Fragments

Rhona Canoy

SO… Everyone has had almost two months to think (or not) about what has been happening in Marawi, and all that has happened in its wake. I’m quite saddened by what I see around me and it makes me wonder if it’s just a matter of overthinking.

The easiest thing to accept is that the Marawi siege (because that’s what it is) has divided us. And not just in two. What I see is how shattered our country has become. It would be so simple to see one dividing line — Maute versus our efforts at national defense. Then it would just be a matter of one side winning against the other. All consequences, of course, dependent upon who wins.

Hey, not that simple after all. It turns out, the lines that divide us defy all geometric possibilities. Good guys versus bad guys. Or should it be good versus bad? Here’s what I see. Yes, the Maute group has wreaked havoc in Marawi. And yes, our combined armed forces are doing their best to eliminate them (whether by defeat or ultimate obliteration remains to be seen). Line definitely drawn. Fragmentation.

That’s what is being thrust in our faces. Do we see the tiny little cracks that are beginning to shatter us more than divide us, if they haven’t yet?

Maranaw and Maranaw, Muslim and Muslim. Beyond the cultural phenomenon of ridu, Marawi has drawn a line dividing them. Those on the side of Maute, and those whose lives have been indelibly altered by the violence. Thousands upon thousands forced to flee their homes, abandoning the lives they have always known, now forced to live as strangers in a strange land. Most importantly, having to swallow their pride and dignity (which to a Maranaw is of utmost value), in a constant state of apprehension and frustration. Born of violence sown by their brothers. Fragmentation.

Muslim and Christian. Although we would like to believe that this is not so, it is a dividing line that has existed for centuries. There is a current issue simmering because of some donations which have been deemed offensive, disrespectful, or insensitive by Muslim bakwits. I cannot presume to explain how these things happen, but I do understand the manner in which the actions are perceived. To give food items containing pork to Muslim evacuees is truly disrespectful and insensitive. Regardless of how it came about. Donations which include Bibles written in the Maranaw dialect only serve to ignite an already touchy situation. Regardless of how it came about. Fragmentation.

Christian and Christian. Human nature is such that no matter what kind of religious foundation or starting point we have, no matter what kind of religious orientation we may have been implanted with, our individual perspectives will always be colored by how our thinking brains process information. Not all Christians share the same interpretation of beliefs. Some may be more sympathetic to the plight of the Muslim evacuees and victims. Some may have none. How these perspectives drive behavior can be seen and felt in more ways than one. Fragmentation.

Pro- and anti-martial law. This argument has lasted for decades and will continue for decades to come. Each of us has a different take on it. Some agree and some violently oppose it. Regardless of what drives the view — whether it is memories of the Marcos era or as victims who have suffered at the hands of terrorists — agreement or accord is not forthcoming. Fragmentation.

Mindanao and not Mindanao. We who live in Mindanao are sensitive to the lack of concern the rest of our country exhibits with regard to our current situation. We feel that the “foreigners” are taking our situation too lightly, and the “foreigners” seem to show that they don’t think what is happening in Marawi is as important as the amount of time it takes to commute from Cubao to Pasay. Fragmentation.

Closeness and distance from Marawi. Regardless of the fact that evacuees have moved to all corners of our island, those of us who live closer to Marawi have our own peculiar perspectives about the conflict. And the closer we are, the more intensely we feel. That cannot be helped. But it also brings with it the sense that those who are farther away aren’t as affected. And therefore we feel somewhat ignored. Fragmentation.

Pro- and anti-Duterte. The argument which emerged during the campaign period in 2016 has certainly grown with every passing day. I don’t even know how to sort this one out. But look at what we are struggling with. Fragmentation.

On more fronts than one, we are broken apart. What I see is the innate nature of the Filipino to reject unity. Yes, we pride ourselves for having a bayanihan attitude. Yes, we will send care packages because we have fellow Filipinos in need. The token gesture of gathering and giving donations seems to fulfill the minimum requirement of what is humanitarian gesture.

And yet we hold fast and closely guard our hidden prejudices, sometimes so hidden that we ourselves are not consciously aware of how they manifest in our daily transactions with our fellow Filipinos. Yes, we Filipinos are extremely prejudiced. Whether it’s skin color, gender, religioun, social status — we are prejudiced. And it’s worse when it’s against ourselves.

As a personal observation, let me throw this at you. Why are we more forgiving and accepting of black-skinned foreigners than we are of our dark-brown-skinned own? Why are we more admiring of our white-skinned ex-pats who are certainly born with plastic spoons in their mouths than we are of our hard-working successful own? We are prejudiced, in more ways than one. I am willing to bet my honoraria for the last five columns that we would treat a fair-skinned good-looking Muslim with more generosity and politeness than we would our Marawi evacuee own. Prejudiced. And fragmented.

Add those two together. Do you like what you see? This situation goes further and deeper than we imagine. I don’t have any answers. And right now I can’t see any light at the end of the tunnel. Help me!