It all started in 2010 with a heartfelt invitation of our School President of Notre Dame of Kidapawan College, a Marist brother with a big heart in dialogue and peace. He gave me a brochure about the Silsilah Dialogue Movement with Summer Course offerings on Basic, Intensive and Special Courses on: A Culture of Dialogue, Path to Peace, Rediscovering Islamic and Christian Faith, Sharing, etc. At a glance, I was already attracted to the Courses offered, since I am the Values Education Coordinator and teacher, and the Campus Ministry coordinator of the High school Department in the said institution. Further, the brother instructed me to see him if I will be interested to go to Zamboanga city and take the Five (5) weeks formation.
Two weeks after my discernment, I went to his office for confirmation and said: “Yes brother President, “I will”, For my professional growth, my school community – both my colleagues and students, my Basic Ecclesial Community, and Parish where I belong.
While in the Formation Center of Silsilah Dialogue Movement, with almost 40 Christian-Muslim participants, of different academic backgrounds and perspectives, individual differences, cultures, religious orientation and congregations, I was so amazed, overwhelmed, and overjoyed of the dynamics, faith sharing, and creative presentations of the participants from morning to evening. Celebrations of the liturgy for Christians and Islam prayers every day, inspired ,deepened, and strengthened my commitment as a catechist,a Values Education teacher and, a Campus Ministry coordinator.
Our everyday class encounters, evening sharing and simulations, prayers, socialization, life celebrations, and weekend pastoral integration and immersion for five weeks with different professors, resource speakers, facilitators had equipped me so much knowledge and life skills needed for my ministry as a teacher, builder and proclaimer of peace and dialogue, which to me is a path to harmonious relationship. It also inspired and challenged me to continue the mission and plant the same seeds of dialogue and peace.
After I completed the five-week formation, I brought with me all the knowledge, the experiences with hopes and dreams for my hometown especially the school community where I worked, and the parish and my BEC, where I am fully engaged.
With so much inspiration and excitement, I talked to the school president and introduced the concept of peace and dialogue education be integrated in the Religious Education subject and students’ recollection. With God’s intervention and the collaboration of the administrators and teachers, it happened in the school. Indeed, it created a lively, peaceful and harmonious class home and school environment. The implementation lasted for Four years, since I availed an early retirement for greener pasture.
In 2014-2015, I worked in a Community College nearby my hometown. I brought and introduced the same spirit of life in dialogue and peace to my First-year college students, since the school is newly opened and installed through the initiative of the Municipal Mayor. I integrated peace-dialogue education, a path to harmonious relationship in my Filipino subject for Two semesters. For them, it was a “break through experience”, since most of the students are living from the remote areas.
School year 2015, I was hired and taught in the Department of Education as Teacher 1. It was an answered prayer and a blessing, since I did NOT expect that I will be given an item and permanent designation because of my age. It was a roller coaster journey and a challenging teaching assignment and experience with Tri-people community in a far-flung barangay of the city. Everyday is a faith and life’s lesson for me, with my colleagues and learners in school. School building, water and light, economic profile, and health index of the learners are the main concerns every day. I have strategized and organized the teachers’ group and the students’ leaders to be creative, resourceful, and linked with COOPERATIVES, family friends, Church mates, and other stakeholders for my learners’ survival, since I was empowered by the Head teacher of the school as Officer in-charge of the high school department to take care of the operations. I introduced the Harmony Prayer and song, which effect is very positive contagious. I integrated the Gospel values especially life in dialogue, peace, harmonious relationship as articulated in the Harmony Song/Prayer. With my fervent prayers, conviction, and commitment to God, Church ministry, profession, and Silsilah Movement spirit, I was able to survived and was transferred after Ten (10) months to a big school of Kidapawan city. I was hired as a Senior High school Teacher lll and assigned in Kidapawan City National High school. This was the first year operation of the K to 12 Basic Education Program Curriculum. I was teaching 21st Century Literature and World Religions.
School year 2016, my husband and I were appointed as Youth Animator of the Our Lady of Mediatrix of All Grace Cathedral by our Rector and had a sit as members of the Parish Pastoral Council. I am teaching the Core subjects Understanding Culture, Society, and Politics, and Personal Development. It was a year full of unlimited blessings, inspiration and vibrant spirit since I was visited by Fr. Seb and Ma’am Minda Sano, and requested me to take care of Silsilah Dialogue Movement of Kidapawan, and invited to join the Silsilah Movement gathering in Zamboanga city.
School year 2016-2019 were full of vigor, strength and optimism. Youth in the Parish are busy with monthly Youth Encounter activities in their respective Basic Ecclesial Community, while my students in my Six (6) classes are busy with creative presentations, and exhibits of their Portfolios. Indeed, the Spirit of life in dialogue and peace among the youth in the Parish and the learners in school are had greatly experienced and appreciated. It was the Lord of Creation, our source of life and joy working in the midst of all.
October 2019, we were hit by the strong earthquakes and Covid 19 Phenomena, and I was appointed as the Grade leader of the Senior High school Grade Xl teachers for almost Three (3) years. Blended classes both synchronous and asynchronous were the platforms used by the learners even the teachers, because Face-to-face meetings and classes are a big NO. Weekly modules of the learners are distributed in their respective barangay. Online classes are required.
My journey as a Grade leader, a catechist, a teacher and an animator were NOT easy. I had initiated a school based Income Generating Project (IGP) Selling Coffee, Arozcaldo and, Handicraft bags for a Cause via online/social media for my learners Sanitary Kit and school supplies. It was a heartwarming experience with parents in my advisory class, handed over these essentials for their sons/daughters during Modules distribution in their respective barangay. God really works in a mysterious way with full of surprises. My big HOPES, DREAMS, PRAYERS, FAITH and COMMITMENT strongly deepened and strengthened.
School year 2022 to present is back to normal, with NO more Parish Youth animator and grade leadership functions. I concentrated in my Seven teaching loads in the classroom, integrating the Silsilah Dialogue- Peace spirit: A Path to Harmonious relationship and speaking engagement in the Diocese of Kidapawan as one of the resource speakers of the Christian formation of formators.
In the classroom, I always emphasize to the learners, the value of quality education and peace, shaping the better future together, promoting dialogue, understanding among classmates and friends and young people.
In conclusion, What a journey it has been. The culture of life in dialogue and peace in me is God’s grace and my mission to fulfill: turning vision into concrete action, highlights the importance of the core values and competencies of the courses I am teaching. It is all about transforming the learners’ and colleagues’ heart from mere recipients of change to the “builder/architect” of a promising and better tomorrow. Young people are highly dynamic, courageous, and passionate by nature and have potentials to change and build a life in dialogue and peace of the nation for the better. We want to build a world founded in truth, peace, love and compassion. I owed all these charisms, insights and inspiration from my catechist and Silsilah formations. Thank you so much Father Sebastiano D’Ambra, PIME, founder of the Silsilah Dialogue Movement for your passionate heart, and in a special way for molding me so well. Congratulations!!! Its been 40 years of existence. May the Almighty God be with you always. Padayon.
(Amelita P. Estimo)
Note: In preparation for the 40th anniversary of the Silsilah Dialogue Movement, we collect stories of people who have been touched by the spirituality of life-in-dialogue. Many years ago, Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, PIME, founder of the Silsilah Dialogue Movement wrote a book titled, “Call to a Dream” and now we can write the book, “Dreaming Together” by sharing how Silsilah has touched our lives and what we can tell to the others to continue the mission of dialogue and peace in this difficult time of history in the Philippines, but also around the world.
We encourage everyone to write their own “Dreaming Together” story.