Dear URI Community,
Today we received very sad news of the passing of a very special leader and peacebuilder in the Philippines, Orlando Guzman. He was suffering from acute infection and diabetic complications.
Associate Director of Global Programs For Youth Leadership Development Mathew Youde said about him,
“Orlan was a member of the Peacemakers Circle, actively participating in its youth wing, a group that with Sarah Talcott was one of the foundations of Youth Leadership Program (YLP). He came to Mayapur, India for our first Young Leaders Program and was an active leader in URI in the Philippines. He attended the SEA-Pac Regional Assembly in Malaysia during a difficult time for the region and provided a great deal of hope and reassurance. It would be hard to find many people in SEAPAC who have not heard of him - he was such a shining soul who exuded calm, spirituality and wisdom, and he was a talented peacebuilder."
A prayer from Barbara Hartford for Orlan,
“May Divine Light embrace him. And may our love and prayers send him off joyfully to the heart of our benevolent Creator as he travels onward toward life in peace eternal.One of our best and sweetest lights along the way.”
With sorrow and deep gratitude for Orlan’s life and his gift to URI. He has joined the Celestial CC.
Most sincerely,
Sally Mahé
Co-Director of Global Programs & Organizational Development
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It is indeed a very sad news. On behalf of URI Africa I send heartfelt condolence to his family and his CC members. May the soul of our brother Orlando Guzman rest in peace.
In peace and light,
Ambassador Mussie Hailu
Regional Director of URI Africa & Representative of URI to African Union, Economic Commission for Africa and UN office at Nairobi
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Life is enduring, yet our stay is passing, Orlando was good for himself and all that knew him, I have some very fond memories of him during the YLP back in India, "People who have lasting impressions" on us.
May we always choose to do good with our tenures as he did with his.
He will be dearly missed.
Hugs to each of us who need one.
Annirene Nyambura Mundia
URI Kenya Administration Officer
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I am very shocked. I can not believe this. My memories with Orlando in Mayapur is still so vivid. We shared so many news through Facebook. Music was another chapter that we shared together. I have no words to express my feelings. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
Biswadeb Chakraborty
Regional Coordinator, India, East Zone
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My Dear URI Family,
At 11:25 AM (Philippine time) on September 2nd, 2015, the Global interfaith family lost a great peace worker. Orlando Tiu de Guzman, Jr left the physical plane.
Orlan, as he was fondly called by those who knew him, served as URI Southeast Asia-Pacific's regional information and communications officer during part of the regional coordinatorship stints of Marites Africa and Shakuntala Vaswani. He was a member of an erstwhile cooperation circle and Philippine peace-building organisation called the Peacemakers' Circle Foundation. When the latter withdrew from URI, Orlan's presence in our global family continued to be felt strongly as he endeavoured to mentor young peace workers involved in other CCs in the Philippines and in other places in the SEAPac.
He was a wonderfully kind and compassionate human being, a great friend, a gentle big brother who embodied interfaith harmony and universal brotherhood/sisterhood. He was a living example of how one in my generation was to go about life if one was serious in the pursuit of peace.
Though Orlan has left a lasting legacy by setting an example of kindless and genuine love to be emulated by many whom he has crossed paths with, his physical death is still a tremendous loss to the world, especially for us peace workers.
Let us take a moment to honour his life in our own small ways.
Let us hold his Spirit in the Light for a peaceful transition. Let us hold in the Light his bereaved family. Let us have them in our thoughts as if to give them a spiritual embrace to ease their pain as they grieve the loss of dear Orlan.
In Peace and Light,
Ludwig Quirog
Regional Coordinator for SEA-Pac Central Zone
Photo above: Victor's visit to the Philippines in February 2014
Left-Right: Stephen Villaester, Ludwig Quirog, Shakun Vaswani, Victor Kazanjian, Potre Diampuan, Marites Africa, Orlan de Guzman, Rem Tanauan, Noemi Medina, Sam An Ros
Thank you Ludwig and Sally for sharing your beautiful words about Orlan. This morning I saw the loving note from Marites of Orlan's death, and I am so shocked and sad. I spent several days with Orlan last year and found him to be a gentle, wise and extraordinary person. We grieve the loss of such a beloved brother. My heart goes out to those family and friends whose lives Orlan touched so deeply. We who knew him now carry him in our hearts as we continue to bring the spirit of his life to our commitment to a peaceful world.
In peace…
The Rev. Victor H. Kazanjian Jr.
Executive Director
United Religions Initiative
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Dear Ludwig and all,
Your vivid description of Orlando clearly reveals a person who lived the life that was a great light to others. Even though it is a peaceful transition to the upper most CC, his good work will linger around, and faithfully will pave way for peace.
Our hearts grieve with all in the South- East Asia and Pacifics, and especially his family.May they be consoled by what legacy he left behind.
Peace,
Honorable Elisha Buba Yero, URI Global Council Trustee, Jos, Nigeria
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Dear friends,
It was a big blow this morning to learn via facebook from Marites that Orlando de Guzman (Orlan) a beloved member of our community for many years, had passed away due to illness.
Orlan was a member of the Peacemakers Circle, actively participating in its youth wing, a group that with Sarah Talcott was one of the foundations of YLP. He came to Mayapur for our first Young Leaders Program and was an active leader in URI in the Philippines. He came to the YLP at the regional assembly in Malaysia during a difficult time for the region and provided a great deal of hope and reassurance to his peers - including our now RC in Australia, Nivy, that things would be better. It would be hard to find many people in SEAPAC who have not heard of him - he was such a shining soul who exuded calm, spirituality and wisdom, and he was a talented peacebuilder.
Facebook is full of moving tributes from the region today.
Backstage at a cultural evening during the regional assembly (Orlan is second from the left). It was held at a big theatre in Kuala Lumpur and directed by Peter Mousaferiadis. Biff Barnard was with us.
Hurting and grieving,
Matthew Youde
Associate Director of Global Programs For Youth Leadership Development
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May Orlan rest in peace of the Pure Land!
Dr. Jinwol Lee, URI Asia's Regional Coordinator for Korea
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Thank you for your words of comfort. All of us in the SEAPAC zone are devastated. Thank you for sharing your memories of Orlando. His impact was felt far and wide.
We carry on today in our work without one of our leaders, without one of our friends, without one of our best people. Orlan lead by example, and with humility.
Orlan in the space of just a week left a lasting legacy on me and those around him. He seems to have had this affect on many. We had all hoped to keep working together for many years to come. Though he is gone he will never be forgotten.
With love,
Nivy Balachandran, Communications Officer, SEAPAC Region; Pacific Zone; Coordinator, SEAPAC Region
Orlan with Nivy Balachandran
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Thank you for sharing the news of the passing of a very dear friend to SEA-PAC and all of URI, Orlando Guzman. May he continue to bring peace as he ascends and as the many stories of his impact on others continue to be told. Our love to his family and those closest to him during this period. How blessed we were to have him among us.
In Peace and In Love,
Audri Scott Williams and Members of the Trail of Dreams CC
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This is very sad news. I have such fond memories of Orlan from our time together in Mayapur. He was such a gifted and special human being.
We pray for Orlan's soul and send strength and comfort to Orlan's family and friends.
In prayer,
Kiran Bali MBE JP, URI Global Council Trustee Chair
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My heart goes out to all who knew and love Orlan. Though I never had the pleasure of meeting him, your stories and kind words have me wishing that I did. He must have been a truly incredible person. The Celestial CC is grateful for his presence, I'm very sure of that.
In Peace,
Sari Heidenreich, Regional Coordinator for North America
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Thank you, dear Sally, for letting us know this sad news. Our memories from Latin America and The Caribbean and warm regards for they partners and family. I am sure from the Celestial CC he is going to help our work in peace here on Earth.
Blessings,
Dra. Enoé Texier, Coordinadora Regional de la Iniciativa para las Religiones Unidas, (URI) América Latina & El Caribe
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It is such sad news.... I remembered Orlan.... he was full of positive energy when I met him in Mayapur. May his pure soul rest in peace.
In Allah's peace,
Mamoun Ahmad, Regional Coordinator, URI Middle East and North Africa
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May the soul of our dear brother Orlan Guzman, now a member of our Celestial CC, rest in eternal peace with our Creator, until we meet to part no more.
Sincerely,
Emmanuel Ivorgba, Regional Coordinator, URI West Africa
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Dear Ludwig and all friends,
It is really sad to hear this news about Orlan. He was always there to welcome us when the Moral Imagination Peace Building Team visited the Philippines.
Our heartfelt condolences.
Regards,
Dr. Abraham Karickam, Regional Coordinator, India, South Zone
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Dear Ludwig Quirog,
Thanks for sharing this to all of us. Sure this is a big loss for URI and Peace efforts as well. We and our sympathies are with you and his family at this moment.
I request to all URI family to pray for him and in addition a silence for two minutes if possible.
Best Regards,
Asad Yameen
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I am very saddened to hear about the death of Orlando. I pray for his eternal peace and also offer sympathies and payers for the family members, relatives and friends of Orlando. We have lost very important member of URI and promoter of peace and harmony.
With prayers,
fr James Channan OP
URI Regional Coordinator Pakistan
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It is really sad that Orlando Tiu de Guzman traveled to Eternal life. I offered prayers for his Soul and good work.
My deep condolence be accepted. May his soul rest in peace!
With Gratitude for his all admirable work.
In peace!
Yuel Bhatti
Coordinator, A Better Community for All Pakistan CC
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Dear Ludwig, Sis Marites, Sis Shakun and all the Philippines family,
Our sincere condolences on the passing of our brother Orlan. May he rest in peace. What an amazing person he was. Can't belief that he is gone. I know he will be missed by all. Our gratitude for all his contributions towards peace and justice. Our love to his family and friends.
Jessiee (Melbourne)
