From Luzon and back

Last week, I was in Luzon. now, I am back here in Midsayap. It was very refreshing to see your old friends. Actually i was very shocked by the many big twsists at the Central Office. A lot of my friends have resigned either to study or for good. Oh yes, the CES hasn't changed. It is still the land of busy people. A lot of them are really very busy while others are just pretending. Mindanao, as i see it, is slowly becoming my second home. Honestly, I feel so peaceful here. I think that it's the distance that's making me feel this way. I love being away. I love being miles away from the things I hate. I love be ing away from the bad world. Oh, I am being emotional again. bye.

Realizations

Sa Mindanao andami kong narerealize. One time I asked one of my Muslim friends what really is the cause of insurgency there. I was convinced for a long time that it's poverty. He denied it. He said that it's because they want to have a separate Islamic state so they could very well implement their own laws which they could not do being under the Philippine laws. He even gave an instance when in the past a teacher asked her Muslim girl pupil to remove her face cover. Of course, they did not like it. Things like this they want to rectify.

Really, there are a lot of things that we do not understand about Muslims and the Mindanaoans. We often see MILF on the lens of terrorism when socioeconomic, religious, and other factors should be considered. What I am saying is we should look at their issues holistically. In fact, being here actually reminds me that what the media report are indeed exaggerated. They are very far from the very peaceful community Mindanao has.

Filipino hospitality

This is when I interviewed a successful farmer-cooperator in Maguindanao. Their house is 1.5kms from the main road. I had a hard time going there. When we arrived, the family prepared lunch for us. Fish, chicken--all from their backyard! I was so happy then. They were so hospitable. Yes, it was a long walk but it was also a big revelation to me-- pure heart, kind people still exist even in this quite cruel world.

In Mindanao and miles away

Yes, I have been here for almost a month already and it's only now that I have realized that I am miles away from my familiar connections. I am not sad, just sort of reflecting this time. I think that distance, no matter where you are will not change anything in you. Ralph waldo emerson is right, traveling is a fool's paradise. No matter where you go, you carry your own giant. Nothing will change. You are who you are-- wherever you are