By Susan K
Philippine Daily Inquirer
12:03 am | Sunday, November 6th, 2011
The 7th Interfaith Dialogue of the Asia-Europe Meeting
(ASEM-IFD7) was held last Oct. 13-14 at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila
with the theme “Harnessing the Benefits and Addressing the Challenges of
Migration through Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue.”
It ended with the issuance of The Manila Statement on ASEM Interfaith Dialogue on Migration.
The statement called on ASEM member countries to promote
understanding, tolerance and respect for diversity of cultures, and for
freedom of religion and beliefs in the context of increased mobility and
people-to-people interaction.
Administrator Carmelita Dimzon of Overseas Workers Welfare
Administration, the country’s representative in the event, defined
interfaith dialogue as “cooperative, constructive and positive
interaction between or among people of different religious traditions
and spiritual or humanistic beliefs.”
According to Dimzon, respect for religious, non-religious and
cultural diversity is integral for our well-being, prosperity and peace.
International migration, by bringing people of different beliefs together, can promote cultural and religious harmony.
Filipino migrants—over eight million of them in about 190
countries—bring with them their values, traditional beliefs, ethical
standards and norms, and even ideologies. Yet they are able to mix and
blend easily with other nationals. Dimson attributes this to the
predeparture orientation programs conducted by the government that remind Filipino migrants to be sensitive to the behavior and culture of other people.
Over the years, host governments have also become more open and
tolerant of foreign migrants. Religious discrimination against has has
diminished, she said.
In Macau or Hong Kong, where there are over 130,000 Filipino
migrants, a Catholic mass is celebrated by a Filipino priest in Filipino
for Filipino mass-goers. Overseas Filipinos workers say the freedom
to express themselves through their faith helps them cope with the
pressure, stress and loneliness they face while being away from home,
Dimson said.
Truly, OFWs can become catalysts for inter-faith harmony in the world today.
Dimzon lamented that some societies have stayed restrictive,
repressive and intolerant of other people’s humanistic and religious
beliefs. To her, these societies have not yet realize the benefits they
receive from the presence of migrants in their country. She expressed
hope that in due time and through continued and sustained interfaith and
inter-cultural dialogues, they will become part of one, big, open world
whose people have come together despite differing beliefs.
Susan Andes, a.k.a. Susan K is on board at RADYO INQUIRER 990 DZIQ AM, Mon to Fri, 7:00-8: 30 p.m.
http://bit.ly/ttTFK8
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