The Real Glory. Moro uprising in the Philippines.

[Marbel]

A bit off-topic but here’s a photo from Oct 2018. I was able to attend an event honoring former President Fidel Ramos (also attended by President Duterte). Delegates from around the country were there. The Bangsamoro group had their own table. While I’ve visited a variety of Moro areas on Mindanao, I feel much more welcome with my Tboli and Blaan friends. Nevertheless, having just arrived that morning from Mindanao myself, I felt an urge to acknowledge and provide a warm greeting to this friendly group from the south. Glad I did.

[xasterix]

Originally Posted by Marbel

A bit off-topic but here’s a photo from Oct 2018. I was able to attend an event honoring former President Fidel Ramos (also attended by President Duterte). Delegates from around the country were there. The Bangsamoro group had their own table. While I’ve visited a variety of Moro areas on Mindanao, I feel much more welcome with my Tboli and Blaan friends. Nevertheless, having just arrived that morning from Mindanao myself, I felt an urge to acknowledge and provide a warm greeting to this friendly group from the south. Glad I did.

Glad you connected with our BangsaMoro brothers/sisters! Once you get to know them, they're actually just like those from Visayas and Luzon- warm and accommodating!

[Ian]

Originally Posted by xasterix

Glad you connected with our BangsaMoro brothers/sisters! Once you get to know them, they're actually just like those from Visayas and Luzon- warm and accommodating!

Absolutely true. I have found the BangsaMoro peoples to be open, warm and friendly in my travels to the southern Philippines. My time in the Philippines encompassed the Twin Towers episode when U.S. feelings turned sharply against Muslims in general, including those of the southern Philippines. Travel of westerners to the ARMM and Sulu Archipelago was strongly discouraged by foreign governments and the Government of the Philippines. While kidnappings of Filipinos and foreigners did occur in the region around that time, there was actually little overt violence that could be attributed reliably to the Abu Sayyaf or other Muslim groups.

In my experience the vast majority of BangksaMoro people are not interested in violence, but they do have a strong passion for autonomy and freedom for their religion and culture. This has led over the last few centuries to conflicts with the Spanish, Americans, and the Government of the Philippines. Coming from a freedom loving country, it is hard for me not to have some sympathy for the Moro position. We can only hope that the Muslim peoples of the southern Philippines can arrive at a solution for their governance that satisfies them and the Philippines government.

Ian.

[Battara]

Xasterix, once again thank you for the youtube links. Wonderful!