“Faith and Community: A Dialogue,” is an exchange program of the Indiana Center for Cultural Exchange (ICCE) sponsored by the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding and the US State Department in cooperation with the Purdue University. The project focuses on how religious communities can cooperate with one another in order to contribute to positive and constructive civil discourse in ways that respect diversity and further the public good. Its previous participants, among others, were Shahana Abdulwahid (UP Student Regent), Prof. Macrina Morados (UP-IIS) and Prof. Minalang Barapantao (MSU and CMM).

    Last April, Mohammmad Taha S. Basman II, Director for Youth Affairs of the Center for Moderate Muslims, was chosen to take part in the said Program. He delivered a talk on “Peacebuilding and the Filipino Muslim Community” at the Indiana University. The other participants from the Philippines included: Atty. Abdurrahman Canacan, (Chancellor, Mindanao State University – General Santos Campus); Datu Tungko Saikol, (Regional Director, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Region XII); Bailinda Eman (Gawad Kalinga); and Jason Sibug (Tuklas Katutubo).

    To fulfill the objectives of the Program, the participants went to different Muslim communities to interact with the residents there and share each other’s stories. The tour also included visits to different universities – Indiana University, Purdue University, University of Notre Dame, University of Chicago and Georgetown University – and the opportunity to make a courtesy call to its high officials. A side bonus was the watching of an NBA game at the Consico Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana courtesy of no less than the Indiana Pacers. The participants were privileged to be seated at the sky box section of the court, an area reserved for visitors of the team.

    In December last year, Maharlika Village was one of the communities visited by the participants of the Exchange Program when it was the American counterparts’ turn to visit the Philippines. The itinerary of the US visitors included a dialogue with local Muslim leaders and a visit to a Muslim community which CMM graciously hosted in its offices in Taguig City. The Philippines’ implementing body for the above program consists of Stephen Lo and Kres Gabijan, co-directors of the School on Oriental Religions of the Focolare Movement.