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Rev. Fr. Efren "Peng" Reyes, MJ is the Regional Youth Director of the Mindanao-Sulu Youth Apostolate and concurrently, the Executive Secretary of the MSPC-YS office. He belongs to the religious congregation of the Missionary of Jesus.
Fr. Peng divides his time between serving the youth of Mindanao and attending the needs of the Catholic lay faithful in the Our Lady of Peace Parish in Malabang, Lanao del Sur.

“Shared Treasure on Inter Religious Dialogue from Lake Lanao”

Experienced Pillars of Dialogue

Rufus Halley, a Columban Missionary from Ireland and Mitchel de Gigord, a Diocesan Clergy from France, who both have worked in the Prelature of Saint Mary once shared in an informal conversation their ideas on dialogue as “an odyssey or a special journey that purifies, transforms, or enriches the traveller”. Rufus and Mitchel would agree that it’s the experience of life itself (well spent in the context of a journey) that purifies, transforms or enriches the pilgrim.

The former was killed on his way back to Malabang from Balabagan on motorbike on August 28, 2001; the latter was kidnapped few times while serving both the young Muslims and Christians of M.S.U. near the famous Lake Lanao. Both were purified, transformed and enriched as persons in their differing odysseys but rather the same journey of dialogue…that of life and faith.

The person behind the two influential people mentioned above was a silent guy by the name Bienvenido Tudtud. He died on a plane crash in the mountainous region of Cordillera twenty years back and left no trace of his body. He once jokingly says: “When I leave, you won’t find even a single strand of my hair”. Yet his spirit lives on in the heart of many of us, Muslims and Christians alike. He is our beloved Tatay (Father), We fondly call him Tay Bido, the late bishop of Marawi. We acknowledged him as the author of our vision-mission in the Prelature ,i.e. “Dialogue of Life and Faith”- that served as impetus for Christians and Muslims as well to transcend the familiar walls of our space and the routine clock of our time. This upsurge turn as a movement and later became institutionalized in the Catholic Church as backbone for Inter- Religious/Faith Dialogue all around the globe. He once uttered, “The question is to go on towards the unreachable dreams because it is God’s will”.

Young People on the Journey towards Dialogue

Almost every year or two, for the past twenty years or so, the Prelature of Saint Mary traditionally held a big gathering of youth during Christmas or summer vacation. We called this Prelature-wide youth encounter participated in by Christian delegates from the different parishes- “PANAW”.

(‘Panaw’ is a Visayan word which means Journey or Pilgrimage). It’s duration normally lasted for three full days without counting the travel time spent from their parish of origin to the venue of panaw and back.

Compared to other youth encounters usually held in the parish or even in the Prelature, ‘Panaw centered’ on the integral formation of the young Christians. During the three full days, masses, reconciliation, and creative liturgies are celebrated. Social issues and concerns are discussed by invited speakers. I was still graced to organize together with the youth core group the last two of the ten panaw. One was held in Malabang in April 2004; the other in Sultan Naga Dimaporo in December 2007.

Major shift from Panaw to Peace Camp

In April 2003, during the 7^th B.E.C. Prelature Pastoral Assembly held in Balabagan, Lanao del Sur; there was a proposal from the participants to organize a Prelature Youth Core Group whose task would be to craft an activity that would engage in a more regular encounter the Christian youth to dialogue with the Muslim youth. This recommendation faved the way for the 1^st Prelature-wide Muslim Christian Youth Peace Camp.

The theme of the 1^st Muslim Christian Youth Peace Camp was “Youth, Instrument of Peace and Reconciliation”. It was attended by around 80 Muslim and Christian delegates from six areas in the Prelature. This camp was for me a humbling and learning experience. It’s enchanting, at the same time nerve racking; full of surprises and breath-taking. Will we be able to enter into real dialogue with the Muslim youth? If there would be catharsis and traumatic experiences among both groups of Muslim and Christian that could be triggered by this camp, can we handle them professionally? To tell you frankly, I knew nothing then in the field of Inter Religious Dialogue.

One big enemy: bias or prejudice. One common sin: generalization

The first thing that we tackle during the workshop was the airing out of their youthful experiences, both positive and negative. Muslim says something about Christian and Christian about Muslim. The assembly found out that we all have a common experience of being victimized by our one big enemy- our own biases and prejudices against the opposite partner due to each group stereo-typing of the other. This simplistic categorization oftentimes lead to generalization of one group toward the other. Secondly, the majority of the group realized that these wrong ideas were handed down to them by their parents, relatives, elder and friend. Some have heard them over the radios, others have seen them on television. Still others have read them on newspapers. Nonetheless, there were also few stories they narrated that really happened in real life. Here are some of the lively and colourful pictures of stereo-typing they portrayed of the other which came out during the small group sharing:

The Visayan settlers (Christians) are afraid of the Maranao because of their ‘rido’ (family feud). The Visayan settlers don’t want to be part of the problem so they avoid befriending the Maranao. The settlers are being called by the Maranao as koper (pagan) because they eat pig that is forbidden by Qur’an. The female settlers wear sexy dresses and dance invitingly in public during fiestas. They are prostitutes and selfish. They are cowards. They do not help one another when one of them is being victimized by a Maranao.

On the other hand, the Maranao (Muslims) are tagged by the Visayan settlers as murderers, robbers, kidnappers and even terrorists. They have ill manners and bad attitude. Maranao are also naughty, hard headed and trouble maker. They easily get jealous. They are traitor or back fighters. They are not good losers. They are united against common enemy- the Christians.

Try hard to forgive and even harder to forget

Once finished journaling their negative experiences about the other, they were all asked to burn what they wrote on papers. Many readily gave in to the instruction and easily burnt what they scribbled on papers. Some hesitated to put their papers on fire. Still others had really a hard time following the simple instruction. Only Allah-God knew the reason why!

After the burning ceremony, all the Muslims went to a makeshift tent to do the act of ablution in the Islamic way. The Christians had in the open air the palina (fumigation practised for treatment or for various rites of purification) and then the washing of both hands on a big basin of warm water with boiled guava and lemon leaves.

When both had finished their respective rites of purification, reconciliation ensued. The heavy atmosphere turned lighter. By this time, they were no longer afraid or inhibited to approach the other. Peace and tranquility reflected visibly in their eyes and in every heart. We are one with the Psalmist in his song:

“How good, how delightful it is for all to live together like brothers: fine as oil on the head, running down the beard, running down Aaron’s beard to the collar of his robes…” (Ps. 133:1-2)

The recently concluded 2^nd Muslim Christian Youth Peace Camp last May 25-29, 2008 was a continuation of the 1^st Peace Camp held three years ago. It’s theme was: “Renewing our Commitment to Peace and Reconciliation”. Our Prelature Youth Core Group had three long overnights brainstorming the theme, objectives, content and process of the camp. This time, we introduced some added features not really present during the first camp.

Let’s do the talking!

First was the fostering of families. The Muslim delegates will be housed in Christian families. And Christian families will be staying in Muslim families for four nights and five days. We call this integration. Let’s WALK the TALK. It seemed scary for those who were not exposed to mixed Muslim and Christian communities. But for those who grew up in communities of Muslim and Christian, the proposal sounded exciting! During the first night, a young man complained of mosquitos. He can’t sleep during the night without mosquito net. Three young ladies grumble regarding food. They were not used to drink coffee and eat pandesal. Aside from these problems, there were no other difficulty that arise during the integration.

We processed their experiences at the end of the camp together with their foster families. A mother who adopted three males- a Muslim, a Christian and a Mestizo, was so much impressed by the bonding and discipline of her adopted sons. They were together in all household chores, in suroy-suroy (promenade) and even on bed. Another father testified that the family was very thankful for receiving two females in their home. He said that their presence added more happiness and blessing in their midst. His youngest daughter was touched by their presence that she could hardly accept her two new sisters bid her farewell. More or less, the great majority of delegates were very happy and contented undergoing this integration part. Foster parents were so thankful for receiving new members of the family. One of our speakers and visitor during the last day, Bob Anton, from the famous Zone of Peace in Maladeg, even suggested to seal the bond of new relationship created during the integration period.

Our dream Muslim-Christian community

The second feature of the second camp was the construction of the youth dream of a Muslim Christian Community. The seven groups with 7-8 Muslim and Christian members and two facilitators-a Muslim and a Christian, were given a task to make a miniature Masjeed (Muslim place of worship), Church, Muslim houses, Christian houses, Muslim people, Christian people and ‘Kinaiyahan’ (creation). After forming their obra-maestra separately from other groups, we called them all to assemble at the big tent which served as our conference room and to put together within a 5m.x 5m.square their works of art. With full concentration and creative visualization, they step by step install what is in their minds and hearts.

One group, who constructed the mosque, arrange their work at the edge of the square in mutual agreement with a group (the one in-charge of creation) who made a sea. The former placed their mosque near the sea of the latter and explained to the assembly that Muslims, whenever they pray, would do the ablution first.

Another group who built a church place their piece a little bit at the center, in the midst of houses and described that churches are normally built in the midst of population to make them accessible to all Christians.

But what struck me in this activity was the one arrangement of people at the heart of the many structure of houses and places of worship and people. It was a gathering of three people- a Muslim, a Christian and the image of Abraham in between. The ones who arranged them declare: we want to dialogue because we are all brother and sisters under the one father of all believers- Abraham.

Let’s do it hand-in-hand

The last added flavour and I guess the most exhausting was the real bayanihan-style construction of a payag dubbed “Panday Payag sa Kalinaw”(Construct a Native Hut of Peace). The Christian delegates in seven areas of the prelature, together with their Muslim partners, raised fund to procure materials for construction. When camp delegates arrived, they brought with them these materials for construction such as cement, woods, bamboos, nails and strings. During the daily camp schedule, we allotted an hour for this activity. Each group spared 30 minutes for the Payag sa Kalinaw during dishwashing at noon time and morning and afternoon snack time. Male and female, Muslim or Christian, young and not so old readily shared a helping hand. Before the camp culminated, our Payag sa Kalinaw was standing!

Hopefully, among these new breed of young Muslim and Christian men and women, a new Rufus, a new Mitchel and even a new Tay Bido would come out to cherish and treasure the hard won unity, mutual understanding and valuable respect earned by these bronzed dialoguers for Peace and Reconciliation.

Mindanao's Everyday Bridges of Peace Calendar



A product of many hands...a tribute to the celebration of the Mindanao Week of Peace 2007 celebration.

Regional Youth Council Conference 2008

The Mindanao-Sulu Pastoral Conference Youth Secretariate (MSPC-YS), together with the Regional Youth Council, will convene the 6th Regional Youth Council Conference on August 25-29, 2008 at the Teresian Daughter's of Mary Retreat House, Matina, Davao City.

The Regional Youth Council Conference (RYCC) is convened annually by the Mindanao-Sulu Pastoral Conference-Youth. Its nature is Formative and, if necessary, deliberative when there are issues and concerns raised in its duration.

Participants to this conference are the diocesan youth directors, coordinators and leaders in every ecclesiastical territory of MSPC.

This year’s RYCC aims at strengthening our MSPC Youth Ministers and Youth Leaders by the Word of God in and through Basic Ecclesial Communities.

Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC): a New Way of Being a Church

BEC as generic term for small faith communities emerging at the grassroots (BCCs, SCCs, GKKs, MSKs, KrisKa, Damayan, Pamayanan, Gimong & other local names)

They are communities, not organizations, prayer groups, societies or associations. They are not specialized groups but stable environment. The members often live in close proximity and interact with each other regularly.

They are referred to as a new way of being Church. They are the Church at the microcosm, the church at the grassroots-in the neighborhood & the village.

It is indeed, a vibrant and dynamic community of believers, mainly among the poor, striving to be authentic disciples, participatory and struggling to transform their own situation in the light of the Kingdom of God.

BEC Formation and the Word of God

This new way of being Church is not possible without proper faith formation. This is why BEC members undergo a lot of formation sessions in integral faith, i.e. in faith that can respond to the daily material or temporal problems of life, to problems of poverty and sickness, injustice and perhaps lack of peace in the community.

In the light of the Word of God – in the Scriptures and in the Church, the catechetical part of BEC formation is explicitly related to the Word of God and to the realities of life. It is a way of investing daily life with the dimension of faith. BEC members thus learn the meaning of God’s Word by the light of their experience and at the same time learn the meaning of their experience by the light of God’s Word.

RYCC 2008 Schedule:

Day 1:	Whole day	Arrival
August 25	5pm	Holy Mass
	630pm	Dinner / Welcome Program/Orientation
Day 2	8am	Bible Enthronement & Preliminaries
August 26	830	Input: Word of God / Reflection
	12nn	Lunch
	2pm	Workshop / Sharing
	330pm	Reporting
	430pm	Deepening
	6pm	Holy Mass
	7pm	Dinner
	8pm	Business Meeting
Day 3	8am	Preliminaries
August 27	830am	BEC Historical Background
	9am	The BEC: Mindanao Experience
	12nn	Lunch
	2pm	The BEC: Present Challenges, Opportunities and Threats (DADITAMA Experience)
	7pm	Dinner
	8pm	Solidarity Night
Day 4	8am	Preliminaries /Processing of experience
August 28	12nn	Lunch
	2pm	Business Meeting
	7pm	Dinner
Day 5	August 29	Departure

The Conference's general objective is for the MSPC Youth Ministers and Youth Leaders be strengthened by the Word of God in and through Basic Ecclesial Communities.

The following are the specific objectives:

That the Youth Ministers and Leaders shall have:

1. articulated the importance of the Word of God in their lives;

2. appreciated their role in and through BEC; and

3. manifested their commitment and become catalysts of change.

The Regional Youth Council Conference 2008 is hosted by the Archdiocese of Davao thanks to the generosity of the Most Rev. Fernando R. Capalla, DD and the support of Davao youth director, Fr. Leif Simbajon.

HISTORY

“ Since man is the fundamental and at the same time the daily way of the Church, it is easy to understand why the Church attributes special importance to the period of youth as a key stage in the life of every human being. You young people are the ones who embody this youth: You are the youth of the nations and societies, the youth of every family and all humanity. You are also the youth of the Church.”

His Holiness, John Paul II

1. Mindanao Sulu Pastoral Conference – Youth Congress (MSPC - YC)

The MSPC-YC traced its roots in CBCP-Youth Committee Research Training, aimed at knowing the situation of the Filipino Youth held in Cebu City on May 21-22, 1984. This participatory research designed and facilitated by the Asian Social Institute was one of the activities in preparation for the celebration of the International Year of the Youth in 1985.

The Mindanao Diocesan Youth Coordinators and youth representatives defined their perspective of youth as rooted in faith: the youth is a segment of god’s family who is the hope of the present and the future, capable of growing to the full maturity in the faith and love, and could be effective evangelizers to bring about the fullness of life in the Church.

Challenged by the richness of potential and the needs of the youth, the Mindanao delegates expressed their aspirations to be organized be more coordinated. Series of meetings echo seminars and consultations followed.

Aware of the spirit of MSPC and its thrusts, the group who attended the participatory research saw the importance of consulting and working with the Mindanao-Sulu bishops. A letter of proposal addressed to the bishops was formulated, signed by the body and sent to the MSPC V Chair, Archbishop Philip F. Smith, OMI, DD. Said proposal was acted upon favorably, meetings and consultations followed and ended up with the decision of having a Mindanao-Sulu Youth Congress in 1985 in Cotabato City.

Since its birth, the MSPC-YC has been held once every three years. As in the past, it is composed of the Diocesan Youth Leaders, Coordinators, Directors and the Bishops of Mindanao and Sulu. As envisioned, it is a forum of ideas wherein the delegates gather, share experiences, assess and analyze the signs of the time, discuss problems and issues affecting the youth in particular and the people of God in general, seek common solutions and formulate recommendations.

Operationally, the theme, venue, and date of every congress are determined by the Regional Youth Coordinating Council (RYCC).

The list below provides in detail the past congresses and the youth ministers from the different dioceses in Mindanao who labored to the challenge posed by the Holy Father way back in 1985.

MSPC – YC 1: Archdiocese of Cotabato, October 21-26, 1985

Bishop-Incharge : Most Rev. Philip Smith, OMI

Regional Youth Coordinator : Sr. Victoria del Rosario, OND

Regional Youth Leader : Charlito Manlupig

Asst. Regional Youth Leader : Edwin Edralin

Secretary : Elisa Gonzales

MSPC – YC 2: Archdiocese of Davao, October 17 – 22, 1988

Bishop-Incharge : Most Rev. Juan de Dios Pueblos, DD

Regional Youth Director/ES : Rev. Fr. Elmer Abacahin

Regional Youth Coordinator : Antonio Montalvan III

Regional Youth Leader : Bruce Victor Laguesma

MSPC – YC 3: Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro, October 21 – 26, 1991

Bishop-Incharge : Most Rev. Juan de Dios Pueblos, DD

Regional Youth Director : Fr. Boy Salvador

Regional Youth Coordinator/ES : Antonio Montalvan III

Regional Youth Leader : Ma. Theresa Laorden

Secretary : Albert Medina

MSPC – YC 4: Archdiocese of Ozamis, October 24 – 29, 1994

Bishop-Incharge : Most Rev. Juan de Dios Pueblos, DD

Regional Youth Director/ES : Fr. Daniel Baguio

Regional Youth Coordinator : Cecilia Alzate

Asst. Regional Youth Coordinator : Marylou Solano

Regional Youth Leader : Protacio Liguid

Secretary : Leonita Cabando

MSPC – YC 5: Archdiocese of Zamboanga, October 22 – 26, 1997

Bishop-Incharge : Most Rev. Patricio H. Alo, DD

Regional Youth Director/ES : Fr. Alfredo Palomar

Regional Youth Coordinator : Marylou Solano

Asst. Regional Youth Coordinator : Joe Yangco

Regional Youth Leader : Realito Realiza

Asst. Regional Youth Leader : Cherry Maria Guerrero

Secretary : Leonita Cabando

MSPC – YC 6: Diocese of Kidapawan, October 23 – 27, 2000

Bishop-Incharge : Most Rev. Patricio H. Alo, DD

Regional Youth Director/ES : Fr. Mario Jimenez

Regional Youth Coordinator : Marylou Solano

Asst. Regional Youth Coordinator : Angelito Aumada

Regional Youth Leader : Ariel Faraon

Asst. Regional Youth Leader : Lourd Ronald Bocboc

Secretary : Karen Lei Talidano

MSPC – YC 7: Diocese of Mati, October 20 – 24, 2003

Bishop-Incharge : Most Rev. Patricio H. Alo, DD

Regional Youth Director/ES : Fr. Enrique Lacostales

Regional Youth Coordinator : Lourd Ronald Bocboc

Asst. Regional Youth Coordinator : Angelita Aumada

Regional Youth Leader : Darwin Lomocso

Asst. Regional Youth Leader : Mary Cris Fabe

Secretary : Beverly Maquiling

MSPC – YC 8: Diocese of Butuan, May 24 - 29, 2007

Bishop-Incharge : Most Rev. Elenito Galido, DD

Regional Youth Director/ES : Fr. Efren Reyes, MJ

Regional Youth Coordinator : Lourd Ronald Bocboc

Assts. Regional Youth Coordinator : Genelo Galindo and Judith Pajaron

Regional Youth Leader : Rolan Lutrania

Asst. Regional Youth Leader : Eric Hernandez

After the MSPC-YC Congress 7, it was resolved that the secretarial support for the Congresses will be lodged to the MSPC-Youth Secretariate. The 8^th Congress was moved to May 2007 instead of October 2006 to give way to the celebration of the National Youth Day 2006.

MSPC – YC Vision, Mission, Goals

VISION STATEMENT

We, the youth of the church of Mindanao-Sulu,

envision:

an authentic Christian community, dynamically witnessing the Gospel Values.

MISSION STATEMENT

In view of our vision, we commit ourselves to:

1. Be formed as Christian disciples;

2. be evangelizers and living witnesses of the Gospel values;

3. care for human life and creation;

4. uphold Filipino values;

5. be open to inter-religious dialogue & ecumenism.

GOAL STATEMENTS

1. To provide wholistic formation for the youth in their political, social, environmental, cultural, spiritual, psycho-emotional aspects of life;
2. To efficiently update the youth apostolate in different dioceses for national, regional, and local programs;
3. To enhance participation of the youth as a vital part of the Church and Her mission;
4. To strengthen camaraderie among Youth Ministers;
5. To strengthen the organizational structure of the MSPC-YC; and
6. To be self-reliant.

The Organizational Structure

MINDANAO-SULU PASTORAL CONFERENCE-YOUTH CONGRESS (MSPC-YC)

(Approved by the MSPC-YC 7 on October 20-24, 2003 in Mati, Davao Oriental)

Organizational Structure Explained

In the MSPC–YC structure herein presented, the authority is shown to begin with the Mindanao Bishops. That is grounded on the recognition that the Mindanao Bishops themselves represent their respective dioceses and consequently, their individual youth apostolates. Veritably, they are our shepherds.

Operationally, they are represented by the Commission Bishops. The Commission, through its Chair (presently Bishop Elenito Galido, DD), directly interacts with all the MSPC-YC organs.

Operationally, the tasks of identifying the thrusts and directions are reposed to the MSPC-Youth Congress which meets every three years. While not in session, the same tasks are delegated to the RYCC which meets annually. The sub-regions are having similar congresses once every two years. The implementation of the identified directions and thrust are left to the individual dioceses. However, directions and thrusts common to the dioceses can be implemented through the ExeCom and the MSPC-YC Secretariat.

The ExeCom have identified periodic meetings. Being composed of representatives chosen during MSPC-YCs, they are delegated with the proper authority for fleshing out the directions and thrusts into operational terms.

The MSPC-YC Secretariat, working full time, is the vehicle for implementation. Tracing the Line of Responsibility, they are not task with direction setting or thrust identification but that of implementation.

The beneficiaries of the directions, goals and objectives are the diocesan youth.