Editor's corner/ Over a cup of tea
Heidi M. Pascual*
Publisher & Editor
* 2006 Journalist of the
Year for the State of
Wisconsin (U.S.-SBA)
Publisher & Editor
* 2006 Journalist of the
Year for the State of
Wisconsin (U.S.-SBA)
| Muslim-Christian conflict in the Philippines |
While the world is busy watching NBC’s daily coverage of the Olympics games in Beijing, and
while many Americans are monitoring CNN’s political news coverage and analyses, more than a
hundred thousand Filipinos (Muslims and Christians alike) in the Philippines’ southern island of
Mindanao are leaving their homes for fear of their lives. They are seeking refuge in other provinces,
away from North Cotabato province where fighting erupted in early August between the Philippine
military and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). This recent armed confrontation has claimed
the lives of at least 15 MILF members and two Philippine military soldiers, according to a NY Times
report authored by Carlos Conde, and dated Aug. 11.
The MILF is an extremist group that wants to secede from the Philippines and form a separate
and independent Moro Islamic state. Since its creation in 1981, the MILF has been launching
insurgency campaigns that have killed countless Christians and Muslims from both the military and
rebel sides, as well as civilians caught in the crossfire where sporadic fighting occurred.
It must be stated here that our Muslim brothers in Mindanao have had a long history of struggle
against non-Muslim influences, notably the colonial regimes of Spain and the United States of
America. They also have a long history of struggle against incursions of Christian civilians and
multinational corporations that occupied Muslim lands — courtesy of the Philippine government —
and who later became more prosperous than them. The conflict between Muslims and Christians in
Mindanao was not caused solely by these historical struggles and incursions. Religion, culture,
language, and tradition are also very different from the Filipinos “up north,” especially those from the
main island and seat of power, Luzon. The Muslims of Mindanao have always felt more affinity with
their Muslim brothers from Indonesia and Malaysia — countries that are, in fact, geographically
closer and with whom they have business and trade arrangements since time immorial.
However, through the years, the majority of Muslims and Christians living together in Mindanao seem
to have found a common ground — as Filipinos. But some groups like the MILF don’t want a
desegregated society.
Peace negotiations and cease-fire agreements between the Philippine government and the
MILF have been on and off, on and off, and reports of violations have added to the list of casualties
from both sides. The result: civilians fleeing their villages and losing faith that any peaceful process
can really solve the Mindanao secessionist problem.
As a Christian who grew up in Luzon, I knew how kids were taught absolutely nothing about
Muslims and their culture. I grew up with no knowledge and understanding of our Muslim brothers in
Mindanao until I reached college. Some of my Muslim friends in college told me the same thing.
Their parents never taught them about Christians. Thus, I blame many parents (from both sides) for
neglecting to teach their kids about other Filipinos who are different from them in terms of religion,
culture, language and tradition. Knowledge is definitely a good first step toward understanding others.
In this issue, Asian Wisconzine is featuring Singkil, the Muslim dance of royalty which was
performed recently by PAMANA’s dancers who are Christians. They saw the importance of staging a
dance which reflects Philippine history prior to the coming of foreign invaders in the Philippines. The
event was the 110th celebration of Philippine Independence Day (from Spain). In more ways than
one, Singkil represents the beauty of working together toward a common goal. If peace and harmony
were the common goals of Christians and Muslims, then there is hope at stopping the ongoing
conflict in Mindanao.
while many Americans are monitoring CNN’s political news coverage and analyses, more than a
hundred thousand Filipinos (Muslims and Christians alike) in the Philippines’ southern island of
Mindanao are leaving their homes for fear of their lives. They are seeking refuge in other provinces,
away from North Cotabato province where fighting erupted in early August between the Philippine
military and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). This recent armed confrontation has claimed
the lives of at least 15 MILF members and two Philippine military soldiers, according to a NY Times
report authored by Carlos Conde, and dated Aug. 11.
The MILF is an extremist group that wants to secede from the Philippines and form a separate
and independent Moro Islamic state. Since its creation in 1981, the MILF has been launching
insurgency campaigns that have killed countless Christians and Muslims from both the military and
rebel sides, as well as civilians caught in the crossfire where sporadic fighting occurred.
It must be stated here that our Muslim brothers in Mindanao have had a long history of struggle
against non-Muslim influences, notably the colonial regimes of Spain and the United States of
America. They also have a long history of struggle against incursions of Christian civilians and
multinational corporations that occupied Muslim lands — courtesy of the Philippine government —
and who later became more prosperous than them. The conflict between Muslims and Christians in
Mindanao was not caused solely by these historical struggles and incursions. Religion, culture,
language, and tradition are also very different from the Filipinos “up north,” especially those from the
main island and seat of power, Luzon. The Muslims of Mindanao have always felt more affinity with
their Muslim brothers from Indonesia and Malaysia — countries that are, in fact, geographically
closer and with whom they have business and trade arrangements since time immorial.
However, through the years, the majority of Muslims and Christians living together in Mindanao seem
to have found a common ground — as Filipinos. But some groups like the MILF don’t want a
desegregated society.
Peace negotiations and cease-fire agreements between the Philippine government and the
MILF have been on and off, on and off, and reports of violations have added to the list of casualties
from both sides. The result: civilians fleeing their villages and losing faith that any peaceful process
can really solve the Mindanao secessionist problem.
As a Christian who grew up in Luzon, I knew how kids were taught absolutely nothing about
Muslims and their culture. I grew up with no knowledge and understanding of our Muslim brothers in
Mindanao until I reached college. Some of my Muslim friends in college told me the same thing.
Their parents never taught them about Christians. Thus, I blame many parents (from both sides) for
neglecting to teach their kids about other Filipinos who are different from them in terms of religion,
culture, language and tradition. Knowledge is definitely a good first step toward understanding others.
In this issue, Asian Wisconzine is featuring Singkil, the Muslim dance of royalty which was
performed recently by PAMANA’s dancers who are Christians. They saw the importance of staging a
dance which reflects Philippine history prior to the coming of foreign invaders in the Philippines. The
event was the 110th celebration of Philippine Independence Day (from Spain). In more ways than
one, Singkil represents the beauty of working together toward a common goal. If peace and harmony
were the common goals of Christians and Muslims, then there is hope at stopping the ongoing
conflict in Mindanao.