Conflicts

Long time ago, there was a conflict happening in our place where we lived. It was a conflict between the Muslim in Mindanao ,with the arm men called "Ilaga with black magic or supernatural powers llaga has supernatural powers like when somebody hit them they won't got hurt. They have powers on their body won't even got wounded because of the magic bottles they would carry in their bodies. That's what we called black magic. Inside the magic bottles , it composes of Latin words an Agod- A god term visayan term dialect. They also wore red cloth in their head, before going to war. Besides that their bodies was also scented with oil from the magic bottles they've made . They have faith in there and trusted the black magic they've been carrying before going to attack. I was 9 years old at that time and I was in Grade 3 when it happened, somewhere in Zamboanga Sibuguey Province.But before it happened there was a hearsay that Ilaga arm men have plan to attacked or make chaos in our peaceful place .That was year 1972 when it happened month of April 1st week after the school ended. At around 3:00 pm on that day we heard t he machine guns roaring and smokes covered in the mountainous place, nearby the sea. There was houses there and as we've knew Ilaga made it ,they burn it and the people afraid and evacuate their families. Since our house is not far from the chaos area my parents was so afraid , my mother was panic on that time she was in the market on that moment. She ran faster as she could at home by dropping her body in land when the attackers used their guns avoiding got hurts by the bullets around. We heard it and we cried because were too young at that moment and wondering why it happened and thanks God my mother arrived safely at home. Were on the underground on that situation ,3 days and 3 nights we lived we eat and sleep there without lighting The ground was very dark and we won't able to saw something. We lived there with my brother and sister . It is very hard for us to cooked our food to eat due to the bullets and roaring of guns outside. My parents decided to evacuate to our relatives somewhere in "Salug Valley " and we leave our sari sari store " We evacuate our house with out anything being carried. When we made the evacuation quickly to avoid being hurt by the said attackers who are still in the area .We evacuate with ourselves only without belongings being carried except the dress we wore and 1 piece of clothing we've been carrying in our small bag. It was devastating moment in our life as very young suffering this conflicts and civilians being affected, too. The chaos was started when the niece of the elite people in our place was shot to dead and there as we've heard that was the root of the said attacks. I've been sighing and regretting why it happened in our peaceful place?There were many people living there. It was full of life and abundance of resources specially in terms of fishing . Our place is very beautiful and people live happily, but due to conflict our place and people suffering .Families and children were affected. Our way of living, the school closed and educational aspects and dreams of the students to continue and pursue their studies turn down. Our way of living vanished, the rice, groceries and many others disappeared. My parents decided not to go back there. My father sold our house in the small amount to Php 1000.00 only and able to bought a small lot where we lived somewhere in "Salug Valley " the place where the relatives and sister of my parents. We're so tired and think and striving hard on that time adjusting ourselves, our life as evacuees. Since it was our starting moment,it's very hard for me to accept that I won't able to go to school by that school year. Since we can't easily recover . My parents suffering the situation we went to our Aunt's field and there we've been working for a living. Our life started , we have a small gardening and farming and poultry raising there I went to school again and until I've finished my highschool .Hence income is not sufficient I'm not able to continue my college. I've realized that it's very hard when conflict bothered our families. Everyone lives was being affected , the livelihood and everything and most the aspects of education to all young learner's. This stories of mine is real, now when I've heard again in the neighboring area in Mindanao the chaos happened , the first thing I felt their feelings too, because I' been experiencing that devastating moments that was made by some warriors without thinking first before doing ". I do hope and pray that everyone lives there in our place before , will not be ruin again and turn our place nicely and peacefully. One of our neighbor here, as I've talked to him our special moments in my younger days before when I'm in Grade 2 I told him, the beautiful place somewhere in seaside we enjoyed ourselves gathering fire woods during Saturday and Sundays and gathered shells and crabs there we enjoyed swimming too.And after that we enjoyed walking at the beach, the sand is white and beautiful to looked and since he go there back and forth he told me that the place was very productive as of this moment because their was already factory of sardines in that area. And I said if ever that my mother won't afraid the said chaos happened before we still lived there, might or maybe I've finished my studies there. But never mind,I talked to him,the most important thing we lived safely and confident away from chaos. While were talking I've remembered our moment and told him before my experienced that my mother got angry with me because instead of going to school, we walked to the island with my classmate in Grade 2 . She was my best friend and she is a Muslim , she is kind to me. There they have many fruit which is my favorite " the Lanzones".We pick many Lanzones in the island .We rode by boat reaching the place. Hence we are sitting in front of our classroom, our teacher noticed that every noon session ,she haven't seen us in the classroom. And on the third day , my mother and my teacher saw each other when my mother went to the market and asked about me, so when she arrived at home. She asked me where I go and there she got angry and it's also my fault and my mother warn me not to do it again and obeyed her too .Despite of everything I've realized and not to do it again and she smiled and sighed talking my neighbor and saying "The place turns back again to normal and I'm so very thankful that chaos was gone. The chaos they've made turns our life so badly and made ourselves and our livelihood and living being put to horizon. Conflict with my Family As I turned back year 2007, I've been experiencing conflicts about the lot, total of 24 hectares which was originated by my father-in-law my husband's family. They're six in all 2 girls and 4 boys. They were all got married and have families too including their sons and daughters. My husband was the youngest of their siblings. And the lot was divided into 2 title the first title it contain an area of 20 hectares . The second title containing 4 hectares.And this area as I've know where my husband owning. By year 2003 were striving very hard into this time .I've been having our six sons and one daughter so due to this situation we've agreed with my husband to gave his share to his sister in one condition to get back the said lot by giving the exact amount too, if we have.The money we've been using that time it cost twenty thousand pesos(Php 20,000.00) pesos only. As time goes by due to hardship raising children and lack of money many years passed by but we won't able to get back the said lot. There were times , they have been meetings only my husband was there and when he arrived at home he told me that the lot was already divided, except us / him because he'd trusted most his sister and we have no money yet to get back the lot. Many years passed by and time came that my husband passed away and I've been suffering pain. He died in which we won't able to get back the lot we've been wishing that this could help us specially his gone. By the time I was working to earn money in order to take care of my family. For their daily needs. While my children , they've going to school. One day I've heard from my daughter while were talking through phones. That their uncle and aunties going to sell the lot, including my father's share. That time I felt sad , if only I have that amount of money I won't agreed. Time came that they've processed the papers and they even called me and talked to me when I went back home because they've prepared the papers and I have to signed it there. That also the time that my daughter graduated in fourth year college. She was graduating student. Her aunt visited her in school carrying those papers and asked her to signed the portion as heir of his father. So my daughter signed it, as she told me while were talking in phone call .She had no choice at all .Her Aunt gave her Php28,000 and told her that was the worth of two hectares which her father share. Upon knowing it, I felt sad and cried because it's too small amount of money they've given to us, as if they won't even think that time we've striving harder. As I've knew in our neighbors the one hectare sold Php150,000 pesos while our lot only sold Php28,000 pesos ? My son was not in favor with the decision they've made. We don't even talked each other regarding the said lot. Our families was so sad and regrets the things happened. Three years passed by but until now, every time I've remembered everything will be turning down , but I've struggle and trust to our Almighty to forget and forgive them because they're my families, whatever things happened. By this time peace of mind prevails and it goes on and thankful that even it happened it made us strong. Conflict with my neighbor Having conflict with my neighbor it not easy especially our area was so near. There we would be able to saw and cooked each other everyday and every minute because were residing in the area which was bought by the foundation. And it was subdivided,in which we would pay it monthly until we own the lot. The story goes this,since were residing in the area which was been manage by our Board of Trustees, we have rules and regulations in which we've been following through. Me, as one of the Board of Trustees at that moment disagree about their bad behavior like when her husband got drunk, his voice was very loud they shout out, quarreling every now and then and it's to noisy, and was so harsh that the younger children, listening and looked at them having that scene. So, I often talked to her wife and counsel them as an officer we have the right to moved in the area if ever they won't change their behavior .Despite of this, she was having a bad mood upon hearing my advise. I warned them too, not to hurt their children because every time they've been quarreling they hurt their children too I was so sad. And because of this, they've felt bad on me and all have to do was to understand them. One day, when I was cleaning our surrounding her son got on me, because they were angry that we cleaned the vacant portion where we planted corn .They wanted to plant that area too, we're the one cleaning it. I even asked my neighbor and pay him, cleaning the said vacant lot. They knew it. They wanted to get it from me so that time she shouted at me and they throw coconut shelves, while shouting very loud. And me too shouted at them, but I don't run out the said chaos I looked at them and told them that I will be reporting to the authorities what they have made to us. My husband was panic shouting at me,not to mind them but thanks they won't even hurt me while throwing those things. It's a bad day for me including same of my neighbor .I made an adjustments to them. I don't even know their habits and attitude, until one day their neighbors before talked to them that they were feeling happier that they were transferred in the area where I lived because the same thing they've done when they were neighbors. I looked at her and says "Why you don't. told me?and replied with only" smile on her face ". So the scenery. of their life continuously. becoming worst as ever until afternoon she runs at home because she hurts her husband by using axe in his face was hit. And blood flows. Due to this, she was afraid and hide their in our home and hesitated her to welcome in our house because I have children might in her husband hurt us too, because she was here. I told her to transfer somewhere in our neighbors who was not near from their house. She followed what I says, until night time while her husband make some noise and take care his wound which her wife made it. The following day her wife returns home again we heard some things thrown up, louder voice and besides that they have many children saw and heard while they were quarrelling. They've becoming older now and our placed remain free from noise and peaceful due to the reason that her wife was now leaving in far places were their daughters lived. And her husband was here but he remained silence, even he was drunk because he was no wife here in which they could make chaos and were happy that at last our place was free. Another Story of Conflicts Conflicts happened everywhere .It happened at home ,in our neighborhood, to our friends loved ones,in organization or even in church. Even were believing and we have faith, it is commonly presence wherever we are .The reason for this through my observation and reflection. Commonly power and pride sometimes it is an attitude in which it is hard to think that as human being it is important living happily and peacefully instead of having conflict . Belittling other human is one cause also that this may happened. As I've have observed people have differences and by this we have to be careful enough the way we acted to them talked and share our ideas specially with somebody or anybody. I have been experienced that as an active worker in church ,one day while were in our placed attending the mass or K.P ( Katilingbanong Pag- ampo) in visayan dialect while I was preparing the songs for that day,conflict was happening .One of two of our neighbor sitting in front who was present that time attending that K.P reacted the song I've been preparing instead that was being sung during on offertory time, they wasn't agreed it, they reacted in a loud voice saying" that song wasn't in placed it must be sung during communion"by that my heart felt pain,it was sad and feeling myself down reacting and listening harshly tone .And everybody put in silence, looking at me all I did just calm down and take a deep breath to avoid anything bad.I won't allowed that having in front of the altar arguing because I was there to praise God not to argue , God knows what I felt that time. The two girls setting in front was relative and they were famous in our placed where I lived and chapel officers too .One was belonging r to middle class family because they have an area , a lot where I was living. And besides they're generation, their forefathers was actively leading in terms of religious activity before as I've heard their grandfather is a chairman and leader of the religious activities in a nice way and not the same as they did. People cooperates well too. But for me I was observing and thinking that this must not be happened .As faithful servants I have to adjust myself and understand them, but as human we've been exchanging our loud voice. One Sunday morning, even that moody situation I went back there and that time were having a meeting in church, after having the prayer or the K.P the agenda was all about reporting,sponsoring during our Sunday K.P. The agenda was all about chapel re- construction because the said lot where our chapel constructed must transferred to another placed because the chapel president presided our meeting and hence our secretary was writing on the board and no one could record the minutes of the meeting,our formator's suggested to give the pen and notebook to the acting secretary who record the minutes. But the President who presides reacting very badly in a loud voice saying" What's your problem at home don't bring it here". There was argument s happen followed and I am amazed that time they did to our format or what they've done to me last Sunday. Since the chairman of our placed was there, and listening the chaos around He talked and reacted what they heard and gave his advice not to do it again .Instead of having it, we must respect each other's feelings .He was feeling sad that as chairman of the barangay he wanted that peace prevails what if other's faithful believers won't attend the K.P anymore cause they won't understand the situation or the things that was happening there. He's been observing and continued talking and commenting that there's no meeting that was done nicely it done negatively. And to think " how good impact comes out that nobody listens? Caring others as believers ? I don't even understand the way they've been reacted. And to think we have to cooperate and participate all activities and prayed that everyone reflects that life is too short, as believers I have to tried myself doing good because what we have done to other people, we've did it to him"and by that the K.P ended with some feeling of discomfort. And the following Sunday comes again. And that day, I came late, I've heard from our lay minister having his homily and people listening too. I've heard him, that as believers we have to be good and so on, while listening him too, I looked at the placed where our formator sat and I wasn't saw her presence that time. I just sat at the back while listening him.He told and shared his homily last Sunday, that pointing himself blaming himself not to share his experience riding on a boat, from Manila going to Mindanao ". That the boat was hit by typhoon and it's started sinking and he had saw everyone riding on the boat, some were preparing life savers, the elders praying rosaries, they've felt panic including himself and as he started his experienced, at that time when the boat sunked all he have to do is to jump out their having his life jacket and sighed saying . It's so had that one of us here was " jumping the boat where we rode,". I've understand that his point was hitting our formator who was absent that time. As I've know and heard that she won't attend the K.P anymore. She was going in our town and their she attend the mass .She was not feeling good upon hearing somebody reported her too. The situation that she was the topic that Sunday during the lay minister homily . So at 2:00 pm that day while were having our GSK or Basic Ecclesial Community in our group my cellphone,was keep ringing seems comes in. This formator was my close friend.I looked at my phone and try to saw it who's texting and there I abled to read her text " Manang Tagalog in English ( elder friend).Is it true that I'm the topic of that day? I'd excused from the group a few moment and answered her through by texting I'm attending or having our "GSK" with in our group . I just called and talked to you after this activity". she answered ,"Okay Manang". So we continued continued our sharing and so on until we finished. I talked to.my friends and neighbors who was present that time, that I will go home rightly, Our group composes of nine household. And as a whole our chapel composed of 9 GSK's or nine groups. And I was elected as GSK coordinator my part is to sit in during their scheduled having this activity, especially if anything or misunderstanding happened. I prayed that I could do the right thing for them, that I could settle everything happened. I always prayed the guidance of the Holy Spirit to be with me always and can share good news to them. Time came that our Zona scheduled. It was stopped before due to pandemic but this month we have to start again. There all the officers of the chapel was their including our PGC. It means Parochial worker and a coordinator of GSK or Basic Ecclessial Community. It composes of 5 chapels and that's one Zona, under the supervision of our Parish Priest and being monitored by the Diocese. The Parish composes of 43 chapels. So, we will there with formator because I invited her to attend the Zona. During our roll call we've known and noticed that our chapel President won't and attend the said meeting the said meeting for she was sick as our Parochial GSK Coor. told us. So we are four officers and members attending the Zona. Since I volunteer that I will be the one writing the minutes so that we can re echo, when we back at our chapel .My companion who is also a coordinator the one reporting regarding our activity good reports she's been reported, but for me and to our formator's there's pain inside and poem up during the in services and our Parochial GSK Coordinator set or scheduled to visit us but for us we have to adjust the situation only. During the reports from other chapels that they were suffering this kind of problems too, misunderstanding even every meeting we had our spiritual value formation. Maybe this really the truth that once we followed him sacrifices with us, tempted our way,or any hindrances but in my own reflection I always remembered the bible text Gal 5: 22-23 to remain kind and good and good values comes from the Holy Spirit and there we can moved on a and post through our goals serving others,following God's will. FOr me, I've realized and thinking that our life is a gift from God where we have to do good to our fellowmen. I've been doing and practicing it in my daily life,trying to follow his will be with others and counsel those who serve others gifted to give and share some good values from our selves to our families, friends,neighbors,to the elders and most all in the community where we lived, as a theme for this 500 years of Christianity " Gifted to share" . Christmas season is fast approaching God was born for us as sinners, and hope reconciliation comes in and bring good tidings to all men and specially to the needy" Perfect but we have to Be" I'm so grateful upon having this in my life and happy attending Zona,listening the reports of BEC and there many other issues and concerns. Zona was over and thanks everything goes fine and until we went home back safely, and we have our next Zona scheduled next year. And if only everyone reflect and realized accept our differences and uniqueness .Peace on earth prevails.