Arnold Garbanzos ILIGAN City--I have been studying for years why the Lanao provinces which are considered to be  the “Battery of Mindanao” have failed to rise as cities and provinces.  We brighten 65 percent of Mindanao yet today we are one of the darkest cities and provinces in Mindanao. Unlike many cities and provinces in our country, the dynamics of Lanao are totally different from the rest--it should not be treated like other provinces or cities since in it is the power source of Mindanao, and has the only Islamic City in this part of Southeast Asia. This realization has made me come up with a very simple theory. My theory is that Iligan will not rise unless Marawi rises with it.  Inversely, Marawi will not also rise unless Iligan rises with it. The destiny of one is tied up with the destiny of the other. Why did I come up with this theory? Seven reasons:
  1. The waters of the Lake is the umbilical cord that ties both together; they are twin cities located in twin provinces with a birthday that falls on the same day every year, July 4.
  2. The lake is what gives life to Iligan--you take away the lake up in Marawi and Iligan is nothing.
  3. By history, Iligan became a city because of a Muslim Maranao, and Marawi became a city because of an Christian Iliganon. This is the foundation for peace as a legacy done by the late Congressman Ali Dimaporo and Sen. Tomas Cabili.
  4. All true-blooded Iliganons have Maranao blood in them--that cannot be denied and the greatest Iliganon of all, the one who has assumed the highest rank among all Iliganons in the country was a son of Wato, Lanao del Sur and had a Maranao Royal Rank (a rank given only to the President of our country)--tThe late Sen. Tomas Cabili had Maranao blood in him. It is no wonder that the main avenue and plaza in the Islamic City of Marawi is named after him.
To have a Christian leader highly honored in a predominantly Muslim City is an amazing feat, that no Iliganon has ever achieved.
  1. The present population of Iligan is 30 percent Maranao. At least a dozen of their mayors in Lanao del Sur reside in Iligan and they contribute to 60 percent of the economy of Iligan.
  2. Iligan and Marawi are the only cities in the country which are literal twins since their mother provinces were both created on July 4, 1959.
  3. Iligan was once part of the Sultanate of Lanao. As a matter of fact, many of the barangays and places of Iligan have Maranao names like Palao, Kabacsanan, Timoga and Rogongon.
By nature, by history, by birth and by present economic realities, Marawi and the Maranaos are a part of the history and the future of Iligan.  To deny this fact is the greatest mistake made by any administration of the city of Iligan.  And since I am an Iliganon (with Maranao blood) my task is to come up with ways and means as to how to make both cities rise together since the destiny of one is tied up with the other.  Let me outline to you below how this can be done.
  • Since Marawi blesses us with the pristine waters of the Lake, Iligan must learn to tap this waters to its advantage and bless Marawi at the same time.
I have espoused the development of an industry called Bulk Water Exportation and I want Iligan to lead this nation. Bulk Water Exportation is just like  Bulk Oil Shipments but instead of oil (known as black gold), we trade instead  fresh water which is known in the world market today as blue gold. Any money which Iligan makes we set aside a portion to bless Marawi and create a Hajj Fund or a Gagao Kalimo Fund. Today, Brunei is very much interested in this idea and have made initial contact with me on the matter since I am the executive director of the Iligan Investment, Incentives and Promotions Center (IIIPC). I have heard that the Jordan River has two tributaries--one is the Sea of Galilee and the other is the Dead Sea.  All of the same source but of different end results. Why is the Sea of Galilee alive while the Dead Sea dead?  Well you see the Sea of Galilee gives back what it takes into the Mediterranean, contributing to its  life and its vibrance, while the Dead Sea takes it all in--it does not give back and so it is “dead.” Similarly if Iligan takes all the blessings of Marawi in without giving back, then we end up “dead” as a city. This might explain the reason why despite  our tremendous resources we are losing our plants, we are losing our best “minds” to other cities and we are losing our status as a highly urbanized first class city. Some even say that the way things are running, Iligan would soon be a barangay of Lugait or Laguindingan, which I pray God will forbid.
  • We should allow equal opportunities among the tri-people of Iligan.
A law or an ordinance must be made in the city where Muslims and Lumads are granted equal economic opportunities in Iligan.  If the population of Iligan is 30 percent Muslim, then Muslims must be given 30 percent job opportunities in the city.  Similarly, if the Lumads comprise 10 percent of our city then 10 percent of the job opportunities must also be given to them. Of course, our Muslim and Lumad brothers are also required to  pay their taxes here and all must go through the normal process of competitive employment.
  • I like the move of previous congressman Varf Belmonte when he called all the media to inform them that he intends to change the title of Iligan from “City of Waterfalls” to “City of the Tri-people.” He moved toward the right direction on the matter.
  • Local sectoral representation among the Muslims and Lumads must now be allowed in order to give them a voice in the city and its affairs--we cannot be a tri-people city when only the voice of one group is heard. No, we must allow the Muslims and the Lumads to have a say too, and that is why we are known as a tri-people city.
  • Once Maranao and Lumad Local Sectoral representation happens to our city expect ordinances such as these:
- the creation of a bulk water exportation industry with Marawi and Iligan leading; - the creation of the water industry of Iligan where we invite mineral water, soft drinks and juice factories to Iligan and Lanao; - the creation of Hajj Fund for our Muslim brothers; - the revival of Global Steel and the creation of the ship building industry. In Iligan where we can have a “gun for welding gun” program in order to give jobs for our 15,000 MILF and MNLF rebel returnees (one ship would require that number to be built); - the creation of a Tri-people Peace Museum in Baloi, Lanao del Norte where a systematic recording and study of the genealogy of the tri-people can be done. This can be a peace-building device for Lanao; - the establishment of the Indigenous Peoples University of the Philippines or IPUP up in the Hinterlands of Iligan to hasten its development; - the flourishing and development  of the bamboo industry up in the Hinterlands to give our Lumad brothers jobs (a factory in the mountains); - the creation of a law allowing the barter of oil for fresh water--with Brunei as our main partner for the Middle East market; - the creation of the Marang Research and Development Authority; - the conversion of the Maranao and Lumad products into major dollar earners; - making the Maranao and Lumad culture major tourism attractions for our city (the cultural tourism market can be developed); - Iligan will become the Center of the Bimp-Eaga, making it a regional center for Epza-industries like steel, cement, power and water that would grow by leaps and bounds; - the putting up of Quranic verses and Hadiths on the streets of Iligan conveying friendship, peace and relationship building.  Nothing instills the fear of God and discipline among Muslims except the Quran and its teachings.  Similarly, the words of Jesus Christ (pbuh) must also be openly bannered publicly in Iligan and Marawi to remind everyone that there is a close relationship between Muhammad and the Christ, Isa Al Masih; - the creation of a Takaful Insurance industry which is a $15-billion worldwide market with Iligan and Marawi leading the way; - an ordinance creating a Marawi-Iligan Friendship Day where sports activities can be held yearly and where Christians of Iligan will invite Muslim Maranaos to their  homes during the Fiesta of Iligan and eat together as a gesture of friendship; - and many other ordinances and laws which will maximize the progress of both twin cities as the powerhouse of business opportunities! Iligan must learn to grow and one major sign of growth is change. If Iligan refuses to do that then expect it to lag behind even cities like Tangub or Oroquieta. The growth of progress and development of Iligan is correlationally tied up with Marawi. Iligan must realize that. It must therefore learn to bless Marawi in the same manner that Marawi has blessed Iligan  tremendously with those waters from the Lake. It is opportune that President Duterte’s maternal roots come from Lanao. This move will definitely have his personal nod, support and blessings. Other than President Duterte, there are also two previous Presidents who had a love for Lanao  and its people, especially the Maranaos. These are President Diosdado Macapagal Sr. who in 1962 officially opened the MSU or the Mindanao State University in Marawi-thereby opening the gateway for our Maranao brothers to be highly educated.  And the other one is President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who in 1993 donated their house in Timoga to the city and who in 2004 reopened our biggest steel plant in the city through the Indians of GSPI. It is now time to take advantage of the release of PGMA and her innocence. She can be Lanao’s No. 1 defender in the Congress of our country and continue the legacy of her father. Other than this, once the Arab world hears that Iligan is helping Marawi, expect the Kings of Saudi Arabia and Brunei to be investing heavily in Iligan and Lanao.  A $100-billion investment would not be too hard for them to do.  The Macapagals are very close to the Sultan of Brunei. The Prophet (pbuh) once said: “Kindness is mark of faith. He who is kind has faith.” Iligan and Marawi must therefore be kind to each other. Psalm 133 in the Bible says, “How pleasant it is when Brethren dwell together in unity” for there the blessing of God is unstoppable and beyond measure. Iligan and Marawi must rise together! Maayung Lanao sa tanan! May Lanao be a blessing to all!