COTABATO CITY—The Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC) conducted its first interfaith dialogue entitled “Common Understanding on Moral Governance” on Wednesday, Oct. 6 in this city.
BYC organized the activity in partnership with the Hay Ato Al-Ulama El Muslimina Bil Filibbin, Inc., Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches, and the Union of Muslim Youth Organizations (UMYO). Participants include some 80 members of religious youth organizations who were Indigenous Peoples, Moros, and Christians from Cotabato City, Maguindanao province, and BARMM’s Special Geographic Area (SGA).
BYC Commissioner Nasserudin Dunding for Maguindanao, Cotabato City, and SGA said the dialogue provided space for the youth of different faiths to unite for a similar cause of magnifying their voice on the stance of ‘moral governance’.
“Ang pagtitipong ito ng iba’t ibang relihiyon ng mga kabataan ay upang pag-usapan kung ano yung mga pressing issues […] isa rin ito na espasyo para magkaroon tayo ng unity call at ang pinakamahalagang outcome nitong interfaith dialogue ay makapag-come up tayo ng depenisyon ng Moral Governance mula sa mga kabataan na nandirito,” Dunding said.
For his part, BARMM Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim said: “As many of you know, the Government of the Day’s advocacy on Moral Governance is inspired by our shared beliefs in Islamic faith. However, this concept is not exclusive to our creed alone. In fact, providing good leadership and competent governance are universal in nature; and true, even with the tenets of Christianity and our Indigenous communities..”
“I hope that this dialogue highlights this commonalities and help us further appreciate that the work on making the lives of our people better—is shared responsibility with the shared understanding,” Ebrahim added.
During the dialogue, the religious youth leaders discussed their roles in enhancing social cohesion among the youth in the region, arrived at a consensus definition about Moral Governance in the context of Bangsamoro, and drawn initial recommendations and suggestions for policy development primarily in the context of youth of different faith.
Christian Youth representative Adolfo Crisver Nimes from Cotabato City said, “Malaking tulong ito sakin dahil yung mga guest speaker natin ay mula sa iba’t ibang religion at sector kaya marami akong nakuhang information […] to correct my perception.”
Resource speakers to the dialogue were Mark Anthony Henorio Edio from Catholics for Peace and Development, Norman Insong from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Pastor Elias Daramayo from the Evangelical Groups, and Shiekh Shaidy Mama Montañer from Hay Ato Al-Ulama El Muslimina Bil Filibbin, Inc. (Bangsamoro Information Office)
