REFLECTIONS In our discussions with friends and participants in some forums where we gave insights on the current Bangsamoro aspirations, we come across with some who still maintained a negative outlook of what is happening in the Bangsamoro. There are those who still raise the question of name, of questioning the change from Muslim Mindanao to Bangsamoro. Others raise the query of excluding Lake Lanao in the issue of wealth/power sharing. There are those who advance hopelessness claiming the insincerity of the government to give in to the demands of the Bangsamoro. There are also others who prefer to be silent spectators in the current stage of the Bangsamoro struggle. As Muslims, we have to participate in the transformation of our society. We cannot be silent spectators or be defeatists who, without lifting a finger, already submit and surrender to the status quo. We always begin our arguments with these people with the question: Which do we prefer, a change and reform in our region or do we prefer the status quo. If we prefer the latter, then, what are we waiting for: the day of judgment? We have to note that change must first come from within. Allah Almighty says in the Glorious Quran to the effect: Allah will never change the condition of a people unless they change what is in themselves. This means that first and foremost, we need to change our attitude. Thus, we have to accept that for us to reform our current situation, we need to believe that change can be done, that unless we do it, Allah will not change our condition. On the issue of Muslim Mindanao versus Bangsamoro, personally, I am for the name Bangsamoro for the simple reason that the term Muslim Mindanao only speaks of a particular area in Mindanao occupied by Muslims. It cannot cover areas that were formerly owned by the Muslims. However, Bangsamoro has historical importance in defining the territory of the Muslims. When the American occupation government established the first area of the Muslims in Mindanao, it created the Moro Province in 1903 and this included the areas of Sulu (including Palawan), Zamboanga, Lanao, Cotabato and Davao. We ask the question, how much of these areas are now within the region of Muslim Mindanao? Not only are Zamboanga and Davao excluded but the three areas of Sulu, Lanao and Cotabato are reduced substantially. Palawan is no longer part of Sulu; Lanao is divided into two provinces and only Lanao del Sur is part of the region. Cotabato is divided into five provinces and only Maguindanao remains a portion of Muslim Mindanao. [In our next reflections, we will deal with the other issues, Insha Allah.]
Posted on: Sun, 23 Nov 2014 02:11:29 +0000
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