COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Police, military, and civilian enthusiasts unleashed their musical talents in separate presentations highlighting the current celebration of the 22nd foundation anniversary of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) even in the face of incumbent ARMM officials’ anxious state of waiting for a final verdict from the Supreme Court (SC) on their fate.

Local journalists, ostensibly preparing for the commemoration of the second anniversary of the infamous Maguindanao massacre in November 23, 2009 that left 32 of their colleagues killed, staged the opening musical presentation during the first festive night of the weeklong ARMM festivity in this city Monday.

ARMM acting Governor Ansaruddin Alonto Adiong, a known musical enthusiast, joined print and broadcast journalists at their benefit “Media Sonata” dinner-concert, rendering at least four songs of peace and love advocacies before dozens of spectators and guests, including some officials of foreign donor and relief institutions.

Local officers of the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines, and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas described their joint sponsorship of the musical event with the regional government as “long overdue” in a region traumatized by the 2009 carnage of 57 people.

In his response message, ARMM Executive Secretary Naguib Sinarimbo said the inclusion of musical renditions was premised on the belief that “songs are the language of the soul” for love and amity, something imperative in the 22nd anniversary of the autonomous region in the face of the brewing issue on imminent regional leadership turnover.

On Tuesday night, the ARMM’s regional police command led by Chief Supt. Binenvenido Latag sponsored another musical presentation featuring its official band of talented vocalists, drum beaters, and instrumentalists.

While the band of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, an emerging active partner of the current ARMM administration in civic and community development endeavors, also sent in the other night its own official band, which rendered varieties of musical numbers that sometime made spectators and guests dance in joy unconsciously.

The first three days of the annual celebration, the second under the Adiong administration, also included other highlights, like a jobs fair, free medical and dental services, inauguration of freshly completed infrastructure projects, and tree planting activities.