Muslim Yuppies : Yep to Serve

by Samira Gutoc

They studied in Harvard, Oxford and the country's best schools but they have returned to their hometowns where conflict has displaced more than half-million people in the SOuthern Philippines.

Young Moro Professionals Network is a global group of like minded individuals who strive to use their skills and resources to serve the marginalized communities. They use the internet to expose the Mindanao situation.

According to one of the mentors of the YMPN, Abhoud Lingga, the last four decades of the Moro rebellion. two million refugees, at least 50,000 deaths . 535 mosques, 200 schools destroyed and 35 towns and cities affected .

YMPN launched MYSPEAK to bring together the stakeholders of the peacetalks including the MILF and MNLF. MYSPEAK stands for Mindanao Youth Speaking out on the Peace Process and current issues of the day. MYSPEAK 1 held on February 6 in AIM,, Makati tackled the Mindanao conflict and was moderated by recent Harvard Project for Asianand International Relations Presenter Karen Davila, Ten Outstanding Young Men Awardee of 2008.

MYSPEAK Team members include Aleem Guiapal, an AIM alumni fromMaguindanao, Director Rohaniza Sumndad of the Asia-America Initiative, environmentalist Jal Salic and Mohammad Tani Basman , former president of the University of the Philippine Muslim Student Association.

The YMPN chaired by UP Student Regent Shahana Abdulwahid will launch the Ramadhan Fair during EIDUL FItr holidays on September 21 at the Quezon City Theatre , QC Circle.

For details, check www.bangsamoro.com, www.ympn.org, www.ympnblogspot.com or visit their office at Jocfer Building (where Office on MuslimAffairs is located, and near EVER Mall), Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City. Email secretariat@ympn.o