austraLasia #1777
"There is no other way - we go to heaven
or we go to hell, together".
MATI (MINDANAO): 4th March 2007 -- Father Ben (Benabaye) is the Rector of the
tiny Salesian community on the Southern Philippines island of Mindanao, at Mati
(recently renamed as Puhana City). Mindanao is the second largest island
in the Philippines, with its Sulu Archipelago stretching virtually to the coast
of Malaysia. Robert Pitong is a prominent Muslim Imam at Mati. There is
little need to repeat the details here of five centuries worth of struggle
between Christian and Muslim inhabitants of Mindanao, resulting in unspeakable
acts of violence on both sides, even into recent times. Such a setting,
however, makes what follows even more remarkable.
The Salesian Extraordinary Visitor to Mati, on 27th February
to be precise, met for two hours with the local Muslim Imam, Robert 'Pitong',
78 years of age and the second highest ranking Imam on Mindanao.
Fr Ben and Fr Klement found Robert Pitong at home in his seashore
village. In this area, the Muslims are mostly found along the coast and
the Christians in the hinterland. Two hours of discussion with this
prominent Imam revealed, in Fr Klement's words "a man of
peace". He was struck by the Imam's opening comments on
Christian-Muslim relations: "Co-existence is the only way. We go to
heaven together and fighting will only bring us to hell together".
Put that way, it makes the options clear!
In the Year 2000, there were simultaneous bombings at Mati
Cathedral and the adjacent Mosque. The event spurred regional inter-religious
gatherings of priests, pastors lumads (animist priests), and imams. Three
years following the start of these meetings, young Muslims began to attend the
Salesian camps, an act of acceptance on one part and welcome on the other which
vastly improved a sense of mutual trust. Robert Pitong demonstrates his
attitude of co-existence in very practical ways. He expresses interest in
Catholics and foreigners who come into the ambit of his domain, wanting them to
learn the culture. He reads the Bible to understand it and Christians better -
in fact has three copies in different languages. He even helps with
translation of the Bible into the local dialect. He has 'cleaned up' the beach
area by chasing out easy profiteers who tried to set up kiosks on the pristine
sands, in an effort to keep the local culture just as pristine.
Robert Pitong claims that his area is the safest in the
country. His own home has no windows, indeed no doors and therefore no
keys. He is a model of openness in more ways than one. At the end
of Ramadam 2006 he celebrated by slaughtering two beasts, then invited in the
four local parish priests (Fr Ben included) to celebrate with him! Robert
Pitong argues for the local Madrasa, in this case a poor Muslim school which
teachers youngsters Muslim traditions from the Koran, and adds a kind of
catechism of down-to-earth traditions of eating, day-to-day customs. The
Imam also sees the Madrasa as a preventative form of education which avoids the
excesses of urban life, the 'town' influences of secularism or drug-taking.
Thus far the story - just a part of it - of Robert Pitong,
Imam extraordinaire. But it is likewise a story of his close associates,
the Salesians of Mati, and together they model a practical inter-religious
dialogue which has obviously impressed the Visitor, and no doubt gives rise to
similar admiration in the young for whom both Imam and Salesian community are
showing deep educative concern.
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