Now on its fourth year, the annual international Conference on the Muslim World was hosted by De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) in discussion of “Islam and Interfaith Relations in South and Southeast Asia” at Hotel Benilde Maison De La Salle last October 3-9. Various students and members of the academic community which includes DLS-CSB, Washington College, and Creative Learning, Inc. joined the event organized by Global Association for the Study of the Muslim World.
Line-up of Activities
The conference kicked off Sunday with a city tour and an opening ceremony and discussion of rationale of the program. Br. Dennis Magbanua FSC, the College president, gave his welcome remarks, followed by the relaying of messages from the Conference Chairperson and DLS-CSB’s School of Multidisciplinary Studies (SMS) Dean Mr. George Binay, Consular and Diplomatic Affairs (CDA) Chairperson Mr. Gary Ador Dionisio, Associate Professor and Faculty Advisor at WC Dr. Tahir Shad, and Creative Learning Inc. President Dr. William Kruvant.
Dr. Muqtedar Khan of University of Delaware and Br. Michael Broughton FSC also gave the rationale of the conference, and a keynote lecture on “The Role of the Christian Brothers in Advancing Interfaith Dialogue: Challenges and Breakthroughs” on the first day, respectively.
From Monday to Wednesday, eight sessions were held for paper presentation. The topics presented with the panel chairperson and presenters are as follows:
Session 1: “Muslim Christian Conflicts and Dialogues”
Panel Chairperson: Prof. Said Sadek, American University in Cairo
Paper Presenters:
- Prof. Nuri Tinaz, Marmara University
- Ashyanna Alexine Bangcola, DLS-CSB
- Joseph Gilbert Prudhomme Jr., Washington College
- Jake Dekeratry, Georgetown University
- Dr. Ruth Mckane and Dr. Courtney Hills McBeth, University of Utah
Session 2: “Islamophobia in the East”
Panel Chairperson: Prof. Nuri Tinaz, Marmara University
Paper Presenters:
- Alexander Green, Washington College
- James Louis Abdu, McDaniel College
- Prof. Mizra Asmer Beg, Aligarh Muslim University
Session 3: “Comparative Extremisms”
Panel Chairperson: Prof. Mizra Asmer Beg, Aligarh Muslim University
Paper Presenters:
- Chirag Gupta, Stanford University
- Maher Farrukh, University of Utah
- Kehaan Husaain Manjee, Duke University
- Ethan Trucker and Katherine Wellington, Washington College
- Putu Agung Nara Indra Prima Satya, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta
- Jamil Elfahdi, McDaniel College
Session 4: “Great Power Politics and Religion”
Panel Chairperson: Prof. Anna Solar, DLS-CSB
Paper Presenters:
- Anthony Calacino, University of Utah
- Shana Brouder, Washington College
Session 5: “Religion and Gender Empowerment”
Panel Chairperson: Dr. Jean Encinas-Franco, University of the Philippines, Diliman
Paper Presenters:
- Keenan Roarty, University of Delaware
- Shima Vezvaei, Sharif University of Technology
- Veron Ericka Lazaro and Clarice Isabel Jacinto, DLS-CSB
- Prof. Farah Sadek, American University in Cairo
- Kelsey Minyon, McDaniel College
Session 6: “Religion Culture and Politics in the Philippines”
Panel Chairperson: Dr. Ador Torneo, De La Salle University – Manila
Paper Presenters:
- Jose Mari Sese Francisco and Kimiko Colardo, DLS-CSB
Session 7: “Post Colonialism and Religion, Culture and Politics”
Panel Chairperson: Dr. Ruth McKane, University of Utah
Paper Presenters:
- Jared Aaron Chappel, Duke University
- Kartina Marks, Villanova University
- Rumi Khan, Newark Charter High School
- Prof. Siti Daulah, Gadjah Madja University Yogyakarta
Session 8: “Religion and New Media”
Panel Chairperson: Dr. Joseph Gilbert Prudhomme Jr., Washington College
Paper Presenters:
- Chynna Riego and Jacee Amon, DLS-CSB
- Prof. Said Sadek, American University in Cairo
- Veronica Mikhail
- Caite Dailey, Washington College
Aside from paper presentations, workshops and roundtable discussions were also made by various academicians namely: Workshop on “Research Methods and Topics” by University of Delaware’s Dr. Muqtedar Khan; “Interfaith Relations in South and Southeast Asia” discussion by Prof. Mizra Beg of Aligarh Muslim Unviersity, Dr. Khan, and Prof. Jose Allain Austria of Benilde; America’s Unofficial Ambassadors Alumni Panel by Shana Brouder and Caitie Dailey, both from Washington College assigned in Tajikistan and Morocco, respectively; discussion on “Sunni and Shiite Relations in South Asia” by Dr. Siti Daulah of Gadja Mada University in Yogyakarta and Prof. Said Sadek of American University in Cairo; and Mentoring by Dr. Khan.
The conference concluded with a closing ceremony and a cultural trip.
Conference Experience
For Jamil Elfahdi from McDaniel College, he share that the conference let them experience religious debates in terms of theological and philosophical basis as to Islam, as well as allowing them to think of new ways in making Islam reconcile through peace and compromise.
“The conference was really good. It was really informative. This [conference] expanded my knowledge,” he said as to his experience. “The country has been great. I’ve learned a bit of Tagalog. People [in the Philippines] have been so friendly and welcoming.”
According to Mr. Binay, Benildeans should be proud because DLS-CSB is the first Asian Catholic school to host a Muslim conference, therefore promoting interfaith dialogue.
“It’s an honor to host them because that’s the trust of the school and the Creative learning association with Washington College to promote that dialogue because we have the resurgence of Islamophobia, brought about by 9/11, the stereotypes that we label Muslims, etc. It is created by a lot of misunderstanding. It’s created by, largely because we don’t know. When there are things you don’t know, and you are ignorant about that, you resort to stereotypes, or you resort to a blame game, so this is one step we are doing as a Catholic school, also for our school to embrace interfaith dialogue, and for the school to appreciate other faiths. We embrace diversity,” he said.
Photo by Timothy Santos
