More than a thousand guests are expected to personally witness the signing of the agreement to be held on Palace grounds, and the diversity of the guest list aims to reflect the principles of inclusivity and transparency that guided the peace talks.
Foreign dignitaries such as Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak have been invited though the Department of Foreign Affairs has yet to release the names of VIPs that have confirmed.
Those who support the peace process but have neither the connections nor inclination to participate in such a formal event, have other options to consider.
Orly Ongkiko is a professional kite flier, and he is designing a special kite to commemorate the signing of the comprehensive agreement on the Bangsamoro this Thursday. In an event called, “Kites for Peace,” Orly’s group of kite enthusiasts will be traveling from different points in Luzon to converge in an open space in Metro Manila to fly kites as symbols of peace and recovery.
Peace caravans led by civil society groups are also on their way to Manila from various points of Mindanao to show their support for the peace agreement.
Throughout the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), various activities have been lined up to show people’s support to the Mindanao peace agreement. Large screens will be set up inside the compound of the autonomous regional government for a public viewing of the signing as it happens. The region’s officials and employees will also offer prayers in support to the peace agreement.
On the night of March 27, when the signing has been concluded, a music and cultural festival will be held at the open grounds of the ARMM governor’s office. In contrast, there will be no kites soaring on the side of the Communist Party of the Philippines given the recent arrest of its top leaders, Benito Tiamzon and wife, Wilma by the Philippine Army. The juxtaposition seems deliberate, with one side, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front firmly committing to peace, and the other side, the CPP and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, engaging the government on various fronts, not all of which are aboveboard and peaceful.
Will the Philippines soon lay to rest the two longest insurgencies that have afflicted its archipelago? The Aquino administration certainly seems to have the political will to do so. For so long, previous administrations have parlayed the peace talks with rebel groups as an obligatory talkfest, with only the slimmest expectations for the turning in of weapons, and the mainstreaming of combatants into Philippine society.
Of course, during the time of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, a memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain was initialed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by the government and the MILF but was later on rejected by the Supreme Court. The revocation of that agreement led to more violence and conflict in Mindanao, resulting in casualties on both sides.
I have high hopes for the Bangsamoro regional government that will be formed through the implementation of the peace agreement. Let the Bangsamoro people determine the system and structure of governance most applicable to their culture and heritage. As long as Mindanao stays on the Philippine map, and its resources are to be developed and shared equitably by all stakeholders including the national coffers, then there is room for generosity in both the material and spiritual sense.
The Filipino people deserve a break from the insurgencies that have blossomed into excuses for random banditry by splinter groups and spurious ideologues. We are all tired of the angst of the past, and are now looking forward to a more ambitious future. An enduring peace can be President Aquino’s legacy to the nation.
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