BY REY O. ARCILLA
MALAYA
MALAYA
‘The MNLF says it was never consulted, but the government says otherwise.’
Like most, I am ardently hoping that the framework agreement reached between the government and the MILF rebel group will prosper. But…
On August 21 last, I wrote the following:
“When the Autonomous Region in Mindanao was formed some years back, one of its consequences was the breaking away of the MILF from the MNLF. Now that the peace talks with the MILF are nearing conclusion, according to news reports, there has been no mention of how the proposed absorption of the ARMM in an expanded autonomous region will be received by the MNLF.
“Have both the government and MILF peace panels taken this into account? Have they been consulting with the MNLF? “Wouldn’t it be reasonable to assume that any final arrangement will be altogether resented and objected to by the MNLF if their concerns are not considered? What role will they be playing in the new entity? Is it too far-fetched to assume they may resort to armed rebellion again? Wouldn’t that be a repetition of history with the MNLF fomenting trouble this time?
“What about the breakaway faction of the MILF, the BILF? It looks to me like we are heading to a never-ending vicious cycle, to the amusement of other countries, particularly our neighbor Malaysia.”
***
Soon after the present framework agreement with the MILF was announced by President Noynoy Aquino, MNLF founder Nur Misuari and Habib Mujahab Hasim, MNLF’s Islamic Command Council chairman claimed that they were never consulted during the crafting of the framework agreement.
What is more disturbing is when they also said they may resort to armed struggle once again for allegedly having been left out of the process.
On the other hand, peace adviser Teresita Deles and peace panel head Marvic Leonen claimed they did.
Who’s telling the truth?
It no longer matters. The question is now water under the bridge and totally irrelevant. We now have a fait accompli of an agreement with the MILF that will replace the present ARMM.
We like to think that President Noynoy Aquino and his advisers have taken this turn of event into account when they ventured into negotiating with the MILF, starting with Noynoy going to Tokyo to meet with MILF chief Ebrahim Murad which, to many, was tantamount to affording belligerency status to a rebel leader. But again, that’s water under the bridge.
What needs to be bridged now is the seemingly yawning gap between the government and the MNLF spawned by the framework agreement with the MILF which, if not handled properly could lead to the outbreak of violence once again.
***
Ms. Gloria Arroyo’s health has reportedly taken a turn for the worse and is now in the ICU of the Veterans Memorial Hospital. But her husband, Miguel, seems to be nowhere in sight. Where is he? Did he ever return from his last trip abroad? Do the authorities know where he is? Just asking.
***
A couple of weeks ago, I received via email from a friend the following insightful composition, author unknown, which I would like to share with my readers at a time when materialism, greed and lust for power seem prevalent in our midst:
LIVE A LIFE THAT MATTERS
Ready or not, someday it will all come to an end.
There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, no hours or days.
All the things you collected, whether treasures or baubles, will pass to someone else.
Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance. It will not matter what you owned or what you owed.
Your grudges, resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally disappear. So, too, your hopes, ambitions, plans, and to-do list will expire.
The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.
It won’t matter where you came from or what side of the track you lived, at the end.
It won’t matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant. Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.
So, what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured?
What will matter is not what you bought but what you built; not what you got but what you gave.
What will matter is not your success, but your significance.
What will matter is not what you learned but what you taught.
What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, or sacrifice that empowered, encouraged or enriched others to emulate your example.
What will matter is not your competence but your character.
What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many people will feel a lasting loss when you’re gone.
What will matter is not your memories, but the memories of those who loved you.
What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.
Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident. It is not a matter of circumstance but of choice.
***
Reminders (for Noynoy’s action):
1) Filing of charges against officials of the National Food Administration (NFA) during Arroyo’s illegitimate regime. Noynoy himself said on several occasions that there is documentary evidence to prove the venalities in the past in that agency; 2) Investigation of reported anomalies in the GSIS during the watch of Winston Garcia; 3) Facilitating the investigation of rampant corruption in the military and police establishments; and 4) Expeditious action by the AFP on the case of Jonas Burgos.
***
Today is the 163rd day of the sixth year of Jonas Burgos’ disappearance.
***
From an internet friend:
An old prospector shuffled into the town of El Indio, Texas leading a tired old mule.
The old man headed straight for the only saloon in town, to clear his parched throat.
He walked up to the saloon and tied his old mule to the hitch rail.
As he stood there, brushing some of the dust from his face and clothes, a young gunslinger stepped out of the saloon with a gun in one hand and a bottle of whiskey in the other.
The young gunslinger looked at the old man and laughed, saying, “Hey old man, can you dance?”
The old man looked up at the gunslinger and said, “No son, I don’t dance… never really wanted to”
A crowd had gathered as the gunslinger grinned and said, “Well, you old fool, you’re gonna dance now!” and started shooting at the old man’s feet.
The old prospector, not wanting to get a toe blown off, started hopping around like a flea on a hot skillet.
Everybody standing around was laughing..
When his last bullet had been fired, the young gunslinger, still laughing, holstered his gun and turned around to go back into the saloon.
The old man turned to his pack mule, pulled out a double-barreled 12 gauge shotgun and cocked both hammers.
The loud clicks carried clearly through the desert air. The crowd stopped laughing immediately.
The young gunslinger heard the sounds too, and he turned around very slowly.
The silence was deafening. The crowd watched as the young gunman stared at the old-timer and the large gaping holes of those twin 12-gauge barrels.
The barrels of the shotgun never wavered in the old man’s hands, as he quietly said;
“Son, have you ever kissed a mule’s ass?”
The gunslinger swallowed hard and said, “No sir… but…. I’ve always wanted to.”
There are a few lessons for all of us here:
*Don’t be arrogant.
*Don’t waste ammunition.
*Whiskey makes you think you’re smarter than you are.
*Always make sure you know who is in control.
*And finally, Don’t screw around with old folks; they didn’t get old by being stupid.
***
Email: roacrosshairs@yahoo.com
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