Pilipinas Forum 8: On the Abu Sayyaf

(This is what I submitted to inq7.net on June 20, 2001, Pilipinas Forum's column.)

Exchanges on the Abu Sayyaf, 2001

Yes, my family and I were there. Yes, we were in the island resort when these 24 armed men docked at the main pier around 5:00 am today (May 27) in their tri-engined Volvo-Penta powered "kumpit". We were in the island resort when they forced open the bay cottages and took hostage 20 guests, 4 of the island resort's staff, and loaded the hostages on to their "kumpit". We were on the island resort when the kidnappers decided that these hostages were enough (Thank God!) and would slow down their "kumpit". We were THAT CLOSE to becoming kidnap victims and maybe just another lousy statistic.

Lawlessness. Wanton, brazen & audacious. It is real and it never sleeps. Think about that if only for a moment.

-Sam Aherrera

There are lawless elements in the society that are beyond hope and rehabilitation. The negative impact imposed by the kidnappers/bandits to ordinary citizens goes beyond the pecuniary and psychic costs. There's also the societal cost in terms of drop in tourist arrivals (a deathknell to the tourism industry actually) and lower foreign investments.

It should be noted, as an afterthought to the discussions on the poverty issue, that providing pro-poor programs, infra. sevices, etc. are necessary but not the sufficient conditions needed to spur the country's growth. Peace and order is the precondition to all of these growth strategies/programs. That means we should get rid of all these penguins, jokers, riddlers, luthors, banes, etc. Let the terrible swift sword of dark justice fall upon them!

-Glenn de Guzman

Pursue those *ssholes and shoot them. I don't believe in coddling them, not with 6-month extended negotiations, not with libyan ransom money (could have been money laundering for all we know, definitely was pabango money, at the very least), not with ceasefire policies. No more. These bullies should learn that hostage taking does not pay. Feel very very sorry for the victims and really I wouldn't know what to do if i were in their or their families' shoes. They deserve to be rescued, and safe and sound in their own homes. now, more then ever, i wish that those rambo-like characters were true to life and that they could go in to the bad guys' lair and blow their brains off and still manage tosave each and every one of the victims with minimal damage. sigh!

-Mayeen Magno

This kidnap for ransom business is becoming lucrative for these bandits. Thanks to ransom money paid for previous kidnappings, they now have the "capital" to launch long range operations. I just heard reports the Volvo-powered kumpits are almost twice as fast as our Navy vessels in the area. I hope this doesn't send the wrong signals to other armed groups that there is money in this exercise.

I just hope we in the forum are 100% united that these people hold no ideological pursuits whatsoever. I believe they are in fact destroying the reputation of Muslim Filipinos to the rest of the world. I wonder what the common sentiment is, including those of Muslim communities. This is important if we are to gain support of civilians to find the culprits. They may easily find coddlers if some people still believe in their false cause.

-GiLBerT Cunanan

Pilipinas Forum 7: 12th anniversary

Pilipinasforum@yahoogroups.com turned 12 years old today.

Me and a friend from UP Sapul, Monching Romano, formed it. It started with just a handful of our friends, probably 30 or 40. When the discussion group was formed, words spread out of the dynamic forum, and soon the membership expanded to 300+. Some of the articulate ideologues from the left to the far right mixed up to debate on many topics.

Here's the message history as of today. The heaviest postings and debates were in 2001. That's where Edsa 2 and Edsa 3 happened. There were many other threads that sparked heavy debates, sometimes 60+ postings per day. There were fireworks everyday including weekends for many months.

In April 21 or 22, 2001, a new friend then who enjoyed the debates so much, Sam Aherrera, invited the group for a get together in his house. I think it was the first big get together of PF then.

In one of those passionate discussions: seated, from left: Monching Romano, Bob Herrera-Lim, Erick Planta, Ozone Azanza. Standing were Victoria Suarez and Kori Coronel. There was no facebook then, not even friendster. Yahoogroups was the most popular discussion platform then, at least in the Philippines.

A mix up of discussions, the attitude lifted from the endless exchanges online.

Sam, pointing, and wife Nabie, were the generous hosts that night. One of the articulate debaters then was Lourdes Gordolan, here walking.

Fermin Taruc (shaved head), Mayeen Magno, Gina L, Nap Imperial.
Photos from Eric Tiongks, posted in the PF Files section. Thanks Eric.

The group picture before the great goodbye for the night.

Twelve years on, many PF members and debates have new or different lives. People have changed jobs, have new careers, some have already expired and departed, others have permanently migrated abroad, etc. PF still exists until today, but no longer the same dynamic group. Well, there are many other discussion outlets now -- googlegroups, facebook, blogs, websites, etc.

To friends who gave PF such a wonderful history, SUPER-SUPER THANK YOU. Hope that our lives and friendship will cross path again.