Cultural shows & film festival mark ARMM anniversary

MANILA, Philippines - It is all about movies, food and achieving lasting peace in the celebration of the founding anniversary of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

It boggles the mind now when one remembers that once upon a time, the idea of having an autonomous government run by the Muslims of Mindanao was deemed impossible. Fortunately, however, perseverance managed to prove the naysayers wrong. The ARMM is marking its 27th anniversary this month.

Princess Sitti Djalia

Its elective chief executive is reformist Regional Gov. Mujiv Hataman, husband of Anak-Mindanao Partylist Rep. Sitti Djalia Turabin, who is proud of her husband’s achievements.

Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Regional Gov. Mujiv Hataman.

The heritage is traced back to several hundreds of years ago. It was in the 14th century when the Arab trader Karim Makhdum set foot on the islands of the Sulu archipelago, a good 200 years before Ferdinand Magellan first reached Mactan Island in Cebu. The Arab culture made a strong impression on the people of Mindanao, who embraced the culture. Not even the Spaniards could convert the then people of Mindanao and through the American colonial rule and the Philippine republic, the Muslim culture has remained intact.

This is a happy occasion for ARMM. So it’s marking the anniversary with a splashy series of events that makes much of what Makhdum had introduced to Mindanao. The activities include a film festival and various cultural shows with the Islam heritage as the centerpiece. Events happen in Cotabato City, which has been the seat of the ARMM since it was established in 1990.

The Moro Film Festival happened at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex (SKCC) in Cotabato City. Last Nov. 18, the award-winning The Crescent Rising was screened. Premiered at last year’s QCinema Festival, the film is about various Filipino Muslim individuals struggling for their identity as well as fighting to survive in a turbulent environment. It was directed by Sheron Dayoc, who was born and raised in Zamboanga City. He is a Sundance Institute fellow with his international co-production narrative film, Women of the Weeping River, which was also being screened on the same day. The second film was financed through a grant made by various countries.

At Cotobato City’s ORG Compound was a food festival showcasing the delicacies from Basilan. Likewise, the Financial Literacy Forum organized by the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) was held at the City Mall Cotobato.

On Nov. 18, another food event Sulu Food Festival also happened at the ORG Compound. Later in the afternoon, in the same venue, the ARMM Masterchef Season 2 had ARMM tribes competing. Inspired by the TV reality show of the same name, the tilt featured indigenous cuisine as presented by the chieftains and sous chefs representing Badjao, Tausug, Yakan, Maranao, Maguindanao, Sama, Iranun and Teduda tribes. 

The food trip continued on Nov. 19 as the Tawi Tawi Food Festival was staged while The Search for Rajah and Rhanee 2016 was mounted at the SKCC.

Nov. 29 is People’s Day. The ARMM Anniversary 27th Pakaradjaan opens at 6 a.m. at the Org Compound.

The days covering Nov. 24 to 28 have been declared the Mindanao Week of Peace.