Diligan mo ng Dugo’t Luha ang Dutang Ginsaad: An Emotional Ode to Mindanao.

 Andito nanaman ako, mag-iinarte at mangongroblema nanaman sa mga problemang di naman dapat pinoproblema. Pero paano yan?

I really have no idea why am I so passionate about Mindanao, even though I didn’t settled there but my roots are from that place. I never grew up there, but grew up visiting my relatives or places for vacation. It was rustic, it was paradise of green and blue. The weather is benign. The people are friendly, but my relatives has been telling me to stay away and don’t trust those who do not eat pork and prays five times a day towards the direction of Mecca. Back then, I really don’t know why except that they utter the words of distrust, betrayal and all other negative things against the followers of Islam.

I don’t want to elaborate on the history of distrust between the Kristyanos and the Moros. It may take three to four blog posts to write that. But it seems that our inate nature of being regionalistic as Filipinos - intense pride in our own ethno-linguistic groups; the reconquista y moro-moro ideals that were implanted by the Spanish colonizers to us,  the Catholic or Christian or Muslim zealotry, the slave trade invasions, the “War on Terror” by the Americans and so much more, has deepened our distrust and hatred against each other. The religious and cultural ideas that lead to bloodshed and tears.

The question of who really owns the land is highly debatable. Biruin mo, ipinagkaloob ng pamahalaan ang Mindanao para sa mga magsasaka ng Luzon at Visayas para hindi ito mag-aklas laban sa kanila. At para na rin maging shield para hindi magamit ang Davao bilang Japanese base. Nang dumami ang na-enganyo dahil sa lawak ng lupain ng Mindanao, dumami ang mga Kristyano at lumiit ang mga Moro pati na ang Lumad. There were cases of outright land grabbing from the ancestral domains of the Moros and Lumads who were then ignorant about the Western concept of “private property” as the lands were considered “communal” and for all people to share. Land grabbing that lead to land conflicts. Land conflicts that lead to bloodshed, my grandfather himself was a victim of this trechery.

I have relatives in Mindanao who have hated the Moros. They are backward, backstabbers and barbarian.  Di daw dapat sila pagkakatiwalaan. Di ko rin sila masisisi. They’ve seen their love ones slaughtered by the Moro raids of the towns especially during the 1970’s. The very foundation of Ilaga, a vigilante group composed of mostly Kristyanos and some Lumads, was borne out of reaction against the Moros. They sow terrorism in the hearts of the Moros as they kill them with reported cannibal activities. As a reaction, the Moros established their own vigilante group known as the Blackshirts/Barracudas. So the question, is terrorism a Moro problem?

MNLF/MILF & AFP has instigated a somewhat revolutionary violence. The former is for the seperation of the Mindanao that they claim is rightfully theirs, and I understand them. They weren’t subjugated by the Spaniards and was never converted to Christianity as what they define as “Filipino.” They are fiercely independent and will fight for what is right. The latter on the other hand defends the Philippines and its sovereignity. Their causes are noble yet the effects to ordinary civilians were catastrophic. Casualties have reached over a hundred thousand for years of war with each other in Mindanao. No matter how noble their causes are, it is still somewhat politically-culturaly motivated. In the end, the civilians still suffer.

In my opinion, I would still uphold MILF as a revolutionary movement still. Abu Sayyaff on the other hand is just pure banditry using Islam as an excuse to their savagery. The latter in my belief is the salot. The former on the other hand has still a handful of options to sit and talk what is necessary. For the betterment of their own peoples.

Ewan ko lang pero parang hindi ko maiwasan na ibuntong ang sisi sa Pamahalaang Arroyo sa mga pangyayaring ito ngayon na muling gumigimbala sa kapayapaan ng Mindanao at Pilipinas. I went there several years ago and I was seeing optimism that finally, Mindanao can move on towards peace and progress. That the government is seating alongside with the rebels. But because of the sudden declaration of the signing of the Memo of Agreement for the Bangsamoro Judirical Entity, Mindanao was thrown into state of panic, may it be the Kristyanos, the Moros and even the Lumads. 

I’ve restrained myself from looking into other blogs of the Kristyanos and even of the Moros…Its really frustrating. Parang sumulpot muli ang inate hatred towards each other. I got frustrated with this notion but I couldn’t blame them why. I understand them. But is violence or war really the solution to ever-lasting peace in this island or in this country? Care to look at Palestine perhaps? You may have crushed the rebels but you haven’t ceased yet the root of struggle. Hanggang dahon at sanga lang…pero yung ugat di pa napapatay. Purging Moro ideals to the point of genocide is of murder, that is outright savagery! So what do we do then? How can we help to stop the vicious cycle.

I was thinking then that this animosity of ours will be brought towards the end of human civilization.

Ano kaya ang tamang solusyon sa Mindanao/Bangsamoro Problem? Ridu rin ba kaya o ubusan ng lahi? 

I was hoping that our differences, may it be culturally or religiously could be set aside and work harmoniously. Change our attitudes and go on towards peace and progress……Parang cheesy at napaka-vague ng statement na ito, pero ganyan lang kasimple ang pangarap ng mga nabiktima. Sa huli, tayo rin ang biktima.

Tanong: Mabubuhay kaya ang halaman kung didiligan mo ito ng dugo’t luha?