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Fragile Peace? Say It Isn’t So.

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A few hours after writing my last post dreading the thought of the slightest hint of tension and chaos that may be spurred by the seemingly fragile peace negotiations relating to the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (JBE) MOA on Ancestral Domain, the idea of such an event — although an acknowledged possibility, has been, to my mind, rather remote and too speculative. And that is precisely why I dismissed the idea instantly without second thoughts about it whatsoever.

It is therefore, almost surreal to me that news of such a tension popped out of my Google feed reader on a casual hit of the “refresh” button. As if the Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno‘s announcement of the 24-hour deadline for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to leave nine villages that they had occupied in North Cotabato province (the deadline of which will expire at 10 a.m. Friday) isn’t alarming enough, the news about “a problem with local armed groups, citing reports that 400 members of civilian volunteer organizations (CVOs) were bearing firearms and moving around the occupied villages” is enough to make us conclude that we tread on “fragile peace” ground.

A rush of news about this came pouring in afterwards. PGMA ordered the Department of National Defense (DND) and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to talk to North Cotabato officials. All the while, the MILF continues to deny so called “incursions” in North Cotabato. While PGMA assures the OIC (Organization on Islamic Conference) envoys that there is nothing to worry about.

In the face of all this, the Supreme Court (SC) expressed no fear whatsoever of MILF’s threat to withdraw from peace talks. AFP Chief General Alexander Yano confirmed that “armed conflict is possible if the deadline is not met” while assuring that the situation is “not that heated“.

But if you look at it, “according to North Cotabato Governor Jesus Sacdalan, three women were killed and two other civilians were wounded, while 82 houses were burned over the last two weeks in the nine remote villages in five towns of his province.”

Taking this into consideration, plus the fact that these events started since the TRO was issued by the Supreme Court, is enough sign that we’re in for the difficult task of doing a balancing act. Peace on the one hand, and war on the other. As expected, it appears to be more complicated than we thought it would be.

There is a spark of hope, however. Press Secretary Jesus Dureza announced the good news that “in the five barangay [villages] presently occupied [by the MILF], we have now establi<p style=”text-align: left;” mce_style=”text-align: left;”>A few hours after writing my last post <b><a href=”http://adayinthelifeofrj.com/2008/08/lets-begin/&#8221; mce_href=”http://adayinthelifeofrj.com/2008/08/lets-begin/&#8221; target=”_self”>dreading the thought of the slightest hint of tension and chaos</a></b> that may be spurred by the seemingly fragile peace negotiations relating to the <a href=”http://adayinthelifeofrj.com/2008/08/beginners-guide-to-understanding-bangsa-moro-judirical-entity-bje-moa-ad/&#8221; mce_href=”http://adayinthelifeofrj.com/2008/08/beginners-guide-to-understanding-bangsa-moro-judirical-entity-bje-moa-ad/&#8221; target=”_self”><b>B</b></a><b><a href=”http://adayinthelifeofrj.com/2008/08/beginners-guide-to-understanding-bangsa-moro-judirical-entity-bje-moa-ad/&#8221; mce_href=”http://adayinthelifeofrj.com/2008/08/beginners-guide-to-understanding-bangsa-moro-judirical-entity-bje-moa-ad/&#8221; target=”_self”>angsamoro Juridical Entity (JBE) MOA on Ancestral Domain</a></b>, the idea of such an event — although an acknowledged possibility, has been, to my mind, rather remote and too speculative. And that is precisely why I dismissed the idea instantly without second thoughts about it whatsoever.</p> <p style=”text-align: left;” mce_style=”text-align: left;”>It is therefore, almost surreal to me that news of such a tension popped out of my Google feed reader on a casual hit of the “refresh” button. As if <img src=”http://adayinthelifeofrj.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif&#8221; mce_src=”http://adayinthelifeofrj.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif&#8221; alt=”” class=”mceWPmore mceItemNoResize” title=”More…” /> the Defense Secretary <b>Gilberto Teodoro Jr</b>. and Interior Secretary <b>Ronaldo Puno</b>’s <b><a href=”http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080807-153178/MILF-given-24-hours-to-leave-areas-forcibly-taken-in-ARMM&#8221; mce_href=”http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080807-153178/MILF-given-24-hours-to-leave-areas-forcibly-taken-in-ARMM&#8221; target=”_blank”>announcement of the 24-hour deadline for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to leave nine villages that they had occupied in North Cotabato province</a></b> (the deadline of which will <b>expire at 10 a.m. Friday</b>) isn’t alarming enough, the news about “<b>a problem with local armed groups, citing reports that 400 members of civilian volunteer organizations (CVOs) were bearing firearms and moving around the occupied villages</b>” is enough to make us conclude that we tread on “fragile peace” ground.</p> <p style=”text-align: left;” mce_style=”text-align: left;”>A rush of news about this came pouring in afterwards. <b><a href=”http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080807-153189/Arroyo-orders-DILG-DND-to-talk-to-N-Cotabato-officials&#8221; mce_href=”http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080807-153189/Arroyo-orders-DILG-DND-to-talk-to-N-Cotabato-officials&#8221; target=”_blank”>PGMA ordered the Department of National Defense (DND) and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to talk to North Cotabato officials</a></b>. All the while, the <b><a href=”http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080807-153233/MILF-denies-incursions-in-North-Cotabato&#8221; mce_href=”http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080807-153233/MILF-denies-incursions-in-North-Cotabato&#8221; target=”_blank”>MILF continues to deny so called “incursions” in North Cotabato</a></b>. While <b>PGMA</b> assures the <b>OIC</b> (<b>Organization on Islamic Conference</b>) envoys that <b><a href=”http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080807-153242/OIC-envoys-told-nothing-to-be-jittery-about-24-hr-deadline&#8221; mce_href=”http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080807-153242/OIC-envoys-told-nothing-to-be-jittery-about-24-hr-deadline&#8221; target=”_blank”>there is nothing to worry about</a></b>.</p> <p style=”text-align: left;” mce_style=”text-align: left;”>In the face of all this, the <b><a href=”http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080807-153247/SC-unfazed-by-MILF-threat-to-withdraw-from-peace-talks&#8221; mce_href=”http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080807-153247/SC-unfazed-by-MILF-threat-to-withdraw-from-peace-talks&#8221; target=”_blank”>Supreme Court</a></b><a href=”http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080807-153247/SC-unfazed-by-MILF-threat-to-withdraw-from-peace-talks&#8221; mce_href=”http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080807-153247/SC-unfazed-by-MILF-threat-to-withdraw-from-peace-talks&#8221; target=”_blank”> (</a><b><a href=”http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080807-153247/SC-unfazed-by-MILF-threat-to-withdraw-from-peace-talks&#8221; mce_href=”http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080807-153247/SC-unfazed-by-MILF-threat-to-withdraw-from-peace-talks&#8221; target=”_blank”>SC</a></b><a href=”http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080807-153247/SC-unfazed-by-MILF-threat-to-withdraw-from-peace-talks&#8221; mce_href=”http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080807-153247/SC-unfazed-by-MILF-threat-to-withdraw-from-peace-talks&#8221; target=”_blank”>) </a><b><a href=”http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080807-153247/SC-unfazed-by-MILF-threat-to-withdraw-from-peace-talks&#8221; mce_href=”http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080807-153247/SC-unfazed-by-MILF-threat-to-withdraw-from-peace-talks&#8221; target=”_blank”>expressed no fear whatsoever of MILF’s threat to withdraw from peace talks</a></b>. AFP Chief General <b>Alexander Yano</b> confirmed that “<b><a href=”http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080807-153248/AFP-chief-Armed-conflict-possible-if-deadline-not-met&#8221; mce_href=”http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080807-153248/AFP-chief-Armed-conflict-possible-if-deadline-not-met&#8221; target=”_blank”>arm</a></b><b><a href=”http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080807-153248/AFP-chief-Armed-conflict-possible-if-deadline-not-met&#8221; mce_href=”http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080807-153248/AFP-chief-Armed-conflict-possible-if-deadline-not-met&#8221; target=”_blank”>ed conflict is possible if the deadline is not met</a></b>” while assuring that the situation is “<b>not that heated</b>”.</p> <p style=”text-align: left;” mce_style=”text-align: left;”>But if you look at it, “<i>according to North Cotabato Governor Jesus Sacdalan, three women were killed and two other civilians were wounded, while 82 houses were burned over the last two weeks in the nine remote villages in five towns of his province</i>.”</p> <p style=”text-align: left;” mce_style=”text-align: left;”>Taking this into consideration, plus the fact that these events started since the TRO was issued by the Supreme Court, is enough sign that we’re in for the difficult task of doing a balancing act. Peace on the one hand, and war on the other. As expected, it appears to be more complicated than we thought it would be.</p> <p style=”text-align: left;” mce_style=”text-align: left;”>There is a spark of hope, however. Press Secretary <b>Jesus Dureza</b> announced the good news that “<i>i</i><i>n the five barangay [villages] presently occupied [by the MILF], we have now established connection[s] on how
to resolve this peacefully…We are confident that not only the government but the MILF will help so we can resolve this particular issue</i>”.</p> <p style=”text-align: left;” mce_style=”text-align: left;”>Meanwhile, a <b><a href=”http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080807-153253/Palace-GRP-MILF-ceasefire-body-meeting-on-N-Cotabato-row&#8221; mce_href=”http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080807-153253/Palace-GRP-MILF-ceasefire-body-meeting-on-N-Cotabato-row&#8221; target=”_blank”>GRP-MILF ceasefire body meeting on North Cotabato has been set</a></b>. Members of the joint government-MILF coordinating committee on the cessation of hostilities (CCCH) is meeting <b>5pm Thursday </b>to hopefully come up with peaceful resolution to the tension in North Cotabato.</p> <p style=”text-align: left;” mce_style=”text-align: left;”>This is the part where I urge you to pray and hope for the best.</p> <p><img class=”alignleft” src=”http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85704/rjmarmol/sig_1217605896.jpg&#8221; mce_src=”http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85704/rjmarmol/sig_1217605896.jpg&#8221; border=”0″ alt=”” width=”181″ height=”38″ /></p>

3 responses to “Fragile Peace? Say It Isn’t So.”

  1. Pacute Avatar
    Pacute

    Hello, can we exchange links?

    Pacutes last blog post..2008 Beijing Olympics Trivia

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  2. rjmarmol Avatar
    rjmarmol

    @Pacute, sure.

    Like

  3. Fragile Peace? Say It Isn’t So.

    […] Original A Day In The Life Of RJ […]

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● About Me
Cecilia Regina Aquino Blanquera Marmol aka RJ Marmol profile picture

I’m RJ Marmol — writer, musician, and independent creator based in Manila.

I write songs, essays, and books about the messy overlap between money, overwhelm, creativity, identity, and rebuilding. Much of my work circles around what happens when life stops feeling manageable — and how we try to think clearly, make decisions, and keep moving anyway.

I’m also the author of Rebuilding Under Debt: Thinking Clearly When Everything Is a Blur, a nonfiction book published under Steady Hand Press. The paperback edition is listed under my full publishing name, Cecilia Regina Aquino Blanquera.

On the music side, I release work as HeyRJ. On the writing side, this site is where I gather my books, essays, notes, and whatever I’m building next.

Music

HeyRJ is my sonic soul project. I create raw, minimalist-style and deeply personal music interpretations that feel like a late-night conversation with your truest self.

By blending lo-fi acoustic textures with poetic honesty, my work explores love, loss, grief, healing, and the quiet in-betweens of life. Each song is a letter — a journal entry — a gentle companion for when the world feels too loud or too quiet.

While my catalogue began with intimate cover renditions, my work is increasingly being shaped by original writing, drawing from years of poems, lived questions, and emotional survival.

“Stuck Home Syndrome” released on March 20, 2026 is my first original 20-track album written during a period when time felt compressed and days began to blur into each other. The songs came from sitting with thoughts that had nowhere else to go — unfiltered, repetitive, and sometimes uncomfortable. It’s a concept album that isn’t built around singles or polish. It’s closer to a continuous inner monologue, recorded with minimal production and very little ornamentation and meant to be listened to as one cohesive body of work. The goal wasn’t to resolve anything, only to document how it felt while it was happening.

On May 29, 2026 I released new original singles – “Rapturous”, “Uh Huh”, “Look At You”, “All That” and “Blew Print”. I continue to release both original and cover songs and intend to so for as long as I can so check back every once in a while — you might. just find something you’ll like.

For business inquiries relating to music, email me at: heyrjmusic[at]gmail[dot]com or my personal email at: rjmarmol[at]gmail[dot]com.

Books

Rebuilding Under Debt: Thinking Clearly When Everything Is a Blur

A nonfiction book about what debt does to the mind — and how to begin functioning again when financial stress has made everything feel blurred, urgent, and overwhelming.

Rather than treating debt only as a financial math problem, the book explores the emotional and cognitive realities of financial distress: shame, decision fatigue, avoidance, panic, relationship strain, and the difficulty of making sound decisions while mentally depleted.

Published under Steady Hand Press. It’s available worldwide in ebook and paperback formats on Amazon. Bookstores and libraries can also be order it wholesale via Ingram.

Contact

For book-related inquiries, media requests, bookstore questions, or discussion-group invitations, you can reach me through the contact page on this site or send me an email to rjmarmol[at]gmail[dot]com or hello[at]steadyhandpress.com

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