Activities and legal matters of Silsilah Dialogue Movement are administered through the Silsilah Foundation, Inc. recognized by the Philippine government. It is also a donee foundation recognized by the PCNC.
The Silsilah Foundation has a regular board with a chair person and an honorary chair person. The president and the vice president of the movement are part of the board. The chair person of the Episcopal Commission for Inter-Religious Dialogue ( ECID) of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), the Archbishop of Zamboanga City and the three convenors of the Bishops-Ulama Conference (BUC) help the Movement with their moral authority as "advisory board" with some specific functions. Other institutions and groups will be invited in the future to help the movement in its mission.
SILSILAH’S PRESENCE :
1. ZAMBOANGA CITY
Majority of the programs and initiatives of Silsilah were developed and are operating in Zamboanga City, but many of those who benefit from these programs and initiatives come from other parts of the Philippines and other countries.
There are two special places which are the "homes" of the movement.
1.1 SILSILAH CENTER
This was the first visible sign of Silsilah in Zamboanga City since 1985. It is a venue conducive for Muslims, Christians and people of other faith traditions to discuss and feel at home. Initially the center was the only place for the movement to administer and implement its program, but with the opening and development of Harmony Village outside the city proper, many of its activities have been transferred to the village. The Silsilah Center continues to be a sign of hope in Zamboanga City, an accessible meeting place in the heart of the city and where some programs are implemented.
1.2 - HARMONY VILLAGE
This is the home of the Silsilah Dialogue Movement. It is a 14-hectare of farm and woodland nestled on a hill overlooking the sea, located about 8 kilometers from the city proper in Pitogo, Barangay Sinunuc. The administrative offices, training center, facilities for live-in seminars, prayer and solitude areas, and demonstration areas for organic and biodynamic farming are aesthetically put in place. The covered walk constructed along the road has an open exhibit, the first part featuring the Silsilah Vision-Mission; and the second part focuses on the different government and non-government organizations who have contributed to the promotion of dialogue and peace.
The acquisition of this village in 1990 through sale and donation was another manifestation of the providential plan of God for the movement. The village has become a laboratory for Muslims, Christians and people of other living faiths to experience life-in-dialogue with God, with oneself, with others and with the whole of creation. Like an oasis in the desert, the village provides a welcoming atmosphere of silence, hospitality and warmth for peoples of different cultures and religions to experience the four pillars of dialogue.
To ensure that this atmosphere is sustained, a core group called the OASIS COMMUNITY composed of men and women regular members of the movement live and work in Harmony Village with a commitment to live the spirituality of life-in-dialogue and promote the culture of dialogue, path to peace. The members live a balanced daily schedule of work and prayer, experiencing and witnessing more intensely to the spirituality of life-in-dialogue. Other members in the movement are welcome to come in and out according to their availability and need.
The Oasis Community is assisted in the administrative and operations of the seminar facilities by the OASIS OF DIALOGUE TRAINING CENTER. The training center is open also to individuals and groups who wish to use the place for their formation and educational activities. In this way, it also generates income for the maintenance and operation of the village.
2. PHILIPPINES
Many in the Philippines know Silsilah as a dialogue movement and many come to Zamboanga City from different parts of the country to avail of its formation programs. The visible presence of Silsilah in many places in Mindanao and other parts of the country started with the formation of the Silsilah Forum.
SILSILAH FORUM
After many years of conducting formation and training programs, the movement has already thousands of alumni, mostly Muslims and Christians from Mindanao and from other parts of the Philippines and other countries. At present, the alumni bring with them the spirit of the culture of dialogue path to peace to their varied work places, in government, in private organizations, schools, religious communities and churches. Many of them recognize and appreciate the experience of Silsilah which they share to others whenever there are opportunities.
Reading the signs of the times, the movement started giving formation to the alumni in their own areas to sustain their commitment. But it was only in 2004, during the 20th anniversary of Silsilah that the Silsilah Forum was formally launched. The focus is the formation of the heart and person of the man or woman of dialogue. It is the desire of the Movement that Silsilah would not be just identified as a non-government organization doing advocacy work for dialogue and peace, but presenting dialogue not as a strategy, but as a style of life, a spirituality of life-in-dialogue springing from God and bringing people back to God. Today the program includes all members and friends including the alumni who are encouraged to come together regularly in fellowship, share experiences and prayer, and mutually strengthen and sustain each other’s spirituality and commitment to dialogue and peace. To maintain the "chain", the forum coordinators are invited to a regular assembly twice a year, or more frequent as needed. Each forum coordinator tries to meet the local members at least once a month for shared reflection, prayer and planning. The growth of these groups in different parts of Mindanao is a new reality and challenge for the movement. A monthly newsletter is circulated to maintain communication among the forum members.
Many of these groups have been formed during the recent years. They are now present in Tawi-Tawi, Siasi, Jolo, Basilan, Sibugay, Pagadian City, Iligan City, Cagayan de Oro, Opol, Bukidnon, Cotabato City, Davao City, Kidapawan, Midsayap, Pikit, Siocon, Cebu, Antipolo City. Other forums are still being formed while others are consolidating their membership. The Summer Intensive Course have been successfully conducted outside Zamboanga City in the cities of Davao and Cagayan de Oro.
3. OTHER COUNTRIES
Silsilah is in regular contact with many who are in different countries especially through the Harmony Chain Initiative. But at present, the only visible presence of the movement is in Italy through the Comunita’ Dialogo.
COMUNITA’ DIALOGO – This is a group of Christians in Italy who were formed after the death of Fr. Salvatore Carzedda, PIME. They derived inspiration from the spirit of Silsilah and the life and commitment of Fr. Carzedda.
In memory of Fr. Salvatore, Comunita’ Dialogue has initiated the Harmony Award in the Philippines. It is given to families and communities who are recognized as models of dialogue and peace.