MESSAGE FOR MINDANAO YSPEAK Souvenir Program , Feb 6, Makati

It is the Year of the Ox and we in Young Moro Professionals Network EMBRACE

all the burden that comes its way!
We, who form the core of a network of 200 Moro professionals across the
world, are deeply pleased that many of you have considered to PARTNER and ALLY
with us in our deeply-felt passion for Mindanao and minority rights.
We, second generation Bangsamoro, feel we must aggressively
contribute to BUILDING a MORO NARRATIVE so that the world may not forget what
our ancestors had fought for, a battle which to this day continues to impede real
development in our homeland. But we, Muslims, have built homes alongside you
here in the North. We have worked in government and mainstream entities and
accepted massive DONOR funding in the ARMM. Isn’t there a MEETING POINT
between the INTERESTS of the North and South so the WAR would stop in our
Southern homeland?
The event, OUR PEACE, YOUR PEACE, A YMPN PRESENTATION, seeks to up
the peace antenna by listening to the largest stakeholders - the young, who aim
to engage their elders, partners and the outside world in general through media.
Yes, we can, we quote Barrack Obama say. To publicize the need for minority and
Mindanao voices to be heard, the young are urged the stay motivated and be
inspired.
The fora reports stem from the engagement of young people firstly in the
United States Institute of Peace (USIP)-supported Young Moro Leaders Forum in
2006. Secondly, the Presidential Interfaith Fund and OPAPP-supported Peace
building by Muslim Professionals Assemblies. Thirdly, the TAF and KAS-supported
Mindanao Young Leaders Parliament (MYLP).
The Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) controversy
in August 2008 divided the country. WHAT AFTER the MOA-AD was sought to be
answered by a network of Young Moro Professionals, who use their own resources,
talent, training and skills to uplift the plight of the marginalized Muslim
communities in the Philippines.
because of their mobility, savviness and technology.
What I am mystified about in peace agreements here is that why is public
participation negated. Treaty-signing is merely a symbolic act. Real peace is claimed
at making basic services for instance available. What we propose is that even at a
preparatory phase, communities are involved. Activities include:
- Formulating a peace agenda
- Mobilizing a peace constituency
- Build local capacities
During formal negotiations, complementary activities on the ground such as
citizen’s consultation, fora and press conferences must be supported. Technical
issues on ancestral domain could be consulted from community leaders and the
academe. The subject of agreements can be subject of public discussion so that
table negotiators can validate their talks.
While the TWO key actors in the peace process – GRP and MILF – talk in
formal negotiations, the communities must be readied for any prospective peace
talks outcome. SOCIAL PREPARATION is an AVENUE of participation for YMPs who
can articulate, organize, and mobilize their constituencies, including hawks
(perceived anti-peace individuals), security sector, resistant LGUs, toward
supporting the fruits of the negotiations.
We thank the OPAPP, Asian Institute of Management-IMSA, the USAID, the
Asia Foundation and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung , which all at SHORT NOTICE in
hearing us out, unhesitatingly supported our proposal to convene such assemblies.
I thank the hard-working project team—YMPN Executive Director Aleem
Guiapal (HPAIR, Cambridge, Paper Presenter), AIM-IMSA President Musarrat Sait Ali,
Atty. Loren Lao, Atty. Jamel Mamutuk, Jane JaMaDi Dimacisil—for their dedication
and professionalism in upping the antenna at AIM.
And so we in YMPN CARPE DIEM. We APPEAL to you to join us by being part
of the solution to ending one of the longest conflicts in the world. War has to end.
One life is worth saving. And real peace should happen in OUR GENERATION.

Samira Gutoc
YMPN Mindanao