Land of mercy and compassion
They are a minority in a country that does not grant them citizenship. Through and through, the dominant group regards them as illegitimate inhabitants. Through the years they have families of their own despite such dilemma. This condition makes their stay unbearably uncertain. Anytime they can be forcibly driven out to anywhere.
But how can this be happening when we recognize harmony amid diversity. When we acknowledge and respect others' religious affiliations and races. When we live in an interdependent and diverse world, thus the concept of being different shouldn't be perceived as something alienating.
But the world is far from ideal. Some recognize a strong difference between color, creed, or religion. And so they delineate based on one's status and beliefs. This ends up with so much divisions, hatred, and persecutions.
They are the minority whose beliefs defy the popular. And so they are being persecuted and sent away. Country after country, they beg for acceptance, but to no avail. Sailing the vast sea with their families, including their vulnerable children, with just few sustenance but no direction, expose them to endless threats.
Yes they are being denied citizenship. The Rohingya Muslims in Burma have been stripped with their rights – the freedom to travel, work, basic education and social security. They are persecuted and sent away to places with great uncertainty. Knocking the heart of every country for acceptance but only rejection is being offered.
The situation has become a game of pass the ball using actual human beings. Is this despite the very reason of the existence of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) whose aim is to unite countries in a regional scale? Is this a reflection of the region's weak commitment to peace and humanity?
Good governance begins with realizing the true value of human life. And it is unacceptable and unrelenting for a union of nations that has pledged to secure the wellbeing of the region to just ignore the atrocities happening at its doorstep. The forging of relationships with other ASEAN countries does not mean abandoning cultural differences. It is instead embracing the multicultural diversity in an interconnected community.
Even if countries such as Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia rejected the refugees, Filipinos take this in an opposite perspective. We open our hearts for them.
And why not? Historically, the Philippines has been home to refugees. Literatures point to various accommodations: "the White Russians in 1920, the Spanish Republicans in 1939, the Jews in 1947 during President Manuel Quezon's time, the second wave of White Russians in 1951 during President Elpidio Quirino's time, the Iranians in 1979 , the Indochinese, close to half a million of them coming to or transiting through the Philippines from 1975 to 1992, the East Timorese in 1999, and the individual cases who have come in search of much needed asylum from Congo, Somalia, Iraq, Iran, Palestine, Ukraine, Syria, etcetera."
Not only because of our being a member of regional accords but religion and culture play an important part why we see this social phenomenon differently. We were brought up with the religious teachings to accommodate strangers. It is also very much in our culture to accommodate strangers with our unique and sincere kind of hospitality. They may have different beliefs and looks but they are still our brothers and sisters in the eyes of our divine creator. We believe in a religion that puts us in a responsibility to take good care of our brothers and sisters. We are their keepers.
To take them in and provide temporary refuge has become a moral responsibility in an interdependent world. We were helped during our times of distress. And so we cannot just be blinded from the sufferings of others, from intense persecution. To refuse them is just like refusing our own brothers and sisters.
We can extend the hand of welcome even with so many problems of our own! The Philippines, truly, is a land of mercy and compassion.