Friendship Dinner hosted by Pacific Dialogue Foundation in Philippines


Date posted: August 31, 2012

The Pacific Dialogue Foundation, Inc. and Integrative Center for Alternative Development Foundation, Inc., hosted the “Friendship Dinner” on August 30, 2012. It was held at Crowne Plaza, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. The dinner was attended by several prominent government officials including Senator Teofisto Guingona, Congresswoman Aliah Dimaporo, Congresswoman Imelda Dimaporo, Congresswoman Reena C. Obillo, Congressman Rufus Rodriguez and San Juan City Mayor Guia Gomez.

Heads of different government and private offices, presidents and academicians from various universities, representatives of different religious organizations, executives and chairman of several business organizations and other sectors were present also in this event. The event was indeed a success.

Mr. Ferhat Kazkondu, the President of Pacific Dialogue Foundation, Inc. gave the opening remarks in the program. After welcoming and thanking the guests, he said “it is wonderful to see all friends here, from different offices and from different backgrounds. He also emphasized “that representing the goodness is more important and more meaningful than just talking about it.” He concluded his remarks by saying that “tonight in this Friendship Dinner, we strongly believe that friendship, co-existence and harmony are already being represented”.

After Mr. Ferhat Kazkondu, the keynote speaker Mr. Umit Goker from Turkey delivered a speech that emphasized certain quotes and messages from Turkish scholar Fethullah Gulen. Among others, he highlighted the importance of values on caring and compassion, sincerity and modesty in the heart. He ended his message with another saying from Fethullah Gulen which stated that “love is the most direct and safest way to human perfection. It is difficult to attain the rank of human perfection through ways that do not contain love.”

Congresswoman Aliah Dimaporo gave also a short message in the program that describes her first encounter with Turkish people and her admiration for Turkey as a country, which she has visited last year. Indeed, the values and experiences that she had treasured from her educational and cultural trip to Turkey have helped her conceptualized a cause which she applied in her province. She completed her message with a Turkish proverb “if there is life, there is hope”.

Senator Teofisto Guingona served as the last speaker in the program. His message focused in the importance of dialogue not only in the Philippines but also in other parts of the world.

The Pacific Dialogue Foundation, in partnership with other foundations will continue to further realize its goal. It will remain steadfast in its effort to reach-out to other sectors to advance and widen its horizon to stay relevant and true to its mission of promoting a world of peace in which people of diverse culture, religions, race, backgrounds or beliefs can freely pursue their lives in the interest of the common good through dialogue, by upholding the primacy of universal values such as tolerance, understanding, compassion, mutual respect, and fairness for peaceful co-existence.

Source: Pacific Dialogue Foundation , October 8, 2012


Related News

Rumi Forum bestows Peace and Dialogue Awards

ALİ H. ASLAN The Rumi Forum, a think tank established by Turks living in Washington, D.C., to foster intercultural dialogue, has presented its traditional Peace and Dialogue Awards. The 2010 Rumi Peace and Dialogue Awards ceremony was held on Tuesday at the National Press Club’s Ballroom in Washington, D.C. The think thank gave awards to […]

Explained the secret: Gulen gave it as a gift

“I always wear two watches on my both wrists. One of them is my watch and the other one is Gulen’s gift. When someone asks me about these watches I tell them that my watch shows Turkey’s time.”

Alevi problems deeper than they seem, opinion leaders agree

On the first day of the 30th Abant Platform meeting on Friday on the Alevis issue in Turkey, Alevi and Sunni intellectuals and opinion leaders agreed that the problems date back to centuries ago and are more complicated than they seem. The event, titled “Searching for peace and a future together,” brought together representatives of various Alevi communities as well as Alevi and Sunni pundits, journalists and academics in an effort to have a comprehensive debate on one of the lingering problems of Turkish society.

Turkish aid organizations rushes aid to Philippines

Turkish humanitarian aid organizations have sent rescue teams to the Philippines. “A 10-member rescue team of ours has already reached the Philippines,” Yusuf Yıldırım, who is in charge of foreign aid at Kimse Yok Mu (Is Anybody There?), has told Today’s Zaman. The humanitarian aid organization will also distribute 6,500 food packages to the victims.

Afghan Students, families baulk at Turkey taking over schools

A number of parents of students at Afghan-Turk Schools on Saturday said at a meeting in Kabul they support the continuation of the schools in the country and do not want control to be handed over to the Turkish government.

Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan Reject Turkish Calls to Close Gülen Schools

Kazakh authorities said the Gülen schools would remain open. In a statement, the Education Ministry said “These schools (27) will be working as they used to.” The schools were established through a bilateral deal signed by Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev and then-Turkish President Turgut Özal shortly after independence, according to Akipress. Both Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are remaining firm that they will not bend to Ankara’s will on this issue.

Latest News

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

University refuses admission to woman jailed over Gülen links

In Case You Missed It

Turkish PM: State of emergency will continue until Gülen movement completely wiped out

Bringing Peace While Breaking Fasts

Turkish schools building peace in Africa

Turkey’s New Maps Are Reclaiming the Ottoman Empire

Diverse community enjoys feast at Turkic American Alliance iftar

Accused Turkish Cleric Assails President on Anniversary of Coup Attempt in WSJ Interview

Abant Platform on Africa to convene on Friday

Copyright 2023 Hizmet News