Bisdak Babbles

“26 persons — 23 civilians and three soldiers — killed in fighting triggered by attacks by fighters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Lanao del Norte province on Monday, officials said.” Inquirer.net

These killings happened just a few kilometers away from our house.  Some of those casualties may had been my acquaintances.  I called my family a while ago and they’ve evacuated the children (including Shaynna) to Iligan City.  But my mother, along with some cousins are staying at my house tonight for fear of burglars.

Dear friends, I ask for your prayers for the safety of my family, friends, neighbors, the soldiers, and everyone in Lanao del Norte.  For the families of those casualties, that they may find strength and healing.  For the deceased, that they may enter into the fullness of eternal joy, despite the injustice that they had went through.

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…