We Are Bangsamoro

Never has the voice of Bangsamoro youth echoed this loud and powerful in the fight for identity. For generations of the quest for freedom and self-determination, we were awake the whole time hoping that one day the right and respect we were denied of will be handed to us without fear and reservation. We were told stories of struggles of our ancestral heroes who are antagonists in the history books and persecuted by the government. We were exhausted proving ourselves to other people of the goodness in us and the competence we can bring to the table. We felt the pain of losing and starting over again and the fear of losing again. But that pain and uncertainty kept us strong to take a stand and inspired to keep on moving for the promise of Bangsamoro.

We are Bangsamoro.

The history of Bangsamoro is marked by youth taking up arms for justice. We were at the frontlines shouting our battle cries and takbeers. We were honored with the assurance of salvation. Our fathers explained that firing gun is the only logical way. Peace was elusive, we thought. But Allah with all his glory changed the tide of the process; peace is within our grasp without bloodshed and cold bodies. Bangsamoro youth activism has transformed since into peaceful resolution and proactive civic engagement. We contribute our energy in efforts for our fellow Bangsamoro but it doesn’t end there. The dynamism and innovativeness of the youth are integral for long-lasting peace and development. We have layers of roles that are instrumental in the success of our Bangsamoro.

We are Bangsamoro.

Bangsamoro youth are influencers of the Bangsamoro tomorrow. We are changemakers in pursuit of transformative experiences. We are everywhere—in Mindanao, in Visayas, in Luzon, in foreign lands—but our hearts never left Bangsamoro. We are ambassadors rallying our identity and cause. We are empowered because we need to; nobody forced us. Or perhaps our nature and situation did.

We take on positions in different institutions and lead campaigns for our fellow Bangsamoro youth. We have gained experiences and skills that will be valuable to the landscape of Bangsamoro. We listen to the grassroots with clarity and objectivity but not detaching our emotional connections. Armed with community development capacities, we sit back and plan. And then we implement solutions that are grounded in the real nature of the problem. Brimming with positivity, we look to the other side of the coin and acknowledge our strengths as a youth with purpose. We capitalize our inherent talents and channel them into prosocial engagements. We also maximize social opportunities to help us become more impactful.

We are Bangsamoro.

We are bridges of understanding and harmonious relationships which are of great value for our future Bangsamoro. From our long history of rejection, inclusivity became of prime importance to us. We form connections with people different from us. Certainly, our Bangsamoro is a shared territory and entity and not exclusive to us—Moros—we have neighbors of diverse backgrounds who have fears and aspirations. We provide them safe spaces where they can openly practice their way of life. Bangsamoro youth are open-minded individuals who are courageous to let go and let come of things about people. We are brave souls who step into unfamiliar territories and turn them into a home for all with unconditional acceptance. We highlight our similarities with other people; we celebrate our differences, and really go beyond tolerating them.

We inspire this kind of positive and hopeful narrative. We have rich stories worthy to be amplified in different platforms. We yearn to share to the world our identity, culture, and beautiful diversity. In the process, we correct the perception of us and promote the narrative of individuals living together in amity.

We are Bangsamoro.

Bangsamoro youth are aware that the holistic progress of Bangsamoro is beyond the capacity of one sector. Hence, forging strong partnerships is imperative. We embody bayanihan spirit that drives collective action among our people. Although ingroup harmony and agency are the beginning, we do not limit for potential collaborations. We open our doors to external institutions and organizations who have a genuine concern for our welfare. Together, we co-create brilliant initiatives.

In addition, Bangsamoro youth are innovative scholars. We are endowed with inclination and understanding of advanced technologies. Proactive, we value failing fast and succeeding faster. We explore possibilities. We read and research. We continue to quench our thirst for knowledge in pursuit for a local solution and global impact.

We are Bangsamoro.

Our historical account is characterized by conflict and violence. As a result, we become either a perpetrator of violence or a perpetrator of peace. We choose the latter. And that’s our most important role as Bangsamoro youth. We uphold the values of peace. Persistently, we promulgate peace. We open our minds and hearts for constructive dialogue. Peaceful negotiations and resolutions take precedence. We managed our biases and prejudices. We suspend our judgments and favor equality and respect.

We are great in number. But still, a majority of us are guilty of passivity and indifference, if not guilty of a crime and/or violence. That’s the main question we have to answer now as Bangsamoro youth. We have to ask, “How can we engage other youth to join our cause?” We have to shift their mindset and inculcate in them that they matter and they have a role in our future Bangsamoro. We have to cultivate their self-awareness and self-mastery. We have to extend our service and provide social avenues for them to grow as individuals with huge potentialities. This is a hopeful case as efforts are being done at the moment. But we need more programs and invite more people. We cannot do this alone.

Indeed, the Bangsamoro youth has a vital responsibility for the future Bangsamoro. Our participation is not optional; it is mandatory. We owe it to those who fought before us to continue their legacy. We owe it to ourselves and to the future Bangsamoro youth. Quoting Mohagher Iqbal,

“Our struggle for genuine political autonomy is to ensure the bright future of the youth in Bangsamoro”.

Bangsamoro is us and for us.

We are Bangsamoro.