Dear BangsaMoro,
Asalaamu alaikom!
While Philippines celebrates its 113th Independence Day today, I cannot help but be reminded of the nation that is under endless tyranny - the BangsaMoro. I am sharing to you this "must-read" book, Bangsamoro: A Nation Under Endless Tyranny. May each one of us take time to study and reflect on the history of Bangsamoro struggle so we will never get lost.
To the BangsaMoro, let us not be chained by history.. Rather, let history liberate us. The future is bright to those who believe. A positive outlook always works. Inshaallah.
We have been conditioned to believe that we cannot do it right. Mismanagement, war and bad governance are common among BM dominated areas, they say. Now instead of being angry or swayed by this, we should rather make our affairs better. We should always strive hard to please Allah (swt) in anyway and in every way that we can.
Let us avoid making excuses, the future is within our reach, inshaallah. We should be bold to accept that life is a continuing struggle and not until we go back to the basics of Islam, we can never find the way.
The Philippine government and foreign invasion are some things that "may" not within are our reach. I remember a lesson I learned in Psychology, "you may try to change the world but should things do not go your way, the only thing that you have in control of is your attitude." My point is that we should stop pointing our fingers to the so-called tyrants for the greatest tyrant of all is ourselves. Not until we liberate our minds and deeds, we will be getting the same thing.
"...the individual Moro or the entire population, with many exceptions, can be faulted also. They appear to have learned nothing and, by their misdeeds or omissions, they have excluded themselves from among what the Almighty has described as "the best of creations.... This traditional disposition and outlook that generally makes up the Moro psyche' or frame of mind has stunted development and brought negative consequences. Its acceptance seems so widespread that its beholders appear powerless to change in conformity with the demand of the modern age. These Moro should heed the injunction in the Holy Qur'an, which says: "God does not change the condition of a people unless they change what is in their hearts."
Change is necessary. Why don't we start with the man in the mirror?
The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is a product of blood, sweat and tears of the BangsaMoro people. From the original 13 provinces and 9 cities of the Tripoli Agreement, ARMM only has 5 provinces and 1 city -- Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Tawi-Tawi, Sulu and Marawi City. While there is still a cloud of doubt among some Moros, whether ARMM is the answer to the long-struggle, I believe it may be an answer if we give it a chance. A reformed and better ARMM may be a step towards the BM's aspiration, self-determination.
Perhaps the confusion arise because of the clamor between religion and nation. There are still those who believe that they are not Filipinos, that Bangsamoro is a separate nation. Up to date, there are still those who refuse to sing the National Anthem of the Philippines. A simple explanation is that this faction who refuse to be called Filipinos still bank on the history which was never made known to the majority. I am not in the position to expound on this but perhaps this book can.
There are still so many issues that need to be resolved among the Bangsamoro. Do we go back or do we move on? I say we embrace history, reflect on the teachings of the past and study what we can do today to make a difference. Collective small kind deeds can make a difference.
Change is necessary. Why don't we start with the man in the mirror?
Salam :)
With lots of love,
Khal
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