The sad story of Joselito Envidiado, a 21 year old student, member of a fraternity group in Zamboanga City who died during the “initiation” is a new sad story that we registered last Saturday, November 14.
On this occasion Silsilah recalled the time when violence among fraternities and sororities was very visible in the campus of the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) in the year 1998-2002. At that time, the WMSU President Atty. Eldigario Gonzales asked Silsilah to help in promoting dialogue and peace among the students.
From that time on, we in Silsilah started to be involved and meet different groups of students in the campus of WMSU. We realized that in addition to this reality of violence from some fraternity groups, the situation became more dangerous in the WMSU campus for the presence of some groups identified as “gang” acting with violence. We also discovered that this reality was even more alarming because these groups usually were organized among Muslim students and that emerged also a clear conflict among Muslim and Christian students.
So, the president of WMSU asked us, “What can Silsilah do to help?”
After different consultations and planning, we decided to meet in Harmony Village for a few days, first the Muslim groups and then the Christian groups, and at the end, Muslims and Christians together. The result was beyond our expectation. Reconciliation and friendship was rebuilt and when we asked the most dangerous leaders of some groups, why they changed, they gave a simple touching answer, “Here in Silsilah we felt to be listened and loved”. This answer brought us to reflect more and discover how the roots of violence often are that lack of love and attention starting from the family.For this reason, groups are formed with different orientations, including fraternities and sororities and we know that some act well, others are victims of ideologies and wrong perceptions of life.
After that sad story that became a good story, Silsilah continued to reflect giving more attention to young people in schools and communities and in 2003 we organized a special Summer Course on “Fraternities and Sororities for Dialogue and Peace” The great experience of this initiative was sealed with a MANIFESTO:
We, the participants of the 17th Silsilah Summer Course on Muslim-Christian Dialogue –Special Course on Fraternities and Sororities for Dialogue and Peace representing the Student Sector, the Youth in Media for Dialogue and Peace and the Academe affirm the boundless dedication of Silsilah Dialogue Movement in its mission to promote the Culture of Dialogue: Path to Peace in the realization for a better Muslim-Christian-Lumads Society here in Mindanao.
Whereas, we recognize the possibility of the role of Fraternities and Sororities as active partners in the promotion of the Culture of Dialogue: Path to Peace.
Whereas, statistics show an increase in campus violence and such are commonly caused by Fraternities and Sororities.
Whereas, we condemn the involvement of Fraternities and Sororities in crimes, rumbles and other illegal and violent activities that disturb the peace and order of our school campuses and affects the whole community as well.
Whereas, we condemn the existence of pseudo fraternities and petty gangs in the guise of Fraternities and Sororities that destroy the image and peaceful existence of bona fide Fraternities and Sororities.
Whereas, we see the need to determine and identify officers of Fraternities and Sororities of the different Schools, Colleges and Universities in Zamboanga City including those Fraternities and Sororities that are banned in their respective institutions.
Whereas, we see the need to coordinate with the Council of the Greeks based in Western Mindanao state University thru the office of the Dean of Student Affairs to identify the Fraternity and Sorority Leaders from the different Schools, Colleges and Universities for them to sit in a forum to ventilate issues concerning or affecting their organizations.
Whereas, we see the significance of the Silsilah Dialogue Movement in initiating and facilitating a Summit or Convention for Fraternities, Sororities and Student Leaders of the different Schools, Colleges and Universities in Zamboanga City.
Whereas, we feel the need to coordinate with the City Government thru the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Youth, City Legal Office, National Youth Commission and other concerned agencies to be our partners in realizing the holding of Summit or Convention for Fraternities, Sororities and Student Leaders.
Wherefore, it is Resolved, as it is hereby Resolved, that a Summit or Convention is needed for Fraternities, Sororities and Student Leaders of the different Schools, Colleges and Universities in Zamboanga City for the promotion of the Culture of Dialogue in our quest for a lasting Peace in Mindanao.
The Young Leaders for Dialogue and Peace (YLDP) was formally organized a few months ago by Silsilah among Muslim and Christian young leaders of Silsilah, after different plans on how to move in this time of COVID19 have agreed to give also a specific attention to the “Mission” of helping fraternities and sororities to reaffirm the basic principles of ‘Fraternity” that bring us to rediscover the “Human Fraternity” reaffirmed last February 4, 2019 in Abu Dhabi by two great religious leaders, Pope Francis and the grand Imam of Al-Azhar University. In this document, “Human Fraternity”, they presented the way to achieve this goal focusing on “the adaption of a culture of dialogue as the path to mutual cooperation as the code of conduct; reciprocal understanding as the method and standard”.
We hope to move in this direction. Meanwhile all of us can do our part in every place we are to remember that the real spirit of “Fraternity” must be a journey of attention and love. These are the basic things that all people need, including the young people. If we do not create this space first in our families and society, starting from the heart and around us, we can expect that violence, illegal drugs, suicide incidents and other alarming signs will emerge more and this is one of the dangerous “virus” that together we have to face. Let us move to be together to offer signs of hope to many, in spite of the difficult time created by COVID19 and other alarming signs of violence that are emerging around us.