Becoming white: A letter to all Filipinos

Bong Santisteban

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Becoming white: A letter to all Filipinos
'The people of Mindanao are tired. We are tired of daily conflicts and of being told that Mindanao is a dreadful place. We are tired of telling ourselves that this war will soon come to an end.'

I am a Filipino born and raised in the outskirts of Mindanao. I grew up in a place where daily bloodshed is almost normal, where wars are a game of chess, and bullets are seen anywhere like stones.

In a small town in the province of Sultan Kudarat, I’ve experienced my first armed conflict. Late at night, firefight between government troops and rebel groups would start. They would cut the electric supply in our area, engaging in the battlefield of darkness.

The first gunshot would signal us to start crawling to a prepared fox hole underneath our house – an opening just enough to fit 5-6 persons. There, my mother would comfort us that everything would be okay, but I knew it would never be okay.

Under that dark shelter, we would let the evening pass with the sound of explosions and gunshots as lullabies. The next morning, everything would be back to normal – with some bullets and shrapnel scattered in the streets. Bloodstains would remain for a week or two, until the rain would wash away the mark of the unending battle.  

As a little boy back then, I was filled with questions no one could ever answer. Until today, I realized I was asking the wrong question – why, not how, should we stop these conflicts?

Marawi clash

The Marawi clash which started on Tuesday, May 23, stirred the social media world with a range of emotions and responses, from reactions of sympathy for the residents to blame on the government. Many condemned the Maute Group while others still argued with each other based on their political differences.

But none of these will save Marawi from the destruction caused by false ideology and extremism that has imprisoned Mindanao for decades now.

It’s very awful seeing the irony of events. Instead of becoming one nation and helping those who are in need, once again, we are divided into strands of yellows, reds, etc.

There were individuals who blamed the President and another group who blamed the Vice President. But while these were happening, President Rodrigo Duterte headed home from Russia while Vice President Leni Robredo got a security briefing from the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Taking off from that, I think it is safe to say that our leaders whom we elected are doing their respective jobs for the best interest of our country regardless of their political affilation.

This shocking event in Marawi is not a matter of politics, or deciding who steps out and who steps in Instead this about human security and safety, and every single Filipino must take part.

Becoming white

If you are unsure whom to side with – either the yellows or the reds – why not become white? We need more Filipinos who are white – those who agree with government actions, projects and agenda, and at same time are not afraid to hold the same government accountable when there is injustice or abuse of power.

In a democracy, we need citizens who can support good government and criticize when needed. If we can be both, we are an asset for the country.

I must reiterate, becoming white is not becoming neutral, instead it is becoming a more responsible citizen who always sides with what is right and true.

I ask for understanding. Understanding that we, the people of Mindanao are also Filipinos who deserve to be treated and respected like the people in Luzon and the Visayas. We deserve to sleep at night without any fear that terror groups may ransack our houses or rape our women anytime.

We deserve to dwell in a place where we can freely move, talk, and raise our family without any fear that they might be taken against their will one day. We deserve to be respected based on our culture, our faith, and our beliefs. Christians and Muslims in Mindanao live in harmony, and we would like to keep it that way.

Peace in Mindanao

The people of Mindanao are tired. We are tired of daily conflicts and of being told that Mindanao is a dreadful place. We are tired of telling ourselves that this war will soon come to an end. We are tired of our false hopes that one day, peace will reign in Mindanao.

Friends in Luzon and Visayas, let’s urge the administration to do all it can to stop this terror group – even if it means applying brute force. Most, if not all, Mindanaoans are ready to undertake all precautionary measures to aid government actions. We are ready to follow and obey if it means lasting peace in our land – something we’ve been dreaming of for so long.

Honorable senators, congressmen, privileged elite, oligarchs, and students, please allow us to feel what peace is. You are always entitled to your freedom of expression in contradicting the government, but we are also entitled to our right to security, our right to live in a peaceful home, without any fear or shame of who we are, what we are, and where we came from. 

Mr President, Madam Vice President, and all of the government troops, ignite our little hopes. Do what is right, what is legal under the Constitution, and what is necessary. We are counting on you.

Fellow citizens, I am looking forward to the day where all of us will unite to achieve a common goal for the betterment of our country. By then, I will write again addressed not to the Filipinos in Luzon, Visayas, or Mindanao, but to the Filipinos of the Philippines. – Rappler.com 

 Jieven Santisteban is a campus journalism advocate from Zamboanga City. He is one of the administrators of Campus Journalist Ako, the largest online organization of campus journalists in the Philippines. He is also an editor of Assortedge and JourKnows.

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