Moro women turn ‘kulintang’ into instrument for peace

DAVAO CITY, Philippines—The “kulintang,” a musical instrument traditionally played by Moro women during celebration and rituals, served a different purpose on Monday.

By beating a set of gongs horizontally arranged on a wooden stand, drums made from cowhide and a suspended large gong, members of Khadidja, a group of Moro women, called for an end to hostilities.

“We are performing today to call for peace in Mindanao and to demand justice for our Muslim brothers and sisters who are affected and have become victims of the recent hostilities,” said Carlita Barbosa, Khadidja spokesperson.

The group criticized the military operations in Zamboanga Sibugay and Sulu that left thousands of people displaced.

“The ‘all-out justice’ [policy] of President Aquino is just a media blitz. It is a total disorientation and mockery of the real sense of justice. The civilians, mostly the women and children are the true victims of this war,” said Barbosa.

For an hour, the Moro women played the kulintang in front of the Rizal Park here as some Khadidja members displayed placards calling for peace.

“The sound of the kulintang shows our solidarity with all those affected by the recent hostilities and we join them in calling for the immediate resumption of peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. We also call for the immediate rehabilitation of the civilian communities,” Barbosa said.