Strengthening moderates

I said it in my column last week but I will say it again today: we had every opportunity to stave off Muslim radicalism from the Philippines. I had a direct experience of how much the Filipino Muslims (they don’t even want to be called that because it would surrender to colonialism Philippines which was named after Philip II of Spain) were once so eager for a peaceful co-existence with Christians and the Manila government. I was in Marawi City when a crowded hall in one voice  said “Federalism was the answer.” And added in hyperbole that federalism was born here referring to their efforts to find a solution to the conflict. There were a number of moderates in the hall including Samara Tawis, a pretty girl who gave up a a scholarship in Oxford to help in the peace efforts in Mindanao.

But it was not to be. Although the moderates were growing in number, they were not helped by the media or government in their quest of organizing federalism in ARRM. Indeed, it seemed that peaceful ways could not be the answer. All kinds of reasons were found to frustrate the peaceful path led by moderates. Personally, I think it came from animosities dating back to the colonial period to which President Duterte refers to time and again when he explains his campaign for federalism. It is now referred to as Duterte’s federal state. That goes for other level-headed Filipinos who campaign for this system to solve the conflict in Mindanao. The Manila government worried about every dot and period they could find in a law that would have promoted federalism.

It seems we are not the only one who missed the chance for different religions living harmoniously. It is true in many parts of the world. The West wanted their oil and the excuse was found to deprive the owners of what belonged to them. Still the moderates persist with the news that about 20 million Muslims marched against ISIS that was completely ignored by mainstream media. This kind of story can only be found in social media.

“In one of the largest organized marches in the history of the world, tens of millions of Shia Muslims made an incredibly heartening statement, by risking their lives to travel through war-stricken areas to openly defy ISIS.

As the UK paper notes, the march comes as nearly 80 people, many of them pilgrims returning from commemorating Arbaeen in Karbala, were killed in the latest Isis attack in the area.

Isis has declared Shia Muslims apostates and targeted them in its bloody campaign to establish a hardline caliphate across Iraq and Syria, according to the Independent.

The brave men, women, and children marched on, knowing that an ISIS suicide bomber had just struck near Karbala the week prior.

In recent years, this march has taken on a dual purpose. Where it was once a march for Arbaeen, it now also encompasses the Shia resistance and protest against ISIS terrorists.

In spite of this pilgrimage being one of the most massive marches in the world, the West conveniently ignored it. Arbaeen is magnitudes larger than the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca – yet Mecca is the only event that ever receives headlines in the West. Given the recent revelation that the Shia Muslims are also marching against Daesh, one can’t help but wonder why this isn’t all over American news.

According to the Independent, organizers of the annual Arbaeen procession in UK have previously spoken of their frustration over the lack of mainstream media coverage of the event.

“Unfortunately [some] media outlets have gone for stories that to some extent can be divisive. If a group of Muslims does something good, it’s not mentioned or the religion is not mentioned. But if someone does something [negative], it is on the front page and their religion is mentioned,” Mohammed Al-Sharifi, a volunteer at last year’s event told the Independent.”

And he is right.

Those who would judge 1.6 billion people by the actions of just a few are creating a narrative in which innocent lives are put in danger.”

It is happening in the Philippines today. Sometimes, I think the war of civilizations is upon us and it is not Sunnis vs. Shias but much more. I was in Bahrain when a press conference was called by the Bahraini rulers. From a dark passage came a young girl who said to me…Do not believe that it is not a war between Sunnis and Shias. It is a revolution of the Shia poor against the Sunni rich and powerful. Whatever it was in Bahrain, we need to review the attitudes formed about federalism as a solution. It means a sharing of political power between regions who are ready to assume responsibility and the central government in Manila with the proper safeguards against secession.

It also means more generosity from those who are wealthy enough to share their wealth. Pagcor was having a board meeting when we were told that a truck had just arrived to bring goods for the schoolchildren in schools in Mindanao and other areas.

It came from Businessman Carlos Chan's Liwayway Marketing Corp., which initially distributed starch and coffee, ventured into food manufacturing in early 1970s with the flagship snacks Oishi Prawn Crackers and Kirei Yummy Flakes. Pagcor will include these in packets of school items to be distributed to some 30,000 schoolchildren in the most deprived areas.

Ambassador Chan’s generosity to the less fortunate is well known. No wonder he is so successful. The company eventually entered the Chinese market and has since opened manufacturing plants in Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, India, Myanmar, and Thailand. The most recent expansion is the one in South Africa.

Mr. Chan has also been appointed special envoy to China by former presidents Gloria Arroyo and Benigno Aquino III. President Rodrigo Duterte has also renewed the same appointment. Connected to such designation is Mr. Chan’s efforts to help facilitate cultural and people-to-people exchanges between groups from the Philippines and those from China. He believes such exchanges help better the relationship between the two countries.