Message of Parliament Deputy Speaker Atty. Omar Yasser C. Sema during the Ash-Shabab Grand Kanduli hosted by the Bangsamoro Youth Commission for 2nd BARMM Founding Anniversary on Thursday, January 21, 2022.
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Bismillah ArRahman ArRahim
Alllahuma Sali Ala Sayyidina Muhammad Wa ala ali muhammadin.
I am honored to be invited to join you in this gathering or kandori on the occasion of the 2nd Anniversary of the Bangsamoro Government.
As I am bound to give my message, I will restate my improved personal message during this morning’s culminating program for the anniversary celebration.
I was tasked to deliver the message of the leader of the Parliament. I had no plan of conveying my own message but it was the singing of the Bangsamoro hymn that compelled me to express my feelings on this joyous moment. There is some portion in the Bangsamoro hymn which reminds us to guard ourselves against any attempt which may undermine our autonomy and to remember those who secured the posterity of our homeland. Without them, we will not be here today celebrating. The next generations are also guided to work harder to fill in the gaps our generation may fail to address.
As such, allow me to pay my respects to our forefathers who have served the people and served the Bangsamoro: the best, the bravest, and the brightest of their generation, who, together with our leaders in the Bangsamoro Government today have put their collective interests and aspirations and set aside personal ambitions with hopes that we may all enjoy utmost liberty, pursue our dreams, achieve our full potential, and exercise our inherent right as a nation.
The excitement of the today’s youth, as they enjoy the fruits of the struggle of the mujahideen and revel in delight of the 2nd anniversary of the BARMM is familiar. Just like you, we were very active. We were already organized but we furthered our ambitions as we wanted to participate in something bigger — to participate in the governance of the ARMM, particularly in our youth sector. We were unaware of the realities of the system we entered into and some us were enamored by it, some were creeped in by the force of insincerity.
It was a difficult time. While our leaders were compelled to transcend from revolutionaries to administrators under a hopeless autonomous government, our lands were bombarded which resulted to massive human displacement. We had no choice but to fight in whatever way we can. Some of us took up arms. Some of us burned the symbols of oppression. Some of us went back to school and equipped ourselves sufficient knowledge so we may contribute in the best degree possible.
Thus, we were able to steer the struggle towards attainment of our objectives. We have not achieved fully our goals yet but nevertheless triumphantly attained the highest level of self-governance after centuries of colonization and illegal annexation. We are proud: standing on the shoulders of the giants of the struggle, and prouder to know, in our innermost selves, that the efforts we undertook, like what our leaders did, painstakingly contributed to the realization of the Bangsamoro Government.
On this note, I am calling upon you, the Bangsamoro youth, to be active and be revolutionary, not reactive. Continue to fight for what truly matter; for what is ideal; and for the truth. Continue the fight against graft and corruption, incompetence, mediocrity and idleness. Strive for excellence, demand honesty and transparency at all levels, aspire for professionalism and maintain your fear of Allah – these are all hallmarks of moral governance!
As I end this message, yesterday, another leader of the Bangsamoro Struggle joined his brothers and sisters in the mercy of Allahu Subhanawataala. Abdul Sahrin known to his comrades as Kong and to our brothers and sisters in the diplomatic community as Hassan Jawali. Sir Kong was a PMAer during the organizing years but chose to serve his people when he joined the batch 300 of the Moro National Liberation Front.
He was a natural military and political tactician, as together with my father and the late chairman Yusop Jikiri, they reengineered the MNLF despite the division and the leadership crisis that confronted the moro struggle. He was one of those who pushed for the idea of convergence in the implementation of all peace agreements under the framework of a new autonomy law, the BBL.
His death appears to be untimely as we are currently celebrating the 2nd year anniversary of the Bangsamoro Government. However, it was Allah’s mercy that he passed away at this time — as we have raised for the first time our Bangsamoro flag, and for the first time raised it at half mast, not to mourn for his passing, but to remember, rejoice and pay tribute to all of them, the martyred and the living, whether Maguindanaon, Tausug, Maranao, Yakan, Sama, Iranon, Sangir, Kolibugan, Badjao, Teduray, Manobo, Balik-islam, and those who have sacrificed and shed their blood, sweat and tears for our hula, bangsa and agama and be inspired by their actions and achievements, and learn from their mistakes and failures, to keep them in our heart and mind as burning embers of the struggle we all ought to continue as we build the foundations of our Bangsamoro Government.
