Standing ovation for cha-cha in Marawi

MARAWI CITY – I am glad I came here otherwise I would never have overcome my fear of Muslim land in our country. Inured as I was in tales of its terrorism and grief it was with some trepidation that I ventured in what has been made out to be danger zone. It was a lovely ride breezing through zigzagging mountain roads on one side and the calm waters of Lake Lanao on the other. The ride itself was a little over two hours but it was well worth it for its beauty alone. But more was coming. Here was a different world and a different culture. At the entrance of the city what greeted us were not the regular buntings or signs on how Mr. Politician so and so made this road or that Ms. Congresswoman built this waiting shed. What greeted us were colorful banners congratulating the sons and daughters of Marawi, those who had just graduated with honors, one who had become an engineer, another a lawyer.

The temper of the symposium held in the Lanao Provincial Social Hall was quickly set after the Invocation by Aleem Luqman Alawi of the Ulama League of the Philippines. Governor Aleem Bashier Manalao went straight to the point.   A former preacher, Manalao, also called Mustaqbal is well known as a charismatic speaker and able to captivate full packed halls. He said in so many words that less people forget he would remind them that "it was here that the advocacy for federalism in the Philippines was born . Yes, he said we are for charter change if it will mean we will be able to live according to our Muslim culture and tenets. ‘"We are for it 100 percent" he said and the audience rose to its feet and applauded their governor.

He talked about the hundreds of thousands who have died for that cause but if charter change could bring about a peaceful resolution of the conflict, he told us to carry the message to President GMA and tell her that. Right then and there Former Assemblyman Usman T. Sarangani sponsored a resolution expressing that support and seconded by several raised hands in noisy approval by a passionate Muslim audience.

Alas, the lights suddenly went out but the symposium continued without microphones. Everyone, both the commissioners and the audience of Muslim mayors, barangay captains, NGOs and others just kept going talking, asking questions, remonstrating as they do not care if there was a black out in this much neglected region.

Mostaqbal became governor on the death of Governor Mamintal M. Adiong, Sr. conjunction with the 24 th General Assembly of the Muslim Women. As he left the hall to attend to some urgent matters the audience continued with Manalao’s fervent appeal and spoke about their own feelings. The open forum was moderated by Ali Mangotara and Mr. Sammanodin Sansarona presented the many sectors among the participants.

Among the eager faces which greeted us was the familiar face of Samera Gutoc-Tomawis, once the Southeast Asian fellow at the Oxford University Center for Islamic Studies. She texted me a few times after we featured her in Quality Britain, but sadly we lost contact. It was good to see her again in Marawi. Here was a girl who could be at home anywhere – pretty, highly intelligent and well-educated but she choose to stay among her people and serve them as best she can. While in Oxford she had occasion to speak about the plight of Mindanao and the Philippine peace process. She praised the Islamic Center in Oxford for doing its share of understanding between Islam and the West, Islam and Asia, women’s right and Muslim literature".

She had met with some of the most brilliant and humblest of Muslim scholars while in Oxford and now she was here emceeing for a symposium on charter change with a slight British accent. Just to give the extent of her exposure while in Oxford — she met philosopher Afifi who believed in traveling to seek higher learning, Dr. Michot who specialized in Muslim philosophers, anthropologist Talib who spoke of gender and Islam and Ruba who engaged Islam and art  But she knows that more needs to be done to bridge the divides among people. "I resolved to work harder as I gained new knowledge. When I packed my books, I knew these would be my souvenirs of England. With a slight British accent and wearing a veil she emceed the affair competently in English at the same time that she was very much home with the Maranao dialect spoken by her Filipino Muslim and brothers.

At the end of the symposium, a little man came forward to tell me, ‘not to forget the restoration of the 16 sultanates’ as well. This just shows you how varied the audience was. It was then I realized that the future, the present and the past were all heaving in motion in that packed hall. He was referring to historical Magundanao when it was a Muslim state that ruled parts of the island of Mindanao. Its influence ranged from Zamboanga to the bay of Sarangani. There was a time when the sultanate ruled in the entire island and other smaller neighboring islands. His request was something else but it was clear that the culture and way of life that came about during that rule is still there among the descendants of the early Muslims.

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I reminded them that this desire for federalism as a way out of ethnic conflict was not just in Mindanao but in many parts of the world. It is now seen as the response to bring about unity among diverse peoples as well as was to govern effectively especially huge populations in modern times. The essence of a federal system of government is simply the division of political power between a central or national authority and smaller, locally autonomous units such as provinces or states under the terms of a constitution. So the concept of a genuinely autonomous Muslim region in the Philippines was not a strange or merely local issue. The same federal principle is practiced in many countries such as Belgium, Switzerland and Canada or even a regional grouping such as the European Union.

During the Third International Conference on Federalism in Brussels, Speaker Jose de Venecia led the Philippine delegation from the Coalition for Charter Change Now and the Citizens Movement for Federal Philippines, as well as leaders from the three major political parties – Lakas-CMD, PDP-Laban and Liberal. He said Filipino advocates of federalism came to Brussels "to learn from the collective wisdom and experience of the leaders of well-established federal states." He believed federalism would be a safeguard against separatism because it will protect the identities of our diverse communities and empower them to take their future in their own hands. The rebel leaders had assured him many times in back channel negotiations that federalism would satisfy their demands for a state of their own. By the way, I was told by the Muslims that JDV will be coming to Marawi City on May 22 nd to open an Islamic study center.

At the Brussels conference, there was every reason to hope for a multi-party effort for charter change since one of the most ardent supporters of federalism (by the way, he attended the Brussels meeting also) was Senator Aquilino Pimentel, Jr., a leader of the Opposition.

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