By Karren Jay G. Asgar

Rev. Dr. Jerson B. Narciso (left) and Rev. Dr. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on (right) took a photo opportunity during the 16th Borneo Islamic International Conference at IAIN Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Rev. Dr. Jerson B. Narciso and Rev. Dr. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on, Director of the Office of Communications, both faculty members of the Central Philippine University College of Theology (CPU-COT), participated as resource speakers in the 16th Borneo Islamic International Conference (KAIB) 2025. The three-day conference was held on September 9-11, 2025, at the Institut Agama Islam Negeri (IAIN) Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Indonesia, with the theme “World Peace, Environmental Crisis and the Second Wave of Inter-civilization Dialogue.”

A total of 150 participants representing 13 universities from Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines attended the event, engaging in discussions and knowledge-sharing on pressing global and interfaith concerns. During the Gala Night on September 9, the Vice Minister of Religious Affairs of Indonesia delivered the keynote address, while the Governor of West Kalimantan also gave a special message.

“As a Christian attending an Islamic conference, I felt a profound sense of unity and mutual respect while engaging with scholars presenting their papers. The open exchange of ideas, rooted in a shared commitment to peace and understanding, was deeply inspiring,” Rev. Dr. Jalando-on shared in an interview.”

On September 10, the Mayor of Pontianak welcomed the speakers and participants with a dinner at his official residence. Parallel Session 1, under the sub-theme Political and Economic Issues, was held at the Gedung Pascasarjana, the Graduate School building of IAIN Pontianak, which has a student population of over 9,000. Rev. Dr. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on served as the fifth presenter with his paper, “Harnessing Social Media for Religious Peacebuilding: Faith in the Digital Age.” He shared the session with four other speakers: Nur Adilah Amiruddin, who discussed “Serangan Balas Iran-Israel 2025: Kesan Terhadap Keamanan Serantau Dunia”; Desti Dwi Fitri, “Dampak Strategis Perang Dagang AS-Tiongkok dan Transisi Hegemoni Global Terhadap Ekonomi dan Keamanan Asia Tenggara”; Riza Saputra Ma, “Badamai Urang Banjar: Local Wisdom in Conflict Resolution and its Contribution to Global Peace”; and Muhammed Sahrin Haji Masri, “Mewujudkan Perpaduan dalam Kepelbagaian: Kajian Kes di Negara Brunei Darussalam.”

 “This experience strengthened my belief in the potential for collective efforts to bridge religious divides and address global challenges, leaving me hopeful for continued inter-civilizational cooperation. The equatorial location of Pontianak added a symbolic layer, as I visited the Equator Monument, standing at the invisible line dividing the hemispheres, which mirrored the conference’s theme of balancing diverse perspectives for world peace,” Rev. Dr. Jalando-on added.

Rev. Dr. Jerson V. Narciso (right photo) and Rev. Dr. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on (left photo) took a photo opportunity as they individually received their Certificates of Appreciation handed by Prof. Dr. Zaenuddin Prasodjo, Dean of the IAIN Graduate School, during the 16th Borneo Islamic International Conference.

 Moreover, Rev. Dr. Narciso also served as the fifth presenter in the same parallel session under the sub-theme Religious Issues, where he discussed his paper “Islam and Christianity: Cultivating Shalom (Katawhay) and Salaam in the Philippine South.” He was joined by fellow presenters Zainon Haji Bibi, “No Pork, No Lard or Muslim-Friendly: Understanding Consumer Perceptions and Preferences”; Moch Riza Fahmi, “The Future of Religion in the Wake of Global Political Upheaval: A Comparative Study of Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam”; Militansina Militansina, “Photovoice for Peace: Fostering Religious Tolerance Through EFL Writing in Islamic University”; Cucu Cucu, “A Contextualization of Mosque Organization Management among Young Muslim Communities”; and Dr. Nur Syazana Haji Md Fauzi, “A Study of Brunei’s Healthcare Policies: An Islamic Governance Approach.”

 “A research on Islam and Christianity: Cultivating Shalom (Katawhay) and Salaam in Mindanao, Philippines by Jerson B. Narciso, PhD. The study explores how Christianity and Islam can jointly foster peace on Southern Philippines. The study examines Mindanao’s conflict history and highlights the potential of faith-based unity. The study found out that both Islam and Christianity share core values – compassion, justice, Forgiveness, cooperation, and peace – enriched by Filipino cultural values principles like bayanihan (cooperation). Ultimately, Shalom (Katawhay) and Salaam can be a covenantal path toward reconciliation, justice, and lasting peace,” Rev. Dr. Narciso said in an interview.

Other graduate students and professors presented under Education Issues, and Economic Issues.

Notably, on November 7, 2024, Central Philippine University (CPU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Institut Agama Islam Negeri (IAIN) Pontianak, Indonesia, at Rex D. Drilon Hall Conference Room. The partnership, formalized by CPU President Rev. Dr. Ernest Howard B. Dagohoy and IAIN Rector Prof. Dr. H. Syarif, outlines joint initiatives in research, faculty and student exchanges, and collaborative programs in interreligious, intercultural, and peace studies, as well as in Business Management and Public Administration. The presence of Rev. Dr. Narciso and Rev. Dr. Jalando-on in Pontianak is a realization of the MOU.

The participation of Rev. Dr. Narciso and Rev. Dr. Jalando-on in KAIB 2025 highlighted CPU’s active role in inter-religious and intercultural dialogue. As the only two Christian representatives invited to the said conference, their presence underscored the value of ecumenical scholarship and strengthened CPU’s academic ties with IAIN Pontianak.