Efforts to Renew Peace Talks with Rebels
Friday, the government announced plans to form an advisory panel within Philippine Congress in efforts to get the peace process with Muslims in the Southern Philippines. At least it is something. As long as they are not talking, there is not much hope that fighting will stop. I think fighting begets fighting.
I think that any plan to bring peace must include measures that would entice Christians in the area to embrace the process. Since those Christians have also lived there for hundreds, if not thousands of years, those incentives are going to have to be too good to pass up.
I’ll refrain from making suggestions on that since I’m a foreigner and don’t want to be seen as meddling. I’m not taking sides in the war. My only side is the side that results in peace. There are a lot of hardships being created by this war. People are uprooted, outside investment is next to impossible to obtain with such strong political unrest.
Peace rarely comes without communication. Hopefully this new panel will lead to communication.
Tagged with: Living In The Phlippines • Rebels
Filed under: Expats Living in Cebu
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Hi Rusty – A large percentage of the Christians came to Mindanao in the 1930′s. Before that, Muslims and Lumads probably were a majority, at least in Southern and Southwest Mindanao. Now, Muslim population in Mindanao consist of only a little over 20%. In most areas of Mindanao, Muslim population is under 15% or so.
Thousands of years ago, there probably were few, if any Christians in Mindanao. Even hundreds of years ago, that’s probably the case.
Frank Labuach (sp) launched a program in that area to teach people to read. He also brought Christianity to the area. I doubt he was alone in that but he played a major role. The reading I’ve done about him seem to give him all the credit.
He’s one of the US’s quite hero’s. His teaching techniques are still being used. It seems teachers still adore him.
Regardless of who came first, their are Christians there now. The last thing the world needs now is another Palestine.
I haven’t been to that area and you’ve lived there so you certainly no more about what it is like there. I’ve read about it but can only get so much. From what I’ve read, these areas are a Muslim as most other areas are Christian. I wish my memory was better so I could cite specifics and ask if they agree with what you’ve seen.
Are their Catholic Churches in Gen. Santos?
Here is a link to the history of the turmoil. This account seems to be fairly objective. http://www.gmanews.tv/story/127113/Govt-missteps-a-decade-of-talks-end-in-doomed-domain-deal
This is not really a Muslim vs Christian fight. The MILF would like it to be that way but the churches and mosques have joined forces in protest of the war.
Hi Rusty – Are there Catholic Churches in GenSan? Absolutely! There are a lot more Catholic Churches in GenSan than there are Mosques! GenSan is probably about 75% Catholic, maybe 15% Muslim. It is a common misconception that GenSan is a Muslim stronghold. Nothing could be further from the truth! I was married in a Catholic Church in GenSan, St. Peter & Paul Parish in Lagao, in 1990.
Yes, there were American missionaries here many decades ago, trying to convert Muslims to Christianity, but they were not so successful. As a matter of fact, did you know that Mindanao is the only part of the Philippines that the Spanish never conquered? That’s why we don’t have the old historic Spanish Churches down here, because the Island was mostly Muslim in the early part of the 20th Century.
The fact that you mention Palestine is very interesting. Know why? Because Mindanao became the way it is today much like Palestine (I disagree that there is even a place called Palestine, but I’ll use the name for the sake of continuing the conversation) did. The Philippine Government actually sent settlers here back in the 30′s to settle the island and bring it a Christian majority! Just like Israeli settlers on the West Bank and Gaza. So, your argument that we don’t want another Palestine would be akin to arguing now that “hey, there are Jewish settlers in the West Bank, so they must agree to a Palestinian State.”
Hey Rusty – Let me first say that I am not trying to be critical with this comment. I am just trying to help you in understanding the place a little, which is what you have asked for in a number of your articles.
What I want to say is this… based on a number of your writings on several of your sites, I think that you have a huge misconception of what Mindanao is like. Honestly, if you were to fall asleep, and wake up in General Santos City, I doubt that you would know where you were. You could walk around and easily feel that you are in Cebu City, Bacolod or any other part of the Visayas or Mindanao. The reason I say Visayas or Mindanao is because the languages spoken, if you recognized them, would give it away that you were in a region where Cebuano was widely spoken, so that would rule out Luzon. But, just in your day to day movements around the City, I simply don’t think that you would even suspect it to be a Muslim area (which it is not, really).
In fact, if the day were to come that you would like to visit Davao, I’d be happy to take you around Southern Mindanao and show you around. I think you would quickly realize that the image of Mindanao in your mind is totally wrong. I understand that if you just read the Press about Mindanao, this is an easy misconception to fall into. Don’t believe everything you read, though. I’ve been coming to Mindanao regularly for nearly 20 years now. I’ve lived here for nearly 9 years. I know the place like the back of my hand.
Hey Rusty!
Maybe you can get Bob to drop you off for that hike and camping trip you wanted in the mountains of Zambongoa. Ha Ha! That area is a bit too close to the action. There are many Filipinos that share a similar view of Mindanao that you do. When they hear that we are from Mindanoa they always gasp and say its so dangerous there. One thing I point out that there are huge investments being made in the GenSan area so if the risk was so great that would not be happening. New hotels and Malls are being built at this very moment. GenSan and the neighboring areas have the lowest poverty levels for the entire country. Everyone agrees that poverty breeds terrorism. I doubt if they are building mega-malls in the west bank. Have a great day!
Bob, I don’t follow what your saying about creating another issue with displaced people. Call it what you want. I think I’m actually thinking the opposite of you but not sure. Did you know that Israel is now forcing Jews out of some of those areas? Dragging their fellow country men off their farms?
What I’m concerned about are the Christians in the area the government plans to make a Muslim. I don’t know if those Christians are going to be happy about being governed under Islamic law.
I think that a lot of the violence around the world would cease if we’d tend to separate church and state much more. I don’t really see that for even Christians here and that’s even less likely in a Muslim majority.
Are there any Muslim majority countries where the law is not based around Islam? Maybe Turkey? What about India. I’m not sure India is Muslim.
Bob and Tom, just because nothing has happened to either of you doesn’t mean the place is safe. Nothing every happened to me in Memphis, but Memphis is not safe. Do I think it is like Baghdad a year ago? No, it isn’t that dangerous. Why don’t I go live in Manila. It has many advantages. It would be far more like living in the US but with more pollution. The number one reason is it is far more dangerous.
There are kidnapping gangs in the Southern Philippines. That’s just a fact. Most people are never kidnapped but they are kidnapped less in the Central Philippines. At least for now.
Tom, most of the trouble in Mindanao is based around religion. MILF = Moro Islamic Liberation Foundation and has ties to Al-qada. Of course, organized religion wants stability, they raise more money when things are stable. The extremist want to impose their way of life on the other group but the extremist are religion based. Remove religion and there is nothing to fight about. So much death comes out of love and peace. Ironic? Yes, by misguided people.
Bob you’re wife was just talking about not taking the children home with her because it was dangerous. Or at least I thought that is what she is saying.
Not all the insurgents are religious based. Some are are communist. A group just attacked a police station not far from me.
I don’t know which areas in Mindanao are not dangerous, I know some areas are dangerous. I think most areas of Mindanao are safer than Memphis.
Hell maybe safer than Memphis. I’d rather be shot than kidnapped though. That’s a heck of a way to loose weight. 
In Bogo,I can walk down the street with my cell phone out! Is it safe to do that in Davao? What about Dipolog or CDO? I realize cell phones are like cash so they are more of a hot item. You shouldn’t walk down the street in Cebu City with your cell phone out. Inside a store is okay but the mall is not.
I’ve had people living in Zamboanga tell me it is safe. In that area they say the trouble is in Davao.
I’d like to go to Malaysia via Zamboanga but people even in Zamboanga tells me that’s not safe. Expats have told me it is safe.
I haven’t been there that is true. When there is a kidnapping that is the region it comes out of 9 times out of 10. However, the general crime rate in Cebu City has many expats talking like Davao may be the next great place for expats to live. I think that’s probably true for most.
Recently there were calls for help by the Red Cross concerning the more than 200,000 refugees created by the civil war. I don’t go to places for fun where there are 200,000 refugees. Something pushed those people out of their homes and I’m sure it wasn’t pleasant.
I don’t know what to believe, I don’t really have a firm opinion about Mindanao. I know you both think it is safe, I can’t help but wonder though if you’ve been lulled into a false sense of security because nothing has happened yet. I don’t know. I’ll keep an open mind but I wouldn’t go any further south than Davao.
I know most expats blow off the warnings by the state department about the Southern Philippines. I’m not going to do that. What I know backs it up. Sure, the press talks about the negative things. I might be more inclined to go if I could carry a weapon but I felt the same way in Memphis.
The first lesson in self defense is to stay away from dangerous places. I don’t know how I’m suppose to ignore what so many experts say.
Tom, you going to go with me on that little hike? I’d have to worry more about heart failure than extremist. LOL
Hi Rusty – I don’t know what to say. I have lived in Mindanao for 9 years. Two years in GenSan, nearly 7 years in Davao. It seems like you have a fixed picture in your mind about Mindanao, and no matter what I say, it can’t influence your thinking. I mean, when you ask me a question like “are there Catholic Churches in General Santos” it shows me that you have some deep misconceptions of what Mindanao is all about, but I see no way to change what you think. I would guess that the only way that you will change your opinion is to actually come here and look for yourself.
I can assure you, if I thought that Davao was dangerous, I certainly would not have my 4 kids living here.
Mindanao Bob’s last blog post..Ebola In The Philippines?
On second thought, with you as a guide Bob, chances are pretty good you know where to stay out of.. Besides, I can’t outrun a kidnapper, but I can out run you. so they’ll catch you first. LOL
Errr, wait, I can’t out run you either…. I can’t out run the “itchy caterpillars” that have taken up home in our palm tree by the front door.
Bob, I don’t have misconceptions. I really meant it. I didn’t say they don’t have Catholic Churches there. I’ve read that in some areas of Mindanao that Islam is as common there as Catholicism is in other parts. That was from a local paper. It was one city. I don’t remember exactly where it is. I don’t know how much of the Island is like that.
I don’t think I said Davao was dangerous, I meant to say I was not really keen on the idea of going south of that but I changed my mind, I would go with you.
I know very little about Davao. I a lot of people seem to like it. I said before, I’m sure you believe it is all safe. I said many things both expressing concern and saying I doubt it as bad as the US.
At one point, I had the idea that if I went down there I’d surely be kidnapped. There is increased risk. I don’t see how anyone could deny that unless reports of kidnapping has been suppressed in Visayas and created in Mindanao. I know of one kidnapping in Luzon since I’ve been here. Several in Mindanao and known near me.
Well anyway, maybe I’ll get down to Davao one of these days. Lots of places on my list to go, very little cash too make it happen. LOL Jessie is a bit afraid of any place new. It makes her nervous, just the way she is. Poor girl, I’m dragging her all over the place as it is.
she’s very shy. She’s working on it though.
I have a question about Davao. There was a report in a Cebu paper talking of the vigilantes there in Davao. Could have been completely made up. Looked real enough. Mostly going after teens.
That reminds me of another question I’ve been meaning to ask for a while. When I first got here, I read over and over that teens cannot be jailed. This was in several different papers. Recently I’ve read about jailed teens. Did Arroyo withdraw that order? Perhaps, different for PNP than city or provincial authorities? I could see why that might give rise to vigilantes. I wont even go into the mayor of Davao secretly supporting the vigilantes as the story at least implied if not down right claimed.
Hi Rusty – I don’t think we would need to do any running. And, actually, getting kidnapped would be a good diet program for either of us!
Joking aside, camping in the mountains in Zamboanga would be a fool hearty thing to do. I don’t consider Zambo to be unsafe, but camping in the mountains anywhere in the Philippines would not be a wise thing to do, and why tempt fate?
Mindanao Bob’s last blog post..Ebola In The Philippines?
I sure would love to do it but I certainly have no plans to do so.
Hi Rusty!
It is funny to me that you are worried about Mindanao but plan to go to Malaysia or Indonesia. Where do you think Abu Sayef come from? They are not home grown. They come from those places. Maybe a nice safe trip to Hong Kong is in order for you! Ha ha!
Camping in the mountains. Is it BYOA (Bring your own Armaments). Count me in I have a pup tent and a surplus M-60.
Ok really you can’t believe everything you read in the press for sure. If it was really that dangerous no one would live there. Amazing how the news can report on one area and make it sound like it is happening everywhere. If you look at the international news they make is seem like the whole country is up in arms. I think we all know that’s not true.