Bisdak Babbles

For decades, my family’s been living in Lanao del Norte in Mindanao. Mindanao is very beautiful and we love living there, if not for the constant red alerts.

Yesterday, civilians from our neighboring towns were once again mandated to evacuate due to an impending rebel attack. Sadly, incidents like this have been going on for decades. A huge percentage of poverty-stricken Filipinos are located in the war-torn Mindanao. Obviously, these wars scare away investors, hindering the progress of many places in Mindanao.

The cause of these wars? It is said that our brothers from some separatist groups demanded the formation of an independent Moro Islamic state in Mindanao. Obviously, the Philippine government declined this demand.

Many of those separatists might still have noble intentions for such demand, but what if they are just being taken advantage of by some leaders for their own selfish goals? Rumor has it that the group recruits anyone who’s willing regardless of their ethnicity or religion. Who wouldn’t be tempted to join in exchange for a sack of rice a month and meager compensation? Better that than being jobless at all.

Poverty causes war. But war causes poverty. Wouldn’t it be better if we just fight poverty but not with war? Can’t we just live in harmony? After all, we’re in one nation, we’re all Filipinos.

This seems like an impossible feat but I’m still praying for all these conflicts to stop.
Let there be peace in Mindanao…
Let there be peace in the whole world…