Hundreds
of young Cultural Workers nationwide tried their luck to be part of the First
National Youth Forum on Heritage at Philippine High School for the Arts, Los
Banos, Laguna. Only 74 applicants made it to the final and become the delegates
of the said forum held recently on November 11-14, 2015 with the National Hero
inspired theme, “Entering the Future, Remembering the Past”.
The
Bureau on Cultural Heritage-ARMM’s Cultural Affairs Officer Sheryan Pendaliday
Guialel is one of the representatives for the Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao. The forum was filled with group discussions, deliberations and
decision-makings towards the drafting of Makiling Agenda 2020 for the preservation
and conservation of Philippine Heritage. As a young peace advocate who is eager
to share knowledge and ideas, Ms. Guialel has opened the minds of most
delegates regarding the identity of Moro and Muslims in the Philippines.
“We
are just like other ethno-linguistic groups in the Philippines. We already have
our identity, practices, and beliefs even before the coming of Islam. We are
called Moro in our history because we never wanted to be conquered. Then, the
peaceful religion of Islam come to us with good news spreading love with
everybody. Being Moro is never synonymous to Being Muslims. It is two distinct
identity, we must not judge!” said by Ms. Guialel as she presented and
discussed the issues of cultural identity in Southern Philippines.
Lot
of positive feedbacks, comments, and reactions from other delegates coming from
Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao were brought as they have understood the real
challenges that Moro has for centuries. “I felt
Sheryan’s passion and struggle and I do hope that more people see that
different layers of our cultural identity. I hope that she will push forward,
and that she will continue to inspire others, just as she has inspired me…”
said by Gabriel Caballero, one of the forum’s organizers.
The
National Youth Forum on Heritage was concluded with the ratification of the
Makiling Agenda 2020 by the delegates as a result of their passion and love for
the Philippine Heritage. The said agenda will be worked on by the networks of
the forum nationwide. By 2020, young cultural workers envisions a well
preserved and conserved Philippine Heritage. Let us be aware to care!#