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.