silsilah

I stand before you to express my gratitude to you all, for the countless blessings that God – the Creator has allowed me to experience. Indeed, the Silsilah Dialogue Movement (SDM) is a gift to my life as a Filipino Marist priest. It has opened me a space and opportunity to understand and experience what

The Manuel Luis Quezon University is the pioneering school in Manila that opened the door for the SilPeace organized by Silsilah for the Inter religious program of the parish of Quiapo in Manila. One of the things that the SilPeace Manila is being challenged into these coming days is to assist in the team building

The new conflict in Mindanao that started last May 23 in Marawi is becoming one of the most challenging problems in the recent history of the Philippines. The high number of victims, the destruction of the city, the people who have been forced to leave their houses, the martial law, the fear and hatred among

We are happy to share this story of goodness coming from the Silsilah Forum Coordinator of Davao who is a Maranao. There are also many other stories coming from our Silsilah forum members and coordinators of Iligan, Cagayan, Marawi and other places. Silsilah reminds all not to get discouraged. Goodness is still in the hearts

The siege in Marawi is a new sad experience that we can not ignore any more. The first question that we have to ask is why the Maute groups chose to start from Marawi, the Islamic City of the Philippines, a kind of visible presence in Mindanao after years of preparation. The answer is difficult.

Marawi is a beautiful area in Mindanao with the beautiful lake populated by Maranao people, most of them Muslims. I recall a play of many years ago presented by a Maranao group with the title “Kalilintad, anda ka?” (Peace where are you?). It was a great presentation on the Maranao culture and conflicts among tribes

On June 6, 2017, Pochong Abubakar passed away in his sixties. Relatives and friends went to his house in Pasonanca, Zamboanga City to pay their last respect. I was among the few Christians and the only Priest in the crowd of hundreds of Muslims who, in silence, witnessed the prayer and the rituals that are

The holy month of Ramadan for the Muslim Ummah is a special time of fasting, prayer and solidarity. Following the tradition of Silsilah Dialogue Movement to address every year a message to the Christians during the Advent and Christmas seasons and to the Muslims on the occasion of the month of Ramadan, we focus this

Thirty years ago, in the area of Sta. Catalina, Zamboanga City, a poor area composed of Muslim and Christian residents, a simple experience started of lay Catholic women who consecrated their lives to the Lord as lay consecrated living together among the poor. This group is part of the Silsilah Dialogue Movement, living the same

Twenty five years ago, Fr. Salvatore Carzedda, PIME was killed in Zamboanga on May 20, 1992. He was the first martyr of the Silsilah Dialogue Movement. Silsilah, this year, remembers his martyrdom in the spirit of Padayon (move on) with courage to continue in the midst of new threats of violent radicalism that is now

In the 20th century, the world has been deeply wounded by the First and Second World Wars with all the atrocities and divisions recorded in history. From those sad experiences emerged a sign of hope – the formation of the United Nations in 1945, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, and on the

In response to the Worldwide Life Fund for Nature (WWF) for many years already, there is an initiative called “Earth Hour” to deliver a powerful message on the need to help the Earth in its greatest challenge being confronted today – Global Warming and Climate Change. Today, March 25, in many parts of the world,

For many years, Silsilah has given especial attention to the Zamboanga City Jail. The place is located at the center of the city and the inmates today are about 2, 200 men and 250 women. I have been there many times since I arrived in Zamboanga City in 1983. In this Oasis News, I focus

From January 16 to 20, 2017, Manila welcomed delegates from forty countries for the WACOM4. The participants from the Philippines and other countries where around five thousand. This big event is part of a growing Catholic devotion and movement well known in the world and “Divine Mercy Chaplet” In this occasion, the organization also invited

Silsilah Dialogue Movement, following a long tradition to send a message to the Muslims on the occasion of Ramadan and to the Christians on the occasion of Advent and Christmas time takes this opportunity to tell the Christians to be strong in this time of history when many Christians around the world suffer for their

Silsilah Dialogue Movement follows the alarming situation of the many victims related to “DRUGS” in the Philippines and join the voice of Pope Francis. We present here the news published by the agency ZENIT on November 24, 2016 with this title “Drug Abusers Have Chosen Slavery, But They Still Have Dignity as Children of God.”

Silsilah Dialogue Movement, in its commitment to social solidarity and peace, has again conducted a Kapihan sa Silsilah. Now in its 39th conduct, this public forum focused on the theme, “The Zamboanga Subanon: Their Historical Past and their Present Challenges.” It was held on October 1, 2016 (Saturday) and was attended by representatives from the

The Silsilah Dialogue Movement in Solidarity with Pope Francis and the World Religious Leaders share this important news taken from THE HUFFINGTON POST(www.huffingtonpost.com). Pope Francis and leaders of different religions attend the 30th World Day of Prayer for Peace on Sept. 20 in Assisi, Italy. Pope Francis and leaders of other world religions said “No

Around the world, people know what is September 11, 2001. It marked a “new era” in the history of humanity. It was a time when the world saw once again what human mind and heart can do to divide people in the name of a specific plan and ideology nurtured by divisions among cultures and

I live my mission of dialogue and peace through the Silsilah Dialogue Movement formed by Christians and Muslims. Thru the years, I have developed friendships with many, giving special attention to the Muslims. I am a priest without a parish but with a lot of challenge that I am ready to face because I believe

It was by chance that two Italian doctor experts in acupuncture, Paola Poli, president of AGOM and Carlo Moiraghi, vice president of AGOM and president of ALMA school of acupuncture in Milan, offered to Silsilah the possibility to serve our people in Zamboanga City for two weeks. They left Zamboanga on August 20, 2016 and

Another Kapihan sa Silsilah was held last August 13, 2016. Now on its 38th conduct, this Kapihan focused on one of the most controversial issues in the country today – Drug Addiction. There were three speakers that morning namely Dr. Casto Hermino, Jr., the Chairperson of the Zamboanga City Medical Center Psychiatry Department, Atty. Mohammad

When the name Basilan is uttered there is always the feeling that Basilan is a dangerous place because it is one place of the Abu Sayyaf who are responsible for many forms of terrorism and kidnapping. The Silsilah Dialogue Movement is present in Basilan with an active group of respected Christian and Muslim leaders called

A Christian was killed in Jolo a few days ago and a reliable source told me that twenty Christians have been targeted to be killed or kidnapped soon. In the midst of so many good Muslim leaders and friends of Jolo the Christian community is suffering a form of persecution from those who are guided

In life, we see beginnings as another opportunity to move forward. For the Silsilah Dialogue Movement, a new beginning is a fresh start to take courage and hope once again. It was but courage to dream that moved this then a small group of people in Zamboanga City to form a movement that sponsored an

Every year the Silsilah Dialogue Movement shares a message to the Muslim Ummah during the month of Ramadan and a message to the Christians during the Advent and Christmas Season. This message of Ramadan is addressed to all Muslims, especially to the Muslims in the Philippines. Today the gap among Muslims and Christians in the

Harmony Village welcomed the Silsilah Alumni on May 17-20 to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Silsilah Summer Course.  For us this is a great achievement considering that   every year, from 1987 up to 2016 we have formed thousands of alumni. They are Muslims and Christians from Mindanao, other parts of the Philippines and other countries. We have counted thru the

Staggering lack of water supply, cracked dry farm grounds, and almost dried up rivers – these are but a few scenarios of the ongoing El Niño phenomenon here in Zamboanga City. We have been experiencing this drought since January of this year but the situation seemed to worsen as months went by. As part of

Summer time in the Philippines is changing. One reason is the present climate change we experience. Aside from this is the change being felt in our educational system. Schools and universities now apply the new schedule policies that make school openings in the month of August. Despite these changes, we here in the Silsilah Dialogue

Summer time in the Philippines is changing. One reason is the present climate change we experience. Aside from this is the change being felt in our educational system. Schools and universities now apply the new schedule policies that make school openings in the month of August. Despite these changes, we here in the Silsilah Dialogue

This year we mark the 30th Silsilah Summer Course on Muslim-Christian Dialogue. Many of our alumni of the Silsilah Summer Course now occupy leadership positions in different sectors, both private and public services in the Philippines and in other countries. We celebrate together to share our experiences and to build friendship in order to inspire

The book entitled “On the Road to Emmaus”, launched by the Silsilah Dialogue Movement last February 11, 2016 in Harmony Village, Zamboanga City on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Priesthood of Fr. Sebastiano B. D’Ambra, PIME is inspirational because it equates the journey of every Christian today on his own Road to

On February 11 I will celebrate, in Zamboanga City, my 50th Anniversary of priesthood and I wish to share with the friends of Oasis News this reflection not to list down the many things that I have done in fifty years of life as a PIME missionary, but to share my joy and desire to

The book entitled “On the Road to Emmaus”, launched by the Silsilah Dialogue Movement last February 11, 2016 in Harmony Village, Zamboanga City on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Priesthood of Fr. Sebastiano B. D’Ambra, PIME is inspirational because it equates the journey of every Christian today on his own Road to

The news    comes from Iraq with the title “Islamic State brand Christmas festivities ‘heretical’. The news    comes from Iraq with the title “Islamic State brand Christmas festivities ‘heretical’. This is one of the many alarming news that circulate in the world today as part of a growing radicalism that makes good Muslims uneasy

In the midst of  so many alarming  news of violence  we  the Friends of  Zamboanga  Watersheds Movement  led by the Silsilah Dialogue  Movement,  with many partner groups and individuals of Zamboanga City,  are happy to share our solidarity  with the  United Nations (UN)  Climate Change  Conference  in Paris  from November 30 to December  11, 2015.

A joint effort between the parish of  Quiapo, in Manila and the Silsilah Dialogue Dialogue Movement was the beginning of the Ministry of Inter- religious Dialogue-Quiapo in 20111 when the  parish priest of  Quiapo, Monsignor  Clemente Ignacio,  asked the collaboration of Silsilah to  be present in the multi cultural and multi religious   presence of Quiapo. 

Silsilah Dialogue Movement, faithful to its tradition to send a message to Muslims on the occasion of the month of Ramadhan and to Christians during Advent and Christmas time, reaffirms its mission of harmony, solidarity and peace in this difficult time for mankind and invites all to continue to work for the common good with

The 50th Anniversary of the Vatican II Council declaration entitled “Nostra Aetate”, ”a Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions”, reminds us the importance of this document of Vatican II. It is one of the shortest documents of Vatican II Council, but it created a kind of revolution in the Church. From

The United Nations Climate Change Conference of Paris on November 30 up to December 11, 2015 will present for the first time in over 20 years of UN Negotiations, a binding and universal agreement on climate, from all the nations of the world. Indeed, all nations need to come together to care for what Pope

Manila, Philippines—In celebration of the United Nations’ (UN) INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE celebrated every 21st of September recognizing the efforts of people andorganizations geared to end conflict and promote peace, various non-government organizations and academic communities in the Philippines conducted the 2015 Pamana ng Kapayapaan [Inheritance of Peace] held on October 1 and 2, Thursday

Quiapo is one of the districts in Manila where there are Christians and Muslims living together in the area. For this reason theQuiapo Church has organized the Ministry for Interreligious Dialogue four years ago on September 20, 2011 in collaboration with the Silsilah Dialogue Movement to build better relations among Christians and Muslims. The Past

Zamboanga City will never forget September 09, 2013. It was the beginning of a siege and a war that caused so much pain, hatred and death. Many still live in fear reflecting “what will be the future of Zamboanga for me and my family?” and “what will be the Muslim-Christian relations if the alarming practice

The Friends of Zamboanga Watersheds Movement (FZWM) welcomes the initiative of Pope Francis to designate September 1 annually as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. This is a sign of the times and an urgent need that the pope shares when he wrote his Encyclical on the care of our common

The Harmony Chain Initiative is part of the continuous effort of Silsilah Dialogue Movement to promote dialogue and peace starting from a spiritual approach. Since the beginning in the year 1984, the first group of Muslims and Christians has taken the commitment to pray for peace which we still continue to do so every day

August 2, 2014. Cry for Genuine Environmental Care: Challenge and Advocacy – this was the theme for the Kapihan sa Silsilah, recently held in Zamboanga City. Now in its 34th conduct, the activity highlighted the present reality that is happening in the environment worldwide. In the light of the latest papal encyclical letter Laudato Si’,

Committed to the work of promoting Culture of Dialogue as the path to a sustainable and lasting peace in the society, Silsilah Dialogue Movement initiated programs that render services and formation for all. One of these programs is Silsilah Peace and Development Program (SPDS), the social action arm of the movement. Anchored on the principle,

Today we have reached a very alarming stage with all of humanity under the threat of terrorism. ISIS is the visible point of the iceberg that looms in our horizon. The recent attacks in Tunisia, Kuwait, France, Somalia and the on going terror attacks of ISIS in Iraq and Syria bring us to a very

This is the last stage of a long journey of the peace agreement in Mindanao known as the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). Silsilah Dialogue Movement, on many occasions, has affirmed that the Movement has the mission to be a “voice of conscience” and to link people willing to build together a sincere and sustainable dialogue

The Kapihan sa Silsilah is a regular activity promoted by Silsilah to focus on relevant issues and to share ideas and suggestions for the common good in our multicultural and multi-religious society. The Kapihan sa Silsilah with the theme: “HELP BUILD BACK BETTER ZAMBOANGA: EVALUATION 2014; RECOMMENDATION 2015” was held in the morning of December