Clips from Rappler (Fr Chito for 117 days)

jsbraza/iliganhttps://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/172413-teresito-chito-soganub-hostage-priest-marawi-muslim

Janet Braza, a visual artist and Soganub's close friend of 20 years, described the priest as a "down to earth" man who is keen on dialogue. Braza said Soganub, in fact, is often called to mediate in clan wars called rido.

She said that in engaging Muslim clerics in dialogue, Soganub also finds it important to look like them, as in the case of his long beard.

"'Yung mga pari ng mga Muslim, 'yung mga ulama, ganyan din, hindi sila nagre-remove ng kanilang balbas," Braza said. (The priests of the Muslims, the ulama, also do it that way. They do not remove their beards.)

Referring to Soganub, Braza said: "Gusto niyang ganoon para hindi siya ma-separate sa kanila. Gusto niya united eh. Gusto niya pakikisama, ganyan, to have a good dialogue." (He also wants it that way so that he won't be isolated from them. He wants to be united with them. He wants solidarity, in ways like this, to have a good dialogue.)

In 2008, Reuters made a similar observation of Soganub. The beloved priest of Marawi, Reuters said, "doesn't wear a crucifix or a clerical collar, and sports a beard out of respect for his Muslim neighbors."

His church – which terrorists burned on May 23 – "has no cross outside to show that it is a Christian church," Reuters also reported.

"To avoid arguments and to avoid further misunderstandings, we just plant the cross deep in our hearts," Soganub said.

With Soganub freed from the hands of terrorists, Christians and Muslims long to see him again – that Muslim-looking looking priest who planted the cross among Christians, and sowed seeds of friendship in everyone. – Rappler.com