PERCEPTIONS on the Tri-People of Mindanao: Will there be a Room for CHANGE?

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Peace still primary dream of Mindanao's tri-people - Braga

By Rose Palacio

Davao City (4 August) -- Councilor Pilar Braga, chair of the committee on commerce, trade and industry said Mindanao may have grown economically and socially over the past years but the island's tri-people are still dreaming for peace.

"Peace remains to be the primary dream of Mindanao's tri-peoples, the Muslims, Lumads, and Christians," she said.

"In Southern Philippines, peace continues to be a concern for us. "There is still much to be done to achieve lasting peace and genuine development in Mindanao, this, despite the signing of the 1996 peace agreement between the government of the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Fronts, Braga said.

The local government continues to design various programs in an attempt for the people to give importance and nurture the value of peace, understanding and tolerance among Mindanao's tri-people.

The administration including several non-government organizations or NGOs have also undertaken various activities to deal with crucial issues directly affecting the lives of Mindanaoans.

Among the issues undertaken were on terrorism, poverty, peace and order problems in the pursuit of achieving real peace, she said.

"Mindanaoans are still hopeful that we could achieve a real peace in Mindanao pursuant to diverse culture of the island that would affect the tri-people in this region," she said.

The present situation calls for the charter change, the constituent assembly, the recovery of our economy, but we could never abandon peace and development. Where there is peace, everything will follow, she added. (PIA-RBPalacio)

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

It Should Start Within Us...

We are all created equally by God and so there is no reason for us to feel unwanted. But with todays age it is quite ironic. People from everywhere are discriminating each other. This is not new to all of us knowing that anywhere in the country we experience so much humiliation. Why don't we help hand in hand be united for a better and progressive country.
We always hope for it but nothing has been happening. Why? Because we lack what is most important among all of us...UNITY. WE can't change the world if it does not start within us.

It's Never Too Easy!

...Knowing the fact that Mindanao is somewhat like an unsafe place to live in, there are somehow good reasons why Mindanao shouldn't be regarded as such.Not because I'm a Mindanaoan that i would like to put a good image but because I was only concern of the future of this place.
IT'S NEVER TOO EASY for me to just sit down and relax while others are condemning Minadanao. Though it is true that for some reasons; upon hearing the word Minadanao fear follows.

Who are the Tri-People of Mindanao?

Historically, Mindanao has earned a name in the Philippines as the "Land of Promise", due to the abundance of its natural resources. Since the early decades of the 20th century, it has been the magnets for in-migration of people from allover the archipelago in search of a better place to live, a place with promising economic opportunities. For this reason, many Christians have come to settle alongside the island's original residents - the Lumad and the Moro people. Thus, the tri-people character of Mindanao was born.

This rich land has not only attracted the lowly inhabitants of other islands, but has also been a magnet for a big fortune seekers who want to dominate and control its vast resources. It has been the economic target of foreign capital and investment due to its rich mineral resources, soil fertility, abundance of power supply and cheap labor.

This intrusion has met with continuous resistance from its local inhabitants, especially the Moro and the Lumad. Hence in the past decades, it has earned another famous name: "Mindanao, the Bleeding Land", referring to the history of resistance.

Recently, Mindanao has caught the attention of the national and international community. The on-going war in Mindanao between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has been the focus of attention. The sounds of mortars, bombs from fighter planes and the staccato of bullets have become the order of the day. Death in both camps has been a reality of the struggle.

Thousands of civilians have been physically and economically displaced, and many innocent civilians have been killed in the evacuation centers than the poor day-to-day living conditions they faced in their own communities. Lack of food or medical assistance, cramped shelter, unsanitary surroundings and constant fear and anxiety have made life miserable for these lowly victims of war.

PERCEPTIONS on the Tri-People of Mindanao: Will there be a Room for CHANGE?

...ALOHA...

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