Extreme Majul Experience

by: Mark Joseph Hao

BSE IV-3 (History)

At the advent of summer last April, as I remember, I opened my Facebook
account for status updates (frequently as I do) and visited my interest-websites. One of
the websites I visited was the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP)
and I saw the announcement regarding a conference on Muslim Philippine
Historiography after Majul, the great Muslim historiographer. I immediately clicked the
icon to know the details of the conference and printed the details. I have felt
excitement and eagerness to join such conference for it will be going to be my first time
to attend and first time to go and see the NHCP building and its museum. Also, I think
that the topics to be discussed are going to be interesting and will supplement my study
on history.
When the semester started, I talked to my fellow classmates about the
conference which will be held on August 5-6 and encouraged them to join me to attend
but only four of us assented and sent our pre-registration forms through e-mail
addressed to the NHCP. I have felt more ebullient on the said event as time goes by
although Ive needed money for the actual registration.
Frantic schedule passed and August came at last! Only two of us, Romel and I,
from the same class confirmed to go and attend the said conference. The fifth of
August arrived, and we went to T.M. Kalaw in Manila where the NHCP is located. That
was a peaceful and calm morning when we arrived at the conference venue. It was a
feeling as if I was in cloud 9 when I first stepped on the glossy floor of the building. We
are told by the guard and a lady, who I assumed to be a worker and I was not wrong,
that the conference will be held at the fourth floor. Then, we rode the elevator that I
described also as awesome.
When we were registering on the front desk, Romels name was not included in
the pre-registration list and I felt worried that I am going to attend alone. Thanks to
that on-the-spot registration and two of us are registered. Weve seated at the back
where the comfort room was only few steps away. It was cold inside the conference
room where two air conditioners are in-between us and it was good that they have free
coffee and tea to warm our freezing bodies. The conference has officially started a few
minutes after 9:00 in the morning after the singing of National Anthem. Chairwoman Ma.
Serena I. Diokno gave her welcome remarks and introduction of the keynote speaker
who was Associate Justice Marvic Mario Victor F. Leonen of the Supreme Court of the
Philippines. It was an inspiring and enlightening message for all the attendees.
The conference was made up of four panels equally divided for two days. Each
panel was made-up of speakers from here and abroad particularly from known
universities abroad such as Murdoch University of Australia, Hawaii Pacific University,
Sophia University of Japan, Leiden University of Netherlands, etc and famous
organizations and institutions like British Library, Philippine Historical Association, U.P.
Diliman and etc. It was sort of nose bleeding for they speak professionally in English
but we can understand them well.
The first day of conference was about Cesar Adib Majuls contributions and
indigenous sources of Muslim Philippine Historiography. Cesar Adib Majul was a writer
and researcher of History particularly in the context Muslim history, in making a
definitive contribution in ensuring that Muslim History is neither neglected nor
misrepresented in Philippine historical writings. As I remember, most of the textbooks
used in both elementary and secondary schools have few or limited data nevertheless,
only a chapter that tells us about the Islamization of the Philippines especially in
Mindanao and Muslim Filipino historiography. Also, they discussed and elaborated much
the topics on the different sources of Muslim historiography, giving emphasis on the
indigenous sources like the Tarsila (Genealogy), Codes and Jawi manuscripts. They also
served food for the gods where I enjoyed much with my companion. We met teachers
from Dasmarias National High School and Colegio San Agustin-Laguna whom we
shared our thoughts and talks during the conference. On the night at the first day, we
were lucky for we have an instant access tour to the Museum of the Filipino people
where the newly installed exhibit room called the Baybayin room and a welcome dinner
at the Marble Hall. It was fun and it made us feel the colonial fine-dining.
The second day was more freezing than yesterday. We were seated between two
air conditioners which caused us to freeze in addition to the bad weather. Romel
needed to change his clothes from a thin t-shirt to thicker long sleeves. Lucky for him
but for me, I was freezing until the last minute of the conference. And at this time, we
were seated near the microphone for when the open forum began, we can immediately
ask a question. And at last after several forums had been done, I have asked my
question. The second day was about Islamic Philippine Arts and Law as Historical Texts
and Global Links of Islamic Filipino historiography. We have learned so much in this
conference and there is none happier than this experience especially when we proudly
say we can be one of them (those personalities weve met) in the near future and not
just on having free usb and certificates plus the book by Dr. Samuel K. Tan (former NHI
Chairman).
What Majul brought me and my companion was that extreme Majul experience of
learning and understanding the role of the Filipino Muslims in the historiography of the
Philippines and shaping a unique nation, gifted of a rainbow of history and beauty.