Listen to the voices of reason and peace

There are many voices now that are advocating a return to all-out war in Mindanao. While most of them do not use the term “war’ as their solution, their pronouncements betray their real intentions. For instance, they use words like justice but actually mean revenge. They do not say war but they instead say peace is not possible in Mindanao.

There are, unfortunately even senators and other officials who are claiming that the only path to peace is through more violence. It is unfortunate also that most media commentators would rather broadcast calls for war rather than peace.

Fortunately, there are still voices of reason who are advocating peace. One of such voice is the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP). In order to make its voice heard, it had to come out with a full page advertisement.

Its manifesto is entitled “ Hear Mindanao: Requite Evil with Good.” It begins by saying: “We are profoundly saddened and shocked that the deliberations on the Bangsamoro Basic Law have been indefinitely suspended.” Before I restate their major points, it is important that we first know what is this organization all about.

The CEAP is the national association of Catholic educational institutions in the Philippines. Founded in 1941, it now has 1,252 members which are all educational institutional. Although it includes schools catering to the more affluent sector of society, its members also include around 700 mission schools offering basic education to the country’s poor and the marginalized.

Its manifesto raised several major issues which every Filipino should be aware. First, it said that the tragic events of Mamasapano requires the search for truth so that justice can be served to all the casualties, both combatants and civilians. There are so many investigations but in the pursuit of truth “humility is more helpful than arrogance, more helpful than rage or anger.”

Senators, congressmen and media commentators should listen to the wisdom of the CEAP when it said: “ Humility admits one’s biases and prejudices against others in the search for truth and justice. Humility admits respect for persons or organizations from whom we seek truth.”

So many public statements on the Mamasapano encounter are clearly the result of biases or even worst based on personal political agendas. Just as bad are media commentators who are riding on this issue as if it was just another scandal that could increase both listenership and viewership.

The CEAP urges all of us to look at this armed struggle from a historical perspective. That is why it says: “Let us not forget the MILF is a revolutionary group. It took up arms against the government in the face of an undeniable history of intolerance, violence and exclusion.” This is a profound statement coming from a Catholic organization that publicly admits that the Muslim minority in this country have been victimized by the Christian rulers from the time of the Spanish colonizers.

The present struggle with the MNLF and MILF, however, is a history of 45 years of intermittent war that has brought suffering to Mindanao. It began in 1968, after the Jabidah massacre instigated by the Marcos regime. It intensified during the martial law years when Marcos declared all out war against the Moros. During the Marcos years, around 11,000 soldiers and policemen died during the struggle. But around 150,000 other combatants and civilians, predominantly Moros, also died.

The CEAP manifesto said: “Both the Moros and the Philippines came to a share insight that the road to violence in Mindanao only led to more wars, more wailing of widows and children, impoverishment. More was to be gained on the path to peace.”

The original demand of the MNLF and MILF was for independence – a homeland. However, as the CEAP says, the Bangsamoro Basic will achieve less than this original demand. It offers “self determination while preserving national sovereignty and national integrity.”

The manifesto believes however: “Within the framework of the 1987 Constitution, the Moro quest for a homeland where they could live in prosperity as Filipinos fully integrated in the Philippine nation was possible through a path to peace.”

While lawmakers and certain media commentators continue to sow distrust and discord, the CEAP has a different view. In their manifesto they said: “The path to peace has been arduous, tread by courageous leaders on both sides who have had to quell powerful objections to peace within their own ranks. The path to peace has been fruitful. In Mindanao the peace has been kept...Our partners in peace eschew the ways of extremism and terrorism. They are for a negotiated political solution.”

This is truly enlightening – that the organization representing Catholic educators are asking us to trust our Muslim brothers.

I believe that the CEAP is the most respected and unbiased voice that has made a stand on the current debate regarding the BBL. Aside from the fact that the Catholic educational system is the largest tertiary system in the country – bigger than the government, its elected leaders represent the cross section of Catholic educators. Here is a snapshot of some of the members of the Executive Committee.

Brother Narciso Erguiza FSC is the CEAP president. He is president of De La Salle University-Araneta, chair of the DLSU board of trustees and former president of the Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning. He finished his undergraduate and graduate studies at De La Salle University.

Father Joel Tabora, S.J. is vice president of the CEAP. He is president of Ateneo de Davao University. He is also president of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities in Asia Pacific, president of PAASCU and the Davao Association of Catholic Schools. He finished his undergraduate studies in Ateneo de Manila and his graduate studies in Austria.

 Reverend Herminio Dagohoy O.P. is treasurer of CEAP. He is the rector magnificus of the University of Sto. Tomas which makes him the highest ranking officer and chief administrator of UST. He finished his undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Sto. Tomas.

 In the CEAP manifesto, there were other significant signatories who were not members of the association. Among them were Bishop Angelito Lampon of the Vicariate of Jolo; Brother Wilfredo Lubrico, FMS, president of Notre Dame University in Koronadal, South Cotobato; Sister Eden Panganiban, SSpS of the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines; and, Dr. Ricardo M. De Ungria, president of the University of the Philippines – Mindanao.

The closing paragraph of the CEAP is a call that should be heeded by all Filipinos:

“Today, precisely because of what happened in Mamasapano, that path should not be abandoned. Hear Mindanao: the peace process should not be imperilled ...Let those in the north and south who are charged with leadership walk humbly, calmly and wisely before the God of Peace together. Do not do unto others what you would not have them do to you. Do not requite evil with evil. Requite evil with good, confusion and rage with wisdom, death with life. Pass a Bangsamoro Basic Law that secures justice and peace.”

We can only pray and hope that our people will listen to these voices of reason and calm who sincerely believe there is a road to peace in Mindanao.

 Writing class for adults: Warming Up for Writing One’s Life Story

?In celebration of International Women’s Month, Write Things offers Memoir Writing: Owning Your Life Story with Mariel Francisco, awardwinning author of The History of the Burgis and A Spirituality Pillow Book on March 14 (Sat; 1-5pm) at Fully Booked Bonifacio High Street. 

Participants will be guided to understand their own life stories with the help of the seven-year stages framework. It offers springboards for reflection, understanding and appreciation of one’s life story. A prelude to the writing one may want to pursue.

Call 0917-6240196/email[email protected].

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