FEEDBACK FROM READERS ON THE LAUNCHING OF MORO TIMES

THEY SAID IT

I personally welcome the first issue of the Moro Times. The country will be "richer" and "bigger" both culturally and politically with a national "platform" for the Bangsamoro people. The people behind Moro Times have given the nation a concrete instrument in mainstreaming the often marginalized minority in the country. Kudos and God Bless... (Eliseo "Jun" Mercado, OMI)

Congratulations, your writers have finally managed to open a window for the rest of the world to know more about southern Philippines. The economic growth for the area is very much expected and is really something to shout about. The natural resource is in abundance and bursting at the seams. I just hope that the current and future political leadership will consist of people with more love for the country than personal gains and generally, having a better grasp of protocol and business development. When I was there, in Mindanao, with a group of foreign investors, many years ago, I wanted to meet people with a strong nationalistic goal and at the same time with both their feet planted firmly on the ground, I was truly disappointed. I hope that the current scenario is different. I hope that your countrymen have found and would have achieved a successful new formula and also gain a better perspective into the new global market place. I also trust that your people would have realized at this point to consistently do some catching up with this fast pace world so as to break away from poverty for the deprived common folks in the region. Long lasting peace shall come about and prevail!! (Edwin Chen, Singapore)

It certainly is an interesting development. This should help erase the biases that isolates the Muslims of Mindanao from their Christian brothers. This should also encourage investors to take a look at the Muslim area of Mindanao which for so long had been avoided because it is seen as an extremely unsafe land. Inshallah! Best regards. (Gerry Cunanan)

I WILL PRAY THAT YOUR GOOD WORKS GAIN A LOT OF ATTENTION AND SUPPORT. YOUR CAUSE IS A MOST WORTHY ONE! (Datu Menteri (Islamic name for Robert) Robert Rockefeller)

I may may be a Christian but I would be the first to admit that the root cause of the conflict is the dispossession of our Muslim brothers in Southern Philippines. The heroic resistance of our Muslim brothers against foreign invaders, first against the Spaniards and then against the Americans has been largely glossed over or even ignored in our history. The Americans committed horrific atrocities against our Muslim brothers during the long war of resistance. Learning the Filipino Muslim history was an eye opener for me. In fact by going back to the heroic past of our Muslim brothers I am able to view the whole issue of the current middle east conflict with greater objectivity. For instance the US-Israeli alliance wants the world to believe that the root cause of the problem is terrorism when the underlying cause is dispossession of Arabs and foreign occupation of their land. The US supports Israel because it could use them as battering ram for maintaining their strategic interest on high quality middle east oil reserves. (Jess Arranz)

Congratulations on the publication of Moro Times! This is indeed very timely and I look forward to reading every issue! I read your piece with interest and was reminded of the early MNLF documents and interviews with them. When talking of jihad then, the MNLF simply referred to it as holy war. I am curious, though, of the use of the term "Moro" - Moro Times - would this include the converts from Christianity of which there is a growing number? Obviously, the converts do not share the historical legacy of southern Muslims and the use of the term. Congratulations again on your work! Best regards.(Vivienne SM. Angeles,PhD Asst. Professor Department of Religion La Salle University Philadelphia, PA 19141)

This is such a great idea! Congratulations and hope everyone will contribute to sustain this effort. (Mary Ann Arnaldo, Davao)

Salam! I really appreciate your courageous advocacy for PEACE. Thru media, we can educate our people in Manila and other parts of the country on what FILIPINO MUSLIMS that just like the other tribes, we have very rich cultural values and traditions - and foremost, ISLAM IS A RELIGION OF PEACE. (Susana Anayatin, Cotabato City)