Peace at home resonates to larger community of multiple faiths, says young Mindanao native

By Gloria Jane Baylon

MANILA, March 11 — Peace begins at home, extends itself to “non-anomalous” political governance by God- fearing leaders, resonates on citizens who have mutual respect for each other’s religious beliefs and faiths and their unique lifestyle, making for a blissful nation.

This was espoused in the third-place winning essay of a high school student from Mindanao, among 37 entries in a contest held in connection with the Special Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (SNAMMM) in Manila from March 16 to 18.

”Who the child is at home is most likely who he is when in school, and in the larger community and country. Therefore, if the country as a whole seeks peace, let that peace be first experienced at home,” wrote student Karina Lai C. Relatado of the Digos National High School in Davao del Sur.

The theme of the contest was “Interfaith Initiatives: What it means to me and my country,” a project launched by the SNAMMM National Organizing Committee (NOC) as a civil society component.

An adjunct of the SNAMMM is a whole-day exchange on March 16 of ideas on interfaith initiatives among believers and adherents of Islam, Protestantism, Roman Catholicism, Hinduism and other faiths, said Assistant Secretary Isabel Tobias of the Presidential Council on Values Formation (PCVF), an NOC member.

Their inputs will form part of the outcome document to be known as the “Manila Declaration on Interfaith Dialogue for Peace and Development,” according to Bishop Efraim Tendero, also of the PCVF. The Mofti of the Islamic state of Qatar is one of the key speakers, he revealed.

”God-fearing leaders,” Relatado said, “walk in the right paths” and guide their constituents to becoming “Mother Earth’s stewards” of a peaceful people in constant communication.

A God-centered leader has the beginnings of wisdom. “When we have God-fearing leaders, it is expected that our government will be freed of any sort of anomaly … for when God dominates … people will be guided on the proper care of the environment … becoming good stewards of Mother Earth.”

Environment is the key, the young Mindanaoan emphasized, “an environment of peace and tranquility" where people do not terrorize and do not misunderstand each other, do not seek revenge, and look after Earth’s well-being such that there is no hunger and other manifestations of poverty that could ignite conflict.

Various denominations or sects should promote unity among themselves as all these religions or faiths worship God, she noted, for when “interfaith initiatives (are) carried out, there are no more boundaries, people (are) taught to understand each other's beliefs and differences.”

Differing views and opinions must be tolerated, continued Relatado, for “as the saying goes, ‘two heads are better than one.’ When many minds think, brilliant ideas are overflowing.

Other religious practitioners’ habits and preferences must also be accepted, she espoused. “Not all people wear turbans (hijab and other covers) on their heads, but Muslims do. Everyone can eat pork except the Muslims and non-Muslim believers known as the Adventists.”

She continued: respect does not only mean deferring to the elderly, “but also respect for one another, for human diversity. If there is respect for each other, then we can easily plan things that will benefit us, our country and the world as a whole.” (PNA)

DCT/GJB

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