Portrait of My Father as a Young Man

by jamalashley, posted in History, Moro, Bangsa Moro, Muslims Philippines, bangsamoro, Marawi

by Datu Jamal Ashley Yahya AbbasWhen my father was born, a bayok or Mranao epic song was composed. The song began with the word Macapanton. That was his name. His full name would be the whole bayok.The year was 1910. Less than 20 years earlier, the Spaniards decided to finally attack Lanao, more than 200 years after they … Continue reading Portrait of My Father as a Young Man

Marawi: Destroyed by Filipinos, To be rebuilt by the Chinese

by bangsamoro, posted in Bangsa Moro, bangsamoro, BARMM, Current Events, Marawi, Philippines

Marawi was truly a fantastic strategy for the Philippine government leaders. They got to destroy a city inhabited by people unlike them ( the Other,  i.e., Muslims, not Christians like them) with the blessings of the whole world including the oppressed people's own rebel forces. And after destroying and looting the city, they will get to … Continue reading Marawi: Destroyed by Filipinos, To be rebuilt by the Chinese

Is the BARMM autonomous?

by bangsamoro, posted in Bangsa Moro, bangsamoro, Muslims Philippines, Philippines, Politcs

The Supreme Court ruled that the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or ARMM was NOT autonomous as it was just under the supervision of the Office of the President. So, the name - with the adjective autonomous - was a misnomer. It was never autonomous. Now comes BARMM or the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim … Continue reading Is the BARMM autonomous?

Eid al-Adha is on 10th Dhu’l Hijjah based on local time, not Makkah time.

by jamalashley, posted in Bangsa Moro, bangsamoro, Current Events, Middle East, Muslims Philippines, Philippines

For several years now, there has been a move to have a Universal Hijri Calendar — one calendar to serve for the whole Ummah. Saudi Arabia wants to be the one to fix the dates of the Universal Calendar. But Turkey, the former Ottoman Empire, also wants to be the center of this calendar. The … Continue reading Eid al-Adha is on 10th Dhu’l Hijjah based on local time, not Makkah time.

Duterte’s cousins joined ISIS / Maute gang!

by bangsamoro, posted in Bangsa Moro, Current Events, Marawi, Mindanao, Muslims Philippines, Politcs

FLASHBACK!!! President Duterte admitted, even boasted - on national TV - that his cousins joined ISIS/Maute gang; and he did not have them arrested. And the Mass Media and the public as a whole did not give a damn! Yet the Philippine government bombed and totally destroyed the town proper of Marawi City supposedly to … Continue reading Duterte’s cousins joined ISIS / Maute gang!

Politics is a numbers game

by bangsamoro, posted in bangsamoro, Current Events, Marawi, Politcs

Politics is a numbers game. The propaganda team and supporters of President Duterte keep on repeating that 16.6 million people voted for him for president. But that is NOT even a majority vote. Mr. Duterte got only 39.01% of the electoral votes. MORE people voted AGAINST him. Ex-President Aquino got a much bigger percentage -- … Continue reading Politics is a numbers game

Bangsa Moro Homeland — the Impossible Dream

by bangsamoro, posted in Bangsa Moro, bangsamoro, Current Events, History, Marawi, MILF, Mindanao, MNLF MILF, Muslims Philippines, Peace Talks, Politcs

Would you negotiate with a pushover? Yes, but only to get even more advantages. The Spaniards only negotiated with the Moro sultanates when they realized they couldn't defeat them. The Americans signed treaties with the Sulu Sultanate when their hands were full with the Philippine revolution in Luzon. Afterwards, they massacred the people of Sulu … Continue reading Bangsa Moro Homeland — the Impossible Dream

Media coverage of Marawi “Siege”

by jamalashley, posted in Current Events, Marawi, Mindanao, MNLF MILF, Politcs

by Jamal Ashley Abbas A UP Journalism student doing her thesis on the Marawi "Siege" interviewed me on my thoughts about it. (I use quotation marks because I am not sure who the media refers to as those doing the siege and those being besieged.) Weeks after the personal interview, she emailed me additional questions. … Continue reading Media coverage of Marawi “Siege”