MILF:Editorial -- Managing frustration re: BBL delay

Editorial posted to the MILF Website (Nov 8): Editorial -- Managing frustration re: BBL delay

There is little way to doubt that people’s frustration over the delayed passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is growing. This is a natural response of normal people when something good they expect does not happen.

This validates the time-tested thesis in peace-making, which runs thus: “When peace making gains ground, frustration goes down, and vice-versa.”  Explained in another way, the higher the expectation rises and does not happen, the worse the frustration would become.

The only consolation is that until now people have not concluded that the BBL would not pass at all. Thanks to their trust to the leadership of President Benigno Aquino III.

But this would not be long, because the hour of reckoning, whether BBL passes or not, is not far away.  In the end, people will not only conclude but the ultimate truth will explode right on their faces.

Right now, the BBL seems heading towards a frozen trail in the Senate, which has only eight session days left to pass the proposed law. There are still at least three senators who are going to interpellate namely, Senator Vic Sotto, Juan Ponce Enrile, and Miriam Santiago. In the House, it continues to be haunted by lack of quorum. So far, the leadership in the House has failed to solve this continuous absenteeism of congressmen and congresswomen.

Seriously speaking, the MILF is doing everything possible to manage this growing frustrations. Of course, it is not an easy undertaking, because when people are emotionally charged, it is very difficult to communicate. Frustration is toxic.

Surely, suppressing or ignoring frustration is not an option; it would only make it worse. When not handled well, surely it can build up of resentment that --- even when over only small things --- can overwhelm any desire to relate in a positive fashion.

Fully aware of this, the MILF is resorting to many creative ways to manage this frustration. One way is educating our people, including members of the MILF, through the conduct of training or seminar highlighting the difficulties faced by other conflict resolution models around the world. The case of the BBL is not isolated. We also engaged our people in various positive or productive activities, such as in farming, fishing, etc. We also bear in mind that under the Aquino dispensation, peace-making has not only made strides after strides but more and more people, groups, institutions, and the international community are supporting the search for peace in Mindanao. Further, the MILF firmly believes that there is still life even after the non-passage of the proposed law. More importantly, as Muslims, we believe in what the Holy Qur’an says that there are things that we want for ourselves but not good for us (and there are things that appear bad but in reality good for us).

The final real thing is that we are doing everything possible to push the BBL and if it does not pass, it certainly is the will of God.

http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/editorial/item/661-managing-frustration-re-bbl-delay