A Visit to Al Haj Murad and the Biggest Mosque in the Country Part 2

On our third day, we traveled again to Sultan Kudarat but this time our destination is a bit more dangerous. We went to Camp Darapanan, the main headquarters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to have an interview with MILF leader Al Hajj Murad Ebrahim. Again, we were escorted by Special Forces soldiers but we had to leave them in the main gate as an SOP response. So all of us civilians entered the camp without someone we can rely on for protection in case something happens. As we drove the road going to the headquarters, we could see hundreds of MILF soldiers lining the road, standing straight holding rifles. Our driver kept mumbling, "Salam Alaikum" which means "Peace unto you" while the soldiers answered back with the same "Salam". It was roughly a 5-minute drive from the main gate to the headquarters where Al Hajj Murad was. The whole length of the road was lined with MILF soldiers on both sides.

This is the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's main headquarters

Going inside the camp, we were again surrounded with a lot of MILF soldiers, here are some of them

What caught my attention once inside was the grandeur of the place. I felt like I was in a first class, private resort. In the middle, there was a long table where tea paraphernalia was served and the good thing was, it was for us! We were greeted by Al Hajj Murad's right hand man, I forgot his name but I wouldn't forget how good a cook his wife is. I could still savor those delicious pastries I had.

After the delicious tea, we were ushered into a room where we interviewed Al Hajj Murad

And of course, I wouldn't pass the chance to have a photo op with the Chairman himself

I enjoyed that visit at Camp Darapanan despite the fact that it was a bit dangerous.

Next day, we went to the Municipality of Pikit, North Cotabato. I do admire their Municipal Hall. It reminded me of a place of worship

But the most grandiose is their place of worship, the biggest mosque in the country which we visited on our last day. The Sultan Hajj Hassanal Bolkiah Masjid, aka the Grand Mosque of Cotabato in Barangay Kalanganan. This was funded by the Sultan of Brunei at a staggering cost of US$48 million. The Sultan used his own personal money to help the emerging Muslim population in the Philippines.

My stay in Cotabato City changed my perspective of the place. Yes, it is famous for bomb blasts, kidnapping, corruption, political strife but if you go deeper into the city and its people, you would understand that they are the same as other Filipinos, hoping and yearning for a better world to live in.