 The quest
for peace goes beyond religious affiliations. At 2pm on
October 10, 2007, IBPS Manila was invited to the
Philippine Women’s University (PWU) for an
inter-religious peace offering entitled “Prayer for
Peace in Myanmar at PWU.” The recent peaceful protest
against the military junta in Myanmar that ended in a
military crackdown on monks has struck a chord in the
Filipino community. It reminded us of our own People
Power Revolution in 1986, where members of the religious
community stood hand-in-hand with us to overthrow a
dictatorship that robbed the nation for more than 2
decades.
 The “Prayer for Peace in Myanmar at PWU” was
conceptualized by Fr. Caloy Reyes, the Secretary of the
CBCP (Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines)
Commission on Inter-religious Dialogue, and organized by
the Philippine Women’s University.
In attendance were university chancellor Dr. Dolores
Baja Lasan, university president Dr. Amelou Benitez
Reyes, Fr. Caloy Reyes who provided a slideshow
presentation on the situation in Burma (Myanmar), PWU
University Chaplain Msgr. Hernando M. Coronel who served
as the master of ceremonies, and Ms. Pauline Angeles who
represented the Burmese community in the Philippines.
 The Conrado Z. Benitez Hall was filled with faculty and
students of PWU, members of BLIA Philippines (Buddha’s
Light International Association - Philippines) and
guests from various religious communities. Members of
the Burmese community were also in attendance, but were
not introduced due to security reasons.
Highlights of the peace offering included a Bible
reading and prayer led by Bro. Gilbert Francisco of the
PWU Religion Department and Mrs. Erlinda Chincuanco, the
foreign student coordinator. This was followed by a
Buddhist chanting ceremony and prayer offering led by
Venerable Master Chueh Chen and Venerable Master Chueh
Xin, with Mrs. Joyce Tan of BLIA-Philippines who served
as an interpreter.
 
After the prayer offerings, Dean Harold Galang conducted
the PWU Chorus Class in singing “We are One” while Mr.
Peter Choi, president of the International Student
Association, led the candle lighting ceremony.
 Everyone in attendance held lighted candles and filed
outside the Conrado Z. Benitez Hall where the ceremony
was concluded with the releasing of balloons led by PWU
Student Council president Paula Peralta and freeing of
peace doves by Dr. Amelou Benitez Reyes, Dr. Dolores
Baja Lasan and Venerable Master Chueh Chen. |
