The Contribution of Central Philipine University (CPU) at Konferensi Antarabangsa Islam Borneo (KAIB) 2025 at IAIN Pontianak

CPU is a Christian University situated in the robus delopment of the Iloilo city in the Philipines. Sending two lecturers to join the KAIB the 16th in Pontianak, CPU has proven its commitment to the MoU with IAIN Pontianak previously signed. One of the lecturers, Dr Jerson B Narcio shares his impression while joining the conference.

“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. Listening to Islamic scholars and others share their research on interfaith collaboration and environmental stewardship broadened my perspective, reinforcing the power of dialogue across faiths. 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.

Additionally, Dr Neil Gico Jalando-on shares his contribution to the conference. “At the conference themed ‘World Peace, Environmental Crisis and the Second Wave of Inter-civilization Dialogue,’ my paper, Harnessing Social Media for Religious Peacebuilding: Faith in the Digital Age, highlighted the transformative potential of social media in fostering interfaith dialogue and religious harmony. By presenting strategies for faith-based communities to counter extremism and promote tolerance online, my work offered a practical framework for advancing global peace and inter-civilizational collaboration in the digital era.”