The Philippine Online Chronicles

This morning, Muslims and Christians gather at the Peace Bell in Quezon Memorial Circle to express their solidarity towards truth, justice and peace in Mindanao and the rest of the country. They gather as members of the Movement for Muslim Christian Dialogue or MMCD. MMCD is a movement that promotes active and meaningful dialogue between Muslims and Christians.

Manila is rather far from Mindanao. Many of us here could become quite detached and unaffected by what happens to our countrymen and women in Mindanao. Thus, the peace process becomes something outside and distant from us. We choose the path of dialogue in order to see our deep involvement and responsibility for the peace process. We begin by understanding the problems and challenges of peace with as much objectivity as possible.

The Maguindanao massacre is a complex problem. While we condemn the perpetrators of the crime, we also caution against the very real tendency to buy and support simplistic interpretations and solutions. Prejudice against Muslims and the usual dismissal of Mindanao as a troubled region do not help. Prejudice and ignorance are as much a source of violence as guns and backhoes are.

Today, Muslims and Christians gather at the Peace Bell in Quezon Memorial Circle to pray before walking to the Boy Scout Monument in Tomas Morato in order to promote and deepen our deep ties as "daughters and sons of Abraham." We are also Filipinos who share and celebrate deep historical and cultural ties. While the legal process against the alleged perpetrators of the Maguindanao Massacre has begun, we cannot and should not gloss over whatever violence there is within that can and does contribute to the violence that seems to erupt anywhere in our country. The path towards peace and justice begins not outside, but within each heart willing to honestly and humbly see, admit, and work on the violence within. As we seek truth, justice and peace in Mindanao and our country, we vigorously and collectively begin with ourselves as a community of Muslims and Christians. This is the way of peace, which begins in individual hearts spreading and transforming a society separated and divided by the violence of indifference, the worship of power, and the idolatry of wealth.

Salamat po.

Fr. Roberto P. Reyes

January 11, 2010