By ARNOLD GARVANZOS

Among the cities of the world, Iligan in Lanao del Norte, Philippines holds a very unique and historical position. It is the only Christian city in the world blessed by a Muslim City, the Islamic City of Marawi. Historically and geographically this gives it a very unique position. Try searching through google map and you will find that what I say is true.

The blessing of Iligan comes from the Lake up in Marawi. Without the Lake there would be no Iligan City to speak of. Through the centuries the Lake has blessed Iligan with its waters. Without the waters of Lanao there would be no industries in Iligan. If Marawi were to charge Iligan for all these blessings, Iligan cannot pay. It’s priceless.

Other than this unique geographical position not many people know that Marawi is a Muslim City created by a Christian leader, Senator Tomas Cabili in 1940.  Conversely Iligan became a City through a Muslim leader, Congressman Ali Dimaporo.  When I declared this fact  at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) during my course on Sustainable Tourism many in the audience were amazed at it.

In Marawi there is a Cabili street Cabili Plaza but in Iligan there is no Dimaporo street or Dimaporo Plaza. 

In Palawan they give special bonuses for their indigenous people by providing them a Palaweno card giving them a hefty 20 to 30% discount for purchases but no such thing for the Maranaos in Iligan. 

In Davao there is a deputy mayor for the Maranaos but not in Iligan. Even Cotabato has this kind of set-up.

Water can be a blessing but such a blessing can only be realized if we understand the science behind it.  You see in nature there is such a thing as the hydrologic cycle of water.  When water goes down it must go back to its source.  If the cycle is broken then the blessing is broken too.  This Iligan does not realize.

Even today if you visit Robinsons in Iligan you will often find a large number of Maranao patrons sipping coffee at its coffee shops or eating in its restaurants. Iligan’s economy is largely Maranao dependent. I would say 60% of it. If the Maranaos cease to do business in Iligan, its economy would be greatly affected. Have you ever observed that during Ramadan Iligan becomes a ghost town of sorts?

Today Iligan is just a shadow of its former self.  From the rising industrial giant of the 1960’s it must now be content to be known as the City of majestic waterfalls, when  there is nothing majestic about it really.

It lost the power advantage of the NPC.  Several industries have shut down more prominently the NSC-which was followed by the shutting down of RCP, Mindanao Steel, Azkon Metals and Summa Alta Tierra.  Even with its abundant waters, many households in Iligan do not have water.  Very ironic.

Other than that it lost its airport in Baloi and the Provincial seat which has been transferred to Tubod LDN. We lost both but nary a whimper from Iligan.

When we lost NSC we lost a hundred million in annual taxes and thousands of jobs.  But Iligan does not seem to realize the impact of that  loss.  Nothing was done to replace it.

It also lost the blessings of its industrialists. We lost the Alcantaras, the Guevarras and the Jacintos. No more benefactors for Iligan. We even lost the blessing of the royal family of India-the Mittals.

For those who don’t know it yet when NSC became Global Steel, Chairman Pramod Mittal was fronting for the entire Mittal family.  Actually the purchase was made by the family.  That is why during the turn over ceremony in 2004 with PGMA around, the father Mohan Lal Mittal was here, Vinod the brother was here.  The wife of the Chairman Pramod was here.  It is also for this reason that sometime in 2013 that Uttam Galva wanted to be the white knight for Global Steel.  Unknown to many, Uttam is owned 37% by Lakshmi Mittal, Pramod’s elder brother.  The deal did not push through because of legal and political reasons.  Iligan missed a great opportunity.

Today no tourist can even see Iligan’s number 1 attraction, the Maria Cristina Falls  since its road is impassable because of a massive landslide for almost two years. It also lost its NPC Nature’s Park due to the simple reason that the City government at that time did not like to give it tax incentives. 

Actually Iligan has a very meager tourist industry compared to El Nido,  Siargao and even Cagayan de Oro. A very big loss for employment and opportunities in our area.

With Iligan’s resources it could have been standing in the same constellation of Clark,  Subic and Mactan. But today its status can be compared to a first class municipality. Even a  City like Dipolog is doing better.  Iligan is 29 years older than Dipolog but Dipolog is doing better.

Take note that several Iliganons have big businesses in Cebu, Taguig, Cagayan de Oro and Sta. Rosa Laguna but not  in Iligan, their own home town. Why? 

This apparent economic downfall of Iligan in my opinion can be attributed to the fact that it does not follow the science of the hydrologic cycle. A cycle mandated by Allah swt

This coming elections many lofty promises and ideas will again be floated in Iligan but all of this will be for nothing until Iligan follows the science and mandate of God-to bless its source of blessing-Marawi. All man made promises and ideals will be nothing in the light of our violation of God’s mandate.  It’s like saying that certain elements need to be aligned in a round container.  But even if they are aligned but contained in a square container, they would still be misaligned.  It’s like moving very fast in the wrong direction.

Iligan must bless Marawi.  Iligan must look at the Marawi as a blessing. So that they can be blessed in return.  You break the cycle, you break the blessings. It is God’s arrangement.  

Iligan needs more leaders who are like the Cabilis and Dimaporos. Christian leaders who have a heart for the Maranaos or Muslims. And  Muslim leaders who have a heart for the Christians or Iliganons. 

Maranaos do not vote and register in Iligan since Iligan does not create the laws and the atmosphere for them to do so. In short Iligan is not Muslim friendly unlike Baguio, Manila and Davao. Of course the promise of a bigger pay out during elections in LDS cannot be discounted but this can be neutralized by giving the predominantly Muslim Maranaos a bigger role in the City. As long as Maranaos are treated like 2nd or third class citizens in Iligan this trend will continue. Maranaos must be given a seat in the City Council just like the IPs.  If we do not do this, then we will not prosper as a City.

Another scientific principle that Iligan has not realized is the science of osmotic energy or salinity gradient power.  When fresh water meets with salt water it creates an energy source equal to one Maria Cristina falls.  In short when the people of the freshwater coordinate or cooperate with the people of the salt water, tremendous power is produced-meaning if the people of Iligan (salt water) and the people of Marawi (freshwater) put their acts together then great changes and movement can happen.  Except for a few instances, I have never seen this happen between the two cities.  There has never been an institutionalized activity or law between the two cities which will make osmotic energy work in both.

Many do not realize the tremendous blessings of the Muslim world. Look at Dubai and Abu Dhabi. If only these blessings can come to Iligan we become the richest in the country. If we can make and create the atmosphere that Iligan is the Dubai of the Philippines, then the investment of the Muslim world will come to us in droves. And our Maranao brothers will have more investments in Iligan.

Take note that the BIMP EAGA does not have a hub in Northern Mindanao unlike Davao in Southern Mindanao where all the consulates of Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia are located.  The CIC economic corridor could have been an ideal site somewhere in between Lugait to Laguindingan.  But after the Ramos administration the Cagayan de Oro-Iligan Economic Corridor (CIC) “died”. There was no follow through.  No conscious effort between the two cities to pursue.  Thus, the way Iligan treats Marawi is also reflected in how Cagayan de Oro treats Iligan.  Iligan says, “parang Masagana 99. Masagana sila, 99 tayo”

Perhaps today Iligan and Marawi can create a growth corridor between them and create the BIMP EAGA hub here in Northern Mindanao somewhere in between the area where the Agus HEP complex traverses. Thereby bringing the economic strength of the BIMP EAGA to get involved with our power industry, which is Lanao’s main strength as an area.  In effect we can create a hub with the cheapest power source in the entire Southeast Asian region.  Think of the possibilities Iligan and Marawi!!  In effect we can revive our Iligan airport in Baloi and create SEZs along the way.  It will also help showcase the rich Maranao culture and make Maranao products go worldwide!!!

Take note that the largest Muslim nation today in terms of  Muslim population is Indonesia.  Today it is the fourth largest economy in the world in terms of GDP contribution-next to China, India and America.  Muslims can do wonders.  That is Allah’s promise to “princely” Ishmael.  Check your Bible or the Torah.

For lack of a better economic  term for the concept of cities or regions  helping one another I call this set up as “ajinomics”.  Aji is a tasty condiment that makes dishes flavorful if you understand what I mean.  No pun intended.  It’s basically the same principle embodied in the Bayanihan Federalism Constitution made during the Duterte administration-where cities or provinces in a region help one another prosper. It is very unfortunate that PRRD did not push through with that Constitution.  It could have been the salvation that this nation needed.  And he would not be in the Hague today.

In my own humble opinion it is time to change our unitary constitution into a federal constitution.  Make the regions as powerful as Malacanang.  And less dependent on the central government.  Afterall a 60 to 70 per cent sharing in income in favor of the regions is not a bad deal.  It’s a simple matter of mathematics.

I do not write this matter on religious grounds but on sound scientific principles. Google it you will see.

So as the coming election approaches, I leave these thoughts with you my fellow Iliganons and Maranao brothers.  Unless we put our acts together, nothing will happen to our twin destiny as twin cities.

May Allah swt bless Iligan and Marawi !!!