From Battalions to Business: The Transformation Journey of Bangsamoro Women

Muslima Guiapal was barely 13 years old when she joined the Bangsamoro Islamic Women's Auxiliary Brigade (BIWAB).

It was a decision she made on her own to protect herself.

“When I was young, we often heard news about bad things happening to women caught in the crossfire. Out of fear and to protect myself, I voluntarily joined the MILF." narrated Muslima.

BIWAB was the all-women auxiliary unit within the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), primarily tasked with attending to the medical and basic needs of the movement while also serving as a reserve force.

When Muslima joined the movement as a young girl, she underwent rigorous training, mastering the use and handling of firearms as well.

She learned everything her male counterparts learned.

At BIWAB, Muslima discovered and honed her leadership skills, rising to the rank of battalion commander at a remarkably young age.

At 14, she experienced her first bloody encounter in the field, leaving her scarred by the harsh realities of war but stronger in spirit.

"At that time, our only goal was to bring peace to our community. We never imagined that one day, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) would come into existence." said Muslima.

"At that time, our only goal was to bring peace to our community. We never imagined that one day, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) would come into existence." said Muslima.

For many years, women like Muslima fought for autonomy and independence from the government. They have seen numerous battles and faced insurmountable challenges.

When the peace talks started in 2008, they saw a little glimmer of hope.

As the years go by, they have received numerous training from different development organizations. They were trained in different skills such as advocacy, peacebuilding, and community development, making them Women Peace Facilitators in the Bangsamoro region.

In 2019, after many years of peace talks, the government and MILF finally reached an agreement on the autonomy of the region. As part of the peace agreement's implementation, the Bangsamoro Islamic Women's Auxiliary Brigade (BIWAB) and other armed units of the MILF were officially decommissioned.

A New Chapter through the Founding of LMWOI

The women of BIWAB had to reconsider their role in the community after the conclusion of the peace talks.

Armed with the new knowledge and skills they gained through capacity development programs of different aid organizations, Muslima together with her fellow women combatants started a new women’s organization called the League of Moro Women Organization Inc. (LMWOI).

Founded with the mission to "enhance the quality of life for members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Women Auxiliary Brigade (BIWAB)," the LMWOI has become a pivotal platform for leadership development and the reintegration of former women combatants into society.

Reflecting on the humble beginnings of the organization, Muslima recounted how they pooled their personal funds to cover the government registration costs for their new organization.

Through LMWOI, they turned a new page in their lives, transforming their battalion units scattered across the region into women’s cooperatives.

According to Muslima, they had a lot of difficulties in the beginning. “We struggled at the beginning because we didn’t know how to run an organization," she added.

In 2020, they were selected as one of the primary local partners of the Accelerate program by The Asia Foundation and USAID.

From Combatants to Businesswomen

Through the Accelerate program, the members of LMWOI received comprehensive training in business skills such as financial literacy, branding, organizational management, and strategic planning.

These training programs not only empowered them to manage their cooperatives effectively but also gave them the confidence to step into their new identities as businesswomen.

Little by little, LMWOI's members were able to create products that can sell such as kagikit, banana chips, coffee, inaul, and many more. Their members have also explored different channels for selling their products such as selling on prominent social media platforms like Facebook and Tiktok.

"Accelerate has been a huge help to us. Before, we held guns, but now we run businesses. At first, we didn’t know how to manage an organization, like writing proposals, but now we’ve learned how to do it." added Muslima.

She shared how the grant capital from Accelerate transformed the lives of many members. One notable example is a member of LMWOI who lost her husband at the start of the Accelerate training program. With the help of the grant, she began selling food on the street, eventually expanding her small venture into a cafeteria. Today, her business not only sustains her livelihood but also provides employment opportunities to two other former women combatants.

With the help of Accelerate, LMWOI was also able to establish a marketing cooperative which will serve as the primary arm of the organization responsible for bringing the products of all their cooperatives to markets across the Bangsamoro region and beyond.

While the LMWOI Marketing Cooperative is fairly new, it has already generated PHP 211,319 total sales for the products of their women members two months after its inception.

Co-Creating the Future of Former Women Combatants Turned Entrepreneurs

Now at 54, Muslima Guiapal serves as the Executive Director of the League of Moro Women’s Organization (LMWOI).

She carries the torch of leadership from a remarkable lineage of strong, resilient women from the BIWAB, continuing their legacy of empowerment and determination in the face of adversity.

Muslima fondly remembers her predecessor, Wilma Madato, as a trailblazer who dedicated her life to uplifting the BIWAB and LMWOI. "Even back then, she prepared us to take the reins," Muslima recalls.

Wilma was a mentor to her and other members, ensuring the continuity of leadership within the organization. Her unwavering commitment to their shared vision left an indelible mark on the organization. Wilma passed away in May 2024, leaving behind a legacy that inspires the next generation of women Moro leaders.

Under Muslima’s leadership, her goal is to not just continue the legacy of the women who came before her, but to make sure that the voices of all their members are heard in every decision they make as an organization.

She hopes to continue making LMWOI a thriving organization that not only transforms former women combatants into entrepreneurs and community leaders, but also paves the way for the success of their next generation of leaders.

ABOUT THIS STORY

Through the Accelerate Program, USAID and The Asia Foundation promote women’s economic empowerment in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, a newly established area in the Southern Philippines that has the highest poverty incidence in the country after decades of armed conflict.

From 2020 to 2024, the USAID program has helped nearly 3,000 women succeed as entrepreneurs and in the workforce through skills training, assistance in building connections, and facilitating access to new markets. The women include indigenous people, former women combatants, victims of violence, and overseas female workers who returned home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Visit https://www.usaid.gov/philippines to learn more about USAID in the Philippines.