THE Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (Armm) governor urged the youth to learn the history of Bangsamoro, saying that remembering their previous struggles can empower today’s generation to continue the cause and achieve lasting peace in this part of the country.
“Mahalaga na alalahanin natin at ipagpatuloy natin ito hanggang sa magkaroon ng ganap ng kapayapaan (It is important to remember and continue their struggles in order to achieve lasting peace),” Armm Governor Mujiv Hataman said during the opening ceremony of the sixth-year commemoration of the Bangsamoro Week of Peace held in the Office of the Regional Government compound in Cotabato City.
Hataman also called for unity and cooperation among the different sectors in Armm to continue the reforms and changes the regional government has introduced and implemented during his years of governance.
Hataman said the tri-people of the Bangsamoro must continue the fight against poverty and terrorism.
He also pointed out how technology is a double-edged sword, with the youth becoming more vulnerable to misinformation as they gain access to the internet.
Bangsamoro Youth Affairs (BYA) Executive Director Amir Mawallil echoed the government's point and said that ensuring the youth learns about the history of the Bangsamoro is crucial in developing the youth's consciousness.
Aside from this, Mawallil said an awareness of Bangsamoro history is also crucial to the success of the long-standing peace efforts involving the Bangsamoro.
This is why, Mawallil said, the regional government will exert efforts on mainstreaming the discussion of Bangsamoro history among youth in the region through the BYA.
“We have to look at different platforms and exhaust all means. Our approach must succeed in being pervasive, 'yung kahit saan sila lumingon nandoon ang narrative ng Bangsamoro (wherein anywhere they look, they’ll see the narrative of Bangsamoro),” Mawallil said.
He added the youth can be an instrument of peace simply by knowing their history.
“Their every action must be rooted in something bigger than themselves; dapat may hugot, at sana nakaugat 'yun sa pagkilala nila sa tunay na kasaysayan ng Bangsamoro (and I hope it is rooted in their knowledge of the history of Bangsamoro),” he said.
The Bangsamoro Week of Peace is celebrated every second week of March to commemorate the Jabidah Massacre which is considered a pivotal point of the Bangsamoro struggle.
“Alam kong masakit sa ating lahat na ito’y alalahanin, ngunit ito ang nag-udyok sa atin na ipaglaban ang ating mga karapatan at ipaglaban ang ating identihiya (I know all of us are in pain whenever we remember the Bangsamoro Massacare but it is what pushed us to fight for our rights and identity),” Hataman said, referring to the said massacre.
Among the activities lined up for this week’s commemoration are a photo exhibit, a stage play, and a range of conferences and panel discussions including a forum on the Bangsamoro history conducted simultaneously in all provinces of the Armm.
This year's theme for the annual event is “Bangsamoro: Revisiting the Past, Continuing the Cause.” (Bong Garcia/VoxPop Philippines)