Jose Ma. Montelibano
THEY SAY that when anxiety deepens, people pray more and the sales of candles increase. They say when people are depressed, people drink more and the sales of liquor go up. Frankly, I have not seen statistics to prove these assertions, but I have not heard much argument to the contrary either. Let me proceed, therefore, assuming that there is truth to them, enough to stimulate our minds to reflective, if not critical, thinking.
The agitation caused by the proposed Bangsamoro Judicial Entity (BJE) brings to fore old wounds which have never healed well. The heart of the controversy is not the terms in the proposed agreement but in the hearts of prejudice and historical animosity. After a thousand years when conflict first broke out between Christians and Moors in North Africa and Iberia, a great distrust has grown between three religions that all came from Abraham — Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
On the surface, the BJE controversy covers the extent of what is considered “ancestral domain” and the resources therein. The issue is not only where and what, but who controls where and what. Glaringly, the chasm between Christian and Muslim relationship predicates everything, as though a concession for one is a defeat of the other. It is almost as though that one expects the other to remain an enemy despite a negotiated agreement.
When two groups are friends to each other, the blessings and victories of one are cheered on by the other. In the last 100 years, Filipinos have cheered victories of the United States against its enemies — Germany, Russia, China, North Korea, Cuba, North Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Iraq and some more in Africa and the old Eastern Europe. When the opposite is true, Filipinos have mourned every defeat of the United States.
Muslims around the world may cheer the BJE as a victory of Filipino Muslims, which means that the BJE is a defeat of Filipino Christians. That is what partisanship and prejudice do to a spat between brothers — make wounds fester rather than heal them. And there is enough ill will going around by this time between people of the same blood and country that makes it easy for vested interests to play one against the other.
The belligerent rhetoric that has dominated the air waves and print media stokes the resentment that is all so easily awaiting to be activated. Thank goodness that not everyone has jumped into the bandwagon of mindless drumbeating for war. Thank goodness that something deeper, like common blood, country and culture, can sometimes rise above the din of fear and anger and attempt to make these heard and seen.
In the midst of great uncertainty in an ugly environment polluted by corruption, poverty and violence, many Filipinos have turned to religion, turned to gambling, turned to fantasizing. Escapism has been the preference of people who cannot take the stark horror of daily societal life, the tens of millions of poor Filipinos who live from one meal to another. And leaders from the Church, from the State, from Business and Media have not come together to understand the deterioration of a national psyche and the corruption of a national soul — then work together to counter the perversion of a beautiful people and culture.
Is it, then, a search for Utopia that I am caught up with? Is it Utopian to tie white ribbons for peace while many others scream for war? Is it Utopian to dream of a society where every human being is equal in worth and dignity, where each one works diligently and produces according to his or her talent, where the value of good relationships outweigh the value of money?
Was it Utopian when the early Christian communities shared everything with one another and no one was in want? Is it Utopian to believe that, indeed, these early Christians did exist and that, indeed, a lifestyle of caring and sharing is possible?
May I quote Oscar Wilde when he tried to describe Utopia:
“A map of the world that does not include Utopia is not worth even glancing at, for it leaves out the one country at which Humanity is always landing. And when Humanity lands there, it looks out, and seeing a better country, sets sail. Progress is the realization of Utopias.”
It seems, then, that Utopia becomes an obsession when the day grows dark, when the night is chilly and empty, when the air is heavy and laughter disappears, when foreboding penetrates even the most optimistic of people. Perhaps, the demand for Utopia has wormed itself into the creative minds of artists, writers, performers and directors responsible for TV shows like Dyosa, Dyesebel, and Darna.
On the social front, the Gawad Kalinga movement is anchored on cultural and spiritual values like bayanihan, nobility and sacrifice, heroism and a vision that has in its center the presence of God and love of country. Its high-profile work has not prevented Gawad Kalinga from quietly but bravely establishing its presence and work in many areas considered delicate because of their history of conflict and violence. Its formula is simple: Filipinos are first brothers and sisters, before being government or anti-government, before being Left or Right, before being Christians and Muslims. Its plea is, hold the line for peace, and tie white ribbons anywhere and everywhere as peace symbols.
How many other individuals and groups have been there before Gawad Kalinga and kept Utopia in their hearts and have never tired of sharing it at our worst moments? How many managed to set aside personal comfort and convenience in order to pursue and promote the truth, in order to feed and clothe the needy, in order to keep alive hope and aspirations in the hearts of those bludgeoned by despair?
There must be more and more among us who will defend Utopia and ensure its perpetuity. There must be the warriors whose prowess for war is overshadowed by their capacity for nobility and virtue. There must be Filipinos who have become victorious in other lands who must come home with their sons and daughters to rescue those they left behind and help them build their Utopia.
August 18th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Have you also considered the possibility that Utopia is there for the sole purpose of escaping reality?
This thing with BJE should be opposed by all Filipinos not because the proponents are Muslim, nor because it will be a loss for Filipino Christians, but because of the fact that since the MILF itself cannot satisfactorily govern the land that they are given now, how would you expect them to do well this time?
They cannot even control their members, always falling back to their “not sanctioned by MILF” alibi when it is glaring that they do nothing to stop the atrocities caused by their men to Muslim and Christians alike.
The MILF leaders must prove first to the people in their area of responsibility, then to the whole Filipino nation that they could be good stewards of their land, and that they could dedicate their lives to peace and harmony with other ethnic groups that live with them.
If not, I’m sure the MILF will just become another Prodigal Son who squanders away this country’s wealth. Let’s not be suckered into believing that they are for peace, when all along they ransack, murder and rape the innocent, ambush our troops and continue to spit on our Constitution.
Naive is the person who continues to look at Utopia when everything is burning all around him. Even angels took up their swords and fought for what is right when Satan challenged God. Men should not hesitate to do the same.
August 18th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
On Federalism proposed by some as one Solution to the Mindanao conflict
One of the real motives behind honest clamors for federalism is that development and progress is all concentrated in and around the capital city and Metro Manila. And proponents are hoping that by federalization there will be automatic decentralization.
Interesting however is that many of those proposing for Federalism, which would formally decentralize this unitary State, were also seen as the loud critics against the Pork Barrel system. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the much criticized congressional pork barrel system is already part of decentralization if people don’t see it as such. There cannot be development and progress without funding. Money, money, and more money, to be brought closer to the people.
And money is also the crux of the issues for Federalism. But cannot Filipinos go direct to the point without affecting revolutionary change to the present system? Like, maybe Pork barrel should be increased instead of abolished.
If the problem is corruption no system, nothing will ever work, Federalism or Unitarian.