04/03/2025
๐๐๐๐: Bangsamoro History Month 2025 Message from the Bangsamoro Youth Commission Chairperson Nasserudin Dunding, MA
Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullah!
As we observe this sacred period, we also take this moment to reflect on the defining milestones of our struggle for peace and self-determination. This month marks a significant chapter in the Bangsamoroโs narrative โa time dedicated to reflection, remembrance, and reaffirmation of our identity.
March is a dedicated period to contemplate the significant events that have shaped the Bangsamoroโs experiences. It is a time to pause and honor the depth and resilience of our shared history.
The Bangsamoro History Month, established through Chief Ministerโs Proclamation No. 0001, Series of 2021, is more than just a commemoration. It is a call to revisit the struggles and triumphs that have defined our peopleโs long journey toward peace and self-governance. For the youth, this is an opportunity to not just merely understand history but to embrace its lessons in shaping the Bangsamoro of tomorrow.
This yearโs theme, โPaggunita sa Nakaraan, Aral ng Kasalukuyan, Daan Tungo sa Mapayapang Kinabukasan,โ underscores the importance of reflection and action. Learning from history is not just about rememberingโit is about ensuring that the mistakes of the past do not repeat, and that the costs made were not in vain.
The sacrifices of those who came before us laid the foundation for the freedoms and opportunities we now hold. The Bud Dajo and Jabidah massacres serve as painful reminders of the injustices that fueled our people's resistance.
The Dansalan Declaration, the formation of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (M**F), and the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) have all marked fundamental milestones in our pursuit of self-determination. These events are not mere historical footnotes; they stand as enduring testaments to the resilience and courage of the Bangsamoro people.
History is not merely a record of the pastโit is a guide for the present and the future. The transition from conflict to governance, embodied in the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and the work of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), demonstrates that the struggle has evolved.
While the battles of our ancestors were fought on the battlefield, todayโs fight is about leadership, policy-making, and empowering communities. The youth must recognize their role in this shiftโfrom inheritors of struggle to architects of progress.
FULL TEXT: https://byc.bangsamoro.gov.ph/2025/03/03/speeches/bangsamoro-history-month-2025-message-from-the-bangsamoro-youth-commission-chairperson-nasserudin-dunding-ma/