BAOSHAN, Shanghai (MindaNews /10 April) — I have worked for the Bangsamoro peace process since 1998. I have sat with Moro rebel commanders in hidden camps, walked through evacuation centers after military operations, and listened to young soldiers confess that they
BAOSHAN, Shanghai (MindaNews / 02 April) — I have spent the better part of my adult life in the unglamorous business of dialogue. Not the kind that makes headlines in Manila or gets celebrated in Brussels. The kind that happens in
QUEZON CITY (MindaNews / 08 February) — As I sit in Speaker Nograles Hall to attend the Congressional Committee Hearing on HB 7236 as a resource speaker, waiting for my name to be called, the silence is often deceptive. In
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 11 August) — I started working in community development in Mindanao as early as 1998. From that time, I knew that international communities and donors’ involvement in the peacebuilding efforts in Mindanao, particularly in Bangsamoro, was
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 25 June) — As a former Commissioner of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission that drafted the Bangsamoro Basic Law, former Member of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, and now a concerned resident of the muncipality, I strongly oppose
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 04 February) — As we move forward in this time of transition in the Bangsamoro, let’s look at world leaders who are former rebels turned politicians and learn from the challenges that they encountered.. By looking at
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 11 Aug) — Are peace agreements still relevant today? In today’s fast moving and transforming world, how salient really are written agreements like a peace agreement? But what are peace agreements? In my work in the
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 27 March) — These are strange and unusual times. As we move forward with two years of the proposed transition period for the Bangsamoro region, we must take a look back and reflect on what
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 12 June) — Security has always been a critical issue in countries around the world, especially in developing nations. Over the years, terrorism has become more prevalent, and the global community has become more aware of
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 9 June) – The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is growing and still developing its own unique identity, especially in its socioeconomic aspect. As such, a banking system would promote and accelerate the socioeconomic development
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 16 May) — When our government decided to impose the community quarantine last March 2020, I knew that the coronavirus would hit us like a disaster. It would be a disaster like no other and without
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 5 May) – The current pandemic, otherwise known as the COVID-19 outbreak, has wreaked havoc all over the globe in so many ways and on various levels. The Philippines is no exception. Our ways of interaction,
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 20 March) — Opinions about the ‘Moro Problem’ often start by outlining the historical injustices committed towards the Bangsamoro people in their struggle to self-determination. These injustices were committed by the waves of colonizers and by
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/13 January) — A few days before Pope Francis’ visit in our country, I reflect on the significance of this visit in terms of interreligious dialogue and peacebuilding in Mindanao. It is indeed an opportune time to find
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/02 September) — The Muslim world has indeed changed after the 9/11 bombing in New York. We may want to ask ourselves, why did it happen? The next question we may ask, what happened next? In search for
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 05 August) — Dear Mr. Tiglao, I would like to tell you that your article last August 3, 2014 entitled “The next firestorm to hit Aquino” is a dangerous one that endangers our homes and communities if
ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews / 22 July) — This paper emerged from my personal experiences and engagements in the communities of Maguindanao when I was working as a UN Volunteer for the Government of the Philippines – United Nations Multi Donor
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/15 June) – Oftentimes, we define Islam as something that refers to “submission to the will of God”, or sallam to be the root word of Islam as “entering into the peace”. But with this simplified definition, we somehow lack
COTABATO CITY (MindaNews/09 May) — The Bangsamoro Development Agency conducted a consultative workshop on culture last May 7, 2014 at Estosan Hotel, Cotabato City. The participants from different organizations (government and non government) and institutions from the municipalities and provinces
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/04 May) — When Al Qalam Institute was formally set up in Ateneo de Davao University, many asked me, “what is an Islamic institute doing in a Catholic, Jesuit, Filipino university?” My answer has always been, this is
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/14 April) — For almost more than four decades, we were made to believe that there was such thing as a Bangsa Moro nation – a nation of “unconquered people,” a nation that fought the colonial powers of
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/21 March) — On March 18, 2014, in commemoration of the 1968 Jabidah Massacre, members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) who claim to be “the pioneer members” headed by Vice Chair Abul Khayr Alonto released a
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 6 Feb) – A few weeks ago, a friend asked me to formulate a cultural plan for the Bangsamoro. This plan will be integrated in the Bangsamoro Peace and Development Agenda. For whatever reasons, if this
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/28 January) — On January 25, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) jointly signed the last remaining annex to the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB). This annex is
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/24 July) – A few weeks ago, just before the end of the month of June, I had a “crazy” argument with a brother in Islam. I call it crazy because he is the last person whom I
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/07 July) — My experience of Ramadhan is centered on my family, the food we eat, and the prayers spent in the mosques for the juma’a, tarawi and tahajud. Our hadith (Traditions of the Prophet) state that the
Dear Brother Alber, Assalamu Alaikum warakmatullahiwabarakathuh! When a member of our family, a relative, or a friend is hurt, my initial reaction has always been to ask them, “sino ang may gawa nito? Ilan sila? Saan sila nakatira? May mga
