Young Muslims ended the year and brave 2010 with renewed hope after a traumatic incident in November 23 in their homeland where 57 individuals were massacred in Ampatuan town.

Convening in Davao City at the Commission on Audit Function Hall and Manila at the Asian Academy for Business and Computers for an innovative teleconferencing assembly last December 26-27, the Young Moro Professionals Network tackled the hard-hitting issues of the Muslim communities with the theme: “ONE MORO CONSCIOUSNESS“.

Photo Credit: Atty. John-Christopher T. Mahamud

It was the first time for YMPN to use virtual technology to broadcast its proceedings abroad where many of its members are based.

“It was very memorable for us to have prayed an Invocation together despite being in different places,” said GADDI Alawi, YMPN Convenor on Dawah, referring to a prayer led by the youngest attendee of the assembly broadcasted via skype.

Success stories of Young Moro leader professionals were presented in a part of the program called EXPO. Barangay Bongbong Councilor ABDUL Rasad Sawat of Compostela Valley shared the experience of leading the multi-awarded barangay where former MNLF rebels stayed in promoting health, sanitation and environmental protection using Islamic principles. The Values Transformation Program led to the barangay’s citizens adopting waste segregation and installing water pumps and toilets that led to the decreases in diseases such as diarrhea.

Muslim leaders extended felicitations. Former Sulu Governor Benjamin Loong said, “With so many challenges besetting our nation today especially in Muslim Mindanao, I am happy to know that the YMPN, a group Young Muslim Professionals from different provinces and tribes, are actively engaging various vital sectors in pursuancve the elusive peace and sustainable development in our region and ultimately  the country. I believe that the highly empowered  Muslim youth professionals must no longer be just spectators in our quest for peace and development but active participants.”

Veteran journalist Edd Usman wished the YMPN “succeed in its much needed  advocacy of peace, understanding, co-existence and harmony among Muslims and with the rest of the Filipinos. YMPN can help prevent this kind of Satanic struggle (in distorting the image of Islam) from reaching and rearing its ugly head on Philippine shore.”

Former GRP-MNLF peace negotiator Fr. ELiseo Mercado, Kusogmindanao convenor said “No doubt, they have a lot to learn from the wisdom, successes and failures of the generations that precede them. These collective experiences and the dynamism of the youth should provide platforms in charting a more pragmatic and enlightened road map to peace and development of Mindanao, in general and the Bangsamoro people, in particular.

From a ‘passing’ generation, allow me to remind the ‘successor’ generation that  while idealism is good, the fact remains that for any societal blueprint to be sustainable it must be undergirded by values like trust, inclusiveness, and consensus coupled by hard work. These are the values that are often missing in the equation.”

“I feel so glad to see young professionals gathered. This is a sign of hope for Mindanao and the whole country. Wish and pray your dreams will flourish and your efforts will bear fruit soon,” said Father Angel Calvo  of the  Peace Advocates of Zamboanga (PAZ) in Zamboanga City

YMPN Membership Convenor Samira Gutoc of the Al-Amanah Islamic Investment Bank of the Philippines  urged the young who were majority in number to make use of their education, identity and conscience to forward a resolution of the festering conflict in the Southern Philippines and discrimination Muslims face even outside the ARMM. Gutoc chaired the YMPN peace-building initiative called MINDANAO YOUTH SPEAK: PEACEBUILDING BY MORO PROFESSIONALS supported by The Asia Foundation ( now a member of the International Contact Group  of the GRP-MILF peacetalks) which engaged the MILF and MNLF in a dialogue to be published this 2010.

Rasid Ladiasan, Secretariat Head of the MILF Committee on Cessation of Hostilities, shared the good news that the peace process between the government and MILF moved forward after a year-long of fighting. However, he said that the ceasefire goal is so difficult. “What happens on the ground affects the peace process, thus the importance of the ceasefire mechanism.”

Ms. Rahanna Ganda, a representative from the Office of Muslim Affairs shared about the obstacles that their office faced. She said that the office was almost abolished but was happy to announce that will become the National Commission of Muslim Filipinos. From this experience, she said that our views on challenges defines us. We may see these challenges as obstacles or stepping stones. If we view these challenges as obstacles, it may become a problem for us. However, if we view these challenges as stepping stones, these will become an opportunity for us to achieve more and develop more. If we want to affect the lives of the people around us, we should lead by example.

Atty. John-Christopher T. Mahamud, legal consultant of the Davao City Government, talked about the on-going discrimination against the Muslim. He said that when there are crimes in the country, its always the Muslims who are blamed for it. In a Christian community dominated society, this has always been a problem. The challenge for the Moros of today is to change this image of Muslims in the present society to make it easier for the next generation of Muslims to get jobs easily in the future and live a peaceful life. He also asked the participant’s help and support them in their t-shirt project for the benefit of the Maguindanao Massacre. Proceeds of this project will help finance the legal needs of the victims.He said that in times like this, the Muslim community should be united  and bridge any gap between the community. If Muslims wants unity, it should start within themselves. It is important to attain unity within themselves before we seek unity between Christians and Muslims.

Jolly Lais  of the AMANA party-list updated the participants of the assembly on the political scene for a Moro Situationer. He stated that the number of registered voters in ARMM is 1.6M and 60% of this comes from Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur. There are 3.2 to 3.5M Muslim voters outside ARMM because of the migration patterns. Muslim’s migration patterns is due to the peace situation and other problems occurring in the area.

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