Bishops-Ulama Conference kicks-off Mindanao Week of Peace

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 22): Bishops-Ulama Conference kicks-off Mindanao Week of Peace 

The Bishop-Ulama Conference (BUC) kicked off Thursday the Mindanao Week of Peace, an annual peace event started by the Peace Advocates of Zamboanga (PAZ) back in 1998.

BUC is an inter-religious group composed of Catholic Bishops, Ulama and Ustadz, members of the Ulama League of the Philippines (ULP), and Protestant bishops and pastors who are members of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP).

Archbishop Emeritus Fernando Capalla, co-convenor of the BUC, said the Mindanao Week of Peace will be celebrated throughout the region from November 24 to December 1 with a theme promoting respect and the protection of life.

Bishop Capalla, who has been convening inter-religious peace initiatives, said peace is not elusive, “it can be achieved by everyone.” “It is hope and prayer of the bishops, pastors and Ulama that during this Mindanao Week of Peace, every group or institution will find a way to reexamine whether or not their respective internal relationships and external projects are life-giving and mutually self-protecting,” he said.

Capalla said several activities have been set out beginning with a Poster Making Contest at the People’s Park on Wednesday but the formal opening is on Thursday with a motorcade from Magsaysay Park to Roxas Avenue organized by the Civil Relations Service (CRS) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

A Peace Village will be open from November 28 to December 1 by Al Qalam group of the Ateneo de Davao University. A symposium will be held at the Brokenshire College on November followed by A Peace Walk spearheaded by the Philippine National Police, University of the Immaculate Conception and the Davao Association of Catholic Schools (DACS) on December 1.

DACS will also hold a two-day Youth Peace Camp in Lomondao, Marilog District. The week will be concluded by the holding of the Youth Confluence for Peace on December 10.

During the Aquino administration the BUC was sidelined in peace activities. Last September, BUC held its 20th anniversary as a comeback participation in peace initiatives.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=942247