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Human Rights Chair inducts national organization of Muslim women peace advocates

ZAMBOANGA CITY (February 11, 2011) – The Philippine Commission on Human Rights Chairperson Loretta Ann P. Rosales officiated the induction ceremony of the Officers of Noorus Salam (the Light of Peace), a national organization of Women Religious and Civil Society Leaders with more than 150 members hailing from across the country during the culmination dinner of a 4-day conference held from February 7 to 10 at Garden Orchid Hotel in this city.

The national conference of Muslim women dubbed as Noorus Salam: From Vision to Action, From Conflict to Peacehave provided them a venue to learn and discuss about Human Trafficking, Muslim Women’s Role in Preventive Health Care, the essence of literacy, and rights of Muslim Women. The delegates also learned the United Nations resolutions about the Women, Peace and Security, the Responsibility to Protect (the women and children in conflict situation) and the International Law on Human Rights.

Rosales was impressed by the effort to create a national body of Muslim women. She praised the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy and the Magbassa Kita Foundation for a “job well done” and having found a “partner,” the Noorus Salam, in advocating and addressing Human Rights issues in the country particularly in Mindanao. Rosales told the delegates “Your individual experiences as Muslim women from diverse communities and cultures may offer narratives of oppression, but they are also powerful sources for enduring solutions to conflicts.”

The Human Rights chair said that the Commission plans to put up a regional office in Maguindanao province that will serve the people of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. During an open forum, delegates aired their experiences of Human Rights violation such as abduction, extra-judicial killing, inmates forced to work without pay, and incidents of discrimination. Rosales advised the complainants to file their cases in any CHR Regional Office near to them. She divulged that the commission has developed a monitoring mechanism using a database and the internet for easy tracking of the filed complaints. The Human Rights chair said that with quick filing of complaint, they are able to respond swiftly. “Our lawyers will assess if there is violation of human rights and we will file case once we found out there is,” she explained.

The delegates further aired that poverty and the recurring armed conflict drive away their women and children to work abroad who sometimes fall in the hands of human trafficker.

During her lecture, Cecilia Oebanda of Visayan Foundation updated the Muslim women that they were able to rescue Muslim girls who are victims of human trafficking.

Albaya Badrodin, vice-chair of Noorus Salam, said their eyes are open on critical issues affecting Muslim women and children in Mindanao such as on health, human trafficking, and human rights violation. “Now that we learned more and have planned the next steps, I urge all the officers and members of our organization to move because we have our responsibility to the Muslim Ummah, “ she stressed.

Amina Rasul-Bernardo, PCID head, said that with the help of partners, they will help in capacitating the officers of Noorus Salam. She encouraged the delegates to continue sharing their time and effort to improve the socio-economic condition of the Muslim communities particularly in Southern Philippines.

Former Senator Santanina Rasul congratulated the delegates and urged them to continue advocating peace and addressing illiteracy in Muslim communities.

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Women urged to "claim rights and power to attain justice and peace"

ZAMBOANGA CITY (February 9, 2011) - Emphasizing that an empowered woman claims her rights as much as her obligations, various women leaders urged Muslim women religious scholars (the aleemat) to assert their role on issues affecting Muslim communities in the Philippines.

Irene Santiago, who chairs the Mindanao Commission on Women, said that gender is crucial to resolving the decades old conflict in Mindanao.

Santiago added, "You cannot achieve any kind of just and enduring peace without taking the role of gender into account. How do you deal with the issues of security, development, participation and decision-making, and identity, if you do not include women?"

Women are better peacemakers
Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID) president Amina Rasul cited a Social Weather Stations survey showing that a great majority of Filipinos believe that women are better peacemakers. She added, "We are not just talking about the formal negotiating table peace process, but also our collective efforts within our communities to forge lasting peace."

Mindanao Development Authority (MINDA) Chairperson Secretary Luwalhati Antonino meanwhile urged Muslims to be her "kakampi" (ally) because of the many tasks that need to be done over the next 6 years for the development of Mindanao.

Antonino also asked Muslims to join her and "build bridges of trust" given the history that she had with Muslims in the past, due to her opposition to the inclusion of General Santos City to the Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development.  It will be recalled that Antonino is part of the so-called "tres Marias" with former Mayor Ma. Clara Lobregat and Rep. Daisy Fuentes that took a stand against the peace agreement between the government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

The discussions were part of the 2nd National Conference of Muslim Women Advocates organized by the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID) in Zamboanga from February 7-10. There are 150 participants including members of Noorus Salam (a national network of aleemat and women civil society leaders) from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Noorus Salam was established to be a venue for cooperation and empowerment of Muslim women enabling them to more meaningfully address the issues in their  communities: conflict, economic self-sufficiency, electoral reforms, health, human rights and education.

Other women leaders who spoke before the conference include: UN Women Philippine Coordinator Aida Jean Manipon and Ma. Carmen Lauzon-Gatmaytan of the Asian Circle 1325-Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP) both stressed the need to bridge the gap between international laws and instruments designed to protect and empower women and the "lived realities" of Muslim women in the Philippines.

Happy birthday P-Noy!
Noorus Salam members also signed a letter to President Benigno Aquino III greeting him on his 51st birthday.

The letter cited President Aquino's distinguished service to the nation as a member of the House of Representatives from 1998 to 2007 and to the Senate as evidence of "how well you have lived your life in the service of our country."

They also expressed support for (Aquino's) administration "as you tackle the issue of peace, democracy and development in Mindanao."
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Zamboanga hosts the country’s first observance of “World Interfaith Harmony Week”

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ZAMBOANGA CITY (February 8, 2011) - The city’s different religious leaders, Christian constituents and Muslim women leaders and peace advocates hailing from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, including those from the islands of Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan, gathered together for an Interfaith Harmony Solidarity Dinner held at the Garden Orchid Hotel to observe the UN-declared “World Interfaith Harmony Week”.

Amina Rasul-Bernardo, the lead convener and President of the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID), a non-government and non-profit organization, revealed that 2011 is the first celebration of World Interfaith Harmony Week, which takes place every first week of February, after the passage of a UN resolution in October last year, sponsored by King Abdullah of Jordan.

“There are over 40 events that have been scheduled worldwide to celebrate World Interfaith Harmony Week. Our Interfaith Harmony Solidarity Dinner is one of many events and the only event in the Philippines which is known as a champion of interfaith dialogue, in the world,” she disclosed further. Ms. Rasul-Bernardo said interfaith dialogue is important to strengthen Muslim-Christian relations strained by persistent conflicts in Mindanao.

In his welcome message, Mayor Celso Lobregat of Zamboanga City thanked the organizers for choosing his city as the venue for the Interfaith Harmony Week celebration. “Our population is a good mixture of Christians, Muslims and Lumads who co-exist with great respect for and tolerance for one another despite religious differences.” Mayor Lobregat also cited his administration “understands the importance of peaceful coexistence to the city’s growth, initiating dialogues and activities demonstrating respect for different ethnic traditions and practices, with the goal of promoting peace and harmony among the residents.”

Lobregat also noted that the city government recently allotted half a million pesos worth of food and non-perishable items for the flood victims of Sulu to be shipped on February 8.

Dr. Aboulkhair Tarason, vice-president of the National Ulama Conference of the Philippines, encouraged fellow Muslims to emphasize that Islam is a “religion of peace, compassion, forgiveness, moderation and harmony, and not a religion of lawlessness, kidnapping, violence and terrorism.”

The Muslim scholar explained further, “Islam teaches us to practice a norm of camaraderie and establish an environment of peaceful coexistence and harmony among human creatures irregardless of classes of ethnicity and ranks within the community.” He added that Islam also prohibits the demolition of places of worship, be they are mosques, churches, and synagogues. Tarason urged people of different religions to harmonize through dialogues, showing good manner and pure intention.

Archbishop Romulo Valles of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga, appreciated the initiative and was grateful for the many efforts of interfaith dialogues in the Philippines. He revealed that the Catholic Church at the end of the Vatican Council II on October 28, 1965, came up with “Nostra Aetate”, a declaration that Catholics consider a new beginning of Interfaith Dialogue.

Archbishop Valles said, “It was not easy at the beginning to convince people of other faiths that the Catholic Church is sincere in promoting interfaith dialogue, but we continue to promote dialogue and help many in the Church to believe that this is the way to be faithful to our mission.” Keen with his intention to promote good relations with all people in this multi-cultural and multi-religious city a few years back after being assigned to the city, Valles invited the priests to be more active in promoting dialogue and peace, including playing an active role in commemorating the yearly celebration of Mindanao Week of Peace.

Reverend Ira Lee Rosalita revealed he feels at peace and secure in the company of Muslims and has never experienced being harassed while passing through Muslim communities in Lanao and Maguindanao.  

Bartolome Madriaga of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, urged Zamboangeños to strengthen their individual resolve to be “doers of the word and not hearers only” when it comes to promoting peace and harmony in this city and beyond.

From RVM Congregation, Sister Maria Niña Balbas, Directress of Pilar College, said that peace is recognized as one of the highest values to be sought and defended. She stressed that, “by bringing harmony among the different faiths in the world, we then are able to contribute to the healing of our wounded planet.”

Father Sebastian d’Ambra of the Silsilah Foundation, said that “harmony” is a very good synthesis one can apply to one’s faith. He pointed out that despite many efforts and initiatives in peace-building, trouble still exist which tells us that “we need to work more.”

Muslim peace advocates in Zamboanga are active in sowing peace and harmony among the followers of different faiths according to Prof. Ali Yacob, head of Golden Crescent Consortium of Peace Builders. “We continue what our past traditional leaders have started - spearheading peace-building efforts to strengthen Muslim-Christian relations on which we enjoy the fruit,” he added. He disclosed that the city is relatively peaceful where Muslims and Christians have love and respect for one another.

More than 180 people attended the event hosted by the PCID, Magbasa Kita Foundation with the support from their sponsors.
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Historic aleemat forum tackles issues on women, peace and security in Mindanao, Philippines

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Monday, Feb 7, 2011) - As the peace processes with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) both gain traction, several civil society leaders in Muslim Mindanao are raising one question seldom asked as far as the peace talks are concerned: what is the role of Muslim women in securing the peace in Mindanao? While many peace experts agree that sustainable peace requires the participation of women at all stages of the peace process, they have been largely excluded from formal peace talks.

Peace advocate Amina Rasul, recently awarded as Mindanao peace champion by the United Nations (UN)-sponsored Action for Conflict Transformation (ACT) for Peace Programme, noted that while many women have been appointed peace adviser and sat in the government peace panels, "we are wondering what role do Muslim women play in the fashioning of peace in Muslim Mindanao?"

Under the current administration, Secretary Teresita Deles is peace adviser and Prof. Miriam Coronel Ferrer sits in the government panel for the MILF.  The previous Peace Adviser was Anabelle Abaya. Ms Irene Santiago, another Mindanao peace champion, had been part of the govt panel in the negotiations with the MILF.

The aleemat and the peace process

This is one of the questions that will be discussed in an historic gathering of Muslim women religious scholars (aleemat in Arabic) and civil society leaders in the 2nd National Conference of Muslim Women Peace Advocates in Zamboanga City, Philippines, from February 7 to 10, 2011.

The conference is being organized by the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy and the Magbassa Kita Foundation, Inc. for Noorus Salam, a network of aleemat and Muslim women civil society leaders that was formed last year.

Expected to join the 150 participants are Secretary Deles of OPAPP, Mindanao Development Authority Chair Luwalhati Antonino, Chair Loreta Ann Rosales of the Commission on Human Rights, Irene Santiago of the Mindanao Commission on Women, Carmen Lauzon-Gatmaytan of the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders, Aida Jean Manipon of UN Women-Philippines, Aurora de Dios of Miriam College, Usec. Yolanda Quijano of the Department of Education, Norma Salcedo of the Literacy Coordinating Council.

Women peace advocates from Southeast Asia are also attending the conference. Ms. Zarina Nalla, the policy and project development consultant of the International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies in Malaysia, and Ms. Lily Zakiyah Munir, founder and director of Center for Pesantren (Islamic Boarding School) and Democracy Studies in Indonesia are expected to share their experiences in involving women in peace building.

Concurrent Workshops

Four parallel workshops will also be organized focusing on different themes: UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and 1820 on women, peace and security, the responsibility to protect (R2P), human trafficking, preventive health care and literacy.
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Waiting for my flight to Cagayan de Oro, then onwards to Zamboanga. #iPhone #photos of the day

At Manila Airport again waiting to board my flight bound for Cagayan de Oro. I will be spending the upcoming week in the region of Mindanao, Philippines, where I will be visiting and spending some time with relatives in Cagayan, and then attending and volunteering for a conference organized by the Philippine Council on Islam and Democracy (PCID) in Zamboanga city. 

The conference in Zamboanga will focus on the role Muslim women can play in building lasting peace in Mindanao, a region in the Philippines that is known for internal strife and conflict between Muslim armed-separatist groups and government forces that has been going on for years.

In the meantime, enjoy some of the photos that I took over the past few weeks with my iPhone below.

1. Magellan's Cross, Cebu City
2. Philippine Islands Souvenir Shop, Lapu Lapu City
3. Loboc River Cruise, Bohol
4. Manila traffic on Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City
5. The Spoliarium by Filipino artist Juan Luna (1884) at the National Art Gallery, Manila
6. Caleruega Chapel, Tagaytay
7. Portrait of President Manuel Roxas at the National Art Gallery, Manila
8. SM Mall of Asia boardwalk, Manila 
9. Inside of the Bookay-Ukay Bookstore, a really funky second-hand bookstore located at UP Village in Quezon City
10. 'LOVE' at Eastwood Mall 

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