ICF Alumni led Vigil Service for Dr. Muriel Orevillo-Montenegro
ICF Alumni led Vigil Service for Dr. Muriel Orevillo-Montenegro
on October 4, 2025
On Saturday, October 4, 2025, ICF Alumni held a vigil in memory of the late ICF Coordinator Dr. Muriel Orevillo-Montenegro, who passed away on October 1, 2025. The hybrid service took place at Dr. Muriel’s home in Sibulan, Negros Oriental, with family, friends, and ICF Alumni from the Philippines present. Others were invited to join the vigil online.
GG, an ICF Alumni and theology student from Silliman University, led the service in “Celebration of Life and Legacy: An Interfaith Service of Remembrance, Hope, and Unity together with ICF-APAY and AWIT.”
The vigil started with opening words and an opening prayer: "Spirit of Life and Love, we come before you with grateful hearts, acknowledging the gift of life and the blessings of friendship. We honor Muriel tonight, and we are grateful for the wisdom and compassion she shared with us. We ask for peace, for healing, and for the strength to continue the work of unity that she began. May this service be a reflection of the faiths and beliefs that she so dearly cherished. Amen."
After the opening prayer, readings from different faith traditions were read by ICF Alumni, representing not just the Interfaith Cooperation Forum but also Dr. Muriel’s unwavering commitment to interfaith peacebuilding.
This was followed by testimonies from APAY colleagues, ICF alumni, YMCA representatives, and friends reflecting on the impact Dr. Muriel had on their lives and work. APAY General Secretary Mr. Nam Boo Won spoke first, recalling his last meeting with Dr. Muriel during his visit to Dumaguete at the end of September. The following testimonies were provided by Ma’am Alma, a close friend of Dr. Muriel, who also occasionally collaborated with ICF and recently served as the external evaluator of the ICF project. ICF staff Baidido Saganding and Annika Denkmann also shared their stories. Everyone was invited to speak or use the Zoom chat for additional testimonies. Some alumni had prepared video messages, which were also played; others took the opportunity to share their thoughts during the Zoom meeting or write messages of gratitude in the chat. From the YMCA movements, Mr. Peter Ho, General Secretary of the YMCA of Hong Kong, and Mrs. Marshia Millie Gomez, President of the National Council of YMCAs in Bangladesh, also shared their stories. Members of Asian Women in Theology (AWIT) were also present to share their experiences.
A musical reflection, "Fill the World with Love,” from Goodbye, Mr. Chips, performed by The Tabernacle Choir, was played, followed by the final video of the day—a collection of memories prepared by ICF alumni, featuring pictures and video clips of Dr. Muriel during her numerous ICF activities.
The vigil ended with a closing prayer, and everyone lit a candle. Dr. Muriel’s eldest son expressed words of thanks and gratitude on behalf of the whole family.
Scripture: Matthew 5:9
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
Written by Annika Denkmann
BftW Seconded Personnel to ICF