Visual Ethnography | Photographing Mindanao
In 1968, more than 20 moro youth were recruited and trained in Corregidor to become combatants. The Marcos Regime had plans of conquering Sabah. This Operation was called Operation Merdeka. When these young recruits learned they will be fighting their brother muslims, they refused to fight. To silence the unrest, The Armed Forces of the Philippines killed all the trainees. There was only one survivor to tell the tale.
The Jabidah Massacre was the Moro community’s wake up call to unite against the injustices and discrimination they are facing as a community. This led to the formation of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). Four decades after the massacre, the struggle still continues.
Moro Protester in Cotabato City listens intently to the rally speaker as he spoke of the history of the horror that happened in Corregidor last March 1968. The Jabidah Massacre Issue led to the formation of the MNLF. From MNLF, MILF was formed. And from MILF, BIFF was born.
Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters shouting Allahu Akbar, an Islamic Phrase that means “God is the Greatest”.
Photo Notes
During our interview with Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Central Committee Secretary General Romeo Sema of the MNLF Sema Group. Thanks John Paul Bueno for the capture.
Photos above is part of the Moro Documentary project I’m doing as part of Kilab Altermedia with photojournalists Barry Ohaylan, John Paul Bueno, and Bhong del Rosario.