Establishment of a Migrant Community: the Story of the Jamahs in Iloilo City ______Even Religion
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Asia Pacific Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, Vol. 4, No.1, February 2016 _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Asia Pacific Journal of Establishment of a Migrant Community: The Multidisciplinary Research Story of the Jamahs in Iloilo City, Philippines Vol. 4 No.1,6-12 February 2016 Ronaldo F. Frufonga, Vilma S. Sulleza P-ISSN 2350-7756 West Visayas State University-Janiuay Campus, Janiuay, Iloilo, Philippines E-ISSN 2350-8442 [email protected], [email protected] www.apjmr.com Date Received: January 20, 2016; Date Revised: March 3, 2016 Abstract - This study was conceptualized to reconstruct the history of the Muslims in Iloilo City who attend worship at the San Nicolas mosque. The study employed the descriptive case study method. The in-depth and semi –structured interviews were the main tools. Other tools were informal and direct observations and focus group discussion. Inconsistencies in the narratives were straightened out in the focus group discussion. The key informants were five Maranao Muslim males from Marawi City. Reasons for migration are mostly economic and majorities are traders from Lanao Del Sur. In the 1970’s more migrants came most were single young males to avoid the then conflict between the Muslim rebels and the government troops during the Martial Law. All of the first generation migrants are males, the wives and female children followed once the males had established themselves. There were no concrete problems they have encountered as a community. The second and third generations have already adapted to the Ilonggo lifestyle. In general they encountered no resistance from the Ilonggos, instead, they feel accepted. They have no recollection of stories of resistance from the first generation migrants either. Keywords: establishment of migrants, Jamahs, migrant community, migration INTRODUCTION factors attribute to the negative characteristics Numerous of people in the Philippines tend to operating at the center of origin whereas pull transfer from one place to another for different factors identify the positive characteristics [4] at the reasons. Oftentimes, people move from far flung areas center of destination. to towns and even to cities for different grounds. This There are essentially two types of migrants. One movement is both voluntary and involuntary in nature. is due to persecution for various reasons, and the other This movement brought changes to the number of is economic reasons. Persecution is essentially either population and its distribution in a certain area. for political or religious reasons. In such cases, the The term migrant denotes a person living outside persons are given asylum to adopted country. Since, it his or her native country. Many leave their homes would be inhuman to send them back. An economic because there are not enough fertile pastures and migrant does not receive these privileges. It could be arable land, food, water, work or other fundamental noticed in the framework of this distinction that only requirements. The consequences of environmental the voluntary migration situations are susceptible to be catastrophes, such as drought or floods, can also force described in terms of complex psychological thousands to leave their native countries. Today motivations ex ante formulated. In a save the women roughly two thirds of the world‟s populations live in and the children situation the instinct to preserve its economically poor countries. The growing gap own life and integrity will dominate the individual between rich and poor is the most significant driving reactions without any other more sophisticated force for global migration. In 1960 the income of the considerations. Wars, natural disasters, political richest fifth of the world‟s population was on average and religious persecutions, the lack of vital natural 30 times higher than the poorest fifth. By the year resources, social insecurity, all of these generates 1990 it was already 60 times higher [1]. large human movements for which the shelter Migration, any type, [2] whether documented or motive is prevailing, [1]. undocumented, forced or voluntary can be People who migrate from one place to another explained in terms of push-pull factors [3]. Push bring with them their respective culture, language, and 6 P-ISSN 2350-7756 | E-ISSN 2350-8442 | www.apjmr.com Frufonga et al., Establishment of a Migrant Community: The Story of the Jamahs in Iloilo City _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ even religion. Reasons for migration are mostly due This study was conducted to reconstruct the to poverty, violence, economic opportunity, better history to establishing Muslim community in the city living conditions and for security. In the Philippines, of Iloilo. An increase in population among Muslims economic condition is the most reason for migration has paved the way for expanding their community and of people with the dominant pattern of migration is even establishments of various businesses in the city from rural to urban areas. every year. They have been observed to have In the Philippines, it is a fact that there are lots of established their business not only in the city Bicolanos, Ilocanos, Ilonggos, Cebuanos, Muslims downtown area but in the different malls in the city as and the like who migrate to urban areas [5]. well. Thus, the researchers have thought to However, the migration of Muslims always catches investigate this phenomenon of the gradual increase in the attention of people in urban areas. What makes population and how they established their community them different from the rest are their religion, as their identity from the rest of the Christians in Iloilo traditions, beliefs and most of all the issues City. It is worthwhile to consider this investigation concerning Muslim terrorism. The enormous rate of because the researchers wanted to find out the factors population growth and the poor perspectives for that direct their ways or lead them in achieving their economic development in some regions give rise to a recent life statuses and especially their establishment tremendous migratory pressure, [6]. their own community particularly in San Nicolas, La In 1970 was a decade of turmoil in Mindanao. Paz, Iloilo City. The so-called “land of promise” was besieged with a Further, this study is significant to the local bloody Muslim secessionist movement met with government unit to formulate and establish policies strong resistance from the military. When then that can support the growth and development among President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law in Muslim groups and also of the local economy through 1972, many fled the violence-torn island. In search of trade. It will further establish measures to generate a peaceful place to live, some 12 Muslims from Lanao moral revenues from the Muslim community in Iloilo del Sur found their way to the tranquil Iloilo City. On City which can also a source of information for the November 5, 1977, the Iloilo Islamic Association was city for policy planning. established, the forerunner of what is now known as the Iloilo Muslim Community (IMC), the umbrella OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY organization of Muslims in the city. According to The study aimed to reconstruct the history of the Sammy Hadjimanan, IMC spokesperson and Muslim Muslims in Iloilo City, particularly those who attend Federation Region 6 public information officer, nearly worship at the San Nicolas mosque. Specifically, the four decades after the establishment of the Iloilo study addresses the following objectives: Why did the Islamic Association, the number of Muslims in the Muslims in Mindanao migrate to Iloilo City? How city has grown between 2,000 to 3,000 [7]. did they establish their community? What problems According to Hadjimanan, Muslims feel welcome did they meet? How were the problems resolved? in Iloilo City. The Ilonggos are kind and do not What is the dynamics of relations they established discriminate the Muslim community. The very first with the non-Muslims in the community? mosque was located in Quezon Street, City Proper. It was where Muslims gathered to worship. The mosque MATERIALS AND METHODS moved to several areas of the city – Young Men‟s The study employed the descriptive case study Christian Association building on Iznart Street and in method as a means of exploring what constitute Pueblo Concepcion, Mandurriao district – until it Muslim migrants realities and modes of being. Case found a permanent place in Barangay Magdalo, La study [8] as researcher explores in depth a program, Paz district. Now, there are three thriving Muslim an event, an activity, a process, or one or more communities in Iloilo – one in Barangay Magdalo, La individuals. For this study, qualitative research can Paz; one in Barangay San Isidro, La Paz; and another also be described as an effective model that occurs in in Barangay San Pedro, Molo district. Hadjimanan a natural setting that enables the researcher to develop said leaders of these communities meet regularly and a level of detail from being highly involved in the discuss concerns, [7]. actual experiences [8]. No hypothesis was tested in the study. Further, case studies attempt to learn more 7 P-ISSN 2350-7756 | E-ISSN 2350-8442 | www.apjmr.com Asia Pacific Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, Vol. 4, No. 1, February 2016 Frufonga et al., Establishment of a Migrant Community: The Story of the Jamahs in Iloilo City _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ about a little known or poorly understood situation stay in Iloilo are temporary and seasonal. They [9]. claimed to be the biggest and oldest cluster in Iloilo The respondents or the key informants of the City. The clustering is based on the place of origin, as study were five Muslim males with age ranging from well as blood and affiliations by marriages. The kind 32 to 65. All of them are Maranaos coming from the of business that one engages in is also a consideration, City of Marawi or the province of Lanao del Sur. with emphasis on “legitimate only enterprise”.