Iftar for peace and forgiveness

With President Macapagal-Arroyo as guest of honor, the Libyan Embassy and the World Islamic Call Society celebrated last Saturday Iftar (breaking of the fast) at sundown, six days before the end of the Ramadan. The Sunset Pavilion of Westin Philippine Plaza was full of Muslim and Christian leaders observing the celebration for peace and forgiveness, the second held at the same venue since last year’s celebration.

President Macapagal-Arroyo’s message highlighted the fact that the proposed agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is a unique instrument in that it includes provisions on anti-terrorism.

Brief messages calling for peace and forgiveness were expressed by House Speaker Joe de Venecia, Engr. Gamal N. Ahmed, permanent representative of the World Islamic Call Society; and ARMM Gov. Zaldy U. Ampatuan.

Earlier that afternoon, a forum on the theme "Understanding Muslim-Christian Responses to Violence" was held, with church dignitaries, and representatives of government agencies and NGOs in attendance. That afternoon, messages were delivered by Executive Secretary Eduardo R. Ermita, Atty Michael Mastura, Bishop Hilario M. Gomez, Dr. Mahid Mutilan of the Ulama Council of the Philippines, and Father Romeo Intengan.

A memorandum of agreement was signed by Education Secretary Fe Hidalgo and Amar Hariban, secretary, Office of Da’wah, World Islamic Call Society from Tripoli, Libya. This is on the publication of a book that explains Islamic teachings which will be used in public schools.

A statement from the forum said that the Society’s hosting of a grand Iftar for peace and forgiveness "represents an annual attempt to invite men and women of goodwill and of brotherhood to a banquet of life with faith — one manifested in breaking the day’s fasting. It said that as a people of religion, "We adhere to the precept of ‘no compulsion in religion’ (and) to draw away political struggles from extremism, religious fanaticism and intolerance."

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Dr. Salem M. Adam, ambassador from the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya to the Philippines, said the Iftar was organized "as a venue for sharing unity, in the spirit of the holy month of Ramadan." He expressed that President Macapagal-Arroyo and Speaker de Venecia have given "wider importance to the dialogue of faiths at the level of the United Nations." Libyan leader Col. Muammar al-Qadhafi, has thrown all-out support to the Philippines’ call for the creation of an interfaith council in the UN, he said.

The ambassador expressed that it would be better "If, beginning with this Iftar, we devote our time to creating positive images for Islam, which has been wrongfully stereotyped as an ‘enemy.’ Let us manifest Islamic moderation in our daily lives; tolerance in our dealings with the world; compassion for the needy and disadvantaged, and forgiveness for those who may not agree with us, including even our enemies.’ It is not correct that Islam is incompatible with democracy and human rights. That it inflicts harm on society and humanity. All the allegations that have been made against Islam are baseless and unfounded. We should address them constructively and objectively. For Islam, as a religion of peace, mercy and brotherhood, is the universal religion of mankind, which should be shared with all humanity." He restated Libya’s position that it will continue to support the Philippine government in its quest for a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Mindanao.

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Taking off from a line by Yul Brynner in "The King and I," I say, "It’s a puzzlement!" I refer to the rather prolonged and inexplicable silence of the fiery Susan Roces, she who accused President Macapagal-Arroyo of stealing the presidency "not once but twice."

Susan was nowhere in any of the recent rallies and protest marches of the Divided Opposition. It was not too long ago when she thundered, "Umpisahan ninyo at tatapusin ko!" upon being asked if she was ready to lead street protests against the present dispensation.

This was during the press conference she called following GMA’s mea culpa statement over that "lapse in judgment" call to a Comelec official while the Senate was still canvassing the votes for presidential elections.

If memory serves me right, the last time FPJ’s widow hobnobbed with the anti-Gloria groups was during the gathering of the "Bukluran sa Katotohanan" organized by people identified with what political observers call the middle forces.

After that, not a glimpse of her pretty face has been seen in the succeeding rallies. Not during the Plaza Miranda prayer rally October 14 where GMA again got a thorough verbal drubbing. Not during the march to Mendiola of the breakaway group led by former Vice President Tito Guingona, Representatives Satur Ocampo of Bayan Muna and Crispin Beltran of Anakpawis, Sen. Jamby Madrigal, and marathon priest Robert Reyes.

While the denunciations over the dispersal of the Mendiola infiltrators came fast and furious, nary a peep was heard from Susan. It was just as well perhaps, insofar as Senator Jamby is concerned. Else, she could have upstaged the senator in media exposure, notwithstanding the latter’s leg-baring gimmick.

Nor did Lady Susan lend her precious presence in the sneaky October political blitz in Mendiola that was disguised as another prayer rally organized this time by the so-called Black and White Movement and the Hyatt 10.

Imagine the drama and the news impact that the former movie queen could have generated. Picture her leading the Hyatt 10, followed by some actors and actresses, and escorted by a phalanx of policemen on either side as they snake their way to the San Beda church. Magsisimba lang kami. This was the ruse which the rally organizers successfully employed to breach the police line at Mendiola, remember? For more impact, Susan could have told the police that after prayers or Mass at the church, she would spend a little more time in the school where her late husband had gone for elementary and a bit of high school.

The word is that FPJ’s widow has been keeping her distance from the militant groups and from the Cory and Lacson camps in order not to further antagonize former President Joseph Estrada, the Pwersa ng Bayan leaders.

It seems that the Erap camp had expressed extreme displeasure over Susan’s perceived alliance with the radicals and the Cory and Lacson camps since these were the same parties responsible for the ouster of Erap in January 2001.

It looks like the disorganization in the opposition ranks is getting more patent. Note that Cory has embarked on an anti-GMA crusade by going to the different church parishes and school campuses. She has been doing this on her own, by her lonesome self, in effect also placing some distance between herself and the other groups in what is rapidly turning out to be a porous coalition.

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I INADVERTENTLY skipped mentioning the names of three important guests at the testimonial dinner given by Sen. Richard Gordon, 2005 UPLB Awardee for Peace and Development in Mindanao Saeed A. Daof - environmentalist Odette Alcantara, Dr. Liling Briones (chair of the Silliman University Board of Trustees), and Queenie Maulana Villanueva (member of the Royal Family of the Sultanate of Sulu, and medical doctor and creative writer, also a Silliman graduate like Liling). These three are strong advocates for peaceful conflict transformation in Mindanao.

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