“The Advocacies of a Global Mindanawan in the House of Representatives”

I was at the airport on my way to the United States for a well-deserved learning workshop and some leisure trip when my phone rang. It was Rep. Mujiv on the other end. He mentioned the possiblity that I, as the second nominee of Anak Mindanao, may be assuming the role of legislator should the Supreme Court come up with its ruling on the issue of proportional representation for the Party List organizations in the House of Representatives.

Henceforth, things then went on quickly. I had to cut short my trip; in fact, it was the shortest overseas trip I had if my memory serves me right. (I only stayed in the US for three days!) It was totally an unexpected blessing. But along with it come the unexpected pressure and the major changes in my role from a peace and development worker and manager to becoming a legislator that will help shape the destiny of this country.

Four weeks after warming up to the new task as a member of the house of the people, and being eaten up by the pressure of living in Metro Manila with its more stressful environment, it was, I admit, quite a difficult adjustment period. Somehow I managed to get settled in this new role and new environment, physically and emotionally, and came to the conclusion that the challenge is worth facing for three main reasons.

First, my background as a peace and development worker and manager -- backed by the institutional wisdom and credibility of Balay Mindanaw -- is a source of extensive learning. It is my source of strength to take on the new task as a legislator that will promote the causes of the tri-people of Mindanaw. 

Second, the relatively solid peace and development constituency in Mindanaw and in Asia is a strong social capital that Anak Mindanao, thru this representation, can rely on. And with this AMIN can further strengthen its advocacies and programs, making these more proactive and inclusive, along the way building a culture of pluralism and solidarity that is rooted in communities, not in ideologies and propaganda.

Lastly, to creatively utilize my passion and commitment to make a difference, however revolutionary or incremental, even with very limited time and exposure, by introducing sustainable and proactive programs in Congress that do not only promote the interest of the tripeople of Mindanaw, but also the contribution of Mindanaw-focused programs to the larger constituency of peace and development in the Asian Region.

With this background and humble reason, it is very clear to me that this representation will be focusing on three major issues that are integral to Mindanaw’s peace and development interests. These are promoting peace in Mindanaw thru building institutions and strengthening existing constituencies, promoting small and medium enterprise models to help eradicate poverty in Mindanaw in the near future, and craft policies about out-migration and in-migration involving Mindanawans, a global phenomena that has not been given attention by the National Government.

This is where the energy of this representation will focus on. Time may be limited, but armed with the passion to learn and the same level of passion to deliver what is expected of a legislator, and with the guidance of Rep. Mujiv Hataman and the institutional wisdom of the political council of Anak Mindanao Party, let this representation be evaluated on those abovementioned agenda which I coined as “the Global Mindanawan.” Global Mindanawan because we will not only complain about the historical injustice committed against Mindanaw, but will work hard and propose programs that will proactively respond to our dreams and aspirations. We will not only ask resources from government, but we will harness what is available in this global village. Global Mindanawan because we know that with what Anak Mindanao does in the course of its advocacies, we can learn from other countries and in like manner they will learn from us. They will appreciate us not because we only advocate equity development and peace, but we work for it. We put our meager resources to it and, most important of all, we literally will die for these advocacies.  Global Mindanawan because every Mindanawan is already inherently part of the global community and we cannot isolate ourselves.

Amidst all the pressures and the challenges, and despite the perks that can come with being a legislator of this country, this humble representation is still the same person who cries in a situation of grave injustice and violation of human rights, still the same person who dreams and works for his advocacies by direct dialogues with communities to ensure a strong anchoring on the ground, and still the same person who will still find time to eat banana cue and other simple foods in the bangketas and public markets.

Daghan salamat! Madakul na Salamat! Assalamu Alaikum!

Ariel “Ayi” C. Hernandez

May 26, 2009

House of Representatives