Mindanao, often referred to by some as the Promise Land of the Philippines, is one of the islands with the largest land area in the Philippine archipelago.  It is rich in minerals with soil ideal for agriculture.

The indigenous tribes in Mindanao have been there for a very long time.  They mostly hail from the south, primarily from Malaysia and Indonesia.

The conflict in Mindanao has been going on since the end of World War II.  While the rest of the Philippines preoccupied itself with rebuilding and was engrossed with development and expansion, Mindanao became the destination of a number of Filipinos who wanted to begin a new life.

Christian settlers in Mindanao from the Visayas and Luzon began to come in waves. Understandably, the tribes that have settled there ahead, and which were predominantly Muslims, felt invaded and deprived of their rights to the land.

Because of the lack of education and political representation, these tribes became the minority in the land they called their own.  We hear stories of land grabbing, oppression, and abuse, which according to them, prompted them to arm themselves in order to have a fair fight and maintain balance.

The Philippine government, through different administrations, has tried to reason with the Muslims in Mindanao throughout the years. So many peace efforts were initiated and failed. I myself, in my lifetime, have seen peace efforts prosper and succeed.  But with every group that returns to the fold of law, another one emerges. It seems like there is no end to this. In my honest opinion, I do not think there will be peace in Mindanao as long as we are indifferent with each other. We have to accept each other not as Muslims or Christians, but as Filipinos. As long as we see each other differently, the peace in the Promise Land will always be elusive.