(This is part of the earlier conversation of CSOs in Lanao of which I have just unearthed. -vmg)
October 3, 2008 8:00pm
I just have arrived from the field (Brgy. Kalilangan, Iligan City) with colleagues Jam and Harriet who conducted the barangay governance strengthening, we took the trek from Old Rogongon to Kalilangan since it is unsafe to travel to Mandulog-Dulag Road (due to the recent tower toppling at Lanipao)
At the area I was able to share with the community the MOA AD documents and conversed with them but prior to that I asked them what they felt and think about the conflict occurred and what have they understood about it. Honestly it wasn’t really surprising when Baylan Trining Sisayan said that the community were really scared, puzzled and disturbed because of these reasons; people bagged the area as home of the MILF offenders, retaliation of Commander Bravo to the rebel returnee, and unsorted news from the media (radio) which totally brought fear. The second question was what they knew about the MOA AD? Kagawad Khalil Macausor shared that the MILF passed MOA and President Gloria have not supported it, and it is a separation of Muslim area from the Christian.
Hearing those sentiments from the community I shared with them MOA AD Documents and discussed what truly happened and how the scenario brought unpeace, I was really amazed of their faces hearing every word translated from the documents, from the maps covered areas of BJE, list of barangays included in Annex A and B and shared insights the community was really responsive, Bapa Sarakan Mansumayan shared that “we heard different stories from the radio, last August we heard the City Mayor asking people to arm, and the radio was on panic, people are on the streets, and Atty. Leo Zaragoza even called and asked the commentator to stop… we don’t know how to read that’s why we listen but it was not a good information. .”
After that I felt at ease even after the seven (7) km trekked and had crossed three unbridged rivers, sharing to them real stories and understood it, is really rewarding.
Let us inform our communities even a simple conversation will do, we know that it would change a lifetime perception rather than letting them side with nothing but a culture of fear.
G.
Hi G,
Thanks for sharing your experience and initiative in making a community informed of an issue. It’s really inspiring to hear positive results of our eforts, even how small it is. A mile journey always starts with the first step, ika nga.
Your experience also shows that it’s really good to initiate the MOA-AD discussion already at the community level. And I think it should not only be about the MOA-AD but other issues as well that relate to the current crisis. It’s also important to raise the level of awareness of the communities on the analysis of the conflict (beyond the MOA-AD issue). This is more important ow that the problem is becoming a Muslim-Christian conflict. This may not be that easy in the coastal communities directly affected of the MILF attack, but we can also start with few members of these communities who are already open to discuss such issues.
Well, the session with Bro. Karl tomorrow may help us devise a more effective strategy in our peace building work within the current context.
Hope many would come tomorrow as well as to the 5PM meeting of the CSOs for our media advocacy planning.
N.
Great story. This is what we need now. Inform communities of the things they are deprived of for years. Keep up the good work. ….. and hope to hear more stories from you later.
Cheers,
Bong
Thank you very much for sharing your experience. Indeed there is a great need to help people in the communities understand the situation better. There are a lots of mis-information that leads to misconception. That is only on the MOA-AD.
My experience is much more is in the aspect of history. There is really a need to put more effort in dialoguing with the people in the communities who have less access to reliable information.
Your experience is encouraging. Keep up the commitment..
ciao,
RR
Hi Sir,
Honestly i am really engrossed with distaste by most of the people who refused to listen and understand the real scenario and sad to note during fiesta i was able to see one of my bestfriends and tried to explain to her and she just said “pakialam nako nila, gitagaan na na silag higayon sa gobyerno, mao ra gyapon, M.I siguru ka!” she then uttered that her mom cried and panicked during the false alarm of MILF attack but i really understand especially to those people who do not have access to right information, unsa na lang kaha tong naa sa Kolambogan mao gyud sang lisora kay apiktado kaayo.
Salamat diay sa ikaduhang higayon, the Pastoral Implication on Mindanao Conflict with Brother Carlito “Karl” Gaspar kaganina was really enriching, ka-relate kaayo sa mga theory ka-SOCIOLOGY man sad diay. Salamat AGAPE! Galing lang gamay ra’y NGO naa, nainvite pud unta ang rtmgp ug si Doc Ruiz, i’ve attended their forum which was sponsored by the MSU-IIT Pol Sci Dept entitled “Implication of MOA AD to the Civil Society of Lanao” last August and even video covered it, and the whole thing was really negative hearing the antis in front of mostly muslim student (MIMSA) MSU-IIT Muslim Student Association and BUC-MTYC volunteers was really sad.
Hoping that there will be venue for our political leaders who are open to discuss the MOA AD and its implication.
G.
Kalinaw!
We shared the same experienced as to advocating for peace. It’s frustrating because there are people who build a wall of strong distrust and biases using unresolved issues of the recent conflict in Lanao provinces as a propaganda. Worst, this was used in media blitz, especially, over the radios in Iligan and Ozamis, with a tuned of black propaganda. This was happened just recently with all the lies to discredit the CSOs. What is their motive?
More information to follow.
Wasalam!
JE
ear Colleagues,
I share your disappointments and frustrations as to how the media and some groups portray the situation in Lanao del Norte and probably the whole of Mindanao.
This is not surprising. I think some of the people are just very honest of what they feel and reaction. Whatever are those, its largely because of the long history of disinformation and hysteria-filled perceptions that has been pass on from one generation to another.
As we have re-educated ourselves because of our persistent quest for peace, it would also be our inherent task to take part in the re-education process of our people. We need to tap the institutions of learnings and information dissemination in order to accomplish this gargantuan task. We might as well focus our re-education efforts to the children and younger generations and engage healthy discussion and debates with the adults. We also need to explore our creativity and resourcefulness. Above all we need to complement and coordinate our initiatives.
We also need to raise enough resources for our efforts and this requires hard work. I am in the view that if we have, for instance, a Comprehensive Program for Peace and Reconciliation Education in Lanao participated by several organization working together as a consurtium, it would be easier to attract bigger funding and might as well have more impact.
Suct Comprehensive Program could be divided into several projects where each of the participating organization could be the implementor and manager of that component. Each component should contribute to the overall goal and must be complementary to the existing program of the participating organization. Perhaps a coordinating structure agreed by everybody could be set up to monitor the process.
what do you think of this?
Ciao,
RR
RR and Friends,
Kalinaw!
It’s very agreeable for me to continue working for peace. Experiences and learnings that we have gained on the current situation are indicators that we still have to work more on peace advocacy in many forms applicable to how diverse we are. Yes, this work is very costly that needs enough budget to address biases and transform conflict into a culture of peace.
Media war (as the media call it) must happen to clarify issues so those who are in a state of doubts and confusions will be enlightened. A person may be anger now but tomorrow may not and the next day around is time for reflections for understanding to have peace. There must have sacrifices in order to save the other. All of these will take time, efforts and resources to attain our goal – peace!
Salamat daan bay!
JE