Day Six

Flutes to Basilan

Ed’s quick idea to get military protection so we can go to Basilan, Isabela City, present the flutes program there at a public school and also check out the local community hospital became a reality when we got the thumbs up the night before with the General and his troop support.  Our peaceful mission of flutes and cultural exchange can only occur if our team is able to be protected coming and going.  Now our security was set with a handshake and going fast and light was the way to go.

 The ferryboat to Basilan left at 7:00 am.  It could hold about 200 or more passengers, no cars.  The morning was warm, very humid and stifling at times.  Even though the waters at the docks are an amazingly azure blue and crystal, everyone tosses their food wrappers, trash and garbage overboard.  In so many countries people do this.  In older times, most of what a village created as waste was biodegradable.  Now it’s Styrofoam and plastic.  Doctor Joe and I comment on this, but we both know this kind of an internal change in a society comes slowly and has to be taught.  It’s a lesson coming, in time, to such a beautiful place and wonderful people. 

Wayne, Ramon, the Major, Doc, John and Ed.

The Ferry over. 

Basilan or ‘Iron Trail’ is home to the Yakans, the ancient tribe that inhabited the island.  The Yakan people are also known for their colorful and skilled weavings, but its jungles and forests has been home to the Abu Sayyaf since the 1970’s. 

Upon on arrival at the docks on Basilan, Isabella City, we were all on alert.  About 60 troops were there for our arrival and quickly we were driven, quite fast, to the Philippine Marine base some kilometers through town and down the road in convoy formation.

Coming into docks at Isabela City, Basilan. 

Convoy Philippine-style with the 1st Division through Isabel City, Basilan. 

Meeting the General ‘Rusty’ Guerrero at the base was a delight and since Sir Ed had never met this General before, they went through the normal exchanges and greetings.  They both seemed to click right off the bat.  Rusty was a quiet man - steady, kind and easy, yet had a sharp eye and careful manner about him.  After a short visit about our intentions of being on Basilan, we convoyed to the governors mansion to meet the Vice Governor of the Province, all under the eye of many, many military personnel, staff and pomp and circumstance that goes with such a meeting.

After a quick speech by Ed at the Peace and Reconciliation Conference we happened to stumble in on, we were soon off again, Knightbridge-style to the school where we were going to present the flutes to students in a selected class.  The feeling in contrast to the city, the ferry dock, the community was such a welcomed relief.  As I stepped out of our van to meet the Principal and view the school, the tropical air was electric with anticipation of our arrival.  Children’s voices laughed and broke the oppressive feeling of guns and security that seemed to seep into most of our discussions around me.  They were simply put, just children.  I was a teacher of music from halfway around the world to visit them.  This was a moment that my students in Ojai, California spent months preparing for and myself, personally, thousands of miles of travel to achieve.  Schools, children and arts education is what I know.  This was my turf now.  My feeling of confidence took hold as I greeted the Principal and we started to walk towards the classroom and talk.  Our ‘protection’ was setting up around the school and behind me, but I was more focused on a wonderful two hour exchange with these great kids.   

Child and Soldier at school. 

Just like 'cool kids' anywhere in the world! 

 They were all beaming at me as I was setting up.  I have rarely met such a polite group as the children in Jolo, Zamboanga and here on Basilin.  They usually addressed me as “John Sir” or “Sir John” and always with a sweet tone of respect and brightness.  Smiles were everywhere, especially when I explained how the flutes were made and told them about their ‘flute buddies’ in the United States.  As we were having the kids pick out the flute they wanted and then get their picture taken with the principal and myself, I asked her what she thought of the program and the exchange taking place.  She tried to speak, but kept choking up with tears.  She said she could hardly put into words what this meant to all of them – students, teachers and herself, personally.   These people have not prospered under the oppression that surrounds them.  Fear creates it’s own weather like a firestorm burning hot in a canyon.  When a breath of fresh air of hope arrives, people feel and remember what freedom is all about.  In reality, I know very little of what has taken place for these people, but I do know what has taken place right here, right now.  We were all feeling it, from marine and bodyguards to children and teachers.  It was a rare moment that brought hope into the hearts of everyone present.

We were whisked away in our convoy after a short time with the staff and Rotary International members to have lunch with the General back on the Marine base.

It was pleasant in the Filipino style dining area in the jungle compound and the base was very clean, orderly and quite beautiful in the forest surroundings.  After lunch, we all walked down to the Marine’s boat dock at the water’s edge.  The General made arrangements to take us back to Zamboanga with some of this men instead of going back to the ferry landing, a wise and safe decision for us all.

 The General’s fast boat to Zamboanga skipped over the waves and in no time we were sitting having a few beers at the palapa style huts on the beach at the Naval Base just north of Zamboanga.  The sun was lower in the bright sky and the palms swayed in the humid breeze.   Later that evening, we had a nice dinner in the warm night air by the sea in Zambo.  The Doctor and I spoke of philosophy, others discussed new projects, we laughed, smiled, I played the fiddle and we all were thankful for our opportunity to be there together at this time in this small part of the world.  Kind acts of humanity, one step at a time.  It’s the kind of happiness that we were all seeking, traveling down our own individual paths and coming all together upon this occasion.

Wayne and Sir Edward - on our way back to Zamboanga.  Flute and hospital mission accomplished!