Assalamualaikum Bangsamoro!

Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim
(In the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful)

Filipinos, whether Muslims or non-Muslims, were not unaware of the known situation of unrest in Mindanao for decades. As one of those who have experienced seeing fireballs from canyons, attending to evacuees who have lived with their endless hopelessness, and shaking grounds during the Pikit war in Cotabato and Sulu, memories can never fade and sometimes even haunt the already peaceful situation you live in at present. But this experience would just be a drop of sweat to those who have fought in War with bullets on their faces and bleeding wounds ignored with the task to defend their rights, families, and God.

Tears, words, prayers may never be enough to forget the pangs of painful torment, distrust, discrimination, belittling,  misjudgements resulting from plain misunderstandings- religious or personal issues. Photos of pregnant women and children dying, husbands unarmed and innocent. But Allah is the best of all Healers and as doctors with iman, we can only hope and dream more that a brighter future awaits the Bangsamoro.

That the Bangsamoro will strengthen not only its Moros but the rest of the Filipinos as well. That its leaders will become the role models that will continue to inspire more Filipinos in unison.

Today marks another historical event for Muslims in the Philippines.

InshaAllah (God willing). Subhanallah (Glory be to God). Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah). Allahuakbar (God is the Greatest).











-Dr Naheeda Dimacisil Mustofa