How Can I Make Peace Come Alive in My World?

By Ayana Jamnia G. Maranda
Third Year – Class 303, La Salle Academy, Iligan City

We may have different cultures, traditions and religious beliefs that we follow. Despite all of these, with a hypothetical guess, I can say that ‘peace’ is one word by which we are bound and united together. Peace is universal so that each and every one of us understands it but I can say that not all of us live with it fully. As the adage goes, ‘When you find peace within yourself, you become the kind of person who can live at peace with others.’

At an early age, about six, I experienced being in a war with my family. We were about to go home from Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte, to Iligan City when suddenly somebody declared war and in a minute a house was burned, followed by another and so on. Knowing that I’m only six and witnessing these acts that disenfranchise us of the right to life, I was hysterical. I couldn’t internalize everything but my parents were beside me, never left me behind and showed to me that they’re strong and firm and that we could survive it. And yes we did. We were able to ride a native boat safely out of the place.

Years later I began to reflect on what had happened knowing that we’re in Mindanao, that there are different issues needed to be solved from different religions. I was able to conclude that in engaging in war, nobody wins and everybody loses. War is not a solution to a problem but compromises each other’s differences. That’s why we need to understand each other knowing that we’re so diverse, for us not to be led into misconceptions and biases.

Peace can be in the simplest form – a smile. Wearing a smile and sharing it with other people will make them smile back even if you don’t know them. It shows how contagious it is on a positive side. In addition, peace can be achieved in three aspects: peace of mind, body and especially peace of heart. As I gradually grew, I became open to both religions: Christianity and Islam. My mom’s a Catholic and my dad’s a Muslim. They compromised in raising me as a well-rounded child as well as with my siblings in introducing us to both traditions and cultures in order for us to know the background and be open to accepting it. As I watch the world go by, especially here in the Land of Promise, Mindanao, where those two religions are in conflict it saddens and hurts me so much because of the questions that linger in my mind so that gradually I am trying to know and find out what the answer is. Like, why can’t they compromise the same way as my parents did even if they are different in terms of religion? Why can’t they consider the people who are innocent, that is, to get to know a victim of violence? Why can’t they think about the young who are still incapable of dealing with these events and that it would lead them into delusion? All these thoughts I know can help me make peace alive in my world.

For fifteen years of meaningful life blessings, I have been a part of the youth in responding to the call to change: it’s never too late to do something better. Visiting and sharing my blessings at Bantay Bata in our city. Also in celebrating my birthdays with others, responsible for my actions and words, setting a good example on the part of being a Muslim and a Christian by being universal, loving, meeting new friends and not choosing who they are and where they come from, an obedient child and above all one who professes faith in God despite that my parents have different religions.

I alone cannot attain peace. You, Me, We have to do it.