A Mindanawon Loves Mindanao

There are many languages spoken by those whose identity is Mindanawon or
Taga-Mindanao. In Mindanao, the land is the main bonding reality. It is
a reality beyond any language. Though, Cebuano-Bisaya is the dominant
language and many ethnic languages are under its shadow, Mindanao is
multi-ethnic or multi-cultural. It would not achieve its potential and
promise of prosperity and peace if the various traditions, languages and
culture of ethnic communities are not respected or if taken for
granted. Diversity of its peoples is a wonderful wealth of this land.
This consciousness is emerging.

Ask people around where they come from, some would answer 'I'm from
Mindanao' or 'Taga-Mindanao'. And some would explain further that their
ancestors came from Cebu, Negros, Bohol, Ilocos, Cavite. etc. Still,
some don't bother to say that that their ancestors came from Pampanga,
etc. Mindanawons among themselves call the Ilonggos in Mindanao as
Ilonggo, Ilocano as Ilocano, Waray as Waray, Cebuano as Cebuano or
Bisaya. (But mostly, Bisaya is a prefered word than Cebuano, for Cebuano
is attached to the place of Cebu, whereas Bisaya is more of the common
'race and language'.)Mindanawons call Mindanao as their home. And its a
troubled home for it has yet to come to terms with its own history, with
its diverse peoples, ancestral lands,security and prosperity, its
future, its true leadership by and for its own people for its own land.
So many who don't love Mindanao are taking advantage of and abusing its
peace and security, its land and wealth. Some Mindanawons are beginning
to feel that 'ginaduladulaan lang man ta, ginabinuangan lang man ang
atong kalinaw dire'. To get promotions or money, the 'magbalantay sa
kalinaw' or protectors of the people themselves are believed to be
causing the trouble and disturbance to justify their stay. The fruits of
the land and the tax paid have not returned to pave all the roads in
Mindanao(some places have to wait for the crumbs for years and years and
some are still waiting until now). The land of promise is so abused and
not cared about. Misunderstood and not known by many Filipinos outside
Mindanao (well, even among themselves, for they themselves are a big
mixture of peoples yet coming to terms with themselves).

We would hear such terms as 'Tri-people of Mindanao' as composed of
Christians, Muslims and Lumad who gather together to forge peace and
development. How Mindanawon succeed in forging an identity together in
this way remains to be seen. While some promote peace and development,
others don't care or sustain the prejudices. Perhaps, the term
'tri-people' does not describe Mindanawons perfectly for this is a
limited religious perspective which refers to 'Christians' and 'Muslims'
as identities. And what about the Lumad or 'of the land' which is not a
religious but a cultural term. Religious perspective could be
short-sighted in this case. A cultural category for Mindanao would be
more comprehensive and inclusive. This would help address the
multicultural realities of Mindanao. Perhaps,this would ease some
misunderstanding and prejudices that are 'religiously tainted'. For
Muslims, the Christians are 'Bisayans'. But in truth there are
Christians in Mindanao who originally came from other cultural groups
such as Pampango,Ilokano, etc. Even the Muslims themselves are of
diverse ethnic and cultural groups. So are the peoples called Lumad. The
land is not composed of three kinds of people only. Mindanao is
multi-ethnic or multi-cultural.

The land of Mindanao is a starting point or point of reference for
diverse peoples who call it their home. When you love Mindanao you start
to live as Mindanawon. Though languages are different, it will be faced
as an issue too. The different culture and languages of the Lumad
peoples have yet to emerge from the shadow of the immigrants from
Visayas and Luzon. Mindanao is not a monopoly of Visayans or
Luzonians.They should not be proud of their dominance in Mindanao. They
have to come to terms with the Lumads of the land and respect their
ancestral lands. Mindanaons have to come to terms with themselves to
determine what future shall they make for them and for their land.

The land of Cebu itself is a center. It's a center of culture, politics
and economics. So does Manila. Without Cebu or Manila, Mindanao will
still be there by its own, for its own. Mindanao must be a center for
its own good in order to achieve its potential and promise. Our country,
the Philippines, need not have one or two centers in order to progress.
Mindanao people have suffered long for being at the periphery, when
goods rather move towards the center and away from the periphery, and
even the promises of benefits to trickle down arrived dry on the plate.
Many roads are not even paved. Some places don't see the light of
electricity for ages. Many 'payag' by the road seem to stay shabby and
rugged for ages without a sign of change for the better. Poverty is
sad and ugly to see in this beautiful land of bounty.To process some
papers for pensioners, some elderly still have to fly or travel to
Manila to have their patience tested, money and time wasted in order to
collect their due. To get a 'good' education and job many go to Cebu or
Manila. To get by or adapt, many have to learn Tagalog or Cebuano to be
able to find a better job or survive in Cebu or Manila. (Well, for the
educated elite and other fortunates who could afford to skip Cebu or
Tagalog Manila go straight to USA and speak green dollar.) To go to Hong
kong, Europe or USA and return to Mindanao you have to wade through the
flood of traffic and pollution of Manila. Is it a fanciful wish of a
Mindanawon to fly straight home sweet home to Mindanao without delay.
Is it fanciful to dream of peace of mind in your piece of land?

Meanwhile, the land is being abused and compromised by those who do not
love Mindanao nor care about its prosperity and peace. The forests are
gone, now the land is being mined but not for the benefit of the
Mindanawons. Hopefully, as the love of people for their land increases
so would their aspiration for self-determination increases. To care for
your peace of mind and your piece of land is not a fanciful dream.

The language that would bond Mindawons together is their love for the
land. Yes, language of love. It is love for peace and prosperity in
their own land. Do you think this is fanciful? Identity is not just a
fanciful thing forced or marked on your skin. It's an act, precisely,a
personal act of love.You identify with what you love.You become what you
love. A Mindanawon loves Mindanao.

Akoy