions.

A milestone year for interfaith dialogue in the Philippines was 1996. The signing of the Final Peace Agreement between the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Government of the Philippines on Sept. 2, 1996 paved the way for the establishment of the Bishops-Ulama Conference (BUC) on Nov. 29 of the same year in Cebu.

Not only did the Final Peace Accord succeed in “breaking the ice” between religious leaders... [with a wider impact, it was] also a “pioneer” of interfaith dialogue becoming the Philippines’ advocated ‘format,’ as well as an important element of the peace process...”

Other major programs were conducted in March 2010, as Manila hosted a Special Ministerial Meeting called “Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and Development of Nonaligned Movement, and in January 2011, when the Philippines sponsored a resolution entitled “Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue” adopted during the 65th session of the UN General Assembly.

COMPLEMENTARY PEACE INITIATIVES
Interfaith dialogue must be complemented with other educational and institutional initiatives in order for it to achieve a multiplier effect. These can come in the following (dimensions/action plans):

• Strengthen civil society and the democratic process. Likewise, greater civil liberties, including the freedom to form political parties and other associations, will help to level the political playing field and allow “healthy” outlets for dissent. Particularly, emphasis should be placed on institution-building so as to preserve democratic gains from being undermined by automatic regimes or exploited by nondemocratic opposition forces. Facilitate the political participation of peaceful, moderate Islamists can help to develop an effective counterweight to Islamist militants and their violent tactics.

• Enhance the capacities of local governments through training and perhaps funding, in an effort to reduce corruption and politicization. Political reforms focused on good governance, particularly greater transparency, accountability and the rule of law, will play a key role in neutralizing Islamist militant ideology calling for the overthrow of corrupt regimes.

• Expand educational opportunities, especially for the youth. Integrate in the curriculum subjects relating to Muslim-Christian relationship history and culture.

Given the pressing reality arising from 21st century terrorist zealousness, the avenue of Interfaith Dialogue as a means to bring an end to this threat becomes a viable and attractive plan of action. That the strength of faith to heal and to unite cannot be discounted, and now is the time to find out just how effective it can be in bringing about the peace we all seek.

The article reflects the personal opinion of the author and does not reflect the official stand of the Management Association of the Philippines or the M.A.P.

Lt. Gen. Jaime S. de los Santos (Ret.) is a member of the M.A.P. National Issues Committee, the 42nd Commanding General of the Philippine Army, the 1st Force Commander of the UN Peacekeeping Force in East Timor, presently part-time Professorial Lecturer at UP Diliman and Director for Graduate Studies at the Manuel L. Quezon University

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