Love (“AMORE”) conquers all

Neneng Muarip is a community development worker who has worked with many poor, remote, conflict-affected communities in Muslim Mindanao. She has stood witness to the prevalent poverty and violence in the region. In fact, she is no stranger to such.

Neneng grew up in Tubugan, Basilan, where she witnessed the brutal killing of her aunts, uncles, cousins and other relatives during the military offensive against Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) during the Martial Law era. These memories, clearly etched in her heart, led to her hatred for all Christians. She even used to think of how to kill her Christian best friend.

Early on, she learned how to handle a gun and every year, she saved up enough money until she could buy one herself. She was trained by the MNLF in war and was even sent to Libya for seven years to master the art of war.

But time, age and love has toned down some of her hatred towards Christians. Meeting her husband was instrumental to the change in her. His religiosity rubbed off on her.

Now, Neneng’s heart is not anymore filled with hatred. She is now a catalyst for development through her work as community development worker for the USAID-funded Alliance for Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy (AMORE) program. She has grown to love her work and also aims for the program to succeed. This, she knows, can only be possible if the community organizations – Barangay Renewable Energy and Community Development Associations (BRECDAs) – are well-equipped with skills, and their values and ownership for the project are cultivated and enhanced.