This continues the narrative about the forum sponsored by the Philippine Muslim Women Council on the recognition and empowering of Muslim women, particularly the Bangsa Bae, and the woes of former rebels who were left out in the bonanza of assistance handed out by the government.

Judging by the reaction from readers, the symposium was, by all measure, successful. It has drawn attention to the plight of the neglected Bangsa Bae and other original MNLF mujahideens who were not given proper recognition by the government. It was a clarion call for the BARMM for inclusiveness and to observe egalitarianism in the distribution of the largesse given by the government for the rehabilitation of the rebels. It is worth the effort and time spent on it. What motivated the forum?

The tidbits of information drawn by organizers in the concept paper of the forum provided the answer. The event kicked off the campaign of the PMWC to exhort stakeholders in BARMM to no longer be spectators to what is happening to the autonomous government but to demand a "greater role and participation in building strong political institution and effective bureaucracy". The PMWC recognizes that under the Bangsamoro Basic Law, women are empowered and given participation and has created the Bangsamoro Commission on Women as a manifestation of their recognition as part of shaping the destiny of the region.

But still "the institutional and human resources capacities have yet to be felt" so the PMWC contends. They argued that "there has never been a fair and equitable benefit much less attention given to them from the BARMM government; not only in the political sphere but more on the economic, social, etc." They lamented that they "have suffered in silence and continue to put their fate in the hands of the BM leaders but are ignored to date". Thus, the need for the September 27 dialogue to articulate their aspiration to include these women and the remaining original MNLF fighters left out in the governance of the BARMM. Significantly, the attendees were mostly widows and orphans of surviving former MNLF combatants

There were prominent resource persons who spoke on relevant topics. Member of Regional Parliament Alaisa Alamia spoke on "The BOL & its provisions on Moro Women and Children";

MP Ishak Mastura on "The Moro Women in the Social-Economic Thrust of the Extended BTA"; and IAG Executive Director Benedicto Bacani on "Prospect and challenges in the New Administration and its Impact on Moro women & their children". The highlight of the forum was the tribute given to the MNLF commanders by the tear-jerking speech of PMWC President Bae Norhata Alonto who recalled her struggle being married to Moro revolutionary Abul Khayr Alonto (refer to my previous article about him), now deceased.