The Bangsamoro Development Agency- Central Mindanao Region and Provincial Management Office of North Cotabato attends the 1^st Mamalu-Tambunaway-Putri Sarabanun Reunion, Partnership and Development Agenda Setting on September 8-10, 2015held at Sitio Minara, Barangay Salat, President Roxas of this province.

Representing the region was Naut Usman.

In his message, he expressed thanks to the organizer of this significant reunion for inviting the region in the event.

“Cognizant to the vision of BDA – an enlightened, self-sustaining and healthy Bangsamoro communities living in harmony, dignity, justice, security and peace, we would like to express our commendation and gratitude to the organizer of this significant reunion for inviting us to be part of this blessed gathering”.

Usman defined the event as very important for strengthening and reviving the unity that their old ancestors did and vowed to help each other in times of eases and difficulties.

“With this, in behalf of the RMO CenMin and PMO North Cotabato of BDA, let me humbly express our commitment of full support in as much as our offices can within the line of mandates given by our principal, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Sheikh Esmail Balayanan, former Provincial Development Catalyst (PDC) of BDA-North Cotabato Province, said that the reunion was organized with not an ordinary purpose for it was rooted from the historical facts that we should consider as native inhabitant of mainland Mindanao.

The reunion with the theme, “gearing towards self-sustained development among the natives of Mindanao through cherished brotherhood and cooperation”, was organized by the University of Southern Mindanao Muslim Employees, Educators and Alumni Association (USMMEEAA).

Accordingly, the conduct of activity emanated from the historical fact that the natives of mainland Mindanao particularly the Moros and Indigenous Peoples were rooted from one ancestral family only such as the husband and wife Sharif Maraha and Putri Bai Para Maisuli that begot three (3) children namely Apo Mamalu, Apo Tambunaway and Putri Sarabanun.

During the event, USMMEEAA related the history of how the two brothers decided to have separate paths.

Apo Tambunaway stayed in the lowland areas of Mindanao while Apo Mamalu and Putri Sarabanun decided to stay in the highlands.

However, despite their decisions to have separate lives, they vowed to help each other in times of needs and difficulties.