I had second thoughts about writing anything even loosely related to the BJE MOA-AD for fear of making a mistake on writing a take on a very critical issue that's been in existence for as long as I can remember, four decades -- so the reports say. Aside from the fact that this is all too complicated to research on, much less write about, the issue of peace in Mindanao and the many factors surrounding it is too sensitive an issue to even put into writing, if only for the fact that everything that ultimately requires "peace" is most of the time -- an uphill battle -- and many a writer wouldn't want to get caught in the crossfire. Now, I'm no politician. I have no degree in Political Science. I'm no political analyst. So, yes, I probably don't have the Continue reading →
This is in response to Patricio Mangubat's article "On The Bangsamoro Question" over at Filipino Voices.com. This was intended to be a comment on that article as well as a response to the other commenters. While I was writing the comment though, it turned out longer than I expected it. And because I didn't want to appear as if I am writing a post there, I decided to write an entire post about it here on my blog. This is a preserved/unedited version of it. Here it is: Continue reading →
So, it's not a "done deal" yet -- insofar as the government is concerned, although the MILF Vice-chair for Political Affairs claims otherwise. Presidential Peace Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. even calls it a mere "meeting of minds" and "initialing of documents" so as to preserve its authenticity.
Oral arguments in the Supreme Court are scheduled on August 15, Friday. The BJE MOA is expected to be staunchly defended by Rodolfo Garcia, chair of the government panel. Continue reading →
It is therefore, almost surreal to me that news of such a tension popped out of my Google feed reader on a casual hit of the "refresh" button. As if Continue reading →
First is the news that MILF agrees to pull out fighters in North Cotabato. And they agreed on it hours ahead of today's 10am deadline -- which, by the way, tempts me to think that the MILF are not that tough after all. But, well, of course, we know better. If they weren't that tough, we wouldn't have this peace process in the first place, right? Or does the MILF appear tougher than they actually are because the government is being too lenient with them? Either way, anything that results to halting of violence and chaos is good news and therefore it behooves us to appreciate and laud both sides. Peace, after all is an effort -- and an affort from both parties. So, let's give them that. Continue reading →
The commenter, known only as "lumad" had this to say:
lumad Says: August 7th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Bilang isang lumad ng mindanao, matuloy man ang kasunduang GRP-MILF o hindi, magkaruon man ng digmaang sibil o hindi or magkaroon man ng hiwalay na istado ang muslim at kristyano sa mindanao ang talo sa lahat ang mga lumad. Nananatilli sa kabundukan, nanatiling walang pinag aralan, nanatiling walang boses o representasyon sa ano mang larangan, nanatiling walang lakas o pagdepensa sa sarili sa anu mang digmaang magaganap. Ang lahat ay malinaw at kahit sa anong panig sa gobyerno, krisyanong mindanao o moro ang lumad ng mindanao ay baliwala sa lahat.
I don't know if that comment caught me in a gloomy mood today -- thus the sudden emotion, or maybe it's just that the comment felt so real, so sincere and so melancholic all at the same time. I believe, however, that the latter is true. Such is the sadness that it etched in my heart the first time I read it that I had no other thought in mind but to write about it this instant. Continue reading →
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