DIASPEIREIN, Greek word meaning “disperse.”

If similarly it means to scatter a group of people, we know it better as diaspora.

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At least three decades ago, we see it now in cities of Angeles and San Fernando, by the instance of our Muslim brothers who, upon seeking another living, have actually sought another life.

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MIRANDA STREET is a vendor’s “balwarte.” Probably the mother street of all cheap goods on wet and dry market, motleyed with schools, fast-food restaurants, and illegal retails, it is this noise, this litter, this barabara that makes Angeles City outstanding. To be a Sin City, one virtue can make a sinner a winsome saint.

Amroding Rasul, one of the leaders of Muslim communities in Pampanga said, “Nagpapasalamat naman kami sa mga tao rito (points to politicians especially), sa mga Kapampangan, friendly sila at konti ang gulo (rito).”

If his words are true, Kapampangan hospitality has defied the social stigma that contaminate even the Western world: that Muslims are hostile and stern.

On the contrary, except from the pirated goods being peddled publicly along the streets of Angeles City that are sold by the Moro traders, these people would have less guts to commit crimes, particularly violence-based.

When I came there, police officers from Station-1 directed me and said these vendors are well-behaved. They even have good contacts with the leaders.

According to Rasul, he has been residing in the city for around 30 years, with his families with him.

The same years have been for Qareeb Panarigan, with 15 stable years, though, and whose children are as mature as early 20s now.

The reason for leaving the homeland is not exclusive to war but aggressive environment -- and its directions -- are sure to consider these: poverty, lack of education, lack of economic opportunity, unstable home, barrage of all types of men, from soldiers to terrorists to quasi.

All of these are noticeably causational and compacts only to one important, yet highly neglected thing: peace.

Rasul, whose children have been sent to school here in Angeles City, was very amazed at the Kapampangans. According to him, the friendliness and pursuit to intellect of Kapampangans are both good qualities he wanted his children to be immersed in.

And he did. Like most fathers in their community, children were enrolled in public schools as young adults were put into nearby colleges.

Some would enroll to trade schools, he said. Recently, Republic Central Colleges (RCC) has good number of Muslim enrollees, and for those who can afford university education, they would send their children to Holy Angel University.

A very small city such as Angeles is said to be striking, with too many schools. But how could our Muslim brothers pave their way to understanding this whole Kapampangan thing: the strong Catholic religiosity, the Western curriculum, and the rich culture so contrasting to them?

The answer lies almost from the generosity of influential people.

“Sa aking pananaw ay hindi naman dahil sa giyera,” Panarigan said when asked about his own basis why he left Mindanao. “Ito ay upang mapalawak ang kaalaman. Nakakaintindi at nakakapagsalita ng iba’t ibang dialekto ang mga anak ko at pinapaaral namin sila.”

As a Muslim leader, he makes sure of the good keep of his constituents, including the education in all forms. Several Muslims would find the Department of Education and the Angeles City Government for their share of special education as charitable, which is in the form of Arabic language and Islamic values.

To date, there are already six teachers on this hired by DepEd and City Government. It is said that 50 percent of the teachers’ salary are paid by the Nepomuceno administration and the rest are from the DepEd.

This subject guarantees Muslim children to refresh their knowledge on their traditions and, for those who have been born already in this city, will gain the essentials of their culture. In that way, Panarigan said, “nang hindi nila makalimutan kung sino sila, ung kultura nila.”

Even the soil where their homes were built are based from the goodwill of some rich Kapampangan people. Sapang Matua, Nepo Subdivision, and even on other parts of Santo Rosario, Muslim communities have at last settled on a home that will make them stay longer.

Hizons and Nepomucenos are only two examples of powerful clans that they have name-dropped as “very good people.”

Station Commander Javier of Santo Rosario commented, “Maganda yun kasi paglipat nila dito may trabaho…kasi kamukha naten masuerte na tayo dahil nakakatagal tayo ng mga 20 years as residents. Sa tulad ng mga lugar na may giyera ay lipat-lipat.”

While Muslims may be thankful and enjoy the continue source of livelihood, some, however, are not satisfied at the vulgar trade of pirated items.

Sure, we also see non-Muslims who do this and the ethnic sensibility will soar high. But on occurrence like this, which happens literally in Angeles City, what makes the authorities seem so half-hearted in raiding this?

Consider the pornographic materials, one historian I asked said, “Bawal yan sa turo nila.”

Then again, I see young people seeing this.

One prominent characteristic I noticed to the several Muslims I interviewed were their pride on their roots. No one is ashamed to pronounce his religion, and it remains alive in a way that their men would still pray five times daily as well as women who shall still hood their heads.

As for the cuisine, one Muslim man would say, “Ay oo, nagluluto na rin kami ng mga pagkaing Kapampangan at masarap nga.”

Angeles City’s famous dish is the sizzling sisig, which is a concoction of calamansi juice, soy sauce, liver spread, a lot of mother’s love, and, of course, the ears and cheeks of, ugh, pig.

Kapampangans, who are voracious meat eaters, who are too conscious of their looks, who goes to mass in fervent devotion, have simply less as compared to Muslims.

The secret, maybe, lies on the same cloth.

Tracing creed as well as history, first, the Catholic Church and Islam are actually sister religions. Next, by nationality, these Muslims are first Filipinos and so are the Kapampangans. Then, both of their curious minds to open for new horizon is always upbeat, despite by heart they are intensely attached to their original culture. And finally, it is humanity itself, seeing a person as a person, a human as a human, a man as a man.

The latter might be the strongest cloth that binds us all. But for one child who does not know it yet, who have not seen his homeland yet, this nine-year-old Muslim from which I bowed my head to reach his ears, I whispered the one-million-dollar question, “Keni, ika? Nung puwede pa, buri me akit ing Mindanao?”

I bet you know his answer.