Peace at last in Mindanao — or so people hope in the advent of greater autonomy granted by the government of President Benigno Simeon “BS” Aquino III to rebellious Muslim groups there. The Framework Agreement covering the terms of this autonomy is set to be signed on the 15th of October this year between the Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) effectively creating an “enlarged Bangsamoro” autonomous region in Mindanao. Under those terms, the local government within the region which will include the current Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and parts of Lanao del Norte and Cotabato among others, will be allowed implementation of Shari’ah Law and greater control over taxation.
[Photo courtesy The Age.]
President BS Aquino reportedly already sees potential in the region as “a hub of information technology and business process outsourcing companies.” This, Aquino foresaw on the basis of “an increasing number of IT-BPO companies investing in ‘next-wave cities’ such as Sta. Rosa in Laguna, Lipa in Batangas, and Dumaguete.”
| SUPPORT INDEPENDENT SOCIAL COMMENTARY! Subscribe to our Substack community GRP Insider to receive by email our in-depth free weekly newsletter. Opt into a paid subscription and you'll get premium insider briefs and insights from us. Subscribe to our Substack newsletter, GRP Insider! Learn more |
“With the recently concluded framework agreement with the [Moro Islamic Liberation Front], we are very hopeful that there will come a day, and the not too distant future, when we see a number of IT-BPO companies operating in the Bangsamoro,’’ Aquino said.
The specifics surrounding the sort of thinking BS Aquino applied when he went from citing all the wondrous investment in IT-BPO enterprises in Laguna and Batangas to making a fearless forecast that these will also take root in Lanao and Cotabato is anybody’s guess. It is unlikely that business was the real motivator for ceding control over these areas to Filipino-Islamic rule. If that were so, then the Visayas region would’ve been the more logical candidate for the shot at political and economic autonomy.
If we are to believe some research done by PinoyExhange.com netizen ‘abanderado’, the Visayas region of the Philippines is a lot riper for full autonomy and even secession going by some back-of-the-envelope economic indicators alone. With a 2009 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of USD29 billion, the Visayas region is a bigger economy than North Korea, Bahrain, and Brunei. And with a per capita GDP on the same year of USD1,640, the region’s people are on the average richer than those in India, Vietnam, and Pakistan.
An interesting question is then raised under this light:
Does violence pay?
Considering that the Visayas region actually possesses the economic chops and consistent track record of self-determination to be the autonomous state it too has aspired to be, the fact that the Oscar went to a group whose hands are stained by the blood of thousands of Filipino soldiers spilt over several decades defending the internal integrity of the Republic is very telling indeed.
The Bangsamoro is only one of several other hypothetical states within the Philippines that each have legitimate, albeit varying, claims to autonomy. In his book A Country of Our Own, award-winning author and intellectual David Martinez tables a provocative proposal that sees the possible breakup of the Philippine Republic into five autonomous regions…
The country in [Martinez’s] eyes comprises five regions (“nations”): Cordillera, Luzon, The Visayas, Mindanao, and Bangsamoro. He proposes holding legally binding referenda in each of these places to determine whether those who live there wish to remain inside the Philippines or form their own independent country.
The Philippines, after all, is no more than an artificial state originally created by the Spanish crown mainly for the purpose of consolidating and streamlining colonial administration of its assets in the region. The former countries of Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia, and now internally-unstable Rwanda, come to mind when one thinks of what the Philippines is all about — an agglomeration of fiefdoms that remain stuck together for the purpose of keeping alive nostalgic relics of 19th Century “nationalist” thinking and not for any real practical or measurable ends befitting a modern 21st Century society.
If autonomy can be considered — and granted — to Bangsamoro, then so too should the same be evaluated and considered for the other four regions Martinez posits. Perhaps the time has come for us to re-think the continued existence of a nation named after an Inquisitous Spanish king.
benign0 is the Webmaster of GetRealPhilippines.com.
Aquino is in delusion…It’s a state within a state. Who will invest in such place…
Yes,you are correct.At a time when the country wants to appear stable so as to attract western corporations investments,what happens?
‘Hey,lets carve up the country,institute sharia ‘kill the infidels’ law,that will really impress the wests corporations and get them to invest,huh?’.Whhhaaaattt?
ya cant make this shit up.Filipino logic maybe?I dunno,but if it weren’t so tragic for the Christians in Cotabato,it would be absolutely fuckin hilarious.Pretty funny anyway.
Let’s face it,the guy callin the shots here:if his last name was Rodriguez or Smithawitz,he could not get elected dog-catcher.
The slightly off kilter gait,sideways silly ass grin suggest a droppin on the skull during infancy.Despite the best of efforts,something is missing and probably always will be.At a critical time the people made a critical mistake and are now stuck with it.Kinda like in the states,the guy just doesn’t measure up.It doesn’t necessarily make him a bad guy,but….He just doesn’t have what it takes to lead a country.
This decision and signing the cyber-crime law are all being watched and this guy has people around the world,people who call the shots elsewhere especially, collectively asking themselves…WTF is this guy doing?You know,besides making tremendously bad decisions?
in a word…Ponderous.
The ARMM didn’t work and neither will this. Sadly, Hillary and the other wonks are praising this so-called “peace”. It’ll go on for a short time then the “moros” will return to their guns. The idiots in Manila only know how to shuffle paper but have no intention (idea?) how to unify a country and create prosperity. If people feel like part of a greater whole rather than disenfranchised they are more willing to live in peace. That will simply not be the case in “Bangsamoro”.
This new sub state is also adopting a religion of their choice. The inclusion of a sharia law confirms it. It is therefore a pseudo theocratic state. Our constitution is supposed to be secular. Why is it endorsing a specific religion incurring huge expenses in the process? Is that not illegal? What will happen to those lands owned by other inhabitants with different religious affiliations? There will be peace if those warring tribes and political warlords be disarmed, not by surrendering an arm and a leg to a bunch of remnant tribes who wants to rule the majority that consists of a far more bigger dominant tribes that happens to include some of their own.
Trying to create a nation by chopping it up into pieces is like saying “I’ll get rich if I spend all my money”.
Idiots!
Is it? How so. Please elaborate why you think so by articulating your ideas here using precise terms and coherent sentences. If you are unable to do that then you are no better than the “idiots” you refer to.
@benigno,the next reply below from t4man states something about ‘the articles of confederation’ that were the first ‘constitutional’ type documents set to paper during the U.S.revolutionary war in 1775.I do not know,but I suspect,that t4man is reffering to ‘the confederacy’ that seceeded from the ‘union’ in 1860 as it was opposed to the abolishing of slavery.It is a very difficult thing to speculate about as to whether or not the south/’confederacy’ could have carried on by themselves.They were not savages and would have had as good a chance as any men free to determine their own destinies.but,it did not happen.the south folded like a house of cards in the civil war and that was that.
so,ah,best not.I am sure you realize it already.
WHat nation? The “Filipino” nation? Pinoy nation? We were never one nation. I’m not saying this from a dramatic nationalist cry-baby perspective. I’m basing this purely from a linguistic, cultural and historical perspective
Looking at history, say Great Britain or the United States, success was achieved when the country was united. I doubt the US would be a world power if they still operated under the Articles of Confederation. The Philippines needs to create unity, a grand vision, a sense of being one people rather than re-enforcing the “tribal” mentality of operating in tiny groups. Granting autonomy to every group that kicks up a fuss detracts from interdependence and trust which is desperately needed here.
Unity? One city is enough to be plundered by its own politicians what more if an entire lump of artificially-agglutinized land (read: Philippines) which we get a taste of everyday? We were never of one identity in the first place. 100++ years in the making and still stuck at phase 1. Face it; it’s a failure all along.
The Visayas can stand on its own. Non-Moro Mindanao can do so as well. And for the record, Visayans aren’t tribes. Tying us with constitutinal chains under one “state” never turned us “civilized”” as you wished for because we never were from the beginning.
**never were barbarians in the beginning.
War is deceit. This is part of the supremacist dogma in the green book. I see the peace negotiating table as an extension of the battlefield. We lost heavily here due more to the government dealing from a position of weakness. Were all stakeholders from the Philippine side consulted or informed of the peace negotiations? My God! Even our Armed Forces of the Philippines has to ask permission to enter occupied Philippine territory which the MILF calls its territory.
Even the majority stakeholders in Mindanao were never consulted. Because of this I also see Mr. BS Aquino as a staunch collaborator to the Moro cause in turning his back on all the people in Mindanao. Development is seen as for the moro alone. This development should be holistic and extend to the benefit of all the people of Mindanao. Wealth sharing is 75% for the bangsamoro and a measly 25% for the Philippine government. What happened to the majority people in Mindanao? Unequal treatment will translate to injustice for all concerned.
Expanded autonomy? This is just a distracting deception. The proposed bangsamoro sub-state is really a state within the Philippine state. At present it possesses three elements of a regular state. This is population, territory and government which by the way is parliamentary.
Sovereignty can be readily achieved. Thanks to the devious construction of the framework. A mere declaration by the bangsamoro leadership and its people of complete independence plus international recognition by Islamic states will produce a nightmare scenario. The emergence of a completely separate sovereign state.
The bangsamoro will not only have a new country. They will also acquire large portions of Philippine territory. BS Aquino wants to amend the Philippine Constitution for the exclusive benefit of the bangsamoro. Peace at all costs to benefit the enemies of the state? If this is not high treason then what is it? The details of the secret talks in Tokyo are still secret. The bangsamoro state is the same attack dog with a different collar.
Yes, the Philippine Constitution is flagrantly violated to satisfy the whims of one man and his supporters. The worst is yet to come.
Why is the Malaysian Prime Minister a signatory? Many will interpret this as a direct interference into our sovereignty. Expect Malaysian interference in the near future. Their interest in the Philippines is disturbing.
BS Aquino may have knowingly or unknowingly waived our sovereignty in allowing access to a so-called International Monitoring Team (IMT)within our territorial jurisdiction in Mindanao. Malaysian Major Generals and their staff are on the ground in Mindanao. If memory serves me right even Libyans were allowed in. The truth is Muslims aid each other.
What guarantees does BS Aquino offer that there will be lasting peace and stability? The real truth is that the created bangsamoro state can become fully independent. It can also morph into a rogue state.
The power of the gun is a rule rather than the exception in Mindanao. It is also a status symbol to the moros. This power leads to control and domination. Do all here honestly believe that total disarmament and demobilization is a done deal with the MILF/bangsamoro? What bothers many is that
there is no mention of dismantling MILF base camps and their attaching field fortifications.
Does this also mean that what was once called MILF territory will now be known as bangsamoro territory? Will they recognize that they are within Philippine territory? Remember they have their own flag and have not displayed or flown the Philippine National Flag.
Does the framework also state that the MILF/bangsamoro will dissolve the tactical alliance with the CPP-NPA-NDF in Mindanao? Was the demobilization and disarmament also extended to include the support elements of the MILF in splinter groups, lost commands, its armed civilian “pintakasi” supporters, Abu-Sayaff, J.I. and allied lawless elements? Does the agreement include the surrender of all wanted criminal elements or those who commit criminal acts?
Not much was said in this piece, or perhaps I was expecting more thoughts from Get Real on the Framework Agreement, but it affirms my belief that you guys are more sensible than the rest.
Indeed the Philippines is a nation forced to come together and sing the national anthem with no sense of nationalism in mind.
The Bangsamoro had clamored for the correction of the mistake of them being lumped into the larger Philip-pines despite their announced disagreement to such arrangement evident in their letter to the US Congress.
Other regions, especially the Visayas, I do believe, also wish for the same- disassociation from Imperial Manila, but their actions or lack of it belie their wishes. Not much clamor. Not enough to be heard by noisy Malacanang.
I’d just like to urge everyone to read Presidential Decree No. 1083 (Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines)and you will understand what is meant by Sharia Law, at least in the case of the Philippines. There’s no “kill all infidels” clause nor will there be any such law in the future.
I think even without the ‘autonomy’ granted to Bangsamoro, the National Government will struggle (as it has always struggled) to maintain law and order in these parts. So as to the promise of ensuring none of the tenets of Islamic law that is deemed unacceptable to conventional Philippine law will be tolerated, that remains to be seen. It is likely that armed elements of the MILF and other bandit groups will take on the role of both police and judge as soon as the agreement comes into effect effectively making the area a no-go zone for Manila’s police and armed forces (for that matter, as it always has been).
It’s kind of like just a rubber stamp on a state of affairs that has long been unofficially in effect.
It pains me to admit that such scenario is quite possible to happen, but I’m hoping against hope that both you and the skeptic in me are wrong, and the Bangsamoro rise above such expectations of them.
Were it up to me, a Muslim, I’d declare an all out war against bandit groups who continue to misrepresent Muslims in that part of the country.
But it’s not up to me, so it all remains to be seen.
Do you know of any Arab or Islamic countries that implement such nonexistent law of killing all infidels? In which no infidel lives and works as they are hunted and killed? If you do know of such an imaginary country, tell me about it, then I will support you in “that remains to be seen”.
@Jih
The kafir(unbeliever/infidel) is the enemy of Islam according to their Quoran. The verse of the sword and the dogma of terrorism is commanded by Allah through his messenger Muhammad. This has been never abrogated. This is what guides those who believe in the resurgence of Islamic Fundamentalism.
I don’t recall mentioning anything about killing “infidels”. I only recall mentioning death-by-stoning and enforcement of dress codes on women.
Here are some truths:
Qu’ran 8:39 “Fight them all until all opposition ends and all submit to Allah.”
Qu’ran 9:5 “Fight and kill the disbelievers wherever you find them, take them captive, harass them, lie in wait and ambush them using every stratagem of war.”
Ishaq :324 “He said fight them so that there is no more rebellion, and religion, all of it, is for Allah only. Allah must have no rivals.”
Qu’ran 5:37 “The punishment for those who wage war against Allah and his prophet and make mischief in the land, is to murder them, crucify them, or cut off a hand and foot on opposite sides… their doom is dreadful. They will not escape the fire, suffering constantly.”
Bukhari 52:269 “The Prophet said, war is deceit.”
benignoy, I don’t mind people correcting me for that is the game we all play. I know you don’t want me here. I’m just trying to help improve the product, guys. Obviously, you cannot let your writers fight and argue for their views. You always have to come in for rescue to the point of being rude and nasty. Fine, but how long will you do that?
If the other party is not making sense, why is there a need for you to come in and perform the fishwife role? Let your writers prove their worth on the board and let everybody grow up.
I can always leave without question if you’ll just ask.
If we are to believe what you believed then it makes more sense that the peace agreement is the right thing the gov’t. has done. Why think of autonomy for an island that doesn’t ask for it? Why tinker with what is already working fine?
Haven’t you realize those Muslim countries who maybe encourage to invest in Mindanao because of the peace accord there? Why worry about Visayas when they are already doing good?
Does violence pay?
Of course not that is why the parties decided to stick to the negotiating table in order for the hostilities and violence to cease and give opportunity to promote and hear the voices peace and reason.
Equal claim for autonomy in other parts of the country? Let us see the justification first to find out if it makes sense or not. Who knows, it might just be an empty bandwagon being created by those who wants to sow confusion and spread intrigues.
benignoy, I don’t mind people correcting me for that is the game we all play. I know you don’t want me here. I’m just trying to help improve the product, guys. Obviously, you cannot let your writers fight and argue for their views. You always have to come in for rescue to the point of being rude and nasty. Fine, but how long will you do that?
If the other party is not making sense, why is there a need for you to come in and perform the fishwife role? Let your writers prove their worth on the board and let everybody grow up.
I can always leave without question if you’ll just ask.
If we are to believe what you believed then it makes more sense that the peace agreement is the right thing the gov’t. has done. Why think of autonomy for an island that doesn’t ask for it? Why tinker with what is already working fine?
Haven’t you realize those Muslim countries who maybe encourage to invest in Mindanao because of the peace accord there? Why worry about Visayas when they are already doing good?
Does violence pay?
Of course not that is why the parties decided to stick to the negotiating table in order for the hostilities and violence to cease and give opportunity to promote and hear the voices peace and reason.
Equal claim for autonomy in other parts of the country? Let us see the justification first to find out if it makes sense or not. Who knows, it might just be an empty bandwagon being created by those who wants to sow confusion and spread intrigues.
If we are to believe what you believed then it makes more sense that the peace agreement is the right thing the gov’t. has done. Why think of autonomy for an island that doesn’t ask nor need for it? Why tinker with what is already working fine?
Haven’t you realize those Muslim countries who maybe encourage to invest in Mindanao because of the peace accord there? Why worry about Visayas when they are already doing good?
Does violence pay?
Of course not that is why the parties decided to stick to the negotiating table in order for the hostilities and violence to cease and give opportunity to promote and hear the voices of peace and reason.
Equal claim for autonomy in other parts of the country? Let us see the justification first to find out if it makes sense or not. Who knows, it might just be an empty bandwagon being created by those who wants to sow confusion and spread intrigues.
Thanks. You can kiss this latest IP Address of yours good bye now. See ya! 😀
Can BS Aquino absolutely guarantee the protection of the lives, liberty and properties of all infidels(non-Muslims) living within or adjacent the proposed MILF/bangsamoro state?
Will he go to war in case the Dhimmitude and the jizya tax is imposed on our non-Muslim citizens who will suffer the most? The following quote is for BS Aquino and his followers: “Any appeasement of tyranny is treason to this republic and to the democratic ideal.” -William Allen White
Who is the genius who proposed that the MILF/bangsamoro should be integrated into the Philippine National Police? Do they know what they are doing? Opening the door to infiltration into the PNP is not only stupid but naive. So we have a situation that allows these people to literally ‘serve’ us in Mindanao. See the list of bangsamoro recruits below that can be integrated into the PNP:
Unit: MILF fighters is PNP approved.
Unit: MILF lost command is PNP approved.
Unit: MILF splinter fighters is PNP approved.
Unit: Abu Sayaff Group is PNP approved.
Unit: J.I. Al Qaeda in Asia is PNP approved.
Unit: Lawless elements is PNP approved.
Unit: Civilian pintakasi support is PNP approved.
Command and control like officers and non-commissioned officers will also come from the mentioned units? When the worst happens what will become of the non-Muslim command and control?
Remember “ALL OUT JUSTICE?” IT IS NOW PEACE AT ALL COSTS!!! Full government support to build a sub-state for the enemies of the state. May God help us all.
The government has no shortage of “geniuses” .
Welcome to the straight and wide path of Mr. BS Aquino. The political sellout of Mindanao.
Unit: MILF fighters is PNP approved. (Meh…)
Unit: MILF lost command is PNP approved. (Meh…)
Unit: MILF splinter fighters is PNP approved. (What??)
Unit: Abu Sayaff Group is PNP approved. (Wait, what?)
Unit: J.I. Al Qaeda in Asia is PNP approved. (WHAT??!)
Unit: Lawless elements is PNP approved. (Impossible.)
Unit: Civilian pintakasi support is PNP approved. (Pintakasi? I looked it up and it read as “celebration of cockfighting.”)
Integration is going to be insanely tough, but if they’re not terrorists, I find little reason to bring them as a whole into the fold. All the need is to deal with the killers in their ranks and they’re golden.
Appeasement from another viewpoint:
http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/commentary/item/5485-‘ap-piece-ment’
I fully support the BangsaMoro State and its full independence once time comes. I will also support the other nations to become independent countries. It’s been long overdue. Once the Philippines is balkanized and there are more Philippines (or probably Metro Manila being left as Philippines), progress will be seen. It is up to those other independent states to advances to first world status. The sorry ass Philippines will still be left as third world country, they deserve it.
Erratum: Once the Philippines is balkanized and there IS NO MORE Philippines (or probably Metro Manila being left as Philippines), progress will be seen.
@Gilby
LOL!!! Are you a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines or a virulent alien life form?
He does have a point, though… If forced unity turns out to be detrimental to the people involved (cf. Soviet Russia) why not balkanize?
It started and will end with BS Aquino. His unexplained trip to Tokyo, Japan was for a purpose. There was no consultations made with his boss a.k.a. the Sovereign Filipino People.
The secret talks(still secret) was seen by many as a conspiracy with the enemies of the state. He did them a favor by recognizing them and crowning them with a status of belligerency. This was and will be done many times over.
Monday will see the arrival of the malaysian prime minister Najib Razak(who by the way is also Muslim)and Organization Of Islamic Conference secretary-general Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and the leaders of the Moro Islamic Front. The recognition of the MILF/bangsamoro state is reinforced along with the status of belligerency.
If you truly love the Philippines, spread the word. The MILF/bansamoro state will become reality no thanks to BS Aquino. To be silent with inaction is to allow the fragmentation of our territorial integrity, give away a big part of our country and kneel to the foreigners who are raping our sovereignty.
Do we surrender? No!!! From the Daily Tribune:
http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/commentary/editorial/item/5488-only-principled-peace
Straight from the mouth of a member of the elite security detail guarding MILF/bangsamoro leader Murad:
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/45385/some-milf-rebels-dont-want-to-give-up-arms-despite-peace-deal-with-govt
Ha…Now that I think about it:
‘Bangsamorro’= a bass-ackward way of saying…Wait
for it…Wait…a li’l more…uuuh…uuuhhh…here it comes…
‘Mor’e Bangs to’morro’w…You know? Who is the one who came up with this one…Weird Al ‘Yank’ovic? OR Comedy Central…’I wants me sumz mo’ thickenin’ gravy,Godsnamzit.’.Ya just can’t make this up.
Just when ya think you’ve heard every bad joke you could ever possibly hear…and the hits just keep on comin….time to ‘send in the clowns’!
The darkness creeps slowly over the land. More analysis from the Daily Tribune:
http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/commentary/item/5570-noy-‘achievements’-via-yellow-propaganda
I just watched the ceremony.The Prime Minister of Malaysia has just said that ‘any discord or violence in the area’,Bangsamorro,’must be met with patience,tolerance and a view towards human rights and religious freedom.’.
This sounds to me like the Philippines has just allowed a Foreign Ruler to dictate what government policy,in a country not his own?,will be implemented in a country that has just seceeded from The Philippines.The Philippines,whether it realizes it or not has just had part of its country seceede from the rest of the country.I do not know if this is a sad day for any Filipino’s who fought against the Japanese Emperor’s army for the sake of the Filipino people’s freedom,BUT it sure looks to me like Malaysia has annexed the Sulu Archipelago and a significant part of Mindanao Island.Without stating what ‘tolerance’ ‘of violence’ means,and without asking for a clarification directly from the Prime Minister himself,who would want to be a non-muslim in that area to find out what he meant???
Can anyone tell what the advantages are for the rest of the Philippines that exists in an agreement that allows a large portion of the agricultural center of the Philippines to seceede from the country while taking its taxes and rule of law over itself away from the rest of the country?
A foreigner recently opined that this looks like nothing short of a Malaysian annexation of Sulu AND Southern Mindanao,and if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck……..
A thought from an uninterested point of view might ask,What is the point of a country like the Philippines, that needs all the monetary support it can get,in giving a significant part of its tax revenue income to another government? Which it has just done.
Just maybe. Noynoy had tunnel vision and wanted some window dressing not caring what the cost for that window dressing me be whether its financial or autonomy or whatever. As long as he gets press coverage and the all important pogi points. Something to trumpet and bet his chest to. Damn long term ramifications, let the next guy deal with it. Wouldn’t be the first time where something came out of nowhere and heralded as revolutionary when its really smoke and mirrors. Remember this saying “all icing and no cake” . May apply to a lot of politicians but it really really applies to BSA III.
More analysis from the Daily Tribune:
http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/commentary/editorial/item/5608-die-is-cast
From the Manila Standard:
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/2012/10/18/the-framework-agreement-is-unconstitutional/
BS Aquino is ramming the basic law down our throats. From the Daily Tribune:
http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/commentary/editorial/item/5753-basic-law-a-priority?
Bangsamoro Republik good luck! bon voyage! and prosper!!. elections are nearing again, the presidential race is here again. Oh goody, why don’t we ever have a change in governance. Parliamentary, Absolute Monarchy, Constitutional Monarchy, Principality, were art thou???
Ew monarchy? LOL it’s nothing but a system of irrationality and based upon genetic roulleting. Why would you surrender your allegiance, identity and rights to a family you never owed?
wel just for a change, we can always bring them down 😀 through revolution, becauser clearly, nothing is happening in the phil, with that presidential system,
LOL agree. Who knows, maybe that monarchy might actually lead us to prosperity than this “democracy”–ironically 😉
But anyway, I’d rather choose a parliamentary federation than anything else to offer
As far as I’m concerned, the Filipinos already ARE living in a monarchy. A yellow one, even.
I agree how these supraregions could in fact stand on their own, but I am a bit skeptical with abanderado’s figures.
If he only considered all 3 regions of Visayas, the GDP would be far lower than what was shown. Someone with full knowledge of economics might want to elucidate on this?
I have always found the book “A Country of Our Own” fascinating, despite the fact that I haven’t read it. The last time I saw a copy of it was around twenty years ago, and back then I didn’t have the cash to buy it at the bookstore. Now I can’t find it anywhere, even on eBay. If anyone can point to where I could purchase a copy, I would gladly appreciate it. Thanks!
As for this whole Bangsamoro deal; based on what I can pattern with global trends there’s no denying that this entire thing would lead to Bangsamoro becoming an independent Islamic state at some point in the future, unless of course someone would amend the 1987 Constitution so the sub-state could function like how Wales functions in England. I am, by the way, for the balkanization of the Philippines if it would ultimately lead to a real pursuit of cultural identity and self-determination.
I read reviews and synopsis online and they indeed are in line with my own political paradigm probably that’s why I was greatly hooked to it. Mr. Martinez’ book is in fact not just some sort of intellectual juggling and giving suggestions and all. This is the supposed reality that we should have long been facing and traversing. I am still looking forward to buy a copy soon.
If it is argued that the Bangsamoro, the Visayas, the Cordillera, and non-Bangsamoro Mindanao should be granted autonomy, what about the rest? Other Filipinos have their own language, culture and history, and would fall under the definition of nation, being groups with their own distinct territory, language, culture and history. Not to mention being economically viable. Why should they not be given autonomy? Look at the following: According to Dr. Rene Azurin:â€But,
of the proposed eleven (or so) federal states, no more than a few –
like the Cebuano state or the Pampangueno-Tarlaqueno state – would
actually be able to stand on their own financially.â€
(Azurin, Rene. On Decentralizing Government, p. 5. Paper presented at the Dialogues on Federalism. Center for Local and Regional Governance, NCPAG, UP Diliman, Quezon City, 3 August 2007. Originally published in
the book Stationary Bandits: Essays in Political Power, also by Dr. Azurin. Platypus Press, 2007).
Thomas Jefferson, Do more research on Islam.. =)
Then he’ll find out why so many muslims leave Islam. 🙂
If autonomy is to be granted to the Visayas and the rest of Mindanao, other parts of the Philippines, which have equal
claims to being nations, and moreover, are economically viable to stand on their own, should also be granted autonomy,
such as the Kapampangan Nation, which would include, at the very least, Pampanga (including the cities of Angeles, San
Fernando and Mabalacat), plus Kapampangan-speaking Southern Tarlac, and Tarlac City, which have Kapampangan majorities.
Here is evidence that Kapampangans constitute a nation:
According to Webster’s Third International Dictionary, a “nation” can be defined as a “nationality”. A “nationality,”
in turn, is “a group of people having a common racial, linguistic and cultural background…and which may constitute an
element of a larger group such as a nation.” The Scribner-Bantam English Dictionary, defines a “nation” a an “independent
country” o “cultural group with a common history, language and traditions” – definitions which apply to Kapampangans.
Kapampangans have been referred to as a “nation” at least since the early Spanish period:
“For in the island of Manila alone, there are six of them…the Tagalog, Pampango, Camarines (or Visayan) [sic], Cagayan,
and those of Ilocos and Pangasinan. These are the civilized nations.”
Colin, Francisco, Labor Evangelica, Madrid, 1663
“A Pampango of sense (one of these nations) finding himself adrift and astray through various accidents (and from whom I
learned it), testified that those people [of Sumatra] spoke excellent Pampango, and wore the oldtime dress of the Pampangos.”
Colin, Francisco, in Blair and Robertson, The Philippine Islands 1493-1898, vol. 40 (1690-1691), p.43.
In the Vocabulario de la Lengua Pampanga written by Diego Bergaño and published in 1732, the following passage appears,
which refers to the Kapampangans as a “nacion”:
“Pablasang dayacang capampangan, como eres de nacion pampango. Ing dayang castila, la nacion española.”
Bergaño, Diego, Vocabulario de la Lengua Pampanga. Manila: Convento de Nuestra Señora de los Angeles, 1732
Here are other references to Kapampangans as a nation, “nacion” or “bansa”:
“To the north from the Tagalog nation, we found the Pampango, Zambales, Pangasinan, Ylocos and Cagayan nations. Each of
these nations formed a distinct community, with a distinct language or dialect of the same language.”
Zuñiga, Joaquin Martinez de. An historical view of the Philippine Islands, Manila, 1803
“Es muy notable la especie de nacionalidad que presenta este provincia con su dialecto particular, su carácter, y aun
fisonomía, no obstante su proximidad á Manila.”
“Además de los indios pampangos, nacion especial como hemos dicho, hallaron en dichos montes rancherías de negritos ó aetas, conocidos el nombre de balugas en el dialecto pampango.”
Buzeta, Diccionario Geografico-Estadistico-Historico de las Islas Filipinas, Madrid, 1851, vol. 2, p. 382.
“The nationality presented by this province [Pampanga] is very notable, with its special dialect, character, and even its physiognomy, notwithstanding its vicinity to Manila.”
Census of the Philippine Islands, 1903.
“Or on the momentous orthographic question that bothers the Ibanag, the Ifugaos and the Pampango nation: does the letter F
have a place in the Pilipino alphabet?”
Manglapus, Raul, “Tagalog as a Fact,” In The Case for Pilipino. Apolinar B. Parale, ed.
Manila: MCS Enterprises, 1970, p. 191.
“Keta tilugan mu, metung yang carinan/ Paninap poeta, bansang Capampangan/ macapalibutad king Catagalugan/ bistat aliwa
ya sabi’t caugalian.”
Mercado, Monico (1875-1953), “Ing Lalawigan Tamu,” In Literature of the Pampangos by Rosalina Icban Castro. Manila: UE Press, 1981, p. 49.
“The Vanishing Pampango Nation”
Tayag, Katoks (Renato). 1985. Recollections and Digressions. Escolta, Manila: Philnabank Club.
“A dictatorship was installed in the Philippines in 1571 when Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, assured of the allegiance of the Tagalog and Pampango nations, established Manila as the seat of exclusive dominion for the entire archipelago.”
Martinez, David, A Country of Our Own: Partitioning the Philippines. Los Angeles, Bisayâ Books, Los Angeles, California, 2004, p. 399.
And the Kapampangan Region, or Nation, is at least as economically capable as other Philippine regions, and can stand on its
own:
According to Dr. Rene Azurin:”But, of the proposed eleven (or so) federal states, no more than a few – like the Cebuano
state or the Pampangueno-Tarlaqueno state – would actually be able to stand on their own financially.”
(Azurin, Rene. On Decentralizing Government, p. 5. Paper presented at the Dialogues on Federalism. Center for Local and
Regional Governance, NCPAG, UP Diliman, Quezon City, 3 August 2007. Originally published in the book Stationary Bandits:
Essays in Political Power, also by Dr. Azurin. Platypus Press, 2007).
Towards a Federal Republic of the PHILIPPINES!
The Kapampangan Region, Pampanga and Kapampangan-speaking Southern Tarlac, has an area of 3,424.68 square kilometers. It
is bigger than twenty-six (26) independent countries in population:
Andorra, Bahamas, Bahrain, Belize, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei, Cape Verde, Comoros, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, Eqtrl. Guinea
Estonia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Iceland, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Is., Malta, Marshall Is., Micronesia, Monaco, Namibia, Palau, Qatar, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St Vincent &, Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, São Tomé & Príncipe, Seychelles, Slovenia, Solomon Is., Suriname, Swaziland, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Vatican City
And it is bigger than twenty-eight (28) independent countries in area and population:
Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Barbados, Comoros, Dominica, Barbados, Kiribati, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Maldives,
Malta, Marshall Is., Micronesia, Monaco, Palau, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San
Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles, Singapore, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vatican City