Sacred Songs of Peace: An Interfaith Celebration of the International Day of Peace 2007 September 21stEnvironmental Studies InstituteMiriam College, Quezon CityPhilippines
As the conference hall started to be filled with the flags of the different religious symbols and display banners from different faiths, the presentation area also started to be filled with musical instruments. On one side: a drum set, electric guitars and amplifiers were positioned; on the other side—gongs, drums and bamboos were laid on the floor. Little by little, group by group, people started to fill the chairs. As the early birds took their seats, videos on the United Religions Initiative (URI) were shown.
More and more colors filled the hall. They were colors of diversity. Dressed in street clothes, school uniforms, habits, hijabs, orange and white robes, kimonos, ethnic beads, batik, turbans and what not— they were representatives, members, peace advocates, religious and lay, teachers, and a big number of youths and students coming from different faith groups, schools, NGO’s, and spiritual organizations who came to join The Peacemakers’ Circle Foundation, Inc. (PCFI) and the interfaith community in celebrating the International Day of Peace 2007 with “SACRED SONGS OF PEACE” on September 21, 2007 at the Miriam College Environmental Studies Institute.
Nearly 200 people attended the evening’s musical celebration which wove a symphony of prayers, meditation, chanting, songs and dances from various spiritual traditions. Following the Welcome Remarks by URI SEAsia-Pacific regional coordinator & PCFI OIC, Dr. Shakun Vaswani; meditation & silencing was led by Mr. John Dowling of Brahma Kumaris. This was followed by a song number from a special celebrity guest: model/actress-singer/environmentalist Ms. Chinchin Gutierrez (who recently launched an album of interfaith songs). Writer/dancer/artist-teacher Ms. Maria Abulencia, with the cultural workshop group, Hibla, rendered a spontaneous dance peace ritual. Imam Akmad Wahab of Filipino Muslim Youth Council for Peace & Development offered a Qur’anic chanting prayer and an Islamic song, while the Anada Marga Yoga Society presented a mantra song. This was followed by lively bhajan chanting and dancing by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON/Hare Krishna). Baba Surinder Singh Ragi of Guru Nanak Mission (Sikh) offered a short prayer-chant.
Another lively presentation was rendered by the Salesian Youth Movement of Don Bosco School (Catholic) who brought their whole band with full equipment.
A dance number invoking Lord Ganesha, the deity of wisdom and remover of obstacles was then presented by the Hindu girls in their tradition classical dance costumes, while equally colorful in their kimonos and Japanese outfit were members of Shinji Shumei Kai who also offered chanting and a dance.
Another special group that performed was the Kulay-Wala band --composed of youths from the grassroots community of Brgy. Camarin—representing the GenPeace Youth Network. This was followed by an innovative step dance performed by youths from the Baha’i Faith national center, and a song number from Mr. Bob Guerrero of the Unitarian Universalist community of Manila.
Finally, the
Byakko Shinko Kai members were led by
Ms. Tomoko Ukai (who was visiting the Philippines from Japan), along with Ms. Norma Correa (Nanamaru) and Orlan de Guzman, Jr. (ShinJin-Manila) to demonstrate the Divinity-In of WareSokuKamiNari,
JinruiSokuKamiNari, and Kokyoho while Ms. Yeyet San Luis read the Divinity-In Declarations and explanations of each movement. The audience also joyfully followed them in the performance of the prayer movement.
The evening was capped with the reading of the UN secretary general’s official message on IDP 2007 and the World Peace Prayer ceremony. This was led by WPPS representative, Mr. Toots Fungo, who distributed to each one in the hall during the ceremony the flag-cards representing the different world nations for which everyone prayed for peace to prevail.
Through Shakun as URI SEAP regional coordinator and PCFI executive director Ms. Marites Africa (who hosted the whole program), the organizers heartfully thank all the participants, performers, volunteers and supporters, and all those who attended the event-- especially representatives from the JPICC-AMRSP (UN-IDP secretariat), Xaverian Missionaries, Miriam Center for Peace Education, Young Moro Professionals Network, Christian Peacemakers Team, Canossa School - Sta. Rosa, Roots of Learning, PeaceTeach, Pax Christi.
Thank you all for the beautiful and powerful stand for unity and peace!
In the morning of January 13, 2008 the first meeting of the year for Shin Jin Program core group was held at The Peacemakers' Circle office in Loyola Heights, Quezon City.
Facilitated by Mr. Toots Fungo, the group started with a Divinity In performed by Ms. Norma Correa (NanaMaru member) which preceeded the Touitsu meditation (10-mins.), followed by the declaration and performance of the Divinity-In for the Self (WareSokuKamiNari), for Humanity (JinruiSokuKamiNari), and the Kokyoho spiritual breathing and In.
This was followed by prayers of gratitude to nature and the declaration of the 49 bright words (with the aid of the audio-visual materials). 
During the meeting proper, the members touched-base with each other by sharing how they have been since the holiday break and since the last meeting. Organizational matters were then discussed which includes the agenda for the Byakko Phils. satellite organizational meeting in the afternoon.
On December 9, 2007 (Sunday) the ShinJin core group held its regular monthly meeting in conjunction with the Mandala-writing workshop and membership meeting at the St. Joseph's College in Quezon City.
Present were: 1) Mr. Mario "Toots" ; 2) Ms. Norma C. ; 3) Mr. Orlan D.; 4) Ms. Kit P. ; 5) Ms. Rio L.; 6) Ms. Queen F.
This was followed by a Divinity In session led by Ms. Norma C.
Towards the end, the ShinJin members and workshop participants gathered together for joint Divinity-In prayers.
On July 29, 2007 (Sunday) another ShinJin-Manila regular meeting was held in the morning and noon time prior to the regular Mandala workshop in the afternoon.
After about 10 minutes of Tuitsu (meditation on the spiritual whistling and clapping of Goi Sensei), the group practiced the Divinity-Ins, with special emphasis on the Kokyuho In.
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