03
Apr

Professor Mangelen Advocates for Interfaith Harmony at IYOG Dialogue

By
, , , , ,
0
MSU Main Campus - Marawi City > 11-Sustainable Cities & Communities (SDG Goals) > Professor Mangelen Advocates for Interfaith Harmony at IYOG Dialogue

Aliah P. Cali-Pascan, DPA, JD

March 23, 2025 – In a significant step towards fostering interfaith understanding, Professor Corazon Mangelen delivered a compelling address on “Christian Perspective on Peace & Social Justice: Towards a Peaceful Harmonious Co-existence” at an interfaith dialogue organized by the Inspired Young Optimists Guild (IYOG) yesterday, March 22, 2025.

The event, themed “Strengthening of Faith, Fostering Unity and Bridging Understanding,” brought together students and community members for a crucial conversation on building bridges between different religious communities. Dr. Acram Latiph, Executive Director of the Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanao (IPDM), serves as the adviser for IYOG, highlighting the organization’s commitment to promoting peace and dialogue.

Professor Mangelen’s presentation explored the core tenets of Christian teachings related to peace and social justice, emphasizing the shared values that underpin harmonious co-existence. She highlighted the importance of empathy, respect, and mutual understanding in navigating the complexities of interfaith relations.

“The pursuit of peace and social justice is not confined to any single faith,” Professor Mangelen stated. “It is a universal aspiration, deeply rooted in the shared humanity that binds us all.

Through open dialogue and a commitment to understanding, we can build a society where diverse faiths can thrive together in harmony.”

The dialogue provided a platform for participants to engage in meaningful discussions, share their perspectives, and explore practical strategies for promoting interfaith cooperation. The IYOG’s initiative underscores the vital role of youth in fostering a culture of peace and understanding.

Dr. Latiph emphasized the importance of such dialogues in a region marked by diverse religious and cultural backgrounds. “Building bridges of understanding is essential for creating a peaceful and prosperous future for all,” he remarked. “The Inspired Young Optimists Guild is committed to empowering young people to be agents of positive change.”

The event concluded with a renewed commitment to continued dialogue and collaborative efforts aimed at strengthening faith, fostering unity, and bridging understanding among diverse communities. The message resonated strongly with the participants, leaving a lasting impact on the ongoing pursuit of peaceful co-existence.

About the author

The institute for peace and development in Mindanao (IPDM) was created by the MSU Board of Regents during its 182nd Meeting on December 7, 2001. The institute assumed the functions of two defunct units: the Muslim Christian Center for Peace Studies and the Muslim Mindanao Development Institute. It is now the central coordinating unit for all existing peace and development programs of the campuses of the University. MSU was established on September 1, 1961 as one of the government responses to the so-called “Mindanao problem.” The problem includes a violent struggle of segments of the Filipino Muslim population to redress long-standing grievances and assert Muslim selfhood and identity in the face of real and imagined threats of cultural and spiritual assimilation by the majority Filipino Christian population. The University was mandated to accelerate the “integration” of the cultural communities in Mindanao into the mainstream body politic and to accelerate the development of its service areas through instruction, research, and extension. In the pursuit of these objectives, the University also seeks to infuse spiritual and moral values, national consciousness and solidarity, and mutual understanding among Filipinos, which are necessary for peaceful coexistence and sustainable development. IPDM was therefore, created with the expectation that it would contribute to the easing of tensions and the promotion of justice and peace between Filipino Muslims and Christian by expanding knowledge, improving understanding and heightening sensitivity in relations between the peoples of Mindanao in particular, and the Philippines in general.

Leave a Reply