The island is a mixture of ethnic diversity with a population of more than 16 million people. A predominantly Christian island, Islam is also a major religion in few of the island's provinces.
By far, Mindanao is one of the country's major sources of mineral ores, agriculture, marine products and staple food.
Yet, Mindanao is one of the most neglected islands in the country. The other is the island province of Samar, the third largest in the Philippines.
No doubt, people in Mindanao often considered themselves second class citizens of their country.
There is apparent discrimination of Mindanao people than those of people from Luzon. No amount of argument can belie this observation.
Matter of fact, Mindanao's representation with the national government is only a cameo role.
Where is the so-called "Mindanao votes?" Political analyst believed that a solid Mindanao vote is enough to elect a President.
On the contrary, it is sad that Mindanao electorates had been electing the island's candidates who do not sincerely fight for the island's aspirations.
More often than not, elected Mindanao representatives in Congress and the Senate are indifferent to the plight of their own people.
We have witnessed Mindanao solons who never-care-less about the plight of the people in Mindanao.
We have elected some illustrious public officials from Mindanao to the Senate and Congress of the Philippines but, unfortunately, we never feel their presence in our hearts and minds. They're only good at gobbledygook!
It is also very disturbing for Mindanao to be historically overshadowed by a miniature island of Bohol in central Philippines as one of its sons was elected President of the Philippines. Carlos P. Garcia, of Talibon, Bohol was elected President in 1957.
Mindanao almost had its first President when Emmanuel Pelaez was elected Vice President.
But after Pelaez, nothing comes so close than Teofisto Guingona who became Vice President when Gloria Arroyo was catapulted to power in 2001 midway to President Joseph Estrada's six-year term.
This year, the Senatorial and local elections are scheduled in middle of May. Again, we observed a gross misrepresentation from Mindanao's aspiring Senators.
The opposition had "Koko" Pimentel in their line-up. Pimentel, a bar topnotcher, is son of incumbent Senator Aquilino Pimentel who has his roots in Mindanao.
But after having been elected senator, Pimentel is seldom seen in Mindanao particularly in Cagayan de Oro City, his supposed hometown.
The young "Koko" Pimentel is also a stranger in Cagayan de Oro City. In the 2001 local elections where "Koko" ran for mayor in Cagayan de Oro City and lost, people criticized him for his inability to speak the Bisayan vernacular fluently. Koko though finished his law school in a downtown university in Cagayan de Oro City.
The administration has three senatorial candidates, Prospero Pichay of Surigao, Miguel Zubiri of Bukidnon and Sultan Kiram of Jolo, all from Mindanao.
This early, however, these candidates are already known losers!
Cris Diaz is adjudged "Best in Column Writing" by the Rotary Club of Metro Cagayan de Oro in 2000. Email: cris_d1954@yahoo.com.
