Before I registered to the SDDP workshop, I had few reservations at the back of my mind. I had been thinking, if I will commit to join this workshop, I need to give up five (5) days of my two (2)-week autumn break which I initially planned to devote for sleep and rest. Weighing the costs and benefits of the workshop, I decided to sign up.

Being a part of graduate students with multi-cultural backgrounds in a workshop specially designed for this kind of audience was a treasured experience. I had been into planning for the past six (6) years but it was the first time for me to encounter this kind of dialogue design. Though, it resembled features of other frameworks I learned throughout my government career, I was impressed with the whole process, specifically, on how a computer software was utilized to aid each stage of the process.

All throughout the workshop, I had the pleasure of learning from the various ideas of the participants and the brilliance of the facilitator and organizer, Prof. Jacqueline Wasilewski. There was an overflowing of ideas, which truly had reflected interests and commitments of the participants. Prof. Wasilewski was very successful in maintaining focus and order during this activity. I had to admit that there were instances of physical and mental exhaustion but these were compensated by series of icebreakers and mental relaxation exercises initiated by volunteer-participants.

Truly, I benefited from the SDDP workshop and I commit to replicate this kind of learning as soon as I return to my office. This is a value-added tool, which I can impart to my co-workers, which I believe can facilitate better outcomes to our corporate mandate and the corresponding missions.

Exequiel Cabanda

Aside from having great mentors, another thing that I like most in ICU is that the university provides a lot of opportunities for the students to meet and learn from leading scholars, well-known practitioners, diplomats and political figures based here in Japan and abroad. These opportunities bring in fresh insights, new applied knowledge, practical skills, and experienced-based know-how to already stimulating academic environment of ICU. One of those opportunities was the Structured Dialogic Design Process (SDDP) Workshop facilitated by Prof. Jacki Wasilewski.

Shortly before I left my county, dialogue has been a buzzword in the academe and among the civil society groups especially in Mindanao. Interfaith and/or intercultural dialogue is one of the compelling alternatives of the civil society and even of the national government in solving the long-delayed peace in significant parts of Mindanao. With a personal belief that dialogue is a necessity as proactive step to move forward to learn, to have better understanding, and to erase misconceptions, the word dialogue in the workshop was very appealing to me.

Knowing that the 5-day workshop was inserted in the already short autumn break, it was a bit tough at first. However, the workshop was worth-sacrificing my few days of rest. It was personally and professionally enriching. Some of the important things I have learned are: a) tolerance to opposing views b) holding of immediate judgment c) the importance of taking time to back off and reflect on some contested issues and d) the necessity of common understanding and shared meaning. All of these add up as new professional skills and competence on my pockets. The entire experience in this workshop drives me to be more productive and innovative member of the larger society. Lastly, the workshop inspires me, with these newly-acquired skills, to contribute in searching for truly lasting and genuine peace in Mindanao because I have faith that peace is a non-negotiable social commodity.

Eliseo F. Huesca, Jr.