Every year, the Silsilah Dialogue Movement is at the forefront in the observance and promotion of the World Interfaith Harmony Week. In solidarity with the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines for its celebration of the year of Ecumenism, Interreligious Dialogue and the movement has adapted this year’s theme as: “Celebrating Dialogue towards Harmony".

One of the highlights during the weeklong celebration is the “Neighbors in Harmony”, which is a small and simple gathering of families and individuals in the neighborhood to simply talk about their relationships as neighbors in day-to-day situations of life’s realities. This is an opportunity for them to become more open to others of their preferences and of who they are as persons and as neighbors to others. This leads all to deepen their understanding of the others’ uniqueness in terms of faith, customs, and practices since the neighborhood is composed of people from different walks of life, status, and faith.

Acceptance and respect follow this understanding. Thus, dialogue has become an instrument with which the members of the community are able to share something of themselves for the common good bringing them to a harmonious relationship in the neighborhood. In this context, the Culture of Dialogue bears fruit: harmony.

In Zamboanga City, where Silsilah is present and where Christian-and-Muslim communities are dominant, the idea of the program, Neighbors in Harmony, spearheaded by the Emmaus Dialogue Movement, is of great importance. It is positively effective to the individuals, to the families, and to the neighborhood in a society that seeks for a lasting peace and harmony. Several barangays have conducted the program such as Bolong, Lunzuran, Culianan, Ayala, Recodo, and Baluno in different days within the observance of the WIHW 2020. So many inspiring stories were shared and words to live a life-in-dialogue were committed. Moreso, the presence of barangay officials and leaders who represent the different sectors and religious communities were inspiring. These gatherings hope to become as an example to the rest of the barangays and other communities to do the same in our promotion of the culture of dialogue as a path to peace. In fact, the City Social Welfare and Development Office has also introduced the said program to their areas of concerns and 4Ps beneficiaries.

Ultimately, the neighbors who are now living in harmonious relationships, facing life’s challenges, are led to a deeper spirituality in spite of their different faith beliefs and practices. The Universal Harmony Prayer was introduced which inspired many to pray with and for one another. The Neighbors-in-Harmony may be an activity for a day only, but the spirit will live on as long as dialogue is understood, accepted, and lived as our path to peace.