Time and space shuttles back and forth. Human rights violation, military abuses, and chaos reflected in the movie set after we have gained our independence, is again imminent in the present times. The military is used as an instrument to attain peace, however, it was used in the past times, which did never materialize. Rather, it caused great pains to the innocent.

The sending of military troops to Mindanao to resolve the conflict by force results in the collision among the military, the Abu Sayyaf and the people. This government strategy to wipe out the Abu Sayyaf adversely affects the economy not only of the region but also of the country. During the Cory Administration, the use of force through the military was infused against the vigilant group assumed as religious cult, ORAPRONOBIS. The ORAPRONOBIS like the present ABU SAYYAF, although they are two different groups, aim for a cause. Both cause threats especially to the civilians. Both go against the government but the former group evolved when the military continue to perpetuate abuses even after the dictatorship of Marcos. The latter on the other hand, is also a Moro rebel group that cause threat to the national security, even now that freedom has been gained.

Now the Macapagal Administration is allowing U.S. military troops (BALIKATAN 2002) to operate with the Philippine military in the combat against the target, the ABU SAYYAF.

I do not favor the use of force as a means to settle the historical, political, social, economic and cultural issues in Mindanao because history proves that military solution had never worked. It is true that killings and kidnappings done by these Moro rebels cause civil unrest and threat to the public, this technique to eradicate them is causing more human rights violation since many civilians are involved. With the presence of U.S. troops, there is no assurance that mistakes of the past (women prostitution and other problems) will be avoided.
The film Orapronobis reflects social reality during the Cory administration; Bagong Buwan sites the picture of reality at present. In both films, the scene of the burning of houses by the military in the attempt to clean up possible hiding places of the rebels, is brutal to the people especially that their lives go unpeaceful and unstable.

I recall seeing media coverage where a man whose face was covered with a basket and accompanied by the military, was used as a witness in pinpointing suspected rebels. The suspects then were dragged from their own houses and were jailed. The moment is an emotional downturn for the families of these men arrested by force. This same scene was similar in the Orapronobis film.
With the use of force to attain peace, more injustices occur. However, the government goes for an all out war policy because of an ideological belief of controlling the means of subsistence of the rebels and conquering them from the peripheries to the center, history proves that military means never succeed.

While it is true that peace talks and negotiations with the rebels has been a difficult road to peace, I think it is time to understand further the Mindanao crisis in order to know how to reconstruct a peace process.

With peace negotiations, there is lesser human rights violation and tendencies for war; there is a higher chance for the country's economic recovery.

Due to the military operations prioritized by the government, lives are affected as a whole that caused problems like the increase of unemployment, inequitable distribution of income whereas companies derive much from their capitalistic business, and education budget that is slashed.

The last scene in the film posed a challenge to every viewer wether one would participate or not in the revolution so as to have peace. To succeed in a revolution everyone must be loyal to his or her fellowmen, participate and understand the cause of the revolution. Likewise, to end the war, peace must start from the within of every person.
This is the role of individuals in transforming a society to a peaceful one. This is

where community-based participation, defined by all individuals, plays a vital element. Whereas Muslims struggle for their identity, discrimination between them with the Christians must be erased. Representation of Muslims in the military, support for women victims of war and other interactions or involvements must be exercised for. In support for their budding identity, I think it is a needed that we look at the role of mass media in projecting the image of the Muslims. One should look beyond the pictures shown in the media coverage, hype and sensation. I think mutual participation must be involved between the two because both belong to one nation and both are FILIPINOS. The problem, which is not just religion but more on the political aspect, can be resolved only through non-violent means of negotiation between the government and the Muslims.