Tuesday, August 12, 2008 Editorial: Reflections on Toto's life
THAT Datu Ibrahim "Toto" Paglas had to pass away just when gunbattles are raging anew in Central Mindanao amid an uproar and sabre-rattling over a memorandum of agreement on territorial claims and a peace negotiation that refuses to budge, should make us realize that peace can indeed be achieved, but that glimmer of hope can disappear just as easily.
Toto's death, and how he lived his life, should also give us an idea on why peace remains elusive, especially the peace brokered by people who keep their fingers on the trigger behind their backs while arguing over territories as if these are theirs to give away, and as if these do not have people.
While government and Moro rebels were bickering about terms of engagement, Toto convinced his brother Moro rebels to put down their arms and work with other residents, the non-combatants, the ordinary peasants -- people whom the warmonger among us, including those in the media, would refer to as Christians putting up that unnecessary barrier between Muslims and Christians. He did not herd them with guns and threatened them to submission. He did not offer them territories, or rewards for firearms. He offered them livelihood, he offered them visions of the tangible future, he offered them hope that can be touched and counted every payday.
With better livelihood prospects, the residents saw and appreciated what real peace can bring to their hometown, Datu Paglas in Maguindanao.
Thus, La Frutera banana plantation earned its name among the bigwigs as a success story of arms to farms. That tenacity to bring over both combatants and non-combatants into a harmonious coexistence bound by a common source of livelihood, he also taught the people that peace has to be worked at, and thus was also known for his unrelenting attacks on criminal elements. His vision was for a peaceful and prosperous town that is the fruit of his people's cooperation. Those who refuse to keep the peace by pursuing criminal acts were swept away.
Thus, in a province where only news of gunbattles and strife emanate from, and where no foreigner outside philanthropic civic organizations and aid institutions dare go, much less put their money in, he brought in major investors from Saudi Arabia, Italy, Israel, and the United States. Along with the investments in the banana plantation were investments in the people, infrastructure, information technology, and community development, as well.
Datu Paglas grew under the leadership of Datu Toto Paglas. But then he had to leave, not even reaching a half a century mark while government tries to wheedle out an agreement turning over tracts of land, along with residents who were kept in the dark.
Toto's life should be a lesson to those who are brokering peace for a land where it seems to be elusive. As it is in the past, and even in Iraq, peace cannot be given nor forced, it has to be achieved. And for as long as there are those in this land of strife who are left out in the journey, then peace will continue to elude us. And yes, please remove that finger from the trigger.
