March 18 of every year is Bangsamoro Day and Anak Mindanao, through the Office of Representative Mujiv Hataman highlighted this year’s commemoration with a Groundbreaking Ceremony of the Mindanao Garden of Peace in Corregidor Island. 

          Leading the Groundbreaking Ceremony were Rep. Hataman and Lt. Col. Artemio Matibag, Executive Director of the Corregidor Foundation Inc. Joining them were Office on Muslim Affairs Deputy Executive Director Mirkarl Allian and Sister Arnold Maria Noel of Sowing Peace Network. Also present were personalities from the civil society, Jhecy Rebete of GZO Peace Institute and Generation Peace, Faye Laquio of Balay Rehabilitation Center, Jolly Lais from Assalam, Atty. Algamar Latiph of the Bangsamoro Lawyers Network, Barangay officials of Maharlika, Taguig, and leaders from different Muslim communities in the National Capital Region.

            “Last year, we made the historic initiative of placing a Commemorative marker for the victims of the Jabidah Massacre here at the very site of the Massacre,” Hataman said. “Soon, on this historic place, in this historic island, will develop a Mindanao Garden of Peace, in memory of the victims of the Jabidah Massacre, whose execution awakened and united the Bangsamoro People forty one years ago and forty one years after, shall now grow the seed for lasting Peace,” he further said in a statement.

            Meanwhile, a simultaneous Photo Exhibit was held at Maharlika Village, showcasing human rights violations and massive displacement due to the series of wars waged in Mindanao. Dubbed “Gyera,” the photo exhibit was sponsored by MindaNews, Anak Mindanao, Young Moro Professionals Network, Balay Mindanaw, International Institute for Dialogue, Mindanao People’s Caucus, Philippine Human Rights Reporting Project and AKP Images.

            After the Groundbreaking Ceremony Photo Exhibit, the group of Muslims, Christians and other faiths sealed their act of unity with a simultaneous Maghrib prayer for the Muslims at the Maharlika Blue Mosque and the Angelus for the Christians at the open grounds of the said Mosque. Then together they paraded with their torches to the Tree of Peace planted by the Sowing Peace Network last September 2008 beside the Blue Mosque, held an interfaith prayer and wrote messages of peace on stones later placed around the Tree of Peace. Ahmed Hataman, the 8 year old son of Rep. Hataman wrote in his stone “May the fire of Peace go on..” while his 6 year old brother Eiman struggled to write “PEACE to all” in his. 

            Around 1,500 people joined the Kanduli at the Maharlika open grounds, where Solidarity Messages were given by Sultan Pani Pangandaman of the Bandara Inged Sultanate, former NYC Commissioner Penny Disimban, Maharlika Barangay Chairman Nasser Pangandaman, Karen Tañada of Waging Peace, and Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman of the Moro Human Rights Center and Pinay Kilos.

            Dinner was served amidst Cultural Presentations showcasing Moro songs, dances and music.