A referendum for a just and lasting peace

The never-ending quest for a just and lasting peace in Mindanao may come to a happy conclusion with the approval of a Referendum by the inhabitants of Mindanao. What a Referendum exactly means and how it can be brought about and whether it will indeed reflect the sentiments and aspirations of the inhabitants of Muslim Mindanao, will be discussed at the People's Peace Summit which will be held at the Southern Christian College in Midsayap, Cotabato, December 17-20.

Speakers at the summit are involved in the peace process, and rightly so. The keynote speaker, Vice President Teofisto Guingona, Jr., as we were told by Malacañang, accepted the position of Mindanao Czar; Mr. Guingona, however, denied that he had accepted the position. The turn of events has made Mr. Guingona a more intriguing personality. I can imagine how the media covering the summit in Midsayap will swarm over him to ask questions. It would be good to listen to his views on what should be done for Mindanao.

The closing rites speaker, President Macapagal-Arroyo, will be represented by Secretary Jesus G. Dureza, Presidential Assistant for Mindanao, who has can shed light on government programs intended to help ease the tension in Mindanao. One question that would be asked him is what the government thinks of the UN-supervised referendum that could lead to a federal, autonomous government or independence for the Muslim-populated areas of Mindanao.

Other speakers will be the Ambassador for Human Rights of the Republic of Korea, Dr. Kung Seo Park; Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr.; former Agrarian Reform Secretary Horacio Morales, Jr., Prof. Ruffa Cagoco-Guiam, Edtami Mansayagan, and Dr. Carmen A. Abubakar.

ARMM Gov. Parouk Hussin, Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin G. Sema and Ustadz Ibrahim Murchi will speak on the autonomy option for the Bangsamoro people; Dr. Jose V. Abueva and Senator Pimentel, on federalism, and Prof. Abhoud Syed M. Lingga, on the independent Bagsamoro state.

Among the invited representatives of organizations is Saeed A. Daof, director general of the Center for the Promotion of Peace and Development of Mindanao.

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A word on the Mindanao People's Peace Movement, which is behind the peace summit, is a tri-people grassroots alliance of human rights and peace groups, NGOs and people's organizations committed to peaceful ways of resolving conflicts. According to Al Senturias, MPPM chair, "MPPM has made common cause with our Bangsamoro brothers and sisters and adopted the Referendum as our continuing program thrust for the next decade. During this period, we will try to build a national and international network to support the Bangsamoro People and to establish institutions that will ensure readily available support to the peaceful resolution of conflicts."

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Tomorrow evening, beginning at 6 o'clock, listen to the Clarion Chamber Ensemble at its year-end concert, and sing along with it Christmas carols. The program will include the lively String Quartet Op. 77 of Franz Josef Haydn to be performed by Clarion quartet members – violinists Reginald and Olga Pineda; violinist Michi Martinez, and cellist Yuka Sta. Ana. The Sonata for Clarinet and Piano Op. 120 in E-flat of Johannes Brahms will feature Clarion co-founder and pianist Hyun Joo Lee and PP principal clarinetist Ariel Sta. Ana.

After the interval, a seldom-performed work will be presented by UST professor and guitarist Alvin Salenga, flutist David Johnson, PPO principal cellist Renato Lucas and guest violinist Donald Kidd. The work, Quartet in D Major for Guitar, Flute, Viola and Cello by Franz Schubert was composed for one of the leading virtuosi of the day.

An expected spirited program portion will be the audience sing-along, led by award winning maestro Bert Robledo of the Bravo Filipino program on classical station DZFE. HE will be joined by a classical vocal trio that will lead the audience through sacred, secular and festival carols.

Clarion Chamber Ensemble concerts are sponsored by the MCO Foundation and Equitable PCI Bank and are held at the Francisco Santiago Hall in EPCIB Tower l, Makati. Tickets are available at the entrance, at P500 for adults, and P200 for students. For more information, call 631-9637, 844-4172 or 0916 474 1860.

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Friends who love going, and taking friends, to Corregidor, are perplexed by Local Governments Secretary Joey Lina's issuing a travel ban to the historic site on account of the island's being surrounded by garbage. The garbage, unfortunately, comes from the coastlines of Cavite, Bataan, and Metro Manila. The suggestion is that the surrounding towns should be made aware, and to practice, proper waste management methods so that the floating garbage does not find its way to the shores of Corregidor. It's such a pity that Corregidor is made taboo to visitors because of the ugly garbage of the neighboring coastal towns. It is a beautiful island which all Filipinos should see, not only for its historical value – the island being the last fortress of the American forces in the Philippines – but also for its flora and fauna and butterfly species and caves and yes, beaches, that should make it a lovely butterfly sanctuary, says Ma. Lydia Casapao Robledo, general manager of Trojana World Travel.

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My e-mail: [email protected]