TULAY CC updates (Dec 2007 - June 2008)

I. TULAY CC Outreach at Tagbilaran Dumpsite

On December 2007, the TULAY CC members together with Mr. Boni Quirog of Bohol Goodwill Volunteers CC, visited a dumpsite located at the outskirts of Tagbilaran City. It was not just giving of used clothing and old toys to the grassroots residents but most importantly interacting with the children and youth as well. We also had the chance to make an ocular inspection of the environment and witnessed the solid waste management situation of the city. We were suddenly moved to plan on what we can to do in response to the global climate crisis. Although the condition of the people there were rather disheartening, it was somehow a relief to see the smiles of gratitude on their faces in response to our humble gesture.

II. Self-Transformation & Youth Leadership Seminar

In the hope of awakening our higher potentials, the “Trust, Understanding and Learning Among Youth” (TULAY) CC and the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation of Bohol jointly sponsored a 2-day “Self-Transformation and Youth Leadership” seminar last May 24-25, 2008 in Tagbilaran City. The speaker of the said affair was no less than Mr. Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., president of the Manila-based Theosophical Society in the Philippines.

III. TULAY CC planning meeting

Last 11 June 2008, the TULAY CC members once again had a meeting at Jojie’s restaurant, Tagbilaran City. Being one of those who attended the URI-SEAP 4th Regional Meeting and witnessed the launching of INTERFAITH Sectors of Cebu City, Ms. Marjorie Angalot recounted how she felt privileged and honored to represent the youth CC and shared about the accomplishments of the said meeting/workshop, and about her experiences of meeting new friends, of tasting different kinds of food from different faith traditions and cultures, and of engaging in the challenge to serve for the purpose and vision of URI.

The members thought of creating a logo for TULAY CC. Each member is encouraged to submit each own design and our official logo will eventually be chosen next month. We also reached the idea of holding fund-raising activities hence, sponsoring educational movies or supporting a band music competition in July, in time of the Bohol Sandugo festival. Other mutual learning and bridge-building activities considered are tree planting and another visit to the dumpsite.

URI Philippines First Country Meeting 2007

URI Philippines First Country Meeting
October 31- November 1, 2007
URI SEAP Regional Office, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Phils.

The Country Meeting of the URI Cooperation Circles (CC) from all over the Philippines took place for the first time on October 31 – November 1, 2007 at the URI SEAP Regional Coordinating Office in Loyola Heights, Quezon City, Metro Manila.

Out of the six existing CCs in the archipelago, the leaders and representatives who were able to attend the meeting were: 1) Marites Africa (Peacemakers’ Circle CC leader); 2) Dr. Jo Kashim (Peacemakers’ CC member & URI MI Phil. Team member); 3) Sr. Sandra Clemente (URI-SEAP Global Trustee/ Regional Chair, & Kalinaw CC leader form Cebu); 4) Mr. Musa Sanguila (Pakigdait CC leader from Mindanao); 5) Mr. Boni Quirog (Bohol Goowill Volunteers’ CC leader CC); and 6) Mr. Ludwig Quirog (TULAY CC leader from Bohol). They were also joined by 7) Dr. Shakuntala Vaswani (URI-SEAP Regional Coordinator & Peacemakers’ Circle CC member), and 8) Mr. Orlan de Guzman, Jr. (URI-SEAP Reg’l Info.&Com. Officer & Peacemakers’ CC member).

The first face-to-face meeting of URI Philippines saw an inspiring and energizing gathering of leaders as they sought to touch-base and level-off with each other and get to know each of their CCs’ different programs and unique initiatives in interfaith peacebuilding. This was done through presentations of history and reports of activities & recent projects given by each CC.

As the two-day meeting progressed, more serious matters were taken up which includes URI leadership and organizational structure in the region, as well as evaluation of communications and CC-building. After an assessment of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges in the country, the members came up with plans and recommendations towards strengthening further the URI work in this part of the region.