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MPPM GATHERS 200 LUMADS, MORO, MIGRANTS
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#8thMPPS
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Experience of Lumad during 5 days of summit
Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Movement (MPPM)
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54-km Peace March kicks off 8th MPPS
15 years of journey in building Sustainable Tr-People Communities JustPeace in Mindanao, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and Palawan.
Justice. Empathy. Solidarity. Belief in people and communities. These are the words that are associated to the idea of peace as said by Amabella Carumba, member of the Mindanao People’s Peace Movement (MPPM) since 2000, a fighter for the tri-people and an advocate for peace. When people are talking about peace, no one can say a single and unified thought because peace is the paramount of harmonious relationship among peoples of diverse cultures, beliefs, race, and religion. The MPPM have a very strong grip on their belief, to fight for justice and equal treatment of the tri people, the Lumads, Bangsamoro and Migrants. One of the voices recognized by many is Carumba. She is one of those who had witnessed the growth of MPPM for 15 years and counting. She had witnessed the grassroots level of the issues and conflicts that the tri-
By Junaid Cader and Regine Arras people are suffering from. However, as to when, how, where and what reasons did Carumba to start to fight for peace and for MPPM lies a mystery to many. Growing up as a migrant child, Carumba had lived with people of different tribes in which the said discrimination against the opposite tribe was present. She was then curious on why did such treatment occur. Until in her college days, she grew a deeper commitment into fighting against inequality and oppression for the tri-people. Carumba’s first-hand experience with the tri-people from her immersions and conflict resolutions all throughout the years made her commitment even deeper. And as all stories of a successful journey, Carumba shared her moment when she was about to give up. “when I was new and I was not so firm in my commitment, I think that was 2005 because I always participate in culture basing and conflict resolution, and I was on my mo-
mentum. That time, I was at Libac doing a conflict resolution because the Manobo and Limaw were fighting, then a news broke out about MILF attacking Kolambugan. I said “what kind of work is this where you always do your best to build peace then all of a sudden, all your effort would vanish in an instant” she said when asked if she ever had a moment where she almost gave up. However, she did not, she chose to be audacious and continue spreading peace among tri-people. She realized that the number of advocates was so small and backing out would make the number even smaller. Amaballa Carumba’s journey as a warrior for peace is truly one of the great stories to listen to when you are in a dilemma of thinking about peace. Peace is very difficult to achieve, but nothing is difficult when you take the first step and be added to the numbers of those who have taken their first steps as well. Even the song has it, saying “together we stand, divided we fall”.