Pagari Park: the brigade porch

Since my assumption, I have openly invited acquaintances to drop on my porch either to have coffee or exchange thoughts with me. My porch then was a shaded and fenced area next to my temporary lodging and furnished with native furniture. The increasing number of visiting friends afterward required for a bigger space; hence, the Pagari Park. "Pagari" means friendship in Maranao.

A related article with pictures entitled "Army Sultan's shot for unity in Mindanao" at Mindanao Examiner and at Blogger; also in PIA Website (by Breezy Jimenez) as "Sultan Brigade Opens Pagari Park."

The park is a newly developed garden, transformed from a former dump of volcanic rocks, at the heart of the Sultan Brigade camp. This was officially opened during the 9^th Founding Anniversary of the Army's Sultan Brigade last 26 October. Former Lanao del Norte Governor Imelda "Angging" Quibranza-Dimaporo—a Christian married to a Muslim and a strong advocate for cultural harmony and eco-tourism—graced the inauguration of the park. Also, Iligan Diocese Catholic Bishop Elenito Galido, Islam Aleem Elias Macarandas, and Lumad Datu Rolando Soong came for the interfaith joint consecration.


















A fountain and ornamental plants under the trees beautifully complemented the rocks—some of which serve as natural tables and chairs. The park features three corners representing the major Philippine Muslim cultures—Maguindanao, Maranao, and Tausug—have inspired the brigade moniker of "Sultan." During the inauguration of the park, guests had the chance to have a glimpse of the different traditional wear of each ethnic group and sample their respective delicacies.

"Pagari Park has a strong good vibes," comments a theosophist echoing the observations of other guests. This encouraging remark is a wonderful incentive for the park to serve as the brigade porch in fostering unity and harmony.

Pagari Park was realized with the support and contributions of those who shared the thought of promoting peace. My personal gratitude to my wife, Belle, and her "committee of three" (Eza, Jeffrey & Nhor) for assisting me in realizing this concept; and to TSG Francisco Saladaga for his passionate commitment to this endeavor. Also, I acknowledge the invaluable support of the following: Hon. Jaber Azis, Michelle Daniel, Hon. Maminta Dimakuta, Robert Estroga Landscaping Services, Eza Galvez, Jeffrey Rufo Galvez, Norcaya Maquiling, Hon. Mastura Manangolo, Hon. Elias Montod, Alexis Natividad, Hon. Haironi Omar, Engr. Marivel Frances Ong, Engr. Hilal Sangcopan, Hon. Hadji Yusop Saripada, Engr. Roger Suyang, and other personnel of the brigade.

A fun-filled afternoon with the children

It is always refreshing and inspiring to spend time with the children, particularly when you see them happy. Their youthful innocence and zest at play has a way of reliving our younger days when we were unaffected by the larger concerns of the times.

A “Dula sa mga Bata Alang sa Kalinaw” (Games of the Children for Peace) was one activity planned to help communities, particularly the children, bring back happier days in places traumatized by the recent violence. The sponsors—Mr. Musa Sanguila, Executive Director of Pakigdait Incorporated, and Ms. Marit Stinus-Remonde, District Governor of Kiwanis International—chose Barangay Dilabayan of Kauswagan Town in Lanao del Norte as the site for this activity. Incidentally, the two sponsors took pride being among the Army awardees which came to help the brigade in its peace efforts in the area. In the recent celebration of the 112th Army Anniversary, Pakigdait, an interfaith organization, got the award, per our nomination—the second time around—as the Most Outstanding NGO; Ms. Remonde, also, received an award for helping the Army in its various civic programs.


















In the afternoon of 30 March, I addressed the children, skipping the usual lengthy amenities, saying simply that we came to have fun and play with them. The children’s response was quite ecstatic. Despite the drizzle, the event became livelier as Ms. Cristina Lomoljo sent her teams from Balay Integrated Rehabilitation for Total Human Development (BIRTHDEV) to assist in the games. Afterwards, they ate chicken “arrozcaldo.” To Musa, this was the first time the kids ate what was prepared for them; many even came back for second servings and more until nothing was left. In the previous activities, it was noted that the children did not touch the food that was brought for them due to cultural sensitivities. This time it was different, the local folks were given the raw food items and were asked to cook it themselves.

We left seeing the children happy…and we felt happier with a sense of fulfillment.

Walking, its meaning to peace

I had the chance to attend the “Panagtagbo Alang sa Kalinaw”—a meeting of multi-cultures and religions in a unity walk—a culminating activity of the month-long commemoration of peace for Lanao del Norte.














The activity was hosted by the Provincial Government of Lanao del Norte in cooperation with Pakigdait Incorporated and the Civil Society Organization of Lanao del Norte Partnership for Peace and Development (CSOLN-PPD). This was attended by various organizations from the civil society, the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The Rev. Canon Charles Gibbs, Executive Director of United Religions Initiative, along with Leaders of Cooperation Circles from Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand also participated in the event.

In this occasion, I spoke about how walking relates to peace--inspired by a deeper personal meaning. A healing process for me which is also what we may need to resolve conflict.



Message on Peace and Unity Walk

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Significance of "Day of Sacrifice"

I recently spoke in a gathering, mostly attended by Muslim folks from the Provinces of Lanao, for "Eid'l Adha" (Day of Suffering) commemorating the occasion of God's intervention as Abraham offered in sacrifice the life of--Ismael--his most favored son. This story is both recorded in the Bible and the Koran where lessons on "faith" and "sacrifice" can be reflected on. Lessons that can, perhaps, show us hope for a better tommorow particularly here in this conflict-ridden land of Mindanao.



Relatedly, in the article--"Soldiers are sacrificing comforts, liberty and lives," a writer of MindanNews posted the speech finding the theme of the activity "Peace through Reconciliation" relevant to the times.

Speech - Eidl Adha

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Interfaith Prayer: starting the Mindanao Week of Peace

An interfaith prayer for peace was held on 27 November 2008 at St. Mary Gym, Tibanga, Iligan City co-hosted by the Bishop Ulama Conference (BUC), and the Ranao Muslim-Christian Movement for Dialogue and Peace (RMCMDP), both for the Lanao Provinces, with the theme 'Integrity of Heart and Mind: Way to Reconciliation and Peace'. The activity was attended by Muslim and Christian students, religious and traditional leaders from the area. This symbolized the start of the celebration of the "Mindanao Week of Peace" called for by Presidential Proclamation No. 127 signed on 26 Novemeber 2001. 

  

Franciscan Priest Fr Marselo Fada, 

Parish Priest of San Lorenzo Church, 

Bgy Hinaplanon, Iligan City

(L-R) Atty Saidale Gandamra, Army Col Benito de Leon of 104th Infantry Brigade, 

Fr Daniel Somani of Iligan Diocese, Fr Chito Suganob of Marawi, 

Bishop Elenito Galido of Iligan, Bishop Edwin dela Pena of Marawi, 

and Alim Elias Macarandas, a BUC member 

& President of Muslim Welfare Society. 

·  L

Lanao officials meet to end bloody feuds

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Tubod, Lanao del Norte (22 November). In an effort to end bloody reprisals locally in Lanao as “rido,” local political leaders, military, and police officials on Fridays converged in the remote Magsaysay town of Lanao del Norte, the site of the recent atrocity, to dialogue with the local folks.

The practice of rido particularly in the town was attributed to disputes arising from business rivalry or being shortchanged in their deals. This individual grudges later worsened as blood debts that had widened into clan wars. Just last week, Municipal Councilman Generoso Jamora was slain in what was believed to be part of a string of reprisals among the populace. The nearby town of Salvador had also been the site of another feud that resulted in the ambush of a group of Maranaos.

Father and son, Congressman Abdullah Dimaporo of the 2^nd District and Governor Mohammad Khalid Dimaporo of the province were joined by 104^th Infantry Brigade Commander Col Benito de Leon and Police Region 10 Chief Supt Teoderico Capuyan to discuss arrangements to prevent further violence in the area.  The group later met with the people of the town to appeal to end the bloody feuds that had claimed lives and threatened to escalate into a bigger conflict.  

Congressman Dimaporo who was celebrating his birthday gave way to attend to this concern which he feared may escalate to create a divide between the Christians and the Muslims or the Maranaos and the other ethnic groups.  He directed the police authorities to speed up investigation in order to identify the suspects to be charged in court so as to prevent people to take the law in their own hands. He appealed for unity to attain true peace and order citing. He even cited that though he is a Muslim he got married to a Christian from the Quibranza family: his father hoped that such union will achieve peace in the land. He had to endure ridicule in many occasions if only to support the aspirations for peace.

Also, Governor Dimaporo echoed the sentiments of the his father and called for unity among the people so that they can better attain security and further take on development activities. He says that his priority concern is in bringing the rogue element of Macapaar aka Bravo who sowed violence in the province.

Meanwhile, Supt Capuyan assured the locals that he had stationed more police forces in the area to curb further violence. He also asked the people to cooperate with and trust the police so that justice can be served faster. Col de Leon, also, said that he had placed an Army unit, referring to 32^nd Infantry Battalion, to attend to the security in the area and assist the police in law enforcement activities. This would include running after the lawless armed groups that may seek to undertake the extra-judicial option of “rido.”

The army commander stressed that the cycle of violence of “rido” will be unending if everyone does not do anything to stop it.  He says that the mistakes we do now will be paid by future generations. “We owe it to the future generations to make right the foundations we prepare for them,” emphasized de Leon.

Army Sultan allays fears of Muslims

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Mindanao Examiner: Army Reiterates Support to Peace Efforts in Mindanao

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Iligan City (27 October). “Your military will always give high priority in ensuring the protection of the Filipino citizens whether they be Christians, Muslims, Lumads, or otherwise,” emphasized Col Benito T de Leon, Commander of 104^th Infantry (Sultan) Brigade, 1^st Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.

Col. de Leon guested today in an interfaith dialogue wearing a Maranao cap given him after he was conferred the honorary title of “Sultan a Romapunut” (Leader of Peace) in Lumbayanague, Lanao del Sur during the MILF hostilities of 2000. The forum was sponsored by Pakigdait Inc, a civil society organization, attended by Traditional and Religious leaders and held at Iligan City. Rev. Fr. Regino R. Quijano is the Chairperson for Pakigdait while Mr. Musa M. Sanguila is the Chairperson of Civil Society Organization of Lanao del Norte Partnership for Peace and Development: both were also present.

The military officer’s statement was in reply to the questions to clarify issues concerning the safety of the people particularly of Muslims communities with the on-going operations to track Macapaar aka Bravo. Bravo was held responsible for the August 18 atrocities in Kolambugan and Kauswagan towns of Lanao del Norte.

Aside from presenting a generally peaceful situation, de Leon further explained that his brigade is at the same time assisting local government agencies, non-government organizations, civil society organizations, and religious organizations which had come to help hasten the return of peaceful conditions in Lanao del Norte. He lauded the efforts of Pakigdait for spearheading the coordination in the return of 63 displaced families to their homes in Paiton, Kauswagan.

“Even as we pursue the lawless groups, we shall strictly abide by the instructions of minimizing collateral damage and in upholding the rights of the people as guaranteed in our Constitution,” de Leon said.