Bike for Peace 2008

Over 500 bikers turned up at Rizal Park this morning for the Bike for Peace. Most of the bikers were from Davao City but there were some who came from as far as GenSan. There were bikers in mountain bikes, road bikes and BMX. The some Kabayan motorbike riders were also around to help as marshalls. There was a Muslim Imam who came to join and well as another priest beside me. There were also some female bikers, some children and and biker with his monkey. By 8:15 am, after I gave the final instruction and led the prayer, we were on our way around the city and we biked for 30 km led by motorcycle cops. It was a slow pace - an average of 15 km per hour. It was really a procession on wheels, with me leading the bikers and setting the pace. There was no overtaking and we made sure that nobody was left behind. Signs were place on our jerseys or bikes which read: "No to war, peace now." "Stop the War, Resume Peace negotiations" and "Kalinaw sa Mindanao." We came back at Rizal Park by 10:45 am. We gave out snacks and certificate to the participants.

This is the 7th Bike for Peace which I organized and which is sponsored by the Redemptorist Community and the Mother of Perpetual Help Parish. Our parish staff, youth core group and seminarians helped as support group. The Bike for Peace has become an annual event, which is part of the activities of the Mindanao Week of Peace.

As the peace talks between the Government and the MILF and the Government and the NDF have broken down and the war continues in Mindanao, the Bike for Peace is one of the activities that highlight the need for peace in Mindanao and in the whole country.

Mindanao Week of Peace - Walk for Peace & Opening Rites

The Mindanao Week of Peace (MWOP) started today with a peace walk which started at 3:30 pm at the Freedom Park and ended at the Rizal Park. Over two thousand people attended - Muslims and Christians. I joined the Imam, Pastors and Priests at the stage for the opening rites. The MWOP is an annual event initiated by the Bishops-Ulama Conference to enable the people of Mindanao to celebrate and express their aspirations for peace.

The theme for this year's MWOP is: Integrity of Mind and Heart, a Way to Reconciliation and Peace

There are several activities lined up for this week:

Mindanao Peace and Development Communicators Forum (Nov. 27-28)

Youth Peace Camp (Nov. 28-30)

Students' Forum "Mindanao History" and "Workshop for Peace" (Nov. 29)

Culture of Peace for Children: Empoweing Children as Peacebuilders (Nov. 29-30)

Bike for Peace (Nov. 30)

Church-Mosque Visitation: Priests, Pastors, Imams (Dec. 1)

Closing Day : Fasting & Prayer for Peace (Dec. 3, 8 am - 5 pm)

Praying over a Friend with Cancer

An elderly couple (Berting and Lydia) and their daughter Alidia came over for lunch today. I used to stay in their house in a barrio in Arakan Valley when we had our mission there in 1986. Their daughter Alidia, who is now a guidance counsellor in Ateneo de Davao High School, called a few days ago asking if they could visit me, so I invited to come for lunch. After lunch, we went to the prayer room and we talked. Lydia told me that she has cancer in the lungs and the doctor has given her six months to live. After praying over her, I taught her a healing meditation method which she could do three times a day. I also taught her husband, Berting how to pray over her. We will be seeing each other once a week.

Lydia is already 65 years old. She still wants to live but she said that she is ready to die. I advised her to focus her thoughts not on dying but on living each day to the full. What is important at this stage is to achieve inner healing. Of course, I am still praying and hoping for a miraculous healing.

Silsilah Forum Davao Gathering

Forty Christians and Muslims belonging to the Silsilah Forum Davao gathered from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Holy Cross of Davao College. The theme of the gathering: "Move on Pilgrims of Dialogue and Peace."

The objectives of the gathering:

1. Gathering of alumni and friends of Silsilah, sharing of experiences and praying together.

2. Levelling-off: As pilgrims of dialogue and peace

3. Planning and recommendation

Aminda Sano, the president of the Silsilah Dialogue Movement, based in Zamboanga was present and shared her thoughts of the theme after the group sharing. There was also a Muslim couple for Cagayan (Natz and Amina) who shared their experiences in helping organize the Silsilah Forum in Cagayan de Oro.

The forum was organized and facilitated by Nor Asiah Adilao (Muslim coordinator) and Fr. Larry Sabud (Christian coordinator).

There were five Redemptorist seminarians who came with me for this gathering.

Supporting the farmers in their struggle against aerial spraying

Yesterday, the last day of the BEC national congress, we listened to 3 leaders of the Mamayan Ayaw ng Aerial Spraying (MAAS) explain about their concerns. The participants decided to support them and approved this statement:

Statement of Support for the Mamamayan Ayaw ng Aerial Spraying (MAAS)
from the Participants of the 2nd CBCP-BEC National Congress


We, 325 participants of the 2nd Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Basic Ecclesial Communities (CBCP-BEC) national congress coming from 68 dioceses all over the Philippines express our support for the members of Mamamayan Ayaw ng Aerial Spraying (MAAS) who are presently encamped in front of the Court of Appeals in Cagayan de Oro.

The members of MAAS, most of whom are farmers living near the banana plantations in Calinan, Davao City, have been affected by the aerial spraying. On account of this, the local government of the City of Davao has come out with an ordinance banning aerial spraying in the city. The Regional Trial Court in Davao has upheld the legality of the ordinance.

We, therefore, express our solidarity with the MAAS and ask the Court of Appeals to expeditiously resolve the case in consideration of the health of people and safety of the environment. The preservation of the environment, life and health of the people take precedence over profits. This ruling will benefit not only the people of Davao City but also the various cities and provinces that have also passed a similar ordinance.



The Participants of the 2nd CBCP-BEC National Congress
November 13, 2008
Cagayan de Oro City

_______________

This morning, before going back to Davao, I dropped by at the camp site to greet and meet the MAAS group.

The 2nd CBCP-BEC National Congress

I am here in Chali's Beach Resort and Convention Center helping facilitate the 2nd CBCP-BEC national congress which started yesterday afternoon and which will end 2 days from now. There are over 300 delegates coming from over 80 dioceses all over the Philippines, among them 19 bishops.

The theme of the gathering is: "Basic Ecclesial Communities and Rural Development. "
The following are the objectives:

1.To listen to actual stories/experiences of BECs on rural development
2.To evolve what rural development entails from the point of view / stories / experiences of base communities & sectors
3.To formulate BECs’ own agenda for rural development
4.To integrate rural development into the pastoral vision of the local church
5.To develop a system of networking and collaboration in the area of rural development (among BECs and with NGOs, POs, LGUs. etc)

The whole day today, which I facilitated, was spent in sharing of stories and experiences of BECs engaged in Rural Development. It was very moving to hear stories of BECs involved in adressing the problems of poverty, corruption, environmental destruction, etc. There were stories of BECs initiating livelihood projects, microfinance, cooperatives, community-based health projects, peace advocacy, anti-mining campaign, good governance, etc.

Remembering a friend on her birthday

Yesterday was my friend's birthday but I couldn't celebrate it with her - as usual - because she is in a Poor Clare monastery, in the island of Siquijor, far from Davao. Sr. Mary Angeline (I still prefer to call her Gina) was an engineering student and reader in our church in Tacloban when I was assigned there after my ordination in 1981. We occasionally met after mass and had enjoyable conversation. Although I really wanted to become close to her I tried to maintain some distance because I was very conscious about my vow of celibacy and chastity. When I left Tacloban for my new assignment I wrote this poem:

REGRETS

It was only a brief encounter
yet every time I whisper your name
to the wind
and remember your elusive image
I am reminded of the emptiness within.

You remain a mystery to me
but you have awakened feelings
that have lain dormant for ages
that I feel so alive.

My only regret is:
time and fear would not allow
our minds and hearts to be one.
Perhaps it was safer that way.
No risks, no heartbreaks
and the parting was easy.
But now I go on living a celibate existence
haunted by that fleeting moment.

______________________________

Years later, I was surprised to hear that she had become a contemplative nun. While I was studying in Rome, I received a card from her and two pictures: one of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the other her picture during her final profession. She wrote that she "constantly remembers me in the silence of her heart. " I wrote this poem:

COMPANY

Night.
All alone - as usual.
The only company I have:
framed images on fujicolor paper,
an image of the Lady who loves me
but whom I cannot see nor touch,
an image of the woman who lovingly
remembers me in the silence of her heart
but whom I cannot see nor touch.

Not even the veil can hide
the radiant beauty and kindness
that brightens this dark night.

So far, far away.
One is on the other side of eternity.
The other is on the other side of the world,
in a monastery on a distant island.

Yet they keep me company
like the moon on this dark night.

_____________________

We have been writing occasionally through the years (she can only write to me during Easter and Christmas) and I have visited her monastery several times. I also met her in Tacloban in 2005 when she was taking care of her dying mother. I hope I can visit her next summer.

I thank God for the gift of friendship. I didn't expect to become close to someone whom I seldom see.

Happy Birthday Gina - oops, Sr. Mary Angeline. Unfortunately, she won't be able to read my blog. No internet connection in the monastery.

Lowering blood pressure without medication

Early this morning, after waking up I measured my blood pressure. It was 148/91. After meditation it went down to 137/86. Then I went on a three-hour long distance run to the Pugaan mountain and back. I measured my blood pressure after the run: 114/74.

So besides meditation, running can lower the blood pressure. It looks amazing. Running is a strenous activity and we usually expect the blood pressure to shoot up. Instead it goes down, in my case.

It is not really surprising since running for me is a contemplative activity - it is meditation in motion. Like sitting meditation, running can bring about an alternative state of consciousness that relaxes the mind and the body. That is why I enjoy running and I forget about the time.

I have less than four months before the marathon. My body is getting used to long distance running again. I am still slow and sluggish. What is important is that I am no longer dependent on medication to keep my blood pressure down.

Missiology Seminar (Alphonsian Lay Formation Institute)

For the last three days, I have been conducting a seminar on missiology to the trainees of the Alphonsian Lay Formation Institute here in Iligan. This year, there are 6 young men and women who are undergoing formation. These are the topics that we discussed:

1. Mission in General, Mission ad Gentes, Mission ad Intra

2. Biblical-Theological Foundation of Mission: Trinitarian Source of Mission

(The Father's Plan of Salvation, Christological perspective, pneumatological perspective)

3. Ecclesiological Foundation of Mission

4. The Goal/Paths of Mission

5. Dialogue and Mission

6. Inculturation

7. Explicit Proclamation, Witnessing

8. Building up the local Church/Christian communities, BECs

9. Human Promotion and Development

10. Redemptorist Missions: Historical Overview and Missiological Analysis

Side effects of Centering Prayer/Meditation

After waking up early this morning I checked by blood pressure with my wrist blood pressure monitor. It was high - 148/100, although the heart rate was low (57 beats per minute). I then started meditating - using the centering prayer method. I gazed at the icon of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in front of me, I breathed slowly and deeply as I became aware of the Lord's presence. I repeated silently the word "Shalom" (peace). I felt so relaxed and at peace. After 30 minutes, I ended my meditation with a thanksgiving prayer and then checked my blood pressure again. This time it went down to a normal level: 130/83, with a heart rate of 52 beats per minute.

I do this three times a day - upon waking up early in the morning, at 1:30 in the afternoon, and before going to bed at night. Since doing this method of prayer regularly, my blood pressure level has gone down. I have stopped taking my daily maintenance pill for hypertension. Doctors often tell patients that the only way to treat hypertension is to take medication for the rest of their life. But I have learned that hypertension can be treated with regular meditation. Meditation, not medication.

Physical healing is one of the effects of meditation/centering prayer. It is good for the body, as well as the mind and the soul. Besides developing intimacy with God, centering prayer puts my mind and body into a deep state of relaxation. Without this, I can easily burn out - especially with the pressure of my work and the tense situation around me.

There are a lot priests, religious and lay people who are too busy with their work and the apostolate that they neglect to spend time in prayer and meditation. I have been guilty of this at various times in my life. But I have come to realize that prayer is a necessity. It keeps me in touch with the Lord who is the source of my vitality and dynamism. It is what energizes and heals me.

I cannot continue to be a man of action unless I am also a man of prayer and contemplation. My ministry, my preaching and my work for peace and justice cannot be sustained unless I am able to spend time regularly in prayer. Thus, I always find time for prayer and meditation daily, a monthly recollection and a longer period of solitude and prayer in my hermitage in the mountain of Busay annually.

I like the symbol of the Yin and Yang which is at the basis of Tai-chi. For me, it represents the integration of action and contemplation.

The Church's "Involvement in Politics"

This morning I jogged for three hours. I came back in time for the 10:30 mass. This is what I preached in our church:


29th Sunday A
Mt 22:15-21


There are politicians and commentators who are annoyed by the Church's vigorous opposition to House Bill 5043 (Reproductive Health Bill). They see this as, once again, the Church's unwarranted involvement and interference in politics - a travesty to the principle of separation of church and state.

"Render unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God."

This is the favorite text of those who think the the Church should mind its own business and not be involved in political matters.
President Marcos used to appeal to this text when Church leaders denounced the abuse of power and corruption of his dictatorial regime. When I was arrested, and imprisoned during the early years of Martial Law, this was the text that my interrogators quoted to me while torturing me.

In our Gospel today, Jesus did say these words. But to interpret the text in reference to the separation of Church and State is misleading. Neither can it be understood as a prohibition against the Church's involvement in "political matters."
Let us remember that Jesus was asked by the Pharisees who wanted to trap him whether Jews should pay taxes to Caesar. If he answered yes, he would be accused of collaborating with the Roman occupiers. If he said no, he would be accused of subversion.
Jesus does not give a direct answer. When Jesus says that one should render unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God, what Jesus is saying is that while a person can be respectful of civil authority, the ultimate loyalty and obedience is due to God alone.
Caesar and God are not co-equal. Nor can the world be divided into 2 spheres: that religious and political sphere. God is greater than Caesar. No civil authority can arrogate to itself what belongs to God. "I am God and there is no other." This is what our first reading reminds us.
The members and leaders of the Church are called to be good citizens. And everyone should obey that laws of the state. But this does not mean that we have to agree with all the policies and laws that are to be imposed on us, especially when these are against our conscience and against the law of God.

The Church have often been accused of interfering in politics and violating the principle of separation of church and state But the separation of Church and state simply means that there should be no official state religion and that the state should respect and guarantee the free exercise of religion for all. It does not mean that the Church has no right to oppose or criticize laws and policies that are harmful to the common good.
The Church leaders cannot dictate to its members who to vote for and what laws to pass. Nor can it take over the function of civil authorities. But it is part of the Church's prophetic mission to proclaim the message about the sacredness of life, the rights of all - including the unborn, about justice and peace. The church is called to be the conscience of society. When political issues become moral issues, then the Church has the duty and obligation to speak out. It is part of the Church's prophetic mission to denounce evil - especially the culture of death, of violence and corruption, of injustice. When the Church does so, it is not to protect its vested interest or to prove its power but out of service.
Those who oppose the Church's "involvement in politics" should remember EDSA I and II could not have happened had the Church remained silent and stayed in the sidelines.

Celebrating the Gift of Life - 54 years and counting

I woke up at 4:30 this morning for meditation. By five pm I walked around the church grounds and then did Tai-chi. I celebrated the Eucharist in the church at six in the morning. After the mass, the organist and some of the choir sang Happy Birthday.

Later in the morning, I went by bike to a beach resort in Samal Island where my fellow Redemptorists were having their recreation. After lunch I biked back to the monastery. At four pm, I began cooking "kare-kare" (oxtail and tripe cooked with vegetables and with peanut sauce). It has been a while since I cooked this dish. The friends of the community arrived bringing some food - the usual potluck for birthday celebration. Everybody liked my "kare-kare" and there was none left after a while. After dinner we had some singing. I accompanied the various singers on the piano.

By nine, with the party was over, everyone went home. I brought some of the cake to the seminar house where some of the young people were practicing the choreography of the e-operetta "Reluctant Saint." During the break they finished the cake.

Homily for 27th Sunday A: The Parable of the Murderous Tenants

1. Introduction:

One of the problems that has beset Philippine society is the land conflict:
conflict between the landlords and tenants,
conflict between large corporations and farmers who claim that they have been dispossessed,
conflict between native Lumads/Muslims and Christian settlers in Mindanao
These conflicts have often turned violent.
At present the spiral of violence has escalated in Mindanao (between the MILF and government troops) - attrocities have been committed by both sides and the collateral damage - Muslim and Christian civilians caught in the cross-fire continue to increase.


2. The Word of God

In our first reading, the prophet Isaiah reminds us that it is God who is the owner of the land, of the vineyard, and leaders and people of Israel are the tenants. The prophet denounced the leaders and people of Israel because they produced wild, sour grapes:
I looked for justice and found violence
I looked for righteousness and heard the cry of distress
According to Isaiah God was displeased by the injustice and violence. Israel failed to bring about justice and peace – a violation of the covenant.

In our Gospel today, Jesus echoes the prophet Isaiah and compared the leaders of Israel to the unproductive and murderous tenants who violently rejected the servants of the land-owner including his son.
Like the prophet Isaiah, Jesus condemned the leaders for the injustice and violence that prevailed during his time. Jesus also predicted that he would have the same fate as the prophets who were rejected by the leaders of Israel in the past.
The kingdom of God that Jesus proclaimed would be like a vineyard that will have a bountiful harvest – the kingdom where love, justice, peace and righteousness will reign.

3. Challenge for us Christians

Our readings remind us that God is the real owner of the world’s resources – the air, the seas and the land
All of us are tenants – stewards of God’s creation.
No one can claim absolute ownership of the world’s resources.
God has created of all these that all humankind – the present and future generations --will share and benefit from the bounty of creation
God expect everyone to make sure that there is a bountiful harvest that bring about progress for all – not for a few – that justice and peace will prevail
We should stop thinking about what is mine, mine, mine – rather about what is ours to share.
“there is enough for everyone’s need but not for everyone’s greed”

“I looked for justice and found bloodshed
I looked for righteousness and heard the cry of distress”

Isaiah’s lament continues today in our land.
The armed conflict continues –
between the Government and the NPA
between the Government forces and the MILF
that could turn into a conflict between Christians and Muslims

It is our duty, our responsibility as Christians to act as good tenants, good stewards and work for peace and justice, and make sure that the resources in our country will be shared by everyone – Muslims, Lumads and Christians.
This is the harvest that God – the landowner –wants from us.

Celebrating Eid'l Ftr with Muslim Friends

Yesterday, I went over to the house of Ustadz Mahmod Adilao to celebrate the Eid'l Ftr - the end of the Ramadhan - with his family. His wife Norayah and daughter Nor Asiah were there, together with their grandchildren. There were also two members of the Focolare movement who arrived later.

Ustadz Adilao is the head of the Ulama League of the Philippines-Southern Mindanao chapter. He is also a member of the Bishops-Ulama Conference. We became close friends seven years ago when we worked together to organize the Caravan for Peace from Davao to Cotabato during the height of the all-out war declared by President Estrada in Central Mindanao. Since then we have occasionally met during consultations, meetings and prayer rallies. His daughter Nor Asiah is also a close friend. We are part of the Silsilah dialogue movement in Davao.

I am so glad to celebrate the Eid'l Ftr with them after expressing my solidarity with the Muslims in Mindanao by also fasting during the Ramadhan - my own version of Duyog-Ramadhan. I have been on a complete fast every Friday, and during the other days I have been eating only once day.

Even if Ramadhan is over, I will continue my Fast for Peace every Friday and will continue to eat only once day during the other days. I am doing so because there is still no peace in our land. With the end of Ramadhan, the fighting has escalated. Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) units continue their attack as the Government forces continue their military operations supported by bombing operations. Muslim and Christian civilians have suffered from this ongoing armed conflict. In other parts of Mindanao, the communist New People's Army (NPA) have also increased their tactical offensives and the Government forces have also countered with more operations. Sadly, the Arroyo government has adopted a more hardline, militarist approach.

Peace Forum, Running & Biking for Peace in Lanao

Yesterday, I attended a Peace Forum which was held at the Crystal Inn in Iligan City. This forum was one of the activities of the "Campaign for Understanding & Peace" sponsored by the Civil Society Organizations-Ranaw in partnership with the Mindanao People's Caucus with he support of the GoP-UNDP Act for Peace Programme. The objectives of the campaign are the following:

-To raise the level of people's awareness on the impact of the conflict based on the perspective of the affected communines and its great cost in terms of psycho-social, economic and physical damage

- To inform people of the continuing efforts to strengthen Muslim-Christian relations despite the challenges

- To encourage community leaders and members to participate in the efforts to promote peace and in resolving conflict.

Besides the Peace Forum in Iligan yesterday, there were other activities this morning:

6:00 - 7:00 am Run & Bike for Peace within Iligan City (with Fr. Robert Reyes the running priest and me -the cycling priest) - from MSU-IIT to Pryce Plaza. I biked beside Fr. Reyes and some runners.

7:00 am - 11 am - Bike & Caravan for Peace from Iligan to Kolambugan (I was accompanied by 25 Iligan bikers and followed by a peace caravan). We stopped over at the Lapayan- a place attacked by MILF- and amidst the ruins we prayed for the victims.

Two kilometers before Kolambugan, we slowed down and followed Fr. Reyes, the Mayor of Kolambugan (Bertrand Lumaque) and those in the Peace Caravan who started walking to the poblacion.

A Peace Forum was conducted at the Gym from 1:30- 4:30 in the afternoon, attended by the residents of this town that was recently attacked by the MILF.

Reunion (the survivors)

In 1968, we started our priestly formation at the St. Alphonsus' Minor Seminary. We were fourteen years old and there were 28 in our class. Only three were ordained priests - Fr. Senen Javier, Fr. Claro Conde and I.

So forty years later, the three of us came together celebrate and to reminisce. Fr. Senen and I are assigned here in Davao as part of the theology faculty. Fr. Claro Conde is now parish priest in the Isle of Wight, England. He came home to celebrate the death anniversary of his father death and so we invited him to Davao. Our last "reunion" was in Rome fourteen years ago.

Facilitating a Clergy Retreat

For the last three days, I have been facilitating the retreat of the clergy of the diocese of Baguio which was held here in Davao at the Rivier Retreat House. There were 38 priests led by their bishop, Most Rev. Carlito Cenzon, who attended the retreat. The retreat ended this evening.

The theme of the retreat is the same one that I used for the retreat of the Clergy of Infanta the other month - "Priestly Ministry in relation to Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs)."

Seminar-Workshop on Prayer & Spirituality for Young People

Today, from 9 am to 5:30 pm, I conducted a seminar-workshop on Prayer & Spirituality to the youth in our parish (Our Mother of Perpetual Help parish). There were over 70 who attended, mostly leaders and members of the core-group coming from the various BECs (Basic Ecclesial Communities).

There were 4 sessions with the following topics:

1. Why we need to pray

- the fruits of prayer

- the spiritual, psyscho-somatic dimension of prayer & meditation

2. When, where and how we pray

finding time and space for prayer

methods/forms of prayer & meditation

- praying with the body

- praying the rosary - meditation on the story of Jesus with Mary

- lectio divina

- centering prayer

- contemplation on an icon/image of Jesus

- prayer of petition, thanksgiving,

- examination of conscience & seeking forgiveness

- conversational prayer

- prayer & visualization

- music & prayer

- combining forms/methods

3. Praying with others - Social, Communitarian & Ecclesial Dimension of Prayer

-Why we need to pray together

-Forms of community prayer

- Liturgical Prayer

4. Spirituality of Communion, A Holistic & Integral Spirituality

- Communion with God, one another, nature

- Integrating prayer/contemplation with action (loving service, proclamation)

We ended the seminar with a, celebration of the Eucharist. In my homily I explained to the participants the meaning of the Eucharist and why we need to celebrate it together constantly.

(I was amazed by interest of the young people who attended the workshop. They were not at all bored. They were very attentive and they actively participated in the various forms of prayer that we tried. It just confirms that there is a hunger among young people for spirituality. It is a hunger that the Church must respond to. Otherwise, they will just turn to other religious traditions to learn how to pray and meditate.)

Fasting for Peace during the Month of Ramadan

For 24 hours, I won't be eating anything. I am praying and fasting for peace amidst the escalating armed conflict in central and western Mindanao during the month of Ramadan. I will be doing this every Friday, starting today. I will still be fasting on the other days of the week but it will be the traditional Catholic type of fasting - this means eating only one meal a day.

I am saddened by the turn of events. The government has abandoned the peace negotiation with the MILF due to the attacks and atrocities perpetrated by two units of the MILF on civilians. There is an ongoing hunt for these groups. The bombings carried out against the MILF positions has collateral damage. There are civilians - both Muslims and Christians - in various evacuation centers. The Philippine military has vowed that there would be no let down on their operations even during the month of the Ramadan. Meanwhile, Christian vigilante groups have sprouted to defend themselves from MILF attacks. I am concerned that this can turn into a Christian-Muslim conflict.

There is nothing much I can do. I feel so helpless in the midst of this seemingly hopeless situation. I cannot bike for peace across the war-torn areas - the classes have already started and besides I am afraid to be caught in the cross-fire. So I can only fast and pray.

Being a Christian, I am observing a fast to express my solidarity with Muslims in Mindanao who are fasting today. Way back in the 1980s, the late Bishop Benny Tudtud of the Prelature of Marawi and the Mindanao-Sulu Pastoral Conference introduced the "Duyog Ramadan." It was an invitation for Christians to reach out to the Muslims during the Ramadan in order to engage in a dialogue of life and faith. It was during the height of the armed conflict between the MNLF and the government. Today, I am doing the same. As I fast, I also remember in a special way theMuslims who have become close to me - my friends and partners in dialogue whom I consider my "relatives", not by blood, but by a common faith in the One God - the God of Abraham (Ibrahim), Isaac, Ishmael and Jacob. The God whom Jesus (Isa ibn Maryam, al Masih, al Nabi) calls Father. The same God that Muhammad (pbuh) worshipped.

As I fast, I also pray that that this armed conflict will not worsen Christian-Muslim relations. Above all I pray that it will stop. This war has already claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.

I pray that President Arroyo will have more patience and not allow these attacks, which the MILF leadership denied ordering, to scuttle the peace negotiations. May she not make impossible pre-conditions (such as disarmament, demobilization or integration) for talks to continue. These are supposed to be discussed at the later phase of the negotiations once agreement has been reached.

I pray that the MILF leadership show convincing proof that it is investigating and intend to punish the local MILF commanders responsible for the atrocities. May they not make the signing of the MOA-AD a precondition for peace negotiations to continue. May the become aware that majority of Filipinos cannot accept the dismemberment of the nation as the cost for peace.

I pray that Christians and Muslims and Lumads learn to accept that the land and all its resources belong to God and should be shared by all - by this generation and the next. "There is enough for everyone's need, but not for everyone's greed."

What is needed is an all-out peace, not an all-out war. May the new peace panel be reconstituted soon. This what I am praying and fasting for.

Government leaders and politicians who live in safety and comfort in Manila should think about people in Mindanao who are the ones to face the consequences of an all-out war policy.