Santosh Digal

The Muslim majority region has been a theatre of war between the army and Islamic rebels for over 40 years. Fr. Randy Glore Rendora and Sr. Claire Marie R. Sy, both missionaries in the province of Lanao del Sur (Mindanao), tell AsiaNews about their experience of inter-faith dialogue among Muslims.

During Holy Week and Easter, Mgr. Romulo Tolentino de la Cruz, Bishop of Kidapawan and member of the Forum of bishops and Ulema, tells AsiaNews about the situation and future expectations of the population of Mindanao. For 40 years, the Muslim majority region has been the scene of war between the Philippine army and Islamic rebels.

The gesture of "Visita Iglesia" retraces the pilgrimage to the seven Roman basilicas and was imported by Spanish missionaries in the early eighteenth century. It involves all Catholics during Holy Week in the Philippines and this year there is a special virtual tour for migrants living abroad in non-Catholic countries.

During Holy Week, the elderly, young, poor and prisoners recite the Pabasa every morning, an old traditional chant composed in the seventeenth century by Spanish missionaries to teach the stories of the Passion of Jesus to the natives. Fr. Fernando Caprio: This song helps us remember that Christ shines in all the circumstances of our lives

The initiative is a collaborative effort between the Assumption Parish of Davao and entrepreneurs in the area. They help people to pursue entrepreneurial activities through the establishment of a common fund and loans at an interest rate of 1%.

Conditions of unemployment in the slums lead to violence against women at the hands of their husbands. Through job training and spiritual help a group of Dominican sisters from Davo offers an alternative to these women by helping them build and sell products made from recycled material and regain the respect of their husbands and sons.

In Philippine jails prisoners live in inhuman conditions and often suffer from diseases and mental disorders. Beatriz Buenavista Evangelista, a catechist for 11 years in prison in Quezon City, relates her experience among inmates and says: "If these people are languishing behind bars, it is our mission is to bring them the love of God and Gospel values."

The initiative takes place during Lent and will involve before Easter, 79 patients of the disciples of Emmaus Home of Apostolate in Malolos. Organizers of the event the Augustinian nuns of Our Lady of Consolation and a group of students from the diocese of Bulacan. Sister Easter Aunan "Like us patients need to live the experience of hope embodied in the Passover.

The program is run by Caritas and the Philippines Association of lay Dominicans. Since 1976, over 10 thousand prisoners have been reintegrated into society through training and psychological and spiritual help inside and outside prison.

The widespread appeal in recent days was signed by over a thousand people including religious leaders and politicians. They accuse the army of human rights violations. Health professionals were working for a local NGO. The army arrested them on 6 March with the false accusation of making weapons and bombs used by insurgents of the communist New Peoples Army.

Two days of meetings of the Non-Aligned Movement, historic international organization that brings together 118 countries in the developing world. Muslim leader: Sowing the seeds of the culture of peace among people and nations through dialogue to consolidate efforts towards the total elimination of the shadow of war.

Alina Ganjuana, a real estate agent in the United States for the past eight years, talks about her experience. For her, spirituality is more important than making money. The Philippines has the third largest number of migrants overseas. In 2009, they sent some US$ 17 billion home; that is 10 per cent of the economy.