CAMP DARAPANAN, Maguindanao del Norte—Basketball holds a special place in Filipino hearts, with the game being a common sight in gymnasiums, covered courts, and even on the streets. In the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), a brilliant idea has emerged to make basketball a catalyst for peace.
A groundbreaking initiative, led by the Strategic Communications and Capacity Building (SCCB) with support from the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), has brought together the men in uniform of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in a unique kind of ‘fight’ – a basketball friendship game.
The excitement is in the air as the Kambollayoka organizers pose before the ball’s ceremonial toss in a friendly game at Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte on July 31, 2024. (Photo by Marhom Ibrahim/BIO)
Where did the idea begin?
Country Director of USIP Dr. Haroro Ingram explained in an interview that the game’s conceptualization began following a conversation between Commander Billy Dela Rosa of the Philippine Army (PA) and Member of Parliament (MP) Abdullah Macapaar a.k.a. Commander Bravo in 2022 where the former wants to find ways on strengthening the relationship of the men in uniform from and MILF in Lanao del Sur.
According to SCCB Director Aliah Adam, both parties have seen playing basketball as a platform for building friendships among security sectors in in the province. As it prospered into a full-blown project, it was dubbed “Kambollayoka,” a term derived from Maguindanao and Maranao dialects. “Kambolla” is both a Maguindanaon and Maranao term which simply means “playing ball game” while “bollayoka” is a Maranao term referring to “friendship” or “building friendship.”
“Two words joined together, Kambollayoka would really intend to foster friendship among the sectors,” Adam added.
After its successful pilot in Lanao del Sur in January 2023, they brought the game into other provinces of the Bangsamoro region since many partners became interested in the concept.
Players, guests, and community members pose for a unity photo just before the peace-oriented basketball game at Camp Darapanan started.
(Photo by Marhom Ibrahim/BIO)
The game’s mechanics explained
Kambollayoka’s mechanics are different from usual games. In customary friendship games, a team is composed mostly of players from the same circle of friends, office, place, etc. and then they play against a particular team from the other group.
“In this project, players are mixed with other players from the other group to form their team,” Adam emphasized, citing that this strategy would help the players bond with the people they just met.
For example, a player from PNP is grouped with players from AFP and the MILF. In this case, a player from PNP will play against his colleague from the said agency and has to work with his teammates he barely knows.
Nothing beats some friendly competition on the court to get the blood pumping as members of the MILF, PNP, and AFP engage in a friendly game in Camp Darapanan. (Photo by Marhom Ibrahim/BIO)
In every game, organizers get 12 players each from the AFP, PNP, and MILF. Afterward, the 12 players from each agency are divided equally which results in two teams where each team has 18 members composed of six AFP, six PNP, and six MILF.
During the game, players are rotated every quarter to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to play. Since basketball allows only five players for each team in a game, the organizer adopted a scheme ensuring that players playing at a time are composed of AFP, PNP, and the MILF.
Immediate impact on the community
Adam said they are delighted that community members perceived the event as a viable peace mechanism. The game serves as an instrument to gather the community members who are considered peace multipliers.
“It’s not common to see these groups in a game and we are happy that community members can see them at the court,” Adam shared.
“This is one of those times where people get to see that our security sectors are united for a peaceful Bangsamoro homeland,” she added.
United States Institute of Peace (USIP) Senior Expert Dr. Haroro Ingram was excited to announce the network the game has built and the impact it has made. (Photo by Marhom Ibrahim/BIO)
Since its inception, the organizers have already done seven Kambollayoka games in Lanao del Sur, one in Basilan, one in Cotabato City, and two in Maguindanao del Norte. (Abdullah Matucan/BIO)
