By Gideon C. Corgue
PAGADIAN CITY, Feb. 7 (PIA) -– The Muslim and Subanen tribes reaffirmed their good relations in a three (3) day founding assembly of Bangsa Moro and Bansa Subanon solidarity for peace conducted at Hotel Camila on February 5-7 with the theme “ Bangsa Moro-Bansa Subanon : Reaffirming kinship and solidarity for peaceful co-existence and development”.
In a media conference with members of the Zamboanga del Sur-Pagadian city Press club, Inc. , Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS) chair Guimel Alim on Monday said the activity is a consultation-dialogue with brothers Subanen and is part of the over all trust of the CBCS (network organization of poor Moro
civil society group operating in Mindanao).
In reaching out our groups, Alim said we become all mainstream in looking for ways in which we can contribute peace and development in Mindanao. “In the coming months we are going to engage also with other groups including our settlers,” he added.
Alim said we want to involve and reach out groups and find out possible areas of cooperation and collaboration so that we become more effective in engaging the peace process. “Defining the common problems of our people in Mindanao, there is a need for us to engage in a dialogue like what we normally do in Sibugay area – the interfaith dialogue,” the CBCS chair explained.
“It is timely that all of us are willing to be part of history in making peace in Mindanao. We have to co-exist peacefully all in the name of peace and development,” Alim declared.
Petsalabukan Bansa Subanon (PBS) chairman Timuay Fernando Mudai said the Subanon tribes actively participated in the activity and to be involved with the Bangsa Moro brothers to discuss and reaffirm the good relations between the ancestral parents of Bansa Subanon and Bangsa Moro.
Mudai said their Subanen and Muslim ancestors made a ‘Sapa’ (Subanen term for peace pact) sometime 13 centuries ago and they want to reaffirm it.
“We want to reaffirm the good relations of the Subanen and Muslim tribes by signing a peace pact today,” Mudai said.
A ritual will be conducted on Tuesday morning to give honor to the singing of peace pact.
“Our intention is to maintain the good relations of both tribes in order to achieve the everlasting peace inZamboanga Peninsula and the entireMindanao,” Mudai added.
Sibugay CBCS regional management committee chairman said the activity is the peace initiative of the CBCS designed to promote peace inZamboanga Peninsula region.
The activity was attended by delegates from the civil society organizations which composed of traditional leaders, datus, etc.