The screenings were held at De La Salle University.  Both were sponsored by DLSU, through Dr. Jeane Peracullo and Mr. Ignacio Ver of the Philosophy Department and Dr. Lolita Castillo of the Theology and Religious Education Department, and the Institute for Comparative and Advanced Studies (ICAS).

On July 25, the main resource speaker was Prof. Mohammad Rosli Hassan.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=113358772040026

Due to popular demand, we are making these Mandala Artwork templates  available to you courtesy of Peacemakers’ Circle.  Everyone who participated in the activity we had pointed to its wonderful and quiet power.  Mandala-Making is after all soulwork thereby providing all of us who work for the spiritual, moral and value transformation of our nation that much needed respite to enable us to get in touch with our deeper selves.  Thoughts are very powerful—we send out Peace, Love, Light to the entire universe.

Ms. Jamila-Aisha P. Sanguila is  (as CWTS Coordinator) now conceptualizing a seminar workshop “Culture of Peace and Dialogue” for the Civic Welfare Training Service, College of Social Sciences and Humanities.   As Silsilah Forum Marawi Coordinator,  she is organizing by January the Silsilah Peace Youth.  By February 14,  The Silisilah Forum Marawi will hold a Peace Concert with  CWTS students to be held at the  MSU Gymnasium.  On April 19-22, 2009, the Silsilah Dialogue Movement, Zamboanga City will have Jamila as guest speaker for the “HISTORY OF ISLAM.”

Dr. Dante G. Simbulan, Jr. has been awarded a research fellowship by the NIPPON FOUNDATION for ASIAN PUBLIC INTELLECTUALS AWARDS for the year 2010 – 2011 for a research paper writing and database project on mindfulness practices. Formal awarding ceremonies will be held on March 19, 2010 at the ATENEO de MANILA UNIVERSITY. He will be based in Kyoto University, Japan for his research writing, database and networking project.
To get updates on Dr. Simbulan’s work, visit http://kaginhawahan.livejournal.com/

Dr. Kres Gabijan of Focolare Movement, attended a forum organized by The UP Institute of Islamic Studies and the Indiana Cultural Exchange Center (ICEC), Purdue University, USA,  in cooperation with the with Center for Moderate Muslims-Phils. (CMM), University of the Philippines’ Muslim Student Alumni Association (UPMSAA), Imam Council of the Philippines, Fil-Muslim Youth Council for Peace and Development(FMYCPD) & the UP Asabiyyah entitled, “Islam in America” on December 7, 2009 at the UP Bulwagang Sala’am.

Mr. Yusuf Roque Morales, School Administrator , Asian Academy of Business and Computers,  conducted a seminar on WARLORDISM IN CHRISTIAN AND MUSLIM PHILIPPINES: Effects on Social Movements for Peace and Democracy on Dec. 9, Wednesday, 2 p.m at the PHILIPPINE RURAL RECONSTRUCTION MOVEMENT, 56 Mother
Ignacia Avenue corner Dr. Lazcano Street, Quezon City. He was with Engr. Roberto Verzola of the Philippine Greens- Inputs on the Maguindanao elections 2004 and 2007. Engr. Verzola was the first one who came out with a statistical analyses of disturbing trends in the 2004 elections, a year before the 2005 Hello Garci scandal came out.  He also co-founded HALALANG MARANGAL, a citizens’ clean elections advocacy group.
Engr. Verzola was the founding secretary general of the  Philippine Greens in 1997.

On November 28, 2009, a direction-setting workshop was conducted to assess the conference as well as provide a venue for participants to brainstorm on the future directions of interfaith dialogue in the country.  The activity was a fitting culmination to a very intense yet fun series of activities that made up the 2009 Conference.

The workshop on Conflict Resolution for Peace was expertly  facilitated by two participants, Ms. Pamela Villamor and Mr. Emmanuel Sayo from Pax Christie Institute.  The workshop used simulation games to elicit from participants  real responses to conflicts happening around them.  The presence of people of diverse faiths highlighted the power and promise of interfaith dialogue to promote peace and resolve conflict.  The importance of a third person in dialogue was one of key lessons learned in the workshop.

On November 27, 2009, participants in the 2009 National Conference on New Thinking, New Concepts of Interfaith Dialogue in the Philippines joined one of the workshops on Mandala Making for Peace facilitated by fellow participant, Ms. Norma Tinambacan,  and some members of the Peacemakers’ Circle.

On September 18, 2009, DLSU hosted an IFTAR Dinner as part of its participation in observance of the month-long celebration of Ramadan.  Muslim students of the university as well as muslim brothers and sister in the nearby communities were invited to this event. Br. Armin, President and Chancellor, stressed that the celebration is part of the continuing efforts of the university to foster deeper and broader interfaith dialogue in the country.