THE celebration of World Interfaith Harmony Week will culminate on Tuesday, February 7, with a symposium on Harmonizing Tri-people in the community at the Sta. Catalina village hall from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.
City Hall Information Officer Belen Sheila Covarrubias said the Interfaith Harmony week celebration forms part of the 80th Dia de la Ciudad de Zamboanga activities.
Covarrubias said the celebration recognizes the need for dialogue among different faiths and religions and their contributions for peace in the world.
She added the celebration is pursuant to Republic Act (RA) 10525, otherwise known as an act declaring the first week of February of every year as “world interfaith harmony week” in the entire country and mandating its observance by the different government agencies.
RA 10525 is amplified by Executive Order BC 239-2017 enjoining all schools, government entities, private institutions, non-government organizations, parishes, groups, urban poor communities and other people's organizations to join and support the activities of the world interfaith harmony week from February 1 to 7 and organized by the United Nations Interfaith Harmony Partners-Zamboanga.
This year's celebration of the World Interfaith Harmony Week is anchored on the theme “Celebrating Life in the Spirit of Mercy and Compassion.” (Bong Garcia/VoxPop Philippines)