The third CBFM area I visited is located between the forest block of Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte. According to literatures Zamboanga used to be known as Sambangan (1593), a place where there used to be plenty of wild flowers and beautiful women.  

Zamboanga from Cagayan de Oro is accessible through the national road passing Lanao del Norte, Pagadian  City, then through the municipalities of Sibugaey province. From the municipality of R.T Lim of Sibugaey, an hour ride with “habal habal”(single motor) going through the road of Barangay Guinabucan, Kilometer 19, Barangay Cuyan, then Kilometer 27 which will finally bring you to  sitio Butin, the start of my third CBFM area. From the national highway, that would be about 45kms.

I am used to travelling alone even in remote areas, but going to Zamboanga always gives me a feeling of anxiety. Even my friends here in Mindanao will always have that playful wink to wish you “good luck” whenever one is bound there.  Zamboanga always brings about people’s fear from bomb threats in buses, even on the streets, the markets especially in Zamboanga City and in Ipil.

Last 2005, I had my own share of experience with this bombing activities.  I was inside one of the malls in Zamboanga when an explosion within the vicinity occurred.  I was scared and so were the rest of the people who were just in town to visit.  In consolation to their visitors, the residents will just tell you not to worry because the next bombing will happen again most probably little later after the year. So, if you survived a bomb explosion, it is more likely to cease on the next few weeks or months even maybe a year after that.


My drop off point to my study area was the Lantaka Hotel.  This hotel was facing Basilan a great view to see militaries in full battle gear with bullets as big as canned sardines. Their presence, I thought, was probably for the planned “all out war for MILF” who were believed to be responsible for the brutal beheading of 10 Marines and maybe for the kidnapping of Fr. Bossi, an Italian priest. The thought and their presence made me feel like I’m in a Vietnam War.

In the city, people fear the Abu Sayaf, the MILF, the military operations and bombings but if you’re in the uplands, people will tell you, there could be nothing more fearful than the company guards of the logging and mining companies. They will shoot, without hesitation, right in your forehead if you messed up with their business. According to the upland folks the threat of these guards are very close, very oppressive, long term and “generational”.

 

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