Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Today History Happened: Bangsamoro United for Peace









Watching politicians in the Senate Hearing grilling those who were involved in one way or another in the Bangsamoro peace agreement and Mamapasano clash, gives a feeling of not only of nausea but also of despair.

Judging from the words and tone of politicians like Cayetano or Marcos, and add to that the withdrawal of support of many law makers for the Bangsamoro Basic Law, and even more, adding insult to the injury - that this process is actually 17 years in the making - one can really say that the peace process, the BBL is at its lowest point.

But as  the famous saying goes "that once at the bottom, there is no way but to go up".

Indeed all the negative emotions that came from the nationally televised senate hearing on the Mamasapano clash must have had ignited something. For the first time in the Philippines' recent history, ten cities, nine in Mindanao and one in Luzon, Muslims, Lumads and Christians were united to support peace - to support BBL.

This is, by all means, a historic day. When was the last time that Muslims all over Philippines united for a single cause? Amidst all the division, tribal, political even sectarian, they came out and marched and raised their voice. They want peace.

There is indication that this is only the beginning. That the anti-BBL may have unwittingly awaken a sleeping dragon - ten million strong. With their brothers Muslims in the Middle East and North Africa already underwent their own Arab Spring - Can this be a start of the Bangsamoro Spring, the Bangsamoro Awakening?

If this is the case - the politicians, especially those who are ambitiously pandering to the anger of the misled Filipino massess, should take into account that they have awaken something in the hearts of the Bangsamoro. Like the story of an oppressive king who eventually killed the boy in the story found in Soorah Al Burooj (Quran 85) , thinking that by killing the boy he will win. The people eventually realized that the boy was right - that only Allah has the power over all things.

Photo source: www.interaksyon.com

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