UNITY AMIDST DIVERSITY

1 Corinthians 12:12-27

Coming from an entirely different cultural background with a far different point of view on things that are happening in the Mindanao region specifically in the Cotabato area is at first very intimidating on my part. Intimidating in the sense that I was very different from them, the way I dress, my physical size, color, and of course the dialect that I speak. But nevertheless all these things were immediately forgotten right after the very first solidarity night. It was the night that we participants began to know each other’s culture and started to bond together as we practice our own presentations.

The first three days of the program was very enriching it was here that we knew the history and the struggle of the “Tri People” (the Lumads, Moros, and the Mindanao Settlers or also known as the Christians). Although the detailed cultures and the uniqueness of each tribe was not very well discussed in the sessions but the most beautiful part of which I really am blessed is the inner drive of the participants to know more of each other thus we made our own small group discussion near our cottages which in the long run strengthened our bond and deepened our relationships.

Each week was highlighted by a community emersion wherein we the participants were given the opportunity to interact with the locals and have an experience with how they live, know their struggles, pains, hopes and dreams. This incident widened my views in life and somehow broadened my horizon! The interaction that I made with the Lumads, the Aromanen ne Menevus in particular and a few Settlers at Pidlambiran was really a heart breaking one! It was there that I personally saw for the very first time the effects of oppression and militarization. It was in that place that some of us met their long lost relatives such as brothers separated for 5 long years. It was a wonderful sight of reunion. Another thing that also struck me and really broke my heart was that, people would save their income to buy firearms instead of their basic needs. Children at a very young age were already taught how to handle weapons, they never felt the fullness of life. For them life is nothing but pains & struggles, for short they have to fight in order to survive. We spent the night at Aroman the only barangay that was not infiltrated by the rebels but nevertheless they can still feel the effect of it. When their Team Y(or Brgy. Captain) told us that the barangay was not only red alert but triple red alert……… so everybody should be doubly alert………everybody was scared! but you know what? If you really have Christ in your life yes you can feel threatened and afraid but only for a short time, why? because in the midst of the tension we the participants can still afford to have fun.

Indeed God works in mysterious ways and we can never fathom or comprehend His plans for us at the very moment but as we continue to hold on to His promises and seek His words, sooner or later we will come to realize that God is at work in our lives. We may encounter so many boulders and rough stones along the way but they are not there to stop or crush us but they are there to mold us. As 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 says “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed, perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed”. In other words what ever problems, struggles, difficulties and calamities that would come our way we will not be destroyed because our God is there beside us holding us in every step that we make so that we can become better children of God thus we could be an effective Peace motivator.

We the participants may have different cultural backgrounds, different ways of upbringing, and different faith but the bond that developed among us was so beautiful and strong that it was even difficult to say goodbye……… These young Tri People have showed the community in Midsayap in particular and North Cotabato in general that it is very possible to have peace, understanding and unity if we truly work for it. Just as 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 tells us that we are all part of the body of Christ, though we may have different responsibilities yet we should work together for the good of the whole body, and not to ignore or reject each other because we all have our own specific roles to play whatever that maybe. Whether big or small it is still very important for the whole body.

As my dearest sister Rasmia a Moro and beloved brother Jerry an Aromanen ne Menevu would say “we have been educated to be ignorant”. Yes! It is very sad to say that with too much education we are all becoming to be ignorant of the real needs of our brethren we forgot that they also have the right to self determination and the right to preserve the beauty of their culture, and community for the all the nations to see! As we all work together for a peaceful country let us never forget to put on the full armor of God: "Therefore put on all the armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after
you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:10-17

There in the Bahay Kalinaw (House of Peace) at the Faculty Ville of Southern Christian College a group of Tri People gathered to unite themselves to work for the common good of the people. Just like Joel they are afflicted with the plague of locusts. “Locusts” that have eaten their land and pushed them away from their only source of livelihood, separated their families and caused a lot of lost lives. The pain that was left in their hearts will go a long way in their generations to come! But praise God for the Mission of the Institute for Peace and Development Studies(IPDS) which is a program of the Community Education Research and Extension Administration(CEREA) of the Southern Christian College. That reaches the grassroots of the Tri People and trying to uplift and encourage them that it is not the end of everything. Through the Summer Institute for Peace and Development Motivators (SIPDM) the victims can somehow feel that they are not alone in their struggle that there are people who are also empathizing with them and joining their cause.

The youth participants in the SIPDM were not taught to march on the streets but they are equipped to build bridges, restore broken relationships, and mend broken hearts through their own small way as young people. These are the “Joel’s” of the present day that helps the Tri People look on the brighter side of life. Amidst all these let us continue to uplift each other in fervent prayer because Matthew 21:22 says “And everything you ask in prayer you will obtain if you believe”.