“Killing is practically a Filipino national pastime but on Mindanao it's an industry.” -Leonard Mosley
“You can't blame them because they are looking after the development of Mindanao.” -Francisco Simbajon
The Extra Mile
BEING A STUDENT of political science has done me numerous wonders. I was successfully exposed to the kind of realpolitik that exists whenever, wherever. Many think that Political Science is just one of the many pre-law courses being offered around. Little do they know that the discipline itself is alive and independent - and I have proven that even more when we had our field exposure in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao last March 14-17, 2013.
When the news of it was first opened up in our class, MINDEVT (Peace and Development in Mindanao), I was really excited. Even though, I know and I feel that I will be encountering problems securing permission from my mother (my father always believed in my ability to make decisions), I was determined to be join. From a northerner's perspective, Mindanao is but a place plagued with rebels and poverty. Thanks to media, that scene was inculcated into many mind, no wonder why Mindanao is feared, even as a tourist destination. If the media keeps on projecting it as a god-forsaken island (/s), then who would think of it as an island/tourist paradise. Media. Media. It is powerful indeed.
But I was more eager to see the place for myself. After all, media, especially the Filipino brand of newscasting is more of an entertainment rather than a serious affair. I would not attempt to conceal my fears first especially when I first hopped into the plane, knowing that when it takes off, there is no going back. It was also my first plane trip without my family. Indeed, I was able to acquire many firsts during the trip, including most importantly, that once in a lifetime opportunity to meet and engage with the people that we have met. And of course, I will always be grateful to our prof, Dr. Rizal G. Buendia for making all of these possible. It was a trip of a lifetime.
It was the first, in the history of De La Salle University, to allow students to go to Mindanao, more especially in the perceived-to-be conflict ridden region of ARMM. In turn, it was also ARMM's first time to receive students from a top Manila university such as DLSU. Many firsts, indeed. We made history. We were well received and protected. Thank you, for all those who have helped us especially the Office of the Regional Vice Governor.
But if there is one thing I would like to share with you all, that would be the politics of development in the region. My sixth and final blog focuses on these. Indeed, Dr. Buendia was correct when he reminded us that the conflict in Mindanao is not only endemic to the place - we can actually observe war, conflict, poverty and many more in all parts of the world. While other countries in the world prosper, there will always be regions that will be left behind. Indeed, what made the Mindanaoan experience quite unique compared to the other ordinary experiences that they live through everyday is the intertwining of these "ordinary" struggles with their struggle for independence (or autonomy) and self-determination. Big words, massive claims but not entirely impossible. We just have to open our minds and hearts to their different brand of plights.
The Unsubjugated Peoples of the South, Self Determination and Development
Indeed, while the northern islands of the archipelago fell prey into the hands of our Spanish colonizers for more than 300 years, Mindanao was never subjugated. The colonizers have tried numerous times but have failed. The sultanates of Mindanao had prevailed.This critical fragment of their history is very important if we are going to analyze it alongside their call for self-determination.The United Nations does not recognize their plea for independence. It is because it respects the territorial integrity of the whole Philippine archipelago wherein secession is non-negotiable. However, if we are going to take a look at the realities they face, from their perspective, everything could take a 180 degree turn.
For us, the ARMM houses the rebels that inflicts fear in the hearts of many. The Moro Islamic (MILF) Liberation Front, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) among many others, are nothing but rebels that demand too much from government. As a native of the north, I used to believe that they are just renegades without a legitimate cause to fight for. But upon studying them thoroughly in class and actually conversing with some of them, I was able to contextualize their struggles without much bias. Indeed, they are fighting for a cause that goes beyond religious difference.
When People are Poor
When you are seeing your people suffer - from too much poverty or others by the same government which was mandated to protect the rights of its people how do you respond? When the central/national government sits thousands of kilometers away from the ailing and deprived peoples, would you not feel abandoned? When you have agreed to play on their (GPH, Government of the Philippines) terms and in return they played on you - creating watered-down agreements and faux peace talks, would you not resort to something that could challenge their authority, by carrying arms for example? It would be easy for us to say, "they should not do this, they should not do that" because we are living at the better end of the line. But for those people who are forgotten, a 6.6% growth in the economy are just fancy numbers for the northerners. Because down there, they are struggling to survive.9 out of the 15 poorest provinces in the Philippines are in Mindanao
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| “Poverty in the Philippines: A Profile”, National Statistics Coordination Board, 2009 |
If there is one thing that we must understand about the Mindanaoan experience, it should be this, the problems that they face is very, very complex. To simplify it to the problem of armed conflict is an understatement. Worse, to not know what they are fighting for is neglect. Indeed, everything is complicated in the case of Mindanao. Tackling development is already complicated and we haven't even fully discussed the issue of ancestral domain and self-determination which both make the Mindanaoan experience unique.
What I'm saying is simple, though. The national government might boast of its economic achievement and political will in battling the ills of the Philippine society (like corruption), but all those are futile if not the bounties of such feats do not trickle down to the lowest tiers of society. The Mindanaoan experience is heartbreaking in many aspects. But the worst of all? They are deprived and neglected by their fellow Filipinos. The reason why the government does not bow to the Bangsamoro calls for independence? Resources. The national government knows that Mindanao is very much endowed by nature and they won't let it go.
This is the tragedy of our brothers and sisters in Mindanao, partially told. There are much to be said but in lieu of development, they are at the lower trappings of the line, needless to say. They are suffering, and by imposing our understanding of how they should live their lives, of how should they go about development without understanding their unique case, we marginalize them further.
Indeed, realizing the fears of many, the economic development that the country is experiencing is only but for a few hands.✻
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