ARMM Secretary Inspires a New Generation of Bangsamoro

by Samira Gutoc-Tomawis
10 June 2009

Branded as the Thinker of his generation, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao

(ARMM) Deputy Executive Secretary and lawyer Ishak Mastura, an Ateneo graduate,
urged the young Moro professionals to choose the path of identity assertion during
the YMPN Night held on June 5 at the Mitmug Residence, Santos Street, Cotabato
City.

Mastura quoted a book on identity to dramatize the need for Bangsamoro aspiration
to be embraced. “Themes of memory, identity, destiny and freedom are seamlessly
interwoven in a breathtaking tapestry; identity can only be founded on the
recovery of memory, and it is only with a sense of identity that one can attain
freedom to fulfill one’s destiny. Tigana features characters who have had their
identities brutally torn from them, and the result is that they are left empty and
searching for a way to fill the void in their souls. Their desperate attempts
sometimes lead them in the wrong directions, towards things which are cruel and
unnatural but provide temporary solace from the emptiness.”

Mastura was one of few young Muslims who traveled to Malaysia in August 2008
during the supposed signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain
(MOA-AD) by the government (GRP) peace panel and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
(MILF) to be witnessed by the diplomatic community.

Tonight in the land formerly known as Kutawato Empire was a reunion of sorts for
Mastura and other young lawyers such as Algamar Latiph, Raissa Jajurie, Edil
Baddiri and Rasul Mitmug who collaborated to defend the MOA-AD before the
Supreme Court which declared the MOA-AD unconstitutional.

Some 30 young Muslims joined Mastura from the Notre Dame University Law Student
Government, Cotabato, Marawi , Davao, Zamboanga and Manila to renew ties in
preparation for a Dialogue with Moro Elders supported by The Asia Foundation the
next day with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Estosan Hotel and MILF
in Sultan Kudarat Sunday.

Other young leaders present included Junior Chamber International Cotabato City
President Gurlie Frondoza, Ibn Taimiyah School Administrator Ombra Imam, TAF
consultant Alber Hussin, and Cotabato City Youth Affairs Officer Noran Uka.

Young Moro Professionals Network (YMPN) founding Chairperson and former Philippine
Councilor’s League Secretary General Jehanne Mutin of Marawi City traced the
history of YMPN to be a product of the all-out war of then President Erap Estrada
in 2000. “Muslims who were privileged enough to be educated in Manila came
together to make a difference.”

YMPN Chairperson and University of the Philippines Student Regent Shahana

Abdulwahid of Zamboanga urged the young to be involved in academic discourse as
well as active civic work through YMPN.

MYSPEAK Project Director Aleem Guiapal who has spoken in Harvard’s Project for
Asia and International Relations as the first Filipino Paper Presenter and who
will speak next month in Oxford credited YMPN for the recognition he has attained.

YMPN Mindanao Secretary General Drieza Lininding updated that the Moro elders were
anticipating the dialogue to be fruitful in recognition of the role of
professionals in the peace process.
“The young are the missing link in winning the negotiations”, said Guiapal.

MYSPEAK Dialogue Activity Head Engineer Don Loong , former Sulu Provincial
Administrator, said the dialogue with the elders is crucial so that the lessons
learned can be documented and studied by the young Moro pool of experts
representing varied fields in development, media, governance, human rights,
security, politics.

Humanitarian lawyer Zainuddin Malang brought the group earlier upon arrival to the
evacuation areas in Datu Piang and Talayan in what he calls the internally
displaced persons (IDP) Corridor, saying the nine months of evacuation (since the
MOA-AD was aborted in August leading to armed exchanges between the MILF and the
army) have taken its toll on the elderly and children. “Shelters are temporary.
Food is scarce. Schools are homes. Who will tell these stories?” Malang challenged
YMPN.