Papillon/ Dansalan Struggle
The MILF determination is to continue their struggle to fight for the independence of their homeland. The peace process is a major policy concern that requires a clear reaffirmation of the mandate bestowed to the MILF and peace panel to negotiate peace with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) panel. This mandate was first bestowed in 1997 before the MILF started to negotiate with the GRP, and was renewed resoundingly when the MILF held a General Consultation Assembly in Darapatan, Sultan Kudarat, Shariff Kabunsuan on May 29-31, 2005.
In this General Committee meeting, they discussed the need to consolidate the MILF and to unite the people into one nation. ”There is no substitute for a good and solid organization. More often, men are disunited in time of plenty rather than in time of war. They have proven these examples both in the past and contemporary times,” Chairman Murad disclosed.
Briefly, as we try to browse the pages of their struggle, on March 18, 1935 a letter left to Lt. Col. Wallace C. Philoon, 45th Infantry Commanding Officer by a Lanao Province Moro, Datu Bogabong, to be given or sent to the President of the United States himself. However, Philoon forwarded it to the Commanding General of the Philippine Department.
Below is the copy of the same letter (reproduced here verbatim, that is, misspellings and some other errors are not corrected) left to Philoon by Datu Bogabong:
Dansalan, Lanao, P. I.
March 18, 1935
His Excellency
The President
of the United States
Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
Sir:
We have the honor to inform you that the leading datus of Lanao, all the Hadjis, Imams and Kalis hold for the second time. In this meeting, we discussed matters that would redound to the welfare of our people and our later generation. In the agreement that we arrived at our people gave unanimous approval. It was then decided the decision arrived at must be written in the Arabic Characters and then translated to English. It also decided that the result of this meeting should be forwarded to U.S. Congress through his Excellency, the President of the United States of America.
On the outset we want to be excused for daring to forward this petition to safe-guard ourselves in case of false steps which we may take and which may displease the honorable President.
We would like to inform that because we have learned that the U.S. is going to give the Philippines an independence through the efforts of Hon. Quezon, Osmena and others, we want to tell you that the Philippines as it is known to the American people are populated by two different people with different religions, practices and traditions. The Christian Filipinos occupy the islands of Luzon and the Visayas. The Moros predominated in the islands of Mindanao and Sulu. With regards to the forth coming Philippine Independence, we forsee what condition we will be and our children when an independence is granted these islands. This condition will characterize by unrest suffering and misery and because of this we do not desire to be independent. It is by living under the Stars and Strips that these hardships would not bear down against. The American have ever said respected our religion, customs, traditions and practices. They also have recognize our rights to our property. The American have directed most of their efforts for the welfare of their people.
Our Christian associates have for the many past years shown their desire to be only the ones blessed with the leadership and well progressive towns without sharing with us the advantage of having good towns and cities. One proof of this is that, among us who are capable of participation in managing and administration government but they have not been given chances to demonstrate their ability. Another proof is that the Christian Filipinos have taken control of our insular funds which by right we must have equal share. Most of these funds are annually appropriated for the provinces of Luzon and Visayas and very little appropriated for the so called Moro provinces in the islands of Mindanao & Sulu. As a result their provinces progress by leaps and bounds and ours behind. Another result is that we have been and are still behind in advantages of modern civilization and education.
One more very discriminating set of our Christian Filipino Associates is shown in the recent written Constitution of the Philippine Commonwealth. In this Constitution no provision whatsoever is made that would operate for the welfare of the Moros although in the draft of the Constitution was a precept leading to take care of our welfare. The Constitution to all for the welfare of the Christian Filipinos and nothing for the Moros. As a proof this our delegate did not sign the Constitution.
We have besides these none reasons for not desiring to be away on the guidance and protection of the American government. First be use we are yet weak and powerless to depend our rights as an independent nation, Second because we are a small nation, unlike other big independent nation. It is not the proper and fitting that a small, weak and poor nation should an independent from a benevolent powerful nation. Third we do not want to be included in the Philippine independent is that once an independent Philippine is launched troubles between us and Christian Filipinos because from time immemorial these two people have not live harmoniously. If trouble could not happen that the American should finally withdraw hetr sovereignty over these islands will beyond imagination. It not than proper to have antagonizing people live together under the Philippine Independence. One proof of this that when one had its filipino Governor many leading Moro datus were killed for no apparent reasons. This trouble has not yet ended up to the present time because our people cant and will never forget the bitterness of this incident. Lawlessness in this province was rampant. When Lanao had the assessing of an American Governor it has wipe out its bad elements.
The Moros (Islam) of Mindanao and Sulu can be compared to a small lad lostin the thick forests who does not know where to go. The Americans are equivalent if more than any fathers and mothers who taught us the right thing to do.
Because of these we want our reasons for not desiring to be independent from the Americans to tb heard, considered and weighed considering the fact that we are economically weak also weak in power and more all we are not educated along the modern civilization. It is not a legally right that parents should abandon their child when the child hadn’t yet live out in this cold and cruel world. ---Papillon
In this General Committee meeting, they discussed the need to consolidate the MILF and to unite the people into one nation. ”There is no substitute for a good and solid organization. More often, men are disunited in time of plenty rather than in time of war. They have proven these examples both in the past and contemporary times,” Chairman Murad disclosed.
Briefly, as we try to browse the pages of their struggle, on March 18, 1935 a letter left to Lt. Col. Wallace C. Philoon, 45th Infantry Commanding Officer by a Lanao Province Moro, Datu Bogabong, to be given or sent to the President of the United States himself. However, Philoon forwarded it to the Commanding General of the Philippine Department.
Below is the copy of the same letter (reproduced here verbatim, that is, misspellings and some other errors are not corrected) left to Philoon by Datu Bogabong:
Dansalan, Lanao, P. I.
March 18, 1935
His Excellency
The President
of the United States
Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
Sir:
We have the honor to inform you that the leading datus of Lanao, all the Hadjis, Imams and Kalis hold for the second time. In this meeting, we discussed matters that would redound to the welfare of our people and our later generation. In the agreement that we arrived at our people gave unanimous approval. It was then decided the decision arrived at must be written in the Arabic Characters and then translated to English. It also decided that the result of this meeting should be forwarded to U.S. Congress through his Excellency, the President of the United States of America.
On the outset we want to be excused for daring to forward this petition to safe-guard ourselves in case of false steps which we may take and which may displease the honorable President.
We would like to inform that because we have learned that the U.S. is going to give the Philippines an independence through the efforts of Hon. Quezon, Osmena and others, we want to tell you that the Philippines as it is known to the American people are populated by two different people with different religions, practices and traditions. The Christian Filipinos occupy the islands of Luzon and the Visayas. The Moros predominated in the islands of Mindanao and Sulu. With regards to the forth coming Philippine Independence, we forsee what condition we will be and our children when an independence is granted these islands. This condition will characterize by unrest suffering and misery and because of this we do not desire to be independent. It is by living under the Stars and Strips that these hardships would not bear down against. The American have ever said respected our religion, customs, traditions and practices. They also have recognize our rights to our property. The American have directed most of their efforts for the welfare of their people.
Our Christian associates have for the many past years shown their desire to be only the ones blessed with the leadership and well progressive towns without sharing with us the advantage of having good towns and cities. One proof of this is that, among us who are capable of participation in managing and administration government but they have not been given chances to demonstrate their ability. Another proof is that the Christian Filipinos have taken control of our insular funds which by right we must have equal share. Most of these funds are annually appropriated for the provinces of Luzon and Visayas and very little appropriated for the so called Moro provinces in the islands of Mindanao & Sulu. As a result their provinces progress by leaps and bounds and ours behind. Another result is that we have been and are still behind in advantages of modern civilization and education.
One more very discriminating set of our Christian Filipino Associates is shown in the recent written Constitution of the Philippine Commonwealth. In this Constitution no provision whatsoever is made that would operate for the welfare of the Moros although in the draft of the Constitution was a precept leading to take care of our welfare. The Constitution to all for the welfare of the Christian Filipinos and nothing for the Moros. As a proof this our delegate did not sign the Constitution.
We have besides these none reasons for not desiring to be away on the guidance and protection of the American government. First be use we are yet weak and powerless to depend our rights as an independent nation, Second because we are a small nation, unlike other big independent nation. It is not the proper and fitting that a small, weak and poor nation should an independent from a benevolent powerful nation. Third we do not want to be included in the Philippine independent is that once an independent Philippine is launched troubles between us and Christian Filipinos because from time immemorial these two people have not live harmoniously. If trouble could not happen that the American should finally withdraw hetr sovereignty over these islands will beyond imagination. It not than proper to have antagonizing people live together under the Philippine Independence. One proof of this that when one had its filipino Governor many leading Moro datus were killed for no apparent reasons. This trouble has not yet ended up to the present time because our people cant and will never forget the bitterness of this incident. Lawlessness in this province was rampant. When Lanao had the assessing of an American Governor it has wipe out its bad elements.
The Moros (Islam) of Mindanao and Sulu can be compared to a small lad lostin the thick forests who does not know where to go. The Americans are equivalent if more than any fathers and mothers who taught us the right thing to do.
Because of these we want our reasons for not desiring to be independent from the Americans to tb heard, considered and weighed considering the fact that we are economically weak also weak in power and more all we are not educated along the modern civilization. It is not a legally right that parents should abandon their child when the child hadn’t yet live out in this cold and cruel world. ---Papillon
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