Typhoon “Florita” was no obstacle for more than 150 guests who braved the rains and flash floods last July 12, 2006 in order to attend the launching of “In the Light of the Crescent Moon”—the much-awaited 40-minute DVD-documentary of The Peacemakers’ Circle Foundation, Inc.. The event was organized in partnership with the Office on Muslim Affairs (OMA-NCR).
Despite announcements of the suspension of classes in schools and universities, as well as the closing of government offices in the metropolis, the conference hall of the Balay Kalinaw (House of Peace) at the University of the Philippines, overflowed with an audience –composed of Muslims and Christians– eager to witness the launching of the video. The program was graced by the presence of distinguished representatives from several embassies and international agencies, namely: the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the British and the Australian Embassy, the Asia Foundation, Asia Society Philippine Foundation, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), and USAID.
There were also representatives from several distinguished institutions, such as: AIM Policy Center, Miriam Center for Peace Education, Ateneo Loyola School of Theology, St. Paul University, and some government agencies like the Department of Foreign Affairs, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), Commission on Elections (COMELEC), and even the Philippine National Police (PNP).
As guests were welcomed by colorfully sequenced-banners and intricately-designed wood carvings, they were also entertained by live Filipino Islamic music played by a traditional ensemble of gongs and drums.
The program started with prayers led by an Imam for Muslims and a Catholic priest for Christians. This was followed by warm welcoming remarks by Peacemakers’ Circle OIC and URI Southeast Asia-Pacific Regional Coordinator, Shakuntala Vaswani; Peacemakers’ trustee, Fr. Lenny Mercado, SVD; and OMA-NCR Regional Director, Datu Mohammad Tanggote.
Before the video presentation, Ms. Marites Africa gave an introduction to the video by sharing the rationale behind the project and the challenges in the production process. Peacemakers’ trustee and Muslim scholar, Alim Said Basher, then gave an orientation to the meaning and origin of the crescent moon as a symbol of Islam. This was followed by the showing of the documentary video.
Afterwards, a commentary was heard from Mrs. Yasmin Nuño—wife of Engr. Ibrahim Nuño, one of the main sponsors of the project. Also asked to speak was Comm. Ide Tillah of NICCOM. This was followed by an open forum wherein we heard comments from PNP Chief Supt. Gen. Sukarno Ikbala and some Christians and other Muslims. The program was concluded by Dr. Jo Kashim, Peacemakers’ trustee, who gave a synthesis on the afternoon’s presentation.Save for some technical difficulties during the program, it was a successful and eventful launching. So much so, that during the following weekend, two major newspapers—The Philippine Daily Inquirer and The Philippine Star—had written front-page articles on the Peacemakers’ Circle bringing to the fore the issues of Muslim-Christian affairs in Metro Manila.
Through this video The Peacemakers’ Circle hopes to promote greater awareness of the need for Muslim-Christian relationship-building in our part of the country. We extend our profound gratitude and appreciation to the sponsors and agencies who contributed to the project. We could not have done it without the following: Engr. & Mrs. Ibrahim Nuño, Mr. & Mrs. Armando Chua, Mr. & Mrs. Robert Vaswani, Mr. Michael Lim, Mr. Nicolo Africa, The Asia Foundation, Ortigas & Company, and OMA-NCR. We also thank all those who came to the launching and have donated to the Peacemakers’ Circle.
In the Light of the Crescent Moon DVD-documentary is available at the Peacemakers’ Interfaith Dialogue Center. You can get a copy with every minimum contribution of Php 250.00 to the funds of the Muslim-Christian relationship-building projects. Contact peacemakerscircle_uri@yahoo.com / Tel: +632-9207622 / +632-9204618 / +639187822805 / +639175389358.
HOW MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS CAN BE PEACEMAKERS, GOOD NEIGHBORS
By Volt Contreras
Published in Phil. Daily Inquirer-Sunday (July 16, 2006)
A little known fact is that the number of mosques in Metro Manila is 115, and counting.
That's how far and wide the Filipino Muslim community has spread into the capital-- a point to consider by those who still think building bridges between Muslims and Christians remains a largely "Mindanao" issue.
But one group has long recognized the scale of this South-to-North migration, and has worked in the last three years to reduce the social friction that often ensues whenever an Ali or a Muhammad moves into the neighborhood of the Cruzes and Santoses.
Through the Peacemakers' Circle Foundation, Inc. (PCFI), interfaith dialogues and other conflict-prevention initiatives are being held not only in the war-torn areas of Mindanao but also in the very places where displaced Muslims have settled-- but are not exactly welcome.
The PCFI found one such place in Barangay 188, Phase 12, in Tala, Caloocan City, where roughly 20 percent of the 5,000-plus resident families are Muslim.
Suburban tension
In a documentary video launched last Wednesday, PCFI founder and executive director Marites Africa depicted the village as an example of the suburban tension that could arise among residents of different faiths.
The 40-minute video does not show any street riot, verbal spat. or violent image, but is nonetheless disturbing: Christian residents of Tala say on camera what they generally think of the Muslims in their midst.
"I'm afraid of them," confides one woman.
For two male residents, the Muslims are "probably members of the Abu Sayyaf" ans "connected to the terrorists."
Without their knowing, these locals have provided a face to published surveys ans studies showing how anti-Muslim biases persist in workplaces, schools, and communities at large.
Neither did the Muslim residents interviewed for the documentary hide their own sentiments toward Christians.
"We came here to look for jobs, not for trouble," says a man who moved to Tala in the 1990's. "But our neighbors think we're up to no good, and I feel that if they can actually make a petition for us to leave, they would have done so long ago."
A Muslim housewife says her husband, who had managed to find a job as a security guard, was fired because his employers began "suspecting him to be a rebel."
A Muslim convert identified in the video as Yusuf complains that "everywhere we go, it is thought that we bring criminality along with us."
A woman named Hannah says that whenever she leaves the house wearing a viel, she can hear behind her back people calling her a "madre (nun)" or an "Abu Sayyaf."
Nightly gunfire
Africa, a candidate for a master's degree in theology at the Ateneo de Manila University, later shared with the Inquirer other realities about Barangay 188 that the videoi may not have captured.
Before the PCFI conducted projects there, she said, the village had become a place that "tricycles dared not enter" and where residents were afraid of being outdoors after dark.
"Gunfire could be heard almost nightly," she said. "Street crimes were rampant but mostly went unreported to the police."
On top of that, she said, the ridos and clan wars among the Muslims themselves occasionally erupted in the area, adding to its notoriety.
for two years starting October 2003, the PCFI conducted weekly interfaith dialogue for both Muslim and Christian residents who were interested.
Aside from these forums that mainly deal with religion, there was a separate monthly session on building relationships, "fear management," or livelihood skills.
Values and ideals
Published in Phil. Daily Inquirer-Sunday (July 16, 2006)
A little known fact is that the number of mosques in Metro Manila is 115, and counting.
That's how far and wide the Filipino Muslim community has spread into the capital-- a point to consider by those who still think building bridges between Muslims and Christians remains a largely "Mindanao" issue.
But one group has long recognized the scale of this South-to-North migration, and has worked in the last three years to reduce the social friction that often ensues whenever an Ali or a Muhammad moves into the neighborhood of the Cruzes and Santoses.
Through the Peacemakers' Circle Foundation, Inc. (PCFI), interfaith dialogues and other conflict-prevention initiatives are being held not only in the war-torn areas of Mindanao but also in the very places where displaced Muslims have settled-- but are not exactly welcome.
The PCFI found one such place in Barangay 188, Phase 12, in Tala, Caloocan City, where roughly 20 percent of the 5,000-plus resident families are Muslim.
Suburban tension
In a documentary video launched last Wednesday, PCFI founder and executive director Marites Africa depicted the village as an example of the suburban tension that could arise among residents of different faiths.
The 40-minute video does not show any street riot, verbal spat. or violent image, but is nonetheless disturbing: Christian residents of Tala say on camera what they generally think of the Muslims in their midst.
"I'm afraid of them," confides one woman.
For two male residents, the Muslims are "probably members of the Abu Sayyaf" ans "connected to the terrorists."
Without their knowing, these locals have provided a face to published surveys ans studies showing how anti-Muslim biases persist in workplaces, schools, and communities at large.
Neither did the Muslim residents interviewed for the documentary hide their own sentiments toward Christians.
"We came here to look for jobs, not for trouble," says a man who moved to Tala in the 1990's. "But our neighbors think we're up to no good, and I feel that if they can actually make a petition for us to leave, they would have done so long ago."
A Muslim housewife says her husband, who had managed to find a job as a security guard, was fired because his employers began "suspecting him to be a rebel."
A Muslim convert identified in the video as Yusuf complains that "everywhere we go, it is thought that we bring criminality along with us."
A woman named Hannah says that whenever she leaves the house wearing a viel, she can hear behind her back people calling her a "madre (nun)" or an "Abu Sayyaf."
Nightly gunfire
Africa, a candidate for a master's degree in theology at the Ateneo de Manila University, later shared with the Inquirer other realities about Barangay 188 that the videoi may not have captured.
Before the PCFI conducted projects there, she said, the village had become a place that "tricycles dared not enter" and where residents were afraid of being outdoors after dark.
"Gunfire could be heard almost nightly," she said. "Street crimes were rampant but mostly went unreported to the police."
On top of that, she said, the ridos and clan wars among the Muslims themselves occasionally erupted in the area, adding to its notoriety.
for two years starting October 2003, the PCFI conducted weekly interfaith dialogue for both Muslim and Christian residents who were interested.
Aside from these forums that mainly deal with religion, there was a separate monthly session on building relationships, "fear management," or livelihood skills.
Values and ideals
The interfaith talks were held every Friday and attendance was irregular, but Africa said she counted at least 38 adult residents, 60 percent of them Muslim, who consistly showed up.
Discussions mainly revolved around the "values and ideals" shared by Islam ans Christianity, as well as their differences.
How come Muslims don't eat pork?" How do [the two faiths] differ with regard to marriage? Who is Jesus for the Christians ans for the Muslims? Things like that," Africa said in reference to the points of discussion.
After two years of dialogue, Barangay 188 is now "a better place," she reported. "It s more peaceful. Tricycles are no longer afraid to enter."
And since neighbors of both faiths had also been taught how to organize, they gained better representation before the local government and were able to secure more street lights ans a steady water supply, Africa said.
You have to remove that fear and bring the goodness out of people," she said, as though summing up the PCFI's work at Tala.
For the first time
The video launched last week-- titled "In the Light of the Crescent Moon"-- was a PCFI project in partnership with the Office on Muslim Affairs (OMA)- National Capital Region.
Among its closing images is that of a Christian woman entering a mosque "for the first time in my life" -- and being visibly thrilled with the experience.
Another shot shows a Muslim woman teaching a Christian neighbor how to wear the malong.
"Problems of conflict and violence [between Muslims and Christians] don't only come from Mindanao. Though much have been done over there, in our desire to be more proactive we are also taking the effort to Metro Manila," Africa said.
Hardships abound for Muslims in Manila
"Upfront" article feature by Mr. Alastair McIndoe
(Phil. Correspondent in Manila)
published on STRAITS TIMES (October 2006 - Singapore)
Miss the Blue Mosque on the way to Quiapo Dos ans the warren of tin-roof shanties looks much like any of the other slums strewn across Manila.
There are no public services here.
Electricity comes from crude illegal connections; water is brought in by tanker and sold by the bucket.
"We don't know if it's drinkable so we have to boil it first," complains an elderly resident.
Some 500 families live in cramped houses made from concrete hollow blocks and waste material salvaged from building sites.
Work is hard to find, and the jobs to be had seldom pay enough to make ends meet.
Quiapo Dos is a Muslim community. And being poor and Muslim in this predominantly Chrisitan city piles on the hardships.
"The Muslims living in Manila came here looking for jobs, but we are often turned down by employers when they hear our names," says Mr. Sagka Abdulfatah, a neighbourhood leader who ledt his hometown of Cotabato in Muslim Minadanao in the early 1980's.
Few women here wear Islamic headscarves outside formal occasions, so that they do not draw attention to themselves when moving about inthe metropolis, says Mr. Abdulfattah. Around a million Muslims are thought to live in Manila, a city of 12 million.
Most came to escape the economic deprivation in the southern Philippines...
(Phil. Correspondent in Manila)
published on STRAITS TIMES (October 2006 - Singapore)
Miss the Blue Mosque on the way to Quiapo Dos ans the warren of tin-roof shanties looks much like any of the other slums strewn across Manila.
There are no public services here.
Electricity comes from crude illegal connections; water is brought in by tanker and sold by the bucket.
"We don't know if it's drinkable so we have to boil it first," complains an elderly resident.
Some 500 families live in cramped houses made from concrete hollow blocks and waste material salvaged from building sites.
Work is hard to find, and the jobs to be had seldom pay enough to make ends meet.
Quiapo Dos is a Muslim community. And being poor and Muslim in this predominantly Chrisitan city piles on the hardships.
"The Muslims living in Manila came here looking for jobs, but we are often turned down by employers when they hear our names," says Mr. Sagka Abdulfatah, a neighbourhood leader who ledt his hometown of Cotabato in Muslim Minadanao in the early 1980's.
Few women here wear Islamic headscarves outside formal occasions, so that they do not draw attention to themselves when moving about inthe metropolis, says Mr. Abdulfattah. Around a million Muslims are thought to live in Manila, a city of 12 million.
Most came to escape the economic deprivation in the southern Philippines...
VIDEO PUTS FACE ON ANTI-MUSLIM PREJUDICE
By Karl B. Kaufman
published on Maxim's magazine
Perhaps to prove that discrimination against Muslims is not just some go-getting journalist’s idea for a controversial story to impress his editor, a non-profit, non-government organization had recently released a 40-minute documentary video that effectively puts face on the topic.
In the video, titled “In the Light of the Crescent Moon,” Christians openly expressed their trepidation toward Muslims. “I’m afraid of them,” says one woman without blinking an eye. Others accuse their Muslim neighbors of being having connections with the Abu Sayyaf, the notorious arm of Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda terrorist network in the country.
If anything, such interviews show the widespread biases that continue to hound every Muslim who found his/herself slugging it out in the pre-dominantly Christian National Capital Region, whether in their community, in workplaces, government offices, and even schools.
“Day in, day out, Muslim families contend not only with poverty but discrimination and prejudice as well,” says Marites Africa, founder and executive director of Peacemakers’ Circle Foundation Inc. (PCFI), the group behind the documentary video. “We hope that this documentary video will give Christians a better understanding of their Muslim brothers.”
Muslims interviewed for the documentary recount instances wherein they felt the pressure of prejudice on their shoulders. “Everywhere we go, people think we are about to do something criminal,” says Yusuf, a convert. One girl, identified in the video as Hannah, lamented how neighbors would make fun of her veil. “They call me names like madre (nun) or Abu Sayyaf,” she complains.
But name-calling is not the end of it. Many Muslim men are having a difficult time landing decent jobs because employers, for reasons only they know, wouldn’t hire someone from their religion. In the video a Muslim housewife narrated how her husband was kicked out of his job when his bosses learned of his religion. “They suspected that my husband is up to no good. They think he’s a rebel,” she lamented.
“We came here in Manila to work, not to cause any trouble,” one Muslim said.
And then there were the human rights violations done on them by men in uniform, the harrowing warrant-less rounding up of Muslims for various crimes they did not commit. As one middle-aged Muslim in the video said, “Many of our rights have been violated. We don’t need to have an anti-terror bill. Arrests of innocent Muslims are very rampant.”
Africa, a candidate for a master’s degree in theology at the Ateneo de Manila, says the “terrorist” and “troublemaker” label tagged on Muslims is unfair and smacks of blatant and baseless discrimination. “(Muslims) are good people,” she says. “They just want to break free from poverty, eke out an honest living for their family, like just everybody else.”
Africa says the documentary is only part of her group’s effort to bridge the gap between Muslims and other religions. She adds that since 2003 PCFI has been conducting dialogues between Christians and Muslims with hopes that problems besetting Muslims will be addressed. Also, they hold sessions that deal with, among others, fear management (“In order to bring the goodness out of people, you have to remove the fear.”).
published on Maxim's magazine
Perhaps to prove that discrimination against Muslims is not just some go-getting journalist’s idea for a controversial story to impress his editor, a non-profit, non-government organization had recently released a 40-minute documentary video that effectively puts face on the topic.
In the video, titled “In the Light of the Crescent Moon,” Christians openly expressed their trepidation toward Muslims. “I’m afraid of them,” says one woman without blinking an eye. Others accuse their Muslim neighbors of being having connections with the Abu Sayyaf, the notorious arm of Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda terrorist network in the country.
If anything, such interviews show the widespread biases that continue to hound every Muslim who found his/herself slugging it out in the pre-dominantly Christian National Capital Region, whether in their community, in workplaces, government offices, and even schools.
“Day in, day out, Muslim families contend not only with poverty but discrimination and prejudice as well,” says Marites Africa, founder and executive director of Peacemakers’ Circle Foundation Inc. (PCFI), the group behind the documentary video. “We hope that this documentary video will give Christians a better understanding of their Muslim brothers.”
Muslims interviewed for the documentary recount instances wherein they felt the pressure of prejudice on their shoulders. “Everywhere we go, people think we are about to do something criminal,” says Yusuf, a convert. One girl, identified in the video as Hannah, lamented how neighbors would make fun of her veil. “They call me names like madre (nun) or Abu Sayyaf,” she complains.
But name-calling is not the end of it. Many Muslim men are having a difficult time landing decent jobs because employers, for reasons only they know, wouldn’t hire someone from their religion. In the video a Muslim housewife narrated how her husband was kicked out of his job when his bosses learned of his religion. “They suspected that my husband is up to no good. They think he’s a rebel,” she lamented.
“We came here in Manila to work, not to cause any trouble,” one Muslim said.
And then there were the human rights violations done on them by men in uniform, the harrowing warrant-less rounding up of Muslims for various crimes they did not commit. As one middle-aged Muslim in the video said, “Many of our rights have been violated. We don’t need to have an anti-terror bill. Arrests of innocent Muslims are very rampant.”
Africa, a candidate for a master’s degree in theology at the Ateneo de Manila, says the “terrorist” and “troublemaker” label tagged on Muslims is unfair and smacks of blatant and baseless discrimination. “(Muslims) are good people,” she says. “They just want to break free from poverty, eke out an honest living for their family, like just everybody else.”
Africa says the documentary is only part of her group’s effort to bridge the gap between Muslims and other religions. She adds that since 2003 PCFI has been conducting dialogues between Christians and Muslims with hopes that problems besetting Muslims will be addressed. Also, they hold sessions that deal with, among others, fear management (“In order to bring the goodness out of people, you have to remove the fear.”).
Christians Tell Filipino Muslims' Plight in Video Documentary
published on Islamonline.com
Two Christians, who have witnessed how Muslims survive marginalization in this largely Catholic state, lent their voices to these Filipino Muslims through a video documentary titled "In the Light of the Crescent Moon."
The documentary tells "about the plight of Muslims in Metro Manila" and "gives voice to the Muslims in the metropolis whose voices are not often heard."
Marites Guingona-Africa said in the documentary the Christian narrators "share their experiences in building relationships between Muslims and Christians in grassroots communities" and along the way promote "dialogue as a way of being in relationship with their fellow human beings."
Guingona-Africa founded and currently serves as the executive director of The Peacemakers' Circle Foundation, Inc. that put together the documentary."
In the predominantly Christian environment such as Metro Manila," she explained, "Muslims have struggled to live their lives in dignity despite experiences of prejudice and discrimination against them by their non-Muslim neighbors, colleagues, would-be employers, teachers, classmates, etc."
By highlighting the experiences of Muslims and Christians in a village in the Metro Manila city of Caloocan, the narrators, she said, promote dialogue which "is a way of love that is in the heart of Muslims and Christians alike".
Through the stories, the viewers are made aware of the fact that "there is goodness in the light of Islam, and that despite their differences in culture and beliefs, Muslims and Christians share the same aspirations for peace, justice, and wellbeing for themselves and their families."
Also, the viewers would realize that through Muslim-Christian dialogue a "peaceful and harmonious relationship between these two groups of people is possible."
Guingona-Africa further said that this project was thought of because "not much is being done to help the growing number of Muslims who have come to the metropolis [the capital Metro Manila] seeking better lives for themselves and their families" although "peacebuilding between Muslims and Christians has been going on for decades in Mindanao."
For example, she stressed, "Not many Christians (in this predominantly Christian metropolis) are aware of the fact that there are now at least 115 mosques in Metro Manila, and that where there are mosques, there are thriving Muslims communities. These communities are now found in areas around the metropolis that were once solely occupied by Christians."
"To this day," she went on, "there is not much interest in the plight of Muslims in Metro Manila. Thus, support for the work of building relationships between Muslims and Christians in the metropolis has been difficult to come by."
Guingona-Africa added, "We have many Muslim friends who have succeeded, despite the difficulties of the challenge, to make something good of their lives here. Theirs are the stories that need to be told. Theirs are the voices that need to be heard."
As peacemakers who have borne witness to their struggles, we feel that if we are to be true to our calling as 'peacemakers,' we owe it to them and to our selves, to help our fellow human beings tell their stories.
"We hope that this video documentary will serve this purpose, and inspire people of different faiths and cultures--here and elsewhere in the world-- to build relationships of peace through dialogue."
This video documentary project was produced by The Peacemakers' Circle Foundation, Inc., a non-stock, non-profit, and partisan organization composed of members of diverse religions, spiritual expressions, and indigenous traditions.
Its members "believe in the oneness of humanity, and subscribe to the principles of unity in diversity, good will, and cooperation. They have come together in the spirit of mutual respect and understanding to help each other realize a common vision: World Peace and the Healing of the Earth through Individual and Social Transformation."
This project was made possible with the help and support of the Office on Muslim Affairs in the National Capital Region. Muslims and Christians who have been involved in the endeavor of building relationships of peace in the grassroots community of Barangay 188 in Phase 12 of Tala, Caloocan City worked for this project.
Muslims from various organizations and groups who believe in and support the Peacemakers' Circle's endeavors such as the Young Moro Professionals, the Center for Moderate Muslims, FilMus, Agama Islam Society, and individuals who are committed to the endeavor of promoting peace between Muslims and Christians in Metro Manila also put in their resources.
The video documentary was produced on a shoestring budget of P98,000 [P52=$1], with the seed money given by the Asia Foundation, Ortigas and Company, and Peacemarkers' Circle's friends. A Hindu couple and several other Christians also contributed.
Guingona-Africa said their group wants as many people in Metro Manila and the whole Philippines to view the documentary.
"It is for this reason that we are about to embark on a Campus Tour to show the video and invite students from as many colleges and universities to ask questions about Islam and Muslims."
We will have a touring team composed of Muslims and Christians who will be ready to respond to the student's queries. We also wish to bring the same to various government and non-government agencies for viewing and discussion," she shared.
She said that "the people who were at the launching of the video documentary last July 12 seemed pleased by it. For many non-Muslims, this was an 'eye opener.' For Muslims, this was something that helped to make their voices heard and bring their concerns to the attention of the non-Christian public."
Guingoa-Africa added, "I think that on the whole--despite its flaws--the video documentary is serving its purpose, that is: to promote awareness of the need for Muslims-Christian Dialogue and relationship building in Metro Manila, as in elsewhere in the country and the world."
In the Light of the Crescent Moon's filming started in December 2005. It was set aside for a couple of months due to lack of time and resources. However, production resumed in March 2006, and then the post-production (or editing of the video) that followed took over 110 hours, spanning a three-month period (from April to July 2006).
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