3 preschools to develop “Why we need Books for the Barrios” from the Maj-Gel Juancho M Sabban, #Marines, Philippines

Posted on April 8, 2010

REASONS WHY WE NEED “BOOKS FOR THE BARRIOS“

For almost four decades now we have been fighting insurgency/terrorism in this island province of Sulu. Ravaged by endless bloody conflict for various reasons, many of the basic needs of the people are left undelivered. For a long period, pacification campaigns were conducted but the problem got worse until we finally realized that we cannot solve this problem through guns and bullets. I remembered a solution done a century ago during Pershing’s time here at the same place. He brought in the “Thomasites”.

They were so called because they were brought in by a vessel called USS Thomas. They were educators/teachers. And things were not the same thereafter. Tausugs or Suluanos were taught how to read and write. They valued this new experience and became friendlier and receptive to development. In the long run it led to precious peace. Sulu was tamed and people were educated. This prevailed for several decades until the secessionist movement espoused by the Moro National Liberation Front came into being. That disrupted peace and chaos erupted. It made things abnormal that children were almost unable to go to school. Nobody understood the solution but fighting went on.

Until we realized we have to go back to “basics”. For a generation the concept of learning was replaced by violence. The government implemented an all-out war solution. This dragged on and there was no end in sight. When I became a battalion commander in February 1999, I initiated a softer approach. We found out that rebels who surrenered clamored for education for their children since they themselves were deprived of it. When I asked them why they joind the rebellion, their simple answer was they did not have other opportunities since they were uneducated. They wanted change for their children. Hence the Marines pursued a different approach certainly less violent than war. They built schools and donated books. They became teachers following the steps of the “Thomasites” a century earlier. Tausugs came out and realized that there are no biases against them as they once perceived. Children had visions and dreamt of a brighter future.

Today this is reflected in our partnership with “Books for the Barrios Foundation”. We can now pursue better a mission to give the people of Sulu a better future through education. “Books for the Barrios” spearheaded by Nancy and Dan Harrington is a rebirth of the “Thomasites” with their passionate endeavor to give the children of Sulu a bright future through the improvement of learning methods. This starts with pre-school children learning centers. Books, writing materials and toys make education more fun for them. This actually veers them away from the violence experienced at an early age. Modern techniques in child care are also implemented focusing on sanitation to good manners. By giving attention to their children’s future through education, Tausug parents themselves now value a peaceful environment to give their children a better chance in life.

For the military, by following a more constructive approach attaining peace and development is at hand. Communities start to grow where once battlegrounds exist. Life grows where in the past Sulu was declared a “no man’s land”. Level of violence has been reduced. Children now carry books not their father’s rifle. Education is the long term solution to insurgency or terrorism. Education makes people understand each other better. More books for the barrios.

Major General Juancho M Sabban

Commander, Joint Task Force Comet

Armed Forces of the Philippines

Jolo, Sulu