" A Hope for Peace in a Dark World" by Orange TulipWhile composing the photo, i was thinking that the fountains of various colours represents the multicultural Mindanao hoping for peace. And i asked myself- "When will peace be really achieved in the world and in this island?" Thinking about it sent a tremor to my heart. The words " Peace on Earth" in a dark evening was like an enormous longing for the Mindanaoans who have witnessed, emotionally and physically scarred and displaced by seemingly endless "war". Orange Tulip
IS THERE ROOM AT THE INN? by Edwin Bacasmas A family displaced by the fierceness of the MILF raids certainly hopes so. They knock on the door of a total stranger to ask for shelter from a shop owner in Iligan City on Tuesday night. At press time, 15,000 evacuees are occupying the Iligan City National High School, the City Central School and the West Central School in Buruun. EDWIN BACASMAS
The photo above has been used in my previous post, " A Cry for Peace in Mindanao"http://reckonsofspring.blogspot.com/2008/08/cry-for-peace-in-mindanao.html I am using this photo again as a reaction to this front page photo of the Philippine Daily Inquirer which really struck me at first glance. http://media.inquirer.net/inquirer/inq/index/index_network.htm. Taken by Edwin Bacasmas with the caption: " Is there room at the inn?" this photo i reckon, successfully captured the sufferings of a displaced family and is probably a perfect representation of the fifteen thousand evacuees in Iligan City as a result of the MILF attacks to the neighbouring villages. Looking closer, one finds an elder woman probably a grandmother, a female parent, minors and even toddlers. Noticeably missing are the male family members who probably opted to stay and take care of their homes, or to find food supplies for the family.
The sight of such photo made very much concerned about the reportedly 160,000 people (i am wondering if the women and children are included in the statistics) displaced by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rampage in North Cotabato. I was wondering how these villagers are making it through in crowded evacuation areas or in finding available place to spend the night. On top of the shelter, these families need other basics like food, clothing and beddings. For the wounded or sick, considering the crowded condition in evacuation areas the need for medical supplies and attention. I gathered from various national broadsheets and television news that constituents in the affected municipalities refuse to go back to their own homes(thus named ghost villages) due to the fear of another attack by MILF( where the GRP peace panel was supposed to be talking peace with) once the government military forces leave the areas recently " cleared" of armed rebels.
Few days earlier, the government troops did a " clearing operation" of affected villages in North Cotabato. Reportedly led by a Commander Umbra Kato, they torched, burned houses, took livestock and available resources, killing the innocent civilians( most notably a 72 year old man and his 71 year-old wife, and using their 39 year old son as human shield before finally killing him) displacing hundreds of thousands of both Muslim and non-Muslim civilians. Another MILF group, led by a “Commander Bravo” did a rampage in the neighbouring province of Lanao del Norte including some barangays of Iligan City. News accounts reported that at least 40 people were killed. This included the reported ambush of six soldiers led by Lt. Col. Angelo Benitez, in Kolambugan Town, Lanao del Norte on their way to the headquarters of the Army's Task Force Tabak in Iligan City.
According to reports, Monday's attacks was the bloodiest since a territorial deal with the MILF stalled earlier this month, just days after the government troops drove out MILF rebels from North Cotabato. “Commander Bravo” and his men took several villagers as hostages as they burned and looted several houses in Lanao del Norte. News accounts showed that even the aged parents-in-law and a brother-in-law of the former Comelec Chairman Garcillano (who became very popular for the allegedly vote rigging scandal of 2004 Philippine Presidential Elections) residing in one of the villages in Lanao del Norte were not spared from the atrocities of the supposedly " break away group". The MILF leadership refused to be responsible for the group's actions, citing them as " loose commands". Bravo tried to dismiss the allegation announcing over a local radio station that that it was an action of the Islamic warriors or muhadejins as a reaction to the Supreme Court's Temporary Restraining Order for the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain(MOA-AD).
Arguably, there was no consensus nor public consultation held over the preparation and finalisation of the MOA-AD as claimed by the local government officials led by North Cotabato's Manny Pinol, Zamboanga's Celso Lobregat and Iligan City's Lawrence Cruz. Notably the indigenous group or " lumads are quiet. Having their own ancestral domains, i am wondering what would be their stand or whether they were consulted by the government peace panel. News accounts usually identify Mindanao settlers as Muslims and Christians, although i have always believed that it does not follow that if someone is not a Muslim, he or she could not become automatically considered as a Christian leaving the indigenous groups unmentioned. It will probably sound better if all residents of this island will be collaboratively called Mindanaoans. Further, regardless of the religious or ethnic background or dialect or language spoken, native or migrant in the island-they are all Filipinos.
Iligan City http://www.iligan.gov.ph/ is a charming coastal city which i chanced to see the first time around on my way to Pagadian City and the neighbouring Zamboanga provinces last year with few friends. On our way back en route to Cagayan de Oro City for a flight to Manila, a native of Iligan City whom i met few years back and has became a very good friend ever since, was generous enough to meet us up, treat us for dinner ( i heard Tatay's Grill is one of the very popular seafood restaurants in the place) and drive us around the city like a real tourist guide. What i found unforgetable was the city hall strategically located in the elevated part of the city giving me a delight to see the city evening lights from the city hall grounds. We took souviner photo shoots in the nearby park and i asked why the place is devoid of people enjoying the early evening breeze or simply " taking time to smell the roses". Our tour guide,my dear old friend jokingly replied" because they were expecting you to come, they left you alone to pose for your photo shoots to your heart's content". True enough, i posed excitedly like a tourist visiting a lovely place for the first time. Driving down, we passed the ampitheatre where the annual play about Saint Michael (the patron saint of the City) is regularly shown as a part of the highlights of the city's festivities. I missed going to the majestically beautiful Maria Cristina Falls (the sight of which enthralled me the upon watching a television show featuring the city's falls few years back) and other beautiful springs and waterfalls so i resolved upon myself to come back in this city on its festivities, walk on its grounds, learn and probably imbibe their culture-as soon as i can. While we were being showed around, i noticed that the city is quiet and peaceful sans a threat of any disorder. It was then a surprise to hear about the bombings in two hotels of- what i saw was a peaceful and charming city just a year ago. Unknowingly, this became a prelude to series of attacks by MILF rebel groups in the neighbouring towns resulting to massive evacuations.
The picture that in the Philippine Daily Inquirer news as i mentioned in the earlier part of this blog, represents the anguish and sufferings of the innocent civilians caught in the conflict. The sight of that photo has made me ponder and stop worrying about my own concerns which i reckon- are mundane. The said photo and the numerous news of deaths, displacements, and chaos made me cry some more- hoping for peace in Mindanao.
As the atrocities of the armed rebel group continue, military forces are sent from Manila, Luzon and even the Visayas to provide further support. No matter what side they are taking-either as a government or rebel forces, casualties will continue to soar. It makes me feel sorry thinking that they are still Filipinos hurting and even killing each other regardless of the causes that they have chosen to fight for. Most probably, the ongoing war in Mindanao will continue to cost the limbs and life of the soldiers deployed to drive away the rebels sowing chaos over certain vilages using the Supreme Court Temporary Restraining Order for the supposed signing of the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity(BJE) as an excuse. Even the MILF rebels reportedly have, and also suffer their own losses.
Most importantly, the number of displaced civilians will continue to multiply, for who would not run away from their homes which at anytime could be riddled with bullets or torched by rebels? During unfortunate incidents, on their way for a safer ground, they could possibly be caught in the crossfire or worse, could be used as human shields. At the end of the day, the Filipino people are all losing in this very sad scenario.
I have always thought that Mindanao is lucky for its bright sunshines, beautiful sunsets,enthralling sceneries, rich soil for any agricultural crop away from devastations of strong typhoons or volcanic eruptions and other natural calamities. Little did i realised that the man-made calamities has, or will be more devastating- which brings undue disruption of many lives and leads to unquantifiable losses.
I choose to remember Mindanao with its clear blue skies, picturesque sceneries, pristine beaches, abundant natural resources and people with warm smiles and sunny dispositions in life. Yet it pains me to think that the condition has become very volatile again as a result of the BJE-MOA AD which arguably lacked " consensus" in many aspects. This ancestral domain issue has become a "sleeping tiger" recently reawakened due to the lack of sense and sensitivity of the concerned parties who are supposed to be " peacemakers".
Yet i continue to cry for peace in Mindanao for many huge reasons the foremost of which is my undying love for this place and its people where i belong. Yes, Mindanao will always be the first in my heart wherever my fate and faith would bring me- for this is the place where i first saw the rays of the sun and the sparkle of the stars and the beauty of the moon. This is the place of my birth.
No comments:
Post a Comment