by Engr. Marlon C. Grande and Ass’t Prof. Ludivina B. Dekit
Last February 3, 2023, Peace and Human Security Institute (PHSI) celebrated the World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW) at the WMSU San Ramon Campus which for several years had been conducted in the Main Campus. The Dialogue with Creation Forum theme “Celebrating People’s Resilience to Protect Mother Nature through Dialogue with Creation”, advocates for environmental sustainability thus, is highly relevant to the venue host, the College of Agriculture and the College of Forestry.
The WMSU President Dr. Ma. Carla A. Ochotorena, in her speech reminded the participants that the conduct of the activity is to let everyone realize that our shared values of love, faith, and kindness must transcend our differences, all must work together to make the world a better place to live even with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fr. Sebastiano D’ Ambra the Convenor of the World Interfaith Harmony Week in Zamboanga City gave the rationale and background of the conduct of the celebration and applauded the consistent support of Western Mindanao State University.
The forum speaker was Forester Gerry Pollisco, the Assistant Division Chief of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office who discussed the theme and the mandates and programs of his office. He emphasized that climate change, man-made alterations to nature, and crimes that damage biodiversity, such as deforestation, land-use change, intensive agriculture, and animal production, might hasten the planet’s demise. We will only be successful if everyone contributes even in their own little way to transition to more sustainable activities that benefit both people and the earth.
The activity was participated by 121 student leaders from the different programs based at the San Ramon Campus, which was realized through the active support of Dr. Elderico P. Tabal, Dean of the College of Agriculture (CA), Dr. Almudi G. Lucman, Dean of the College of Forestry and Environmental Studies (CFES) and Dr. Berhana I. Flores, Chief of Staff with the guidance of the University President, Dr. Ma. Carla A. Ochotorena.
The Dialogue with Creation Forum also conducted an On-the-spot poster making contest that was participated by nine (9) students representing their programs and two entries for the Vlog making contest co-facilitated by Mr. Guiller Ellomer and Ms. Queeneevie Quijano Student Coordinators of both colleges.
The World Interfaith Harmony Week was proposed by H.M. King Abdullah II of Jordan at the U.N. General Assembly in September 2010, declared every first week of February as the World Interfaith Harmony Week. The celebration is based on the works of The Common Word initiative that got Muslim and Christian leaders to discuss the two common fundamental religious teachings — the love of God, and the love of the neighbour. During this week, religious leaders from across the world convene to discuss how religion may improve the lives of believers while also making the world a better place.
Senator Loren Legarda sponsored the Senate bills that passed the respective houses and became the law of the land upon signing by President Benigno S. Aquino III, the Republic Act No. 10525: “An Act declaring the First Week of February of every year as World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW) in the entire country and mandating its observance by the different Government Agencies. Other institutions in Zamboanga City decided to form a loose association which they named United Nations Interfaith-Harmony Partners-Zamboanga (UNI-HP-Z). WMSU has been an active member of the group and has partnered with Silsilah Dialogue Movement on several occasions to celebrate World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW) in Zamboanga City.
