The Bangsamoro Commission on the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (BCPCH) convened professional researchers, writers and historians to help rectify “historical injustices,” the commission’s chairman said at the sidelines of a two-day historical forum.
“Historical injustices,” is how the late Chairman Salamat Hashim described the portrayal of the Moro people in history written by westerners.
Dr. Salem Lingasa, BCPCH chairman, said the commission should be part of the professional growth of young Moro individuals, thus, adding that “they should excel in the field of history.”
Lingasa said the act of correcting historical injustices is the continuity of the Moro struggle for the right to self-determination that he wanted the young people of his team to carry through.
Lingasa, a member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front peace panel, cited the role of the young Moro professional members of his team in the writing of the Bangsamoro history – Aaron Jeff Usman, lead chief of operations and program manager; Cerwin Dago, information assistant; Athirah Baguilan, Development Management Officer; Esnaira Salem, senior history researcher; Abdulasis Tukuran, archivist; and Morshed Tumindig, DMO I and lead assistant.
Lingasa said young Muslims should also be aware that the act of “worship” in Islam is not merely the overt physical acts of performing prayers.
He said he wants the young Moro members of his BCPCH team to also learn the essence of the Sahada (declaration of faith) and the Salah or daily prayers, especially of the zakat (obligatory dues for the poor members of the community).