Proclamation No. 127, signed by then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on November 26, 2001, declared the last Thursday of November up to the first Wednesday of December of every year thereafter as the Mindanao Week of Peace to provide a venue for the expression in various forms of the Mindanaons' peace aspirations and for the convergence of peace initiatives. This significant annual celebration is geared towards creating spaces for dialogue to catalyze reflection and community-building in Mindanao, which is known for its diverse communities with a complex history of conflict.
The roots of the conflict can be traced back to the 16th century when the native Moro population of the island resisted the invasion of the Spanish colonizers. In the early 1970s, an armed group called Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), a splinter group from the Muslim Independence Movement, was founded and began as the leading organization of the Moro separatists. In the 1970’s the Government of the Philippines (GPH) initiated peace talks and obtained a peace agreement with the then-opposition group. Nevertheless, armed confrontation was still sustained and eventually created another opposition group, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
In the cry for the fulfillment of the right to self-determination, Mindanao has witnessed bombs and bullets that know no age, gender, or religion. It has been a long-standing struggle for socioeconomic disparity and political autonomy. Times past, the incessant violence and the instability of peace have led to spirals of terror, recurrent displacement, and economic volatility among various ethnic groups in the region.
After years of negotiations, the GPH and the MILF signed a breakthrough agreement – the Framework Agreement on Bangsamoro (FAB) on October 15, 2012. This outlines the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region and includes the normalization process which addresses disarmament of MILF combatants, demobilization of armed groups, and establishment of mechanisms for maintaining peace and order.
After the Framework, the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) between the GPH and the MILF was signed on March 27, 2014, which provided for the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Since the signing of the CAB, the implementation of its provisions has faced several challenges and milestones, including the passage of Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) which was signed into law as the Republic Act No. 11054 in July 2018.
These milestones stand as a testament to the resilience of the people of Mindanao and their unwavering commitment to pursuing a peaceful future, which is vital in accelerating the peace landscape in the region. However, despite significant advancements, considerable challenges remain in pushing forward a lasting peace and development in Mindanao.
In a region characterized by its diversity, and divided by complexities and conflicts, Mindanao Week of Peace serves as a powerful reminder that peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of justice, understanding, and cooperation which is a collective responsibility of all. As communities continue to engage in these critical conversations, the vision of a harmonious Mindanao, where differences are celebrated and conflicts are addressed through dialogue, can become a reality.
Withal, we join the nation and every peace advocate in celebrating the theme for this year's Mindanao Week of Peace Celebrations "Sustaining the Gains of Peace, Solidarity and Resilience” celebrated from November 28 to December 4, 2024.
