YOUNG MUSLIM FILIPINOS PEACEBUILDING EFFORTS

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The Situation of Muslims in the Philippines
YOUNG MUSLIM FILIPINOSPEACEBUILDING EFFORTS
Shahana E. Abdulwahid Graduate Student,
Institute of Islamic Studies Student Regent,
University of the Philippines
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Outline of Discussion

• Overview of the Muslim Filipino History ,
  Struggle , and challenges
• Current problems of the Muslim Filipino Youth
• Emergence of Filipino Muslim Youth Movement and
  Empowerment
• Peacebuidling efforts of the Filipino Muslim
  Youth
• Our Challenges Ahead

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Mindanao Southern Philippines
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Muslims in the Philippines

• Sama
• Yakan
• Sangil
• Palawani
• Molbog
• Kolibugan
• Jama Mapun
• Iranun
• Kaagan
• Badjao
• Balik Islam Reverts to Islam

• Maranao - Lanao del Sur
• Maguindanao - Maguindanao Province and Cotabat
• Tausug Sulu

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Mindanao Population
2005 Mda Population 20.23 M 24.1 of Phil.
population estimated at 84.2 million Female
50.01 Davao Region largest population with
4.09 million CARAGA Region with lowest
population, 2.44 million people Source
National Statistics Office
2.44 CARAGA
3.99 Region 10
3.17 Region 9
2.72 ARMM
3.88 Region 12
Created into a region under RA No. 7901, dated
23 Feb. 1995, and taken from Regions 10 and 11.
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Understanding Muslims Filipinos History

• The coming of Islam to the Philippines was part
  of the Islamization process of the Malay world in
  Southeast Asia through the movement of Sufi
  preacher, traders and scholars.
• Philippines was under the Spanish colonial rule
  for more than three hundred years, but Moroland
  remained unconquered.
• American occupied the Philippines by virtue of
  the Treaty of Paris in 1898, Philipppines gained
  its independence in 1946

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• Earlier in 1902, The United States Congress
  passed the so called Philippine Bill this bill
  recognized the distinction between the Moros,
  Pagans and Christian Filipinos and the consequent
  necessity of providing different forms of
  government for the different groups of people.
• Thus, on June 1, 1903, the Moro Province was
  created where a head tax of 2 pesos was imposed
  for each person. This created resentment and
  dissatisfaction among the Tausugs. The massacres
  of Bud Daho and Bud Badsak were among the worst
  battles that the Tausugs fought against the
  American in defiance to the imposition of Taxes
  in the Moroland. Later, The Bates Treaty was
  abrogated.
• July 4, 1946 Proclamation of Philippine
  Independence formally created the Philippine
  Republic. Moroland were incorporated against
  their wishes.

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Turning Points Starting from the American
Period to the Commonwealth Period

• Legislative Act. No. 4197 of February 12, 1935
  (Qurino Colonization) - Deployment of settlers to
  Moroland legitimized the taking Morolands
• Commonwealth Act No. 141 Sec. 84 provides all
  Moro landholdings as public lands
• By a simple piece of legislation, the Moros
  became landless and were deprived of their
  ancestral land holdings.

• Land Initiatives and Controversies
• Land registration Act No 496
• Public Land Act No. 718
• Public Act 926 enacted in October 1903
• Cadastral Act of 1907
• Acts 2254 and 2280 of 1913
• Act 2254
• The Moros who were mostly uneducated and did not
  want to recognize any new laws failed to
  register their lands

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The MNLF and MILF

• The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) was
  organized under the leadership of Nur Misuari on
  November 14, 1972.
• In 1977, Hashim Salamat broke away from the MNLF
  and organized the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation
  Front)

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The Peace Talk Initiatives

• President Ferdinand E. Marcos (1965-1986)
• The regimes initial response to the MNLF was
  military
• 1975 marked the beginning of the MNLF-GRP peace
  talks that led to the signing of Tripoli
  Agreement in 1976 (unimplemented)
• Signing into law PD 1083 otherwise known as the
  Muslim Personal Laws in the Philippines in
• 1977
• Creation of the OMA and Amanah Bank
• President Corazon C. Aquino (1986 1992)
• Jeddah Accord 1987
• RA 6734 Organic Act for ARMM, August 1, 1989

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• President Fidel V. Ramos ( 1992-1998)
• 1995 Interim Agreement third round of formal
  peace talks between the GRP and the MNLF with the
  participation of the Ministerial Committee of Six
  and the Secretary General of the OIC. ( held in
  Jakarta, Indonesia on December 1)
• 1996 Final Peace Agreement
• Establishment of SZOPAD (Special Zone for Peace
  and Development) and SPCPD (Southern Philippines
  Council for Peace and Development)
• Integration Program (Former MNLF integrated to
  the AFP)
• President Joseph E. Estrada (1998-2001)
• All out war against the MILF in 2000
• Suspension of Peace Process
• Declaration of Jihad by MILF chairman against the
  Philippine Government
• Fall of 47 major and satellite MILF camps i.e.
  Camp Abubakar

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Present Government Initiatives

• President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
• Ten point agenda program
• Full Implementation of RA 9054 in Support to the
  1996 GRP-MNLF Peace Agreement
• DepED Order No. 51, s. 2004. ARMM had adopted the
  national standard curriculum by virtue of ARMM RG
  Executive Order No. 13-A, s. 2004. 
• Resumption of the MILF peace talks
• Declared a unilateral cease-fire and initiated
  exploratory talks with the MILF and responded
  favorably to the three conditions
• that the talks be mediated by the OIC or by an
  OIC member country
• that the parties comply with the terms of past
  agreements
• and that the talks be held in a foreign venue.
  (Malaysia took an active role as third-party
  facilitator in the exploratory phases held in
  Kuala Lumpur)

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The Current Situation

• The region of Mindanao , particularly Muslim and
  the Indigenous Peoples (Ips) dominated i.e. the
  ARMM , Caraga, Regions 9 and 12 continue to
  experience economic, social and political
  constraints that severely limit their full
  participation in the development process.

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Youth Issues

• Poor social services rendered
• Youth concerns in war-torn areas
• Low Educational Attainment
• Employement due to discrimination

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Formations of Some Youth Organizations

• Young Moro Professionals Network. Inc.
• Association of Muslim Advocates
• Muslim Students Associations
• Moro Christian Peoples Alliance
• Muslim Youth Leaders Assembly
• SILSILAH Dialogue Movement (The Youth Program)
• Peace Education Center Inc.
• Grassroots Peace Resource Center

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General Objectives

• To address pressing issues of discrimination,
  violence, illiteracy
• To propose solutions to problems confronting the
  Moro Youth
• To provide services to the youth (out of school
  youth
• To be actively involved in political, religious,
  social issues of the Moros

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Inititatives and Youth-initiated Projects

• Religious
• Dawah Sessions
• Interfaith Dialogues
• Livelihood Programs
• Civic-oriented
• Policy Making Participation
• Youth Empowerment

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Masjid Clean up

• Youth organizations gather during summer and
  breaks to conduct cleanups and hold consultations
  in Muslim areas

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Medical Missions

• Muslim medical students hold regular medical
  missions in non-Muslim communities.

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Livelihood Seminars for Muslim Women

• Women have special concerns in the community.
  The theme of the seminars usually focus on the
  role of women in community building.

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Peace Assemblies and Parliament

• Convening youth organizations to come up with
  resolutions pertaining Muslim-Christian-Indigenous
  concerns and issues

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Legislative Initiatives

• Loobying to public officials re issues and
  concerns of the Muslims in the Philippines.
  Muslim youth organizations have taken active
  participation in this endevour.

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International Ramadan Fair

• This annual affair showcases rich culture of
  Muslims in the Philippines

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Youth Initaited Interfaith Dialogue

• Youth organizations hold regular interfaith
  meetings to discuss pertinent and current issues

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Youth Empowerment Initiatives

• Roundtable discussions, leadership and
  peacebuilding seminars regularly conducted for
  Muslim youth

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Challenges confronting the Moros

• Illiteracy
• Poverty
• High Mortality Rate due to conflict
• Low life span compared to counterparts in other
  parts of the country
• Technological, Economic, Social, Political
  Concerns
• Poor social, health services delivered

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Challenges Encountered

• Consistency of project implementation
• Organizational structure and support
• Relevance of Peacebuilding efforts
• Mobilization and participation of Muslim
  Filipinos
• Availability of resources

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Challenges Ahead

• Sustainable development
• Resolving conflict through non-violence means
• Continung engagement in dialogues
• Promoting peace in the community

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