I was invited by the Asian Institute for Liturgy and Music (AILM) to make a presentation at the international workshop on women and healing in Quezon City, Philippines on Nov. 10-20.

With the theme Women and Healing: An Asian Feminist Perspective I gave the following points in my presentation:
(a) We live in a broken world because we have failed to deal with our plurality creatively by living as interconnected and interdependent beings;
(b) Asian feminist theology can be a tool for our healing as it helps us diagnose many of our problems by naming the oppression experienced by women and other vulnerable sectors of society, and by going into the roots behind the oppression, to challenge traditional theologies and ideologies that support the oppression and by thinking of alternatives to transform the situation.

Theology and art go hand in hand. While art in the past reflected the theology of patriarchal times, art today has the potential to bring about healing of the distortions that have been made through history. Therefore, artists and theologians must correct the distortions in theology through art. Art and theology must be used to advocate for peace with justice, for healing and transformation.

posted by hope at Monday, November 28, 2005

The second part of my intensive teaching at Silliman University Divinity School in Dumaguete City, Philippines, was scheduled on 2-11 November. This time, the two classes were on Communication in Christian Education for juniors and Curriculum Development for seniors, in both the BTh and MDiv programs.

I used these classes as opportunities to broaden the students thinking about Christian Education and Religious Education, mission, evangelism and ecumenism. The project in the curriculum class was a draft curriculum material for local churches to be assisted in broadening their understanding of mission, evangelism and ecumenism.

While at Silliman University, I was also invited as convocation speaker for the School of Communication on 10 November. Being an alumna of that school, I was featured as a Balik-Talent lecturer (returning talent) and my topic was "Communication Challenges in an Age of Globalization."

posted by hope at Monday, November 28, 2005