On April 18th, 2009 Y4U (youth for unity) and The Peacemakers' Circle Foundation, Inc. (PCFI) participated in the World Drum Project's interfaith celebration of Earth Day at the La Mesa Ecopark in Fairview, Quezon City.

Supported by National Commission on Culture & the Arts (NCCA), Earthday Network Philippines, Artists for the Environment, Bantay Kalikasan, and the Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR), the whole day event started with different rituals at sunrise-- highlighted with the EarthDay Network's Sandiwang interfaith opening ceremony. This was started by the sounding of the World Drum-- an international project that brings an actual skin drum around the globe (which started from Norway) traveling from country to country as it symbolizes a journey that celebrates global unity & peace through music jamming.

Y4U members Alan Berguia (Muslim) & Satinder Singh (Sikh) joined in leading the interfaith prayers with the other faith leaders from PCFI-- Dr. Shakuntala Vaswani (Hindu), Mr. Mon Rivera (Buddhist), Mr. Seiichi "Carlo" Kamichika (Shumei)-- and also Mr. Voltaire Alferez (Christian) from the EarthDay Network.

Other rituals were offered by Prof. Grace Odal-Devora who performed a neo-babaylan (priestess) dance ceremony accompanied by the neo-ethnic music & dance ensemble, Kontra-Gapi which was led by Prof. Edru Abraham-- all from the University of the Philippines.

To the uplifting tunes and lively rhythm of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON / Hare Krishna), the Samba Drum ensemble from Miriam College, Kontra-Gapi, the World Drummers and other local musicians, indigenous artists, and jammers-- everyone enjoyed chanting, music making, and community circle dancing. Among the featured performers for the concert that followed were: Cynthia Alexander, Dom An from the Mt. Province, Baryus Gawid from the Mangyan tribe, and the Musikalinangan gong ensemble.

As the day of celebrations through musical performances went on, Y4U -- in partnership with the children of Imagine Echo Projects (a grassroots community-based project led by Sarah Queblatin of Y4U), and members of the Intergral Arts Metta (IAM, Inc.) and SangHabi, Inc. -- co-facilitated the interactive community installation art which composed of a stone LABYRINTH incorporated with stations of the four elements of nature.

Participants enter the labyrinth (outlined initially with strings) carrying a piece of rock or stone. As they walk through the winding path they encounter first a bowl of water (on the North side) where they can let some small paper clover leaves float-- to signify their prayers and intentions they wish to offer in communion with the element of WATER. Next they encounter a torch (on the South side) where they can light an incense stick to symbolize their intentions and communion with the element of FIRE. Then they find a dreamcatcher (on the East side) where they can hang a feather as a symbol of their intentions and communion with the element of AIR. At the center is a space for meditation or contemplation. On their way out, the participants leave their stone (which signifies the EARTH element) to help form the labyrinth itself-- leaving their "mark" on the installation art.

Women, children, youth, faith leaders, artists, environmentalists, NGO workers, ordinary folks, and passers-by came, observed, and participated by walking through the labyrinth. This provided them with an interactive activity that aimed to offer a momentary spiritual connection with the Earth.