Police ready for BOL plebiscite

COTABATO CITY — The Philippine National Police is all set to secure Monday’s plebiscite here and in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, police officials said Friday. 

Senior Supt. Michael Lebanan, acting city police director, said voters should have nothing to worry about as enough number of police officers have been deployed to the city and its environs.  “We are 100 percent ready,” Lebanan said.

He said the city police is backed by members of the Philippine Army’s Special Forces Battalion plus additional personnel from Police Regional Offices 10 (Northern Mindanao) and 13 (Caraga) to secure all entry and exit points of the city in time for the January 21 plebiscite here.

The police official said he has also urged city residents to alert the police of any suspicious individual, group or thing that may endanger the lives of city residents.

In a similar development, Chief Supt. Graciano Mijares, police director for the ARMM, also said that everything is in place to ensure that Monday’s referendum would be peaceful and orderly in their jurisdiction.

PRO-ARMM covers the cities of Marawi and Lamitan, and the provinces of Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, and Lanao del Sur.

In a statement, Mijares said all police units in the region are in their respective areas of assignment in preparation for the upcoming plebiscite. (PNA)

Feature – ARMM cultural village: A glimpse of culture, history

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) recently opened its grandest mock village exhibit that showcases the variety of cultures, traditions, history, and unity of the Bangsamoro people.

The exhibit, located inside the Shariff Kabunsuan Complex, the provisional set of the ARMM in Cotabato City, features village replicas representing each of the ARMM’s five provinces namely: Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

The display aims to give the public a glimpse of the Bangsamoro’s rich cultural heritage and to bring lifelike presentations of unity amidst diversity of the culture of the region’s people. Individuals, Moro and non-Moro alike, can also learn from, appreciate, and experience such cultural event.

“The models of the villages were set up not just for mere appreciation, but for people to have a deep understanding of the various cultures of the region,” ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman said.

Among the mock cultural villages in the exhibit is that of the province of Maguindanao, which literally means “flood plain”. Maguindanaon (people of the flood plain), as the people of the province are called, are among the many ethnic groups in the country.

A gigantic “Kampilan” welcomes visitors as they enter the Maguindanao village. The kampilan, or sword, is one of the well-preserved artifacts featured in the village.

Historical documents noted that the kampilan was widely used as weapon during warfare and as a headhunting sword. Built as the main attraction inside the Maguindanao village is a replica of Tulugan, or the House of Sultan, which symbolizes the government of the Maguindanaons.

In the early 15th century, Sharif Muhammad Kabunsuan from the Royal House of Malacca arrived in Mindanao and introduced the Islamic faith, custom, and the Sultanate system of governance.

Found inside the Tulugan is a set of the most important musical instruments of the Maguindanaon tribe–the Kulintang ensemble consisting of five instruments, namely the kulintang (a series of eight graduated gongs), agong (wide-rimmed gong), dabakan (goblet-shaped drum), gandingan (set of four thin-rimmed gongs), and the babandir (small thin-rimmed gong).

The Tulugan is adorned with colorful Maguindanaon traditional intertwines such as the Inaul, Tudung, and Galang (brassware). Also featured inside the Tulugan are Muslim brassware like the lutuan (silver-inlaid betel box), gadur (food containers with minaret-like tops), and panalagudan (pot holders).

These objects usually decorate the affluent Maguindanao home, indicating wealth and status. The rich culture of Maguindanao is just one of the many things the ARMM village expo offers.

Through the exhibit, people – especially those outside of the region – will get to experience what it is like to be part of a diverse yet united community that is the Bangsamoro. (Jho Kusain of Bureau of Public Information-ARMM)

The Davao City Madrasah Program

Promoting peace and understanding

The Davao City government’s Madrasah Comprehensive and Development Promotion Program under Mayor Inday Sara Duterte’s office has been in the forefront of providing quality education to Muslim youth.

It is also hoped to become an avenue for attaining peace and fostering understanding among Muslims and Christians in Davao City.

Moro-IP Kinship Commemoration in support of Bangsamoro

 

The celebration of 2nd anniversary of the Moro-IP ReAffirmation of Kinship was held in Sungko, Lantapan, Bukidnon last March 8, 2014. The commemoration was a gesture of support of the organizers to the GPH-MILF Peace Process and the crafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

https://durianburgdavao.wordpress.com/2012/03/21/re-affirmation-of-kinship-between-moro-and-indigenous-peoples-of-mindanao-bukidnon/

https://durianburgdavao.wordpress.com/category/bangsamoro/moro-islamic-liberation-front/

The celebration was aimed at strengthening and preserving the centuries-old kinship of the Bangsamoro and theindigenous peoples who are descendants of Apo Datu Mamalu and Apo Rajah Tabunaway who were living in the Island of Mindanao prior to the coming of the colonizers.

Datu Migketay Vic Saway, a Talaandig tribe leader in Bukidnon said that the event was a cultural initiative to support the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) in the finalization of the BBL and its consequent enactment by the Philippine Congress.

“The participation and appearance of key leaders in this historic event will strengthen the pillars of unity and peace in Mindanao and hasten our success.” Saway said.

“The event was an immense aid in achieving a genuine and lasting peace because Moro and the IPs belong to same roots, and if there is a problem or misunderstanding among members of a family, there is a need to talk and dialogue because they are the best ways to resolve a misunderstanding”. “And kinship is peace.” he added.

In his speech Mr. Yahya Kasan, a representative from the Central committee of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front(MILF) expressed his gratitude for being a part of the affair.

“We are here to join you in this program and be one of the witnesses of the commemoration of this big event. We must strengthen our kinship. We must be united in order for us to achieve lasting peace in Mindanao that we have been aspiring for.” Kasan said.

“We must put in our minds that when there is no peace and unity; conflict and poverty shall continue to affect us and our communities.” he added.

Bapa Joe Akmad,  from the Maguindanaon tribe who hails from Carmen, North Cotabato said that the event will bring back to memory the precious brotherhood of Apo Mamalu and Apo Tabunaway who separated merely by belief but their affinity being brothers still remain.

“We must maintain and uphold the immeasurable brotherhood of our ancestors. Keep on holding the tie that binds our relationship.” Akmad said.

Akmad firmly believes that Moro-IP kinship must be reaffirmed, preserved and strengthened for being brothers is divine and originated from the Almighty who created mankind.

“Our forefathers separated physically but their relationship as brothers had never been separated. And whoever attempts to separate or support the division of the Moro and the IPs kinship will be cursed by Almighty God.” Akmad said.

Akmad called on his brother Moros and IPs to fight the dissection being done by group of people whom he considered as opportunists and spoilers of peace.

“Those people who are bound to spoil the good relationship between the Moros and IP’s are obviously anti-peace and anti-development. Let us be vigilant and let peace prevail in our midst. Akmad pointed out.

In his speech Timuay Melanio Ulama, chairperson of the Organization of Teduray and Lambangian Conference (OTLAC), Inc. said that the primary objective of the gathering was to attain a just, comprehensive and lasting peace which we believed is the basic foundation for economic development and Bangsamoro prosperity.

“We, the descendants of Apo Mamalu and Apo Tabunaway must dream as one, speak as one and act as one, in order to achieve a just, comprehensive and lasting peace.” Timuay Ulama said.

Further replications of the Moro-IP kinship activities will take place in Iligan City, South Cotabato, Zamboanga City, Basilan and Sulu in coming months. (Mashod Salik)