Harmony Youth Day turns Four
“Youth In journey: Explore, Rediscover and Experience the God’s Gift of Creation” was the theme of the annual youth gathering dubbed as Harmony Youth Day, held on December 19, 2009 at the Hadji Nuño and Fr. Di Guardo Auditorium, Harmony Village, at Pitogo, Sinunuc, Zamboanga City. It was organized and implemented by Silpeace youth program and generously supported with the involvement and time of the members of the Young Professionals for Dialogue and Peace of the Silsilah Dialogue Movement.
Dialogue with creation was the emphasis of the event from the stage decoration all the way to the performances and intermission numbers presented during the program. It was attended by some 600 young people, Muslims and Christians, from the different schools, communities, youth groups and organizations in Zamboanga City and from as far away as Jolo, Sulu. The young people showcased their talents in the form of songs, dances and theatrical presentations focusing on the appreciation of the beauty and importance of Mother Nature as God’s gift to humanity.
The Harmony Youth Day gathers the young people who in one way or another participated in the different activities spearheaded by the program such as youth camps, culture of dialogue orientation seminars, symposia, regular formations and other activities conducted throughout the year. This year’s Harmony Youth Day also served as the culminating activity in line with the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Movement and the ten years existence of Silpeace in sharing the spirituality of dialogue. Silpeace was formally launched in 1999.
Preceding the event a poster making contest was conducted and participated in by the different schools, colleges and communities in the city. This gave the opportunity among the participating young artists to express their hopes and aspirations for dialogue and peace through their creativity. The winners of the contest were formally awarded during the affair and their art works were displayed inside the auditorium as a gallery.
The youth day itself was a whole day affair. It commenced with a motorcade starting at the city center going to the venue proper. Silpeace Performing Arts entertained the audience with their exhilarating opening salvo, a playlet centering on loving and nurturing God’s creation. It was a presentation that touched everyone with its heartfelt message.
Former youth coordinators Ahmad Alawaddin and Norbert Solina in their respective messages encouraged the youth to nurture the values they have learned from the movement and allow these to ripple to other members of the community they are part of. Link moderators and mentors from the different schools and communities gave their words of encouragement and showed their unending support to the youth program.
After months of preparation Harmony Youth Day 2009 ended successfully. With sincere gratitude Silpeace coordinators, Aldamir Abdulkahal, Jackelyn Timoteo and Sheiha Musa thank the following participating schools, communities and youth groups:
AGAPE Human Development Foundation, Ateneo de Zamboanga University-High School Department. Ayala National High School,
Badjao Community, Baluno National High School, Cawit Community, Campo Islam Community, HMIJ Philippine Islamic Coolege, Inc., Kalinaw Youth, La Paz Community, Pilar College-High School Department, Regional Science High School, SilPeace-Jolo, SilPeace-Zamboanga, Sinunuc Community, Sinunuc National High School, Southcom National High School,
Sta. Catalina Community, Sta. Cruz Island Community, Universidad de Zamboanga, Western Mindanao State University-Integrated Laboratory High School, Zamboanga City High School-Main, Zamboanga State College of Marine Science and Technology-College and High School, and Zone IV Youth.
