Parallel Social Reality Construction of War Among Muslim and Christian Survivors in the Philippines

Abstract

Conflicting notions of “the war” as experienced (subjective realities) surfaced in the study but generated “convergence” as these were correlated with the institutionalized beliefs of war (objective realities). Subjective realities include the victims’ psycho-social trauma and portrayal of “the other” culture as co-survivors of war. Divergent perceptions were anchored on the war victims’ age, religion, inter-marriage; the area’s political set-up, and economic climate among others. The victims’ reactions towards the prevailing issues of war (objective realities) are parallel despite distinct experiences. Many have shown disagreement towards the concept that the mass media help crystallize relevant issues, like the war in Mindanao. Majority also negated the belief that “Christians and Muslims can never co-exist peacefully, and that the 1974 war was a form of “jihad” or a religious war among Muslims. Here, communication clarified vital issues of the Mindanao conflict. It performed an emancipatory role that provided rhetorical and psychological relief to war survivors as they deconstructed their realities in a war-torn community like Sulu, Philippines.

Keywords: social reality, war survivors, armed conflict, trauma, subjective reality, objective reality, war-torn community, jihad, peace, war, co-existence, Muslims, Cristians, Joloano, Sulu, Mindanao, Philippines