AMORE paves way to healing of family grudges
Bongo Island , Parang, Maguindanao -- Kasan Kotongan, barangay captain of Kutongan, a small coastal village in Bongo Island off the coast of Cotabato , had not set foot on his birthland for almost a year. A long-standing grudge between his clan and another clan in the village prevented him from going to the island for fear of his life. Even though he was the village chief, no one could assure his safety from a ‘rido’, the Muslim term for a feud between families that subscribe to the old credo of “An eye for an eye, a tooth for tooth.”
In April 2005, however, Kasan was again able to roam his barangay freely and fearlessly. He was confident that he was safe because he was with the “bearer of light”--the AMORE Program, which introduced development in the village by energizing participating households therein with stand-alone solar home systems (as the barangay, being coastal, could not be connected to the power grid). AMORE community development workers scheduled a community consultation in the barangay prior to the actual selection of beneficiaries of the solar home systems. During the consultation, Kasan and his allies sat on one side of the hall, and his rival family sat on the other side. It was surprising enough for AMORE to have an overwhelming attendance during the consultation, much more to be able to convince feuding families to meet in one place and discuss among themselves peace and development prospects brought about by the AMORE Program.
After the consultation, the two families shook hands and vowed to work together to make the project successful. Having light in the village was most important of all. But of all the villagers, Kasan was the happiest. He has finally come home.
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