On March 21, 2001, the Government of the Philippines declared an all-out war against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as the MILF was considered an enemy of the state. For years, the security sectors, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), were engaged in armed conflict with the MILF, displacing and traumatizing many communities and individuals. This resulted in slow-paced development and escalated violence, biases, and prejudice in the affected areas, especially in the province of Lanao del Norte in the northern part of the island of Mindanao.
But today, after all the efforts made to sustain the gains for peace in Lanao del Norte for several years, we are beginning to realize our dream of having a wave of lasting peace in our province and for the Island of Mindanao. This involved observing dialogues and peace process mechanisms and the exchange of messages of peace and solidarity by different stakeholders and peace actors.
Pursuant to Resolution Number 037-2008 of Provincial Ordinance No. 01-2008, the Province of Lanao del Norte once again celebrated the annual Lanao Month of Peace with this year's theme: “Building the Future, Healing the Past towards Genuine Reconciliation.” Under Section 4 of the ordinance, Pakigdait, Inc., as an interfaith grassroots peacebuilding organization, was mandated to spearhead and prepare the program and activities for the celebration.
On March 29, 2022, Pakigdait, Inc. and the United Religions Initiative (URI) with the support from the Provincial Government of Lanao del Norte conducted “SportsPeace 2022,” the annual celebration of peace through friendly games and sports at the heart of Camp Bilal, KuraKura, Munai, Lanao del Norte.
The event was hosted and initiated by North-Western Mindanao Front (NWMF) head and front commander MP Abdullah “Commander Bravo” Macapaar. Different stakeholders and peace actors participated in the event in coordination with the security sector: AFP (2nd Mech), the Lanao del Norte Police Provincial Office (PPO), and the Ministry of Public Works – Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) under Engr. Maomit Tomawis.
The main objective of the activity was to provide a platform for confidence-building measures and strengthen the relationship among the different stakeholders—mostly the MILF, the security sector, and other peace actors—as part of healing the past and genuine reconciliation.
“Peace and True Love doesn't happen right away; it's an ever-growing process. It develops after you've gone through many ups and downs, when you've suffered together, cried together, laughed together.”
Here are some of the messages from the participants and partners of SportsPeace 2022:
“We are already one, the security sector (AFP and the PNP) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) of MILF are now one, one in sustaining the gains for peace and development, and this camp, camp Bilal is no longer a camp but a peaceful community.” – MP Abdullah “Commander Bravo” G. Macapaar (Member of the Parliament – BTA BARMM) (North-Western Mindanao Front (NWMF) Front Commander)
“This SportsPeace symbolizes unity, peace, and solidarity; we must maintain our relationship with each other even through sports. We must stay healthy, happy and peaceful, and loving citizens for the betterment of our future.” – BGEN Rey Alemania (Brigade Commander of 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade)
“We are grateful to the organizer of this event and for Pakigdai,t Inc., our partner in Peace and Development in Lanao del Norte, for continuing to ensure this advocacy for peace in our beloved province of Lanao del Norte and we recognize the peace actors and stakeholders in pushing more on peace driving efforts towards Unity and Development.” – Message from Gov. Imelda Quibranza Dimaporo, Read and Represented by Engr. Allan Pitiilan of the Provincial Government of Lanao del Norte.
Working for peace and healing the past do not happen overnight nor are they a one-time event. We have to work together in building and re-building relationships in order to build a better future and achieve genuine reconciliation because there is no other way to peace. Peace is the only WAY and this is the Pakigdait Way.
Rev. Fr. Stephen Adrian M. Villaester is the Social Media and Advocacy Project Officer, Pakigdait, Inc. and Focal Person, Lanao Month of Peace. At the time of the article, he was a participant in MPI's Virtual Peacebuilding Training: Understanding Grassroots Environmental Peace.