bloody
hostilities between the different distinct communities -
Christian Filipinos and Moros. The prophecy foretold has now
resulted in the more than four decades Filipino-Moro war in
Mindanao, registering already more than 200,000 deaths and
countless material losses for the Muslim and Highlander
natives as well as Christian settlers in the war-torn
region.
For more than forty years now, the celebration of March 18
as Bangsamoro Freedom Day has served a rallying point for
the oppressed and colonized natives of Mindanao, Sulu and
Palawan to emancipate themselves from Philippine colonialism
that was immorally and illegally installed by the American
government only in July 4, 1946. It is recalled that the
Bangsamoro Sultanate government of MINSUPALA started around
1450 with the establishment of the Sultanate of Sulu, which
later on expanded to Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo (now
Sabah). The establishment of the Sultanate government was
years later followed by the Sultanate of Maguindanao and
Sultanate of Buayan in Cotabato and the Sultanate apat
na pangampong principalities
in Lanao. Historically, the Mindanao Sultanate governments
were recognized by China, Great Britain, Netherlands and the
United States of America, enjoying peaceful diplomatic and
commercial ties with the foreign countries and also signing
international treaties with them.
On the other hand, it is also recorded in history that the
Bangsamoro Sultanate governments had to fight long years of
bitterest series of wars with the piratical Spanish
invaders, who were bent on Christianizing and colonizing
Mindanao and satellite islands. The century-long imposed war
on the Bangsamoro people by the Spaniards was later on
pursued by the American marauders for almost forty five
years, Japanese invaders for almost five years and
contemporaneously by the Filipino colonizers for more than
forty years. Without a comprehensive solution to achieve
'just and lasting' peace, the current Filipino-Moro war in
Mindanao is not about to end.
Nonetheless, although now engage in both unfinished peace
parley and war footing with the Filipino colonizers, the
Bangsamoro freedom fighters everywhere in Mindanao and
Bangsamoro people throughout the world have thus taken pride
to befittingly commemorate Bangsamoro Freedom Day every
March 18 of the MNLF Anniversary celebration.
On the 44th year Bangsamoro Freedom Day
celebration, the MNLF leadership and freedom fighters wish
to greet the Bangsamoro people of Mindanao, Sulu and Palawan
and all over the world sincerest greetings of peace. Allahu
Akbar! Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar! -osm/mnlfnet.com
