Abstract:
The Mindanao conflict, which had its origin from the
Spanish colonial era, has been one of the major issues in
the country. Up to now, the Muslims are still asserting
their right for self-determination while the government is
seeking and promoting for integration or assimilation to
gear towards nation building.
The study covered the historical background of the
problem, the growth and development of the Philippine
Islamic Center as a Muslim community, and the perception and
effects of the Mindanao conflict on the lives of the
Philippine Islamic Center dwellers and on their image as
Muslims. Although the conflict is based in Mindanao,
Muslims in the urban areas have not been exempted/spared
from its different effects. As a matter of fact, some of
them experienced being blamed for the hostilities happening
in city.
On the other hand, there were also a few Muslims who
felt unaffected and regarded the issue as not of great
importance to them. However, majority of the Muslims were
aware of the conflict in Mindanao and most of them perceived
it as unjust, violent, and degrading. Some of them believed
that the conflict and the moves adopted by the government to address it showed low regards for their lives as Muslims.
Most of the residents said that the incident in Mindanao
also intensified the discrimination they were experiencing
from non-Muslims. The conflict also put their lives at risk
because some of them were blamed and held liable for the
other dreaded events in the country such as the bombings in
Manila last year.
Moreover, the conflict in Mindanao had various effects
not only on the lives of the Muslims but also on their self image.
Most feel threatened that they may be involved in
the conflict even though they are already Manila-based.
Some also view the conflict as degrading for they have
gravely suffered from false accusations and allegations that
they were terrorists and that they were responsible for the
atrocities in the city.
Further, a great number of Muslim residents share and
desire the same aspirations of their Moro brothers seeking
and struggling for secession. Hence, most of them believed
that the only solution to the conflict between the
government and the Muslims, represented by the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front, would be to allow the Muslims to govern
themselves, which will only happen if genuine autonomy or
independence will be granted.
