A weekend in a Moro Land

Since my boyfriend had been detailed now to Davao sub-office (he stayed in Manila for 17 months), it means a lot of traveling to their hometown in Kabacan, North Cotabato during weekends.

On Saturday morning, after buying supplies for their restaurant, we started our journey to the Moro lands. By the way, let me give you a brief background of my boyfriend’s family history. Originally, their bloodlines were those of Moslems (Maguindanaoans). However, since his grandfather fell in love and married to a Bulacaeña, whose families were of Catholic descent, and it being a major issue, he’s decided to give-up his religion and was eventually converted into a Christian. And so his children were brought up as Christians and thus his children’s children. They were for a time regarded as ‘traitors’ by their own Moslem families and relatives.But times have changed. People changed. Now they have best of the both worlds and co-existing harmoniously among Christians and Moslems alike.

When one would hear of places like Cotabato, or any provinces which are dominantly inhabited by Moros (Moslems), people easily associate the pictures that the media has painstakingly depicted in their reports…war-freaked people, heavily armed civilians, chaos, and hostility. On the contrary, the road to Cotabato is not deviant from the roads leading to non-Muslim provinces. You would still find yourself enjoying the mountainous scenery (especially the majestic Mt. Apo), fresh air, and the simplicity of rural life with peope going about their own businesses.

Road going to Kabacan

Windy and serene...

A gargantuan tree (maybe a Balete tree) withstanding the powerful winds...

The brownish mountain is the majestic Mt. Apo

Raging rapids due to heavy rains

We left at 10:00 am and arrived at 12:30pm. It was a perfect time to travel, it was gloomy, windy, and the scent of rain envelopes your whole being, tantalizing your senses…

The following day (Sunday), another adventure awaits. We’ll be going to Midsayap, an hour drive from Kabacan, and another 45 minutes travel to Cotabato City. Honestly, it’s going to be my first time to visit ‘hard core’ Moro territories beyond Kabacan, which is the last line of defense of the Phil. Army. It’s going to be so exciting! Asalumalaikum!