Densing, Nikki Lou U.

Peace Education MWF (4:30-5:30 PM)

BEED-ECE 4 Dr. Janet C. Parpa

A Reflection Paper on the song “Meme na Mindanaw”

Mindanao has been my home for how many years and this is where I see myself
spending all the years of my life. I’m so happy I grew up and build my own family in a
place where cultures co-exist despite diversity. But as I grew older, I came to realize
that this part of the archipelago has a lot of issues. I realized that in some parts of the
island, political and religious tensions are rife.

As I’ve watched the music video of the song “Meme na Mindanaw”, lullaby for
peace in Mindanao, I was so moved by this heart touching song and its story. I then
came to realize that rebuilding peace here in Mindanao is a need and it’s not only the
government who’s responsible for this but all the Filipinos, especially the “Mindanaons”.
It is a need because we don’t want our children to grow up in a place where gunshots
and bomb explosions are normal. The question now here is, how can peace be
achieved in Mindanao? If I were to share my thoughts on solving this problem, I would
gladly and whole heartedly help with these solutions of mine.

There should be more access to effective basic services from state institutions
here in Mindanao in order to diminish feelings of helplessness and exclusion to
“Mindanaons”. Schools in Mindanao should be as of the same quality as those in Luzon
and Visayas. Schools, in view of their importance to the community, are an avenue for
peace building – and where capacities and opportunities can be developed for
individuals and their families. They are a site not only for gaining new knowledge and
skills but also to showcase and understand the diversity of cultures, religions and values
held deeply by different groups. Schools also offer venues to engage the young into
open and robust discussion of ideas and issues that affect their future. Moreover, the
government’s budget for the overall works in Mindanao shall be increased in order to
aid in rebuilding peace. On top of this, I believe that reconciliation is vital in achieving
peace in Mindanao I know it will be an easy and a long process to reconcile all the
conflicts but it would be finer to see, instead of shooting each other, leaders of the two
parties-in-conflict were invited for a dialogue over coffee. Since then, the two
communities avoided killing each other. Lastly, I also believe that local reconciliation
efforts in Mindanao must be matched with the development of a national consciousness
for the transformation of relationships at various levels if sustainable peace is to be
achievable in Mindanao.