Survey on Interreligious Dialogue

1. A short presentation of your understanding on the Interreligious Dialogue in general,

especially with the Muslims and a short presentation of the presence of the Muslims in your
Diocese/Vicariate.

Interreligious Dialogue is an act of opening oneself to people of other religions/conviction,

respecting and welcoming their ideas, treating them as brothers and sisters belonging to the one Father
in Heaven, and loving them with a disinterested love, with the purpose of corresponding to the prayer of
Jesus, “May they all be one “.

Based on our observation and experiences, we have had peaceful co-existence with our Muslim
Brothers and Sisters in Puerto Princesa. In fact because of our dialogue with them, we have so far
achieved profound mutual love and respect for one another.

2. A short presentation of the Dialogue with other Christian Denominations and Indigenous
People.

The Ecumenical Dialogue in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, started in 1998, with the following
Christian Churches: Episcopal Church, Iglesia Filipina Independiente, San Jose Baptist Church,
Inc. United Church of Christ in the Philippines, the United Methodist Church and the Salvation
Army.
Later, due to some internal conflict, Ang Iglesia Metodista sa Pilipinas (break out group from the
UMC) was born, and has remained to be part of the Ecumenical fellowship.
The Confederation of Jesus Christ Believers and Ministers, Inc. an Evangelical group also
expressed the desire to be part of the Palawan Ecumenical Fellowship. (We are not sure
whether the Confederation . . is also part of the NCCP).

The Palawan Ecumenical Fellowship meets at 6pm, every 2 nd Tuesday of the month hosted by
the different member Churches. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is annually celebrated
following the prescribed format, and participated in by all the Churches, as well by the other
members of their respective Churches.

The Seminarians from the Seminario De San Jose are always invited to witness this gathering.

In the year 2000, a priest from the Iglesia Filipina Independiente participated in the Ecumenical
Congress held in Castel Gandolfo, Rome, Italy, and came back with some personal
transformation, like an improved relationship with his wife and some church members.
In 2017, an Evangelical Bishop attended a meeting of Bishop Friends of the Focolare held in
Germany. When he returned he gave us Prayers to our Lady Undoer of Knots.

To help finance these two trips in Europe, our community (the Focolare) did Rummage Sales
and other forms of fund raising.
The same Bishop shared his experiences on how he felt the love of our then Bishop Pedro D.
Arigo, D.D., of the Roman Catholic Church, during the closing Program of the 50 th Anniversary of
the Focolare in the Philippines, held in De La Salle University, Manila.

He was also instrumental in the holding of a Sunday afternoon Mass at the China Town Mall in
the City, which originally was offered to him by the owner of the mall, for him to do Service for
their Church members, but instead, he personally went to the Parish Rector of the Cathedral
requested him to celebrate Mass in the area, because according to him, he knew that there are
many Catholic lay faithful who have businesses nearby.
The members of the Palawan Ecumenical fellowship tendered a simple surprise birthday treat to
Bishop P. Arigo, D.D. during his 75th birthday. It was indeed a moment of joy, a moment of
family!

As to the Indigenous People, so far, we have not made any engaging steps yet.

3. A short sharing on hopes and suggestions in line with the mission of the Church for IRD.

The Interreligious Dialogue, if fully understood and concretely lived, will be a gift to humanity.
It will be a gateway for peace and harmony, where people set aside personal interests but
opens up to others and work with all people of goodwill in building together peace and unity in
the world.
Interreligious Dialogue is something not yet fully understood and appreciated by many people.
It would be good and helpful to create awareness for this reality even only through small group
sessions or fora and the like.

Small efforts done with and out of love will certainly bear fruits, like continuous dialogue with
Muslim Leaders together with their members, holding common activities such as Interfaith
Prayer Rally to address certain issues affecting the community, Tree Planting, Sports fest,
Medical Mission,etc.

4. A short presentation of some concrete suggestions, ideas, and recommendations for the
CBCP-ECID to prepare properly for the special year of Interreligious Dialogue (IRD) and
Ecumenism next year 2020.

It would be good if the CBCP could encourage a continuous and active Ecumenical and
Interreligious Dialogues with the end in view of arriving to a Dialogue of Life.
How about orienting/re-orienting our clergy on the necessity of these dialogues, for after all, our
priests together with the Laity are the front liners in our churches.

In addition to some activities cited above, it would also be good to have some sharing on the
doctrine of each church, not for proselytism purposes, but for better understanding and
appreciation of each other, as in the case of Ecumenical Dialogue. (Earlier suggested by Bishop Pedro D.
Arigo, D.D.)

For the Interreligious Dialogue, It would be good to have some sharing on the Q’uran, particularly on
how they practice Ramadan and vis-a- vis with the religious practices of the Roman Catholics, also for
purposes of better understanding and appreciation of each others’ faith. (Idea of Bishop Mesiona, MSP,
D.D.)

5. Please share some good stories that are present in your area related to IRD especially among Muslims
and Christians.

A. A Muslim Professor was sent to attend an Interreligious Dialogue in Castel Gandolfo, Rome, Italy.
When he returned to his Social Science Class in college, he immediately ruled that henceforth, there will
be a silent prayer before class begins. His wife, who was a Chemistry Professor in the same school, did
the same, to the surprise of all the other Catholic Faculty members.

The same Professor fired with so much love and joy experienced in the meeting, went to the local radio
station, to share what he learned about universal brotherhood and expressed his advocacy for such
cause. In fact, when he went to Mindanao for a meeting with Nur Misuari, he strongly opposed the idea
of Nur to declare war with the Phil. Govt.,if his demands were not met, saying “I came here in the name
of peace and universal brotherhood, therefore I am not supporting your idea of war.”

For almost a year, our group did a feeding program for 10 Muslims and 10 Christians. It was for us, an
extraordinary experience of loving Jesus in these young Christians and Muslims, not only feeding them,
but cutting their long finger and toenails and cleaning their ears as well, before we played with them.
After which we give them their snacks.

The relationship was likewise built with the parents especially the mothers to whom we ask permission
every time we fetch the children.

6. Please share also alarming stories and concerns in your area related to Muslim and Christian relations.

So far, there are no news of alarming stories or concerns in our area with respect to Muslim-Christian
relations.

7. Please share any experience/s related to IRD done in the last year by the group or institution you
represent.

To express the concern of everyone for a peaceful and organized electoral process, a Prayer Rally for
Clean, Honest, Accurate, Meaningful and Peaceful (CHAMP) Elections was held at the Mendoza Stage at
the People’s Park last April 27, 2019, This was a fruit of the joint and concerted effort of all the members
of the Palawan Ecumenical Fellowship and the members of the Interreligious Dialogue. It was likewise
participated in by the City Phil. National police as well as by some politicians.
Prayers were also offered for the COMELEC, Voters Counting Machine, The Electoral Board, the
Candidates, PPCRV, the Electorate and the Security Officers.

We have an ongoing Interreligious dialogue participated by Imam and some members of the Muslim
community in Puerto Princesa City.