A sports seed planted in conflict-torn Marawi City has grown. From a handful of dedicated sport-buffs, their numeral had grown exponentially. Now, the idea, forged under the harsh environment of fratricide and distrust, had budded anew from the rubbles of the ruined city and bloomed with the promised fulfillment of its vision — fostering peace, unity, and brotherhood through golf.

Some consider golf a rich man’s sport, usually played under a placid ambiance. Muslims are proving them wrong. They are not rich, and a few times they played it during turbulent times, referring to the 1972 rebellion and the 2017 siege of Marawi City, an urban town with the religious tagline “Islamic City,” which ironically denotes a peaceful place, with Islam being a religion of peace.

The Mindanao State University in Marawi City has a sprawling area atop a hill overlooking the scenic, mostly serene Lake Lanao, a portion of which was converted into a golf course. It is a second-rate golf course with local “carabao” grass serving as fairways and indigenous Bermuda grass as greens. But its main attraction is its location atop a hill overlooking the city, regularly brushed by the cool breeze from the mythical lake, which accounts for the city’s promotion slogan as the Summer Capital of the South. On a clear, cloudless day, one cannot miss the mountain range formation of a “Sleeping Lady” across the Lake. It may not compete with other well-financed golf courses, but it provides the same respite, fun, and camaraderie that are the raison d’etre of a golf course. Local golf was born from this environment and was later formally organized by a few kindred golf buffs at the Veterans Golf Club.

Fast forward to the present.  The most-awaited year-end tournament, “2nd Kampilan President Cup,” has just concluded. It was a 2-day tournament held at the lush fairways and well-manicured greens of Del Monte Golf Club of Bukidnon and Pueblo de Oro Golf Club of Cagayan de Oro City (the two golf courses chosen as venues for the international PAL Interclub golf tournaments, one, if not the most popular tourney of amateurs drawing participants worldwide). It was a friendly meet of Muslims and a sprinkle of non-Muslim guests. It drew participants from the diverse tribes of Maranaws, Maguindanaoans, Yakans, Tausugs and Sama in Morolandia and Metro Manila. It was a successful meet by any standard, with overflowing raffle prizes and a car for a hole-in-one. A sight to behold is the camaraderie of Muslim and non-Muslim golfers in a friendly competition, forgetting momentarily racial, cultural and religious diversity. The only fly in the ointment is the news about the bombing of MSU, a fateful tragedy that set back years of labor by Kampilan members cultivating brotherhood and peaceful co-existence between them and non-Muslims.

The Kampilan’s program of activities will be complemented by another tournament to be participated in by members, foreign participants, mostly Malaysian and friends. It is promoted as the “Bangsamoro Open Invitational Tournament” at the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club, Cavite, on 3 February 2024. This is part of the Kampilan Founder’s tour series, paying tribute to the founders of Kampilan Golf Club and hosted by the Bangsamoro Federal Business Council in partnership with the Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industries.

As described by Datu Al Raiz Conding, President of the BFBCI and primeover of the tournament, it is their way “to celebrate the Bangsamoro’s journey towards Unity, Peace, and Prosperity while opening the region to the world… (and) “stands as a symbol of the Bangsamoro’s resilience and optimism in the face of developmental challenges. Through… golf, a universal language in itself, the event aims to unite passionate golf enthusiasts from all corners of the globe, fostering a spirit of unity, camaraderie and teamwork.” Its purpose is clearly noble and lofty.

It looks like many Muslim sports aficionados were bitten by the golf bug, which makes one addicted to the game, much like the “high” one gets from opiates.

amb_mac_lanto@yahoo.com