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Community Reconciliation by Muslims and Christians in The Philippines |
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Written by Marites Africa
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Monday, 12 September 2005 |
Manila, The Philippines. A heartwarming story of courage and hope from the grassroots!A report on the collaborative work of Muslims and Christians in the Peacemakers Circle CC; they faithfully persist through difficult times and achieve a positive step forward.
Dear Peacemakers and Friends in the Interfaith Movement,
Greetings of Peace and Love to you! I trust this finds you well.
From September 7 to 9, 2005, a National Summit of Religious Leaders was held in Cebu City, Philippines, to address the issue of peace. This two-day gathering of leaders of different religions was organized for the purpose of providing the participants with a forum wherein they could 1) arrive at a common understanding of the real situation of peace in the country, 2) discuss perspectives and practices of different religions and spiritual traditions on peace, 3) develop strategies and action program for interfaith understanding and cooperation towards the attainment of genuine peace, and 4) come up with a statement on peace and common prayer for peace.
While the high-profile gathering of religious leaders was going on in Cebu, Muslims and Christians in the grassroots community of Barangay 188 in Phase 12 of Tala, Caloocan City, Metro Manila, were busy with the concerns of dealing with the daily realities of conflict and violence in their lives. Their struggle to address these issues, and the success that they have gained in overcoming them, is a heartwarming story that needs to be told. It is a story of courage and hope in the midst of the darkness of fear that is prevalent in many Muslim-Christian communities around the metropolis. It is a story of ordinary people who are struggling to live ordinary lives in extraordinary ways; people who have much to share, but whose voices are not often heard.
I have had the privilege of journeying with them in Barangay 188 these past two years. I have broken bread with them, and bore witness to their fears and hopes, their joys and pain. If I may, I wish to share their story with you –
In a country where the issue of Muslim-Christian conflict is associated with Mindanao (home to majority of the Muslim population), little is known (and said) about the troubling realities that Muslims and their Christian neighbors are experiencing in the various grassroots communities around Metro Manila, and elsewhere in the country. In the prevailing concern for the resolution of conflict in Mindanao, the phenomenon of Muslim migration -- and its impact on the lives of Muslims and Christians who now live side-by-side each other in the metropolis – has not been given serious thought and attention.
For over a decade now, Muslims have been migrating away from their southern homeland to seek for better lives in places elsewhere in the country. This diaspora has brought a considerable number of Muslims to Metro Manila. As of year 2000, the National Statistics Office recorded 33 mosques located all over the metropolis. The Office of Muslim Affairs likewise identified at least 19 vicinities in Metro Manila that are considered Muslim communities due to the presence there of mosques. Although a more comprehensive recording of Muslim migrants is imperative, the data show that Islamic communities in the metropolis are on the rise.
The list is not exhaustive. There are Muslim communities unaccounted for around the metropolis, and each community is a potential source of conflict and violence among Muslims of different clans and/or tribes, and between Muslims and their neighboring Christians.
Unbeknownst to many, incidents of conflict and violence in Muslim-Christian grassroots communities around Metro Manila have been occurring. However, not all of these incidents have been reported to the police, nor have they figured in the news. Those who wish to help will find that the reasons for the prevailing situation of conflict and violence are many and complex.
One big cause of violence is poverty, and this is said to be driving people to engage in illegal businesses, most notorious of which is drug trafficking. Those who are engaged in it say that they are driven to this business because decent jobs are difficult to come by in a predominantly Christian society that is prejudiced against Muslims.
Attitudes of fear and discrimination have made it difficult for Muslims (seeking better lives for themselves and their families outside of Mindanao) to live decently. Extreme conditions of poverty, and experiences of discrimination, are fomenting feelings of resentment against Christians, and are driving some Muslims to take recourse to illegal businesses, and to respond to perceived injustice against them with violent aggression.
Other causes of violence in grassroots communities are the tribal customs and practices that promote attitudes of prejudice and discrimination between and among peoples of different clans or tribes. Oftentimes, these lead to clan wars, or tribal wars. The practice of redo (revenge) among feuding families, and between tribes, is a factor that has exacerbated the fear of Muslims among Christians.
Unless something is done to address the “core” of the problem (of prejudice and discrimination) against Muslims among Christians, and to help peace-loving Muslims address cultural attitudes and tribal practices that hinder fellow Muslims from dealing with their various internal and external problems in peaceful ways, conflict and violence will remain an aching reality that will constantly challenge this beleaguered nation.
In 2003, we in the Peacemakers’ Circle Foundation (a locally founded non-profit and non-partisan organization composed of people of diverse religions, spiritual expressions, and indigenous traditions), decided to respond to the perceived need for peacebuilding in Muslim-Christian grassroots communities in Metro Manila. In October, we engaged in the endeavor of building relationships between Muslims and Christians in Barangay 188 of Phase 12 in Tala, Caloocan City.
Barangay 188 has over 500 families, 20 percent of which is Muslim (mostly from the Maranao tribe). This community is reputed to be the “drug trafficking capital” of Caloocan City. Crime rate is high in this area. Our volunteers experienced three separate incidents of shooting that occurred in the community within 2004. Three Muslim members of the Muslim-Christian Peacemakers’ Association were hit; one was killed, while the other two were wounded. Although there were many witnesses to the shootings, no one dared to report the incidents to the police for fear of the police themselves, or of the backlash of revenge from friends and family of the offending party.
In the wake of the shooting incidents, the atmosphere of fear and suspicion that prevailed among the residents of Barangay 188 in Caloocan made it more difficult for The Peacemakers’ Circle to promote dialogue between Muslims and Christians in the community. But, due to the trust that had already been established between the community members and the volunteers of the Peacemakers’ Circle, the gradual process of trauma-healing and relationship-building was made possible once again.
Barangay 188 has three mosques; one is located in the Upper Riverside area, another is in the Lower Riverside area, and the newly erected third is somewhere near the periphery of the community. These three mosques are within less than four kilometers of each other. Each one has been built by leaders of related clans who wished to have their own mosque cater to their own members.
When the Peacemakers’ Circle first began its work in Barangay 188, the leaders of the two powerful Muslim clans in the area were in good terms. Conflict arose during the campaign period of the Presidential Elections in 2004 that resulted in a rift between the two clans. One clan campaigned for the present administration, while the other against it. This resulted in a split between Muslims living in the Upper Riverside area, and those in the Lower Riverside area.
Because the Muslim leader of Lower Riverside was earlier elected President of the Muslim-Christian Peacemakers’ Association by the active participants of the Peacemakers’ Circle’s program in the community, the Muslim leaders and members of Upper Riverside alienated themselves from The Peacemakers’ Circle (and its activities in the community) when the rift happened.
In the months that followed, incidents of conflict breaking out into open firing of guns in the neighborhood ensued. Christians and Muslims feared for their lives. It was in this atmosphere that we in The Peacemakers’ Circle carried on with our relationship-building programs for peace in Barangay 188. Weekly Inner Work sessions were held on Friday afternoons; and monthly 1-day workshops on Fear Management, Dialogue and Conflict Transformation, Cooperative livelihood, etc., were conducted. The Peacemakers’ Circle continued to make its presence felt in the area, and appealed to the Barangay Captain and local government officials for assistance. These efforts helped the residents of the community cope with their worrisome situation.
A week ago, an outbreak of violence erupted once again between clans, and rapid gunshots were heard by the residents of Barangay 188. A Muslim peacemaker said: It sounded like war in Mindanao!
Maklis Bala (the Maranao Muslim President of the Muslim-Chrstian Peacemakers' Association), in his desire to live-up to his calling, decided to do something to resolve the problem and bring about lasting peace in the community. He reached out to his cousin, Edres Domato, leader of Upper Riverside, and expressed his desire to make peace with him.
The dialogue between these two leaders resulted in the agreement of the members of both clans (and the leaders of other Muslim families and groups in the area) to unite and devise measures that would ensure long-term and sustainable peace in Barangay 188.
Yesterday, September 10, all the Muslim leaders, together with the representative of the Salam Police, gathered in the community plaza for a General Assembly of Muslims for Peace and Unity. Present were members of the Muslim-Christian Peacemakers’ Association. I was invited to attend the auspicious occasion, and was privileged to be recognized by the leaders, and allowed to speak to the assembly. I expressed joy in bearing witness to the coming together (in unity and peace) of these once-feuding Muslim leaders. The plans they shared concerning collaborative crime prevention and ending outbreaks of violence in Barangay 188 were very inspiring!
Although the sense of apprehension and fear remains in the minds of many in Baangay 188, those who were present cheered, and heaved a sigh of relief. Truly, hope dies hard in the hearts of people who live on the edge!
A sense of joy fills me as I share this story with you. Truly, there is power in faith. If we believe in the goodness that is in the hearts of people, this goodness will prevail. Goodness is like light that overcomes darkness. If the Peacemakers’ Circle has succeeded in helping to keep the light of hope alive among the Muslims and Christians in Barangay 188, then it has served its humble purpose.
Dear Friends, I share this story with you in behalf of the Muslims and Christians in the grassroots who are painstakingly building peaceful and harmonious relationships among them in Metro Manila, and elsewhere in the country.
May their efforts inspire us all to collaborate with one another in the spirit of kinship and love as we carry on in our journey through life along the path of peace!
Yours sincerely, Marites
MARITES GUINGONA-AFRICA
Executive Director
THE PEACEMAKERS' CIRCLE FOUNDATION, INC..
Unit 307 Continental Plaza Building
45 Annapolis Street, Greenhills
San Juan, Metro Manila
Philippines
Tel. nos.: (63-2) 721-1379; (63-2) 727-7084
Fax no.: (63-2) 727-7108
E-mail address:
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 14 February 2006 )
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