This is a story about a young Bangsamoro girl from Carmen, North Cotabato, who because of poverty was deprived of a high school education but whose life took a drastic change when she met a former Governor long branded as Anti-Moro.
Rahma Alamada Canoni, who is fondly called Ate Karima by my young son, Imman, came to my farm in Paco, Kidapawan City along with a cousin, also a young Moro girl named Ombra Guiamad, two years ago.
Ombra Guiamad is actually the younger sister of Mina Balah, wife of mutilation victim Montaser Balah whose right ear was cut off by Christian vigilantes in Carmen in 2004.
Montaser and his wife and their children have stayed with me in my farm since his mutilation and near killing was made public in 2007 and it was because of them that their relatives from Carmen would often come to the farm and visit them.
Rahma and Ombra stayed in the farm for a few weeks one summer two years ago and when I noticed them cleaning the surroundings, I immediately asked them whether they were in school.
When they said “No” I immediately asked them whether they wanted to go to school.
And so last June, both were enrolled as second year students at the Paco National High School where Rahma and Ombra excelled in their academic studies.
But it was the 19-year-old Rahma who showed outstanding performance in her academic studies.
Two weeks ago, shortly after my loss in the elections, I was told that Rahma had passed the Accelerated Learning System (ALS) program.
Instead of going to third year in high school, Rahma has been accepted in college.
Ombra, who is younger, will continue her studies in third year.
I and my brothers welcomed the good news and agreed to help Rahma fulfill her dream of becoming a teacher.
Last week, Rahma was enrolled by my brother, retired colonel Pat, in the Colegio de Kidapawan where she will take up education hoping to return to her village in Carmen as a teacher.
Why am I sharing this story with you?
First, Rahma’s story should serve as an inspiration for other young Bangsamoro girls who have not been given the opportunity to go to school because of poverty. There are people willing to help.
Second, this is my answer to the people who have accused me and my brothers of being Anti-Moro.
For them, I pose this question: Have any one of you ever sent a poor Christian child to college or even just high school?
To them I say, “It is easy to call some of us Anti-Moro but what exactly have you done to show that you also care for the Christians?”
I know that for young Bangsamoro children like Rahma and the many others who have completed college education because of my help, Manny Pinol is their foster father whose only dream is to provide them with education for a better life.
(Photo caption: My son, Imman, and I pose with Rahma Canoni, a young Bangsamoro girl who was accelerated from 2nd year high school to college because of academic excellence.)
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