It's time to rise and be proud, and make this land great once again. Let the past be buried in our minds, and face the future with great strength. Muslims and Christians work hand and hand, making this land a great place to lie in justice, equality, security, and harmony, as means of peace in Mindanao. Won't you try to lend a helping hand. Save this land that we own. Let's preserve it for the future generations; till the right time will come...

I first heard the song from the voices of children, dressed in costumes that mirrored the multi-cultural society that Sulu is, who sang before Asia America Initiative vice-president Albert Santoli during his two-day visit to the provincial capital of Jolo.

Composed by Romy Reyes, the song became popular after the assassination of Bishop Ben De Jesus. When the children sang it, their voices and eyes did not only appeal to their guests (to include former United States Ambassador to Costa Rica and William H. Donner Foundation Trustee Curtin Winsor and Washington D.C. Free Mason Akram Elias), who came in representing the private citizens in the United States who believe in peace, but to brother Filipinos from across over a thousand islands.

Our kind hosts, congressional aspirant Atty. Nabil Tan and Sulu Provincial Health Officer Dr. Farrah Tan-Omar, were gracious enough to show us not only the warmth in the hearts of Joloanos, but the stark reality on the plight of the children in the island as well.

One day in Jolo was more than enough to usher the thought right before me: what lies ahead for these children, if they could not be well taken care of? From their voices, one can feel the childlike pain of living in war-afflicted community, learning in an environment of conflict, or even terror, amid a society whose predominant religion is well defined as the path to peace.

But, hello... This is Jolo. Welcome.

DEPRESSING FIGURES

One of the four provinces of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Sulu consists of 157 islands that form part of 18 municipalities, among them the provincial capital of Jolo. The total population of 619, 668 are distributed in 410 barangays. The province ranks third in the whole ARMM in terms of population, constituting about 25.69 percent of 2.4 million persons in the region.

87,988 persons live in the islands of Jolo, as per statistical data provided by the National Census and Statistics Office for the year 2000. Half of the population is below 19 years of age.

According to the same data, about 35% of the population 5 years old and over had at least attained a post-secondary education; and 7.88% had attended or finished higher level of education.

The same office likewise reported that in the whole of the ARMM region, 102,171 children aged 10-14 are illiterate, as contrasted to the 228,413 figure of literature children (which could mean children (which could mean that not too many children have been sent to school, or that not too many were interested to go to school for a number of reasons); 243,522 teens aged 15 to 19 are literate, but only 171,500 aged 20 to 24 can read and write, and 49,657 couldn’t (a "better" picture, though sigh drawing still); 133,980 of those aged 25 to 29 are literate, and 43,814 aren't; 104,089 of those between 30 to 34 are literate, 40,798 are not; and the eye brow lifting figures are those in the 35 to 39 bracket with 104,099 literacy rated in contrast with the 55,883 illiteracy figure; as well as those belonging to the 40 to 44 age bracket, with 74,239 literates.

But far from boring ourselves with measly statistics of what has been reported to be the poorest province based on the domestic growth product, perhaps it would be more interesting to analyze the implications of at least the reasons behind these data.

Simply said, from an observer's point of view, these figures could bring to mind the history of Jolo, and what the past generations have worked out all these years for children we saw in the campuses and streets. The elders have probably tried their best, but their best was not good enough to sustain the basic needs of their young, at least to be afforded with a decent way of living.

Division Schools Superintendent Dr. Army Malbun expressed her worry should the province be plagued once again of problems relative to local terrorism and banditry, as the peace and order situation in Jolo has already improved, especially with the constant presence of the forces of the Philippine Marines along with the 104th Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army giving the people a sense of security.

"We lack classrooms, books, learning materials for our children. Some of our competent teachers are afraid to go to Jolo and teach here. That is one problem that we have in our educational system. On the other hand, we also have qualified teachers from among ourselves, natives of Sulu, and yet they would prefer to leave the island and seek greener pastures elsewhere. What could happen to our children if we just let them spend years in school with inadequate books and learning materials, and facilities?" Malbun lamented.

A one-page feature is not enough to present the total picture. But the plea is at least before you: won't you lend a helping hand?