photos by Rayjie Carillo
“Kailangan nating ipakita sa gitna ng nararamdaman ng marami ang ating pakikiisa.”
These were the remarks of Dr. Mario Aguja, Director of the Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanao (IPDM) of Mindanao State University - General Santo (MSU-GSC), on his message during the Solidarity for Peace, United against Violence event, at the University Library, December 6.
The attendees of the event offered prayers and lit candles to show their solidarity for the recent bombing incident inside the MSU-Marawi campus, which claimed lives and threatened the security of its constituents, last December 3.
When asked about the criticisms expressed by students and alumni towards the university after the incident, including concerns about no longer recommending MSU, the IPDM director said that he acknowledges the diversity of opinions while also enumerating other factors that he deemed worthy of considering and highlighted the importance of extending peace initiatives beyond the university, noting that acts of violence could occur anywhere.
“Nirerespeto naman natin ‘yung opinyon ng iba ngunit, mahalagang tingnan na, una, mas marami ang nagtapos at naniwala sa kakayahan ng pamantasan. Pangalawa, hindi naman ito ginawa ng MSU—parang siya 'yung nag i-inflict ng harm sa sarili niya. Ito ay maaaring mangyari kahit saang lugar, kaya ‘yung ating pagkilos ng kapayapaan , dapat hindi lang nalilimit sa’tin sa MSU, kundi sa labas din dahil 'yung mga entrepreneurs of violence, wala namang pinipili ‘yan.” Aguja said.
Aguja also expressed that his belief in the MSU will not be moved solely by this incident.
“Ginagalang natin yung mga iba't ibang pananaw but, at the end of the day, mahabang panahon na naging mapayapa si MSU, mahabang panahon na si MSU ay tinitingala ng marami, at tingin ko, hindi itutumba ng insidenteng ito 'yung aking paniniwala para sa MSU,” he stated.
Aguja, during his message, also encouraged continued actions for peace and posed a challenge to the MSUans.
“Bilang bahagi ng pamantasan, ine-encourage namin ang lahat na ipagpatuloy natin ang pagkilos para sa kapayapaan, higit kailanman, dahil alam natin na mayroon paring mga elemento ng ating lipunan na patuloy na naniniwala na ang karahasan ay magdadala ng kapayapaan. Hindi kailanman naging daan ang karahasan para makamit ang kapayapaan. At bilang MSUAns, ito ang hamon sa ating lahat—hindi lang kayo iskolar ng bayan, kundi kayo ay iskolar ng bayan at bantay at tapapaglaganap ng kapayapaan,” Aguja urged.
Mindanao Week of Peace 2023
The Solidarity for Peace, United Against Violence event, organized by the University Peace Champions, in collaboration with the IPDM and History Student’s Society of MSU-GSC, served as the culminating activity of the Mindanao Week of Peace 2023, observed from Last Thursday of November until the first Wednesday of December.
Aguja pointed out the difference in the observance of this year’s Mindanao Week of Peace and the message that it entails.
“‘Yung isang pinagkaiba ng celebration ngayon ay hindi kagaya noon na ipinagsasaya natin ang naabot nating kapayapaan. Ngayon naman ay pinapakita natin ang ating pakikiisa sa sa mga biktima ng karahasan. At tingin ko ito ay nagpapatuloy na nag-bibigay ng mensahe na kailangan na ipagpatuloy natin ‘yung ating pagkilos sa paglaganap ng kapayapaan,” Aguja said.
Furthermore, he expressed his appreciation for the students of MSU-GSC for standing up for peace amidst fears and threats from uncertain information recently roaming around the campus.
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