Empowering Muslims

MARAWI CITY: Close to 150 Ulama (learned Muslims who have studied in Islamic institutions in the Middle East and who are looked up to by Islam followers for their intellectual and moral leadership) and women met in this city to listen to lectures on empowering Muslim communities. In the light of substantive efforts to establish harmonious relations between the government and separatist groups, the forum was most timely. Topics covered current political and social issues, such as "Muslim Economic Empowerment" delivered by Saeed A. Daof; "The Mindanao Problem: Islamic Alternatives" by Aleem Elias Macarandas, and "The Role of the Ulama in Political Reforms" by Aleem Majeed Ansado.

The keynote speaker, Daof, challenged the participants to harness their "abilities and capabilities and articulate their position in achieving peaceful and non-violent conflict transformation in bringing about a social change and improvement of their political and socio-economic place in society".

He noted that a good many Muslims today have shown "enthusiasm and willingness" to improve the educational system in their communities, and become "more and more assertive in actively participating in the political and economic upliftment of the quality of life of their communities. Progress is being attained in the promotion and development of better understanding among people, and the winds of change in resolving differences from armed conflict to peaceful and non-violent conflict transformation are the emphasis given by both rebels and the government".

The same observation about peace and development going hand in hand to empower Muslims was made by the other speakers and commentators. Dr. Moctar I. Matuan, executive director of the Institute of Peace and Development of Mindanao, Mindanao State University, said, "Peace is everybody’s responsibility . . . (But) because people’s concerns are not addressed, the conflict between government and the Moro liberation forces continues."

Aleem Macarandas, president of the Philippine Muslim Welfare Society, one of the forum organizers (the other being the Institute for Peace and Development of Mindanao, MSU), said that indeed in the last two decades, serious attempts have been made by the Philippine government to recognize "the Muslim identity, yet much has to be done to come up with a social-political and economic atmosphere where every cultural community is recognized, respected and allowed to freely and fully play their respective roles in nation-building."

He mentioned positive aspects of the democracy espoused by the Philippine government, but what is wrong is the governments "straight jacket policy‚" which "postulates that what is good for the people of Luzon is good for the people of Mindanao. That is wrong because the people of Mindanao cannot keep pace with the fast growth and development of Luzon. (The policy) is wrong as it serves as the entry point of people who are desirous to exploit Mindanao. There can be no solidarity between the exploiter and exploited, between the oppressor and the oppressed."

Aleem Majeed Ansano, former education secretary of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and author of books on political affairs and economics, said that Muslims face the dilemma of harmonizing "the incongruent principles of traditional, Islamic, and Philippine laws." He said the Ulama, as learned community leaders, can help lead the communities to participate in good governance by voting the right people to office – not to buy votes or participate in ballot-snatching. He added, though, that people should vote for candidates not on the basis of their being Muslims or Christians but because of their strict adherence to their religious principles.

The Aleem’s speech was written in Maranao, and was interpreted to non-Maranaoans by Dr. Guimba Poingan of the MSU department of public affairs, who gave his views on matters on hand.

It must be mentioned that the forum’s organizer, the PMWS, and CPPDM have recently signed a memorandum of agreement which binds them to embark on programs related to peace and development. Among their planned projects are a housing program for ulama and agricultural projects.

A constant supporter of the PMWS is the Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), whose program director, Pancho Lara, flew from Manila to attend the forum. Also in attendance was Luke Hurst of the Central Mennonite Committee which supports a peace institute in Mindanao together with the Catholic Relief Services.

Giving a brief message was Dr. Datumanong Sarangani, executive vice-president of the MSU System. Dr. Sarangani is one of the most articulate Muslim educators I’ve met. In our conversation before the forum, he mentioned the difficulties the university is going through, paramount of which is the meager budget given for its operation by Congress. He said that at one hearing held before legislators, he touched on the ironical fact that while Mindanao contributes more than 60 per cent to the GNP, it receives only 17 per cent appropriation, and MSU suffers in the diminishing return. The legislators simply said, "We’re sorry, we cannot do anything about it. Try again."

Indeed, it’s unfortunate that MSU, a leading institution in Mindanao, with seven campuses and a number of high schools, is not being given generous support by the government. One reason for this is the funneling of funds to some legislators’ insistence on the creation of state colleges in their provinces. And yet, MSU has produced some of the country’s able technocrats. Its campus in Iligan, whose graduates have topped engineering board examinations, has been judged a center of excellence.

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E-mail: dominimt20002yahoo.com