Economic "kiss of death": A reaction from a reader in Basilan

My piece last August 29, 2011 (Sub-state Muslim Mindanao: An economic “kiss of death”) elicited numerous reactions. Considering the worsening situation in Muslim Mindanao, I honestly feel it is both timely and appropriate to put in print the reaction of Manis Muka from Basilan in full. Hopefully, our peace negotiators can learn a thing or two from her thoughts so that peace and prosperity may obtain in this part of the country. The full text follows:   

“I am a Mindanaoan, born here and worked here, to be specific, I live in Basilan. I would just like to share my own view about Mindanao. I can’t disagree with you, because that is how you look at the situation.

There are so many things that we Mindanaoans should thank these groups of Bandits, terrorists and rebels in Mindanao, although there are also things that we should blame them. If you look at the real people, the real inhabitants of Mindanao, they are the deprived ones, the less privileged, the ignorant, the illiterate and the warriors. I am not a historian, neither a history book addict reader. I was once against the principles of the MNLF, the MILF, the NPAs, the Abu Sayyafs and all those who are against the government. I was thinking, they are really people who are against peace. I have lived in a community where peace prevails. Most of the people living in my community can read and write, except the women who were denied education by our grand-grandparents. So we were the educated Muslims in Mindanao. I was in my second year high school when Martial Law was declared, I have never known that there was already fighting in the mainland of Mindanao. I was just surprised, when groups of military men camped in our school. My relatives came to my place as evacuees, leaving behind all their properties and their brave love ones. The house of my grandfather was full of relatives which I have just known then. In that situation, I already can see the difference of our lifestyle. We, the students in the poblacion area and my cousins who were educated in the far-flung area of Basilan. "My, how ignorant they are." We differ in so many things: dress, foods, even the utterance and meaning of the words we used, to include courtship. I figure out that they are really behind civilization. I thought, I was, or we were the best ones. I went to college and finished a degree. There was a time, that I have to take some units (to support my job) that are only available in Manila. So I went to Manila, enrolled in one of the universities in Manila. So, now is the taste of difference, I am now, the uncivilized, the ignorant. I dress differently, talked and acted differently. I could hardly cope with the Manila students. I now feel the turn of situation. I am now the "my ignorant relatives." I could feel the discrimination. Manilaneans look at me as if I am not a Filipino. Even my professors, mistaken me as a foreigner, I was grouped with the blacks, I don’t have friends neither. "Iniiwasan nila ako." But, I am a firm person, I never bow to them, I cannot adopt their lifestyle. I always put it in my heart, "I am a Muslim, and I will not allow myself to be oppressed by them. I am here to study and not to be evaded by their lifestyle. The worst thing, I cannot forget, when one of my classmates asked me "Is it true that people from Mindanao have tails?" If I was a man, I already have a fight with them. But their question was an apologetic question, so I consider it as a search for knowledge to both of us. It was then I realized, why so many of my fellow Mindanaoans changed their attitude and lifestyle when they stay in Manila, to the extent of changing their names into a Christian name, because if you don’t want to be discriminated, you have to adopt Manila lifestyle. Even, this time, you can see, when they are in Mindanao, they use veil or hijab (women) to cover their hair, but when in Manila, they fashioned like Angelica Panganiban or Ruffa Gutierrez.

Now, the nature of my job is supervision over local government officials. Our clients are the local officials (elected and appointed). We know every inch of their life and lifestyle. When I joined this institution, it was my first time to go to the farthest and infested area of Mindanao. The first thing I observed is: The biggest track of land there is owned by Christians, living in the poblacion area and worst, some are  Manila people, while the inhabitants there owned only a tiny parcel of land, and yet still untitled. "God is Great!" How come? I can’t understand it. I think Sir, I leave it to you to search the answer.

And: Would you believe? This is one of the causes of the uprising of rebellion in Mindanao. Now these people are used to fighting already. Why? It’s because of power, money and properties. They have been deprived for a long, long time. They feel anger, when they see Christians entering their area, because they consider these invaders as Christians. And sometimes, not only Christians, even their fellow Muslims, they can afford to harm you, because they have that belief, "The educated ones are just fooling them." It’s really very hard to talk to them. So the government should put more emphasis on education.

1. If you view Mindanao externally, you never see the reality. As for me, and some other Mindanaoans who have experienced so many obstacles already, we view Mindanao from within it: 1. Is there really autonomy in Mindanao?  It’s a half-cooked autonomy. Who were the leaders in the ARMM? They are puppet of Manila people. There is no genuine autonomy for Mindanao yet, Mr. Abalos; 2. Can there be peace in Mindanao? Peace will never prevail in Mindanao, because there are no committed military officials assigned in Mindanao who aimed for a lasting peace. All they want is promotion. Who do you think is the mastermind of kidnappings in Basilan, Sulu, Palawan and Zamboanga? It’s the generals from Manila. The bandits here, the Abu Sayyafs and lawless elements here are men of the Generals. When a committed military is assigned in Mindanao, immediately, they will be transferred to other places or if not, they are sent for further schooling, so they cannot install peace in Mindanao. Mindanao is really a land of promise, they sell their firearms here. Mindanaoans buy firearms to protect themselves. Generals become richer at the expense of the Mindanaoans. So they can never give up Mindanao. MINDANAO IS A PROMISED LAND; 3. Good Governance? Can there be good governance when the COA and the COMELEC are in cahoots with those who are in power? Do you know that COA has a "maintenance" for every LGU they handle? Find it out, Mr. Abalos. Do you know that politicians spend millions of pesos to pay the COMELEC, so they can win the election? Do you know that a councilor pays 200 to 500 thousand pesos each for the protection of their votes and millions of pesos for election anomalies? Well, vote buying and elections campaign expenses here is not included.

What do I have to thank the MNLF, MILF, the Abu Sayyafs (even if is owned by the Generals)? 1. People around the world, not only the Manila people now understands our culture; 2. Discrimination has diminished, because they thought that we are brave and we fight for our rights; 3. Muslims are not ashamed or afraid to be identified as Muslims already; 4. Owners of track of lands in the Mindanao area are hesitant to go back and some of them already sold their properties to the locals; 5. The government provided the local officials with funding (IRA) where they can spend to buy these track of lands from their oppressor; 6. Mindanao has become now a center for development; 7. Foreign donors are now flocking to Mindanao to give assistance; 8. Our voice is now being heard and our plea is little by little being attended.

The plea for a separate country, independence and separate state did not work. What was given is a half-cooked autonomy, an expanded autonomy. Now, they have reduced their plea to a sub-state. What will be the next do you think?

I agree, there are several chances given to us, but sad to note, it was given to the wrong hand. As a Mindanaoans by heart, by blood and in deed, I still hope for an Independent State if not an independent country.”

Indeed, peace is necessary for any country or region to progress. Therefore, no matter how elusive this maybe, it must be pursued with zest and vigor.

For your comments and suggestions, please email to [email protected].