"My dream is to walk anywhere with my head up, without being judged as a terrorist; to show to the world that I am a Muslim-Filipina... I can love any person in the Philippines; they will accept me who I am, being a Muslim-Filipino."

"My dream is to walk anywhere with my head up, without being judged as a terrorist; to show to the world that I am a Muslim-Filipina... I can love any person in the Philippines; they will accept me who I am, being a Muslim-Filipino."

Bai Linda Eman, a Muslim-Filipina, grew up thinking that peace can never exist between Christians and Muslims.

Witnessing her uncle’s death in the hands of a Christian fueled the belief that Christians will forever be her enemies. Thus she spent her early days as a commander in the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). However, in May 2004, everything in Bai Linda’s world changed.

Driven by her immense love for country, Bai Linda decided to volunteer for Gawad Kalinga (GK). Once perceived as enemies, her GK experience allowed her to see Christians as brothers and sisters. She admired the passion and commitment of GK volunteers to serve the Filipino people without expecting anything in return. In Bai Linda’s own words, “Christians taught me how to be a good Muslim when I volunteered with Gawad Kalinga.”

Today, Bai Linda serves in GK as a full time Regional Coordinator for Southern Tagalog and Muslim Affairs. Through her courage and sense of patriotism, she was able to overcome her pain and become an instrument of peace, touching and changing the lives of Christians and Muslims alike. 

“My dream is to walk anywhere with my head up, without being judged as a terrorist; to show to the world that I am a Muslim-Filipina. I can help anyone, I’m free to walk and I can be a friend to anyone. I can love any person in the Philippines; they will accept me who I am, being a Muslim-Filipino.”

BAI LINDA IN ACTION

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Bai Linda helps build peace in Mindanao with her former enemies from the military

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Bai Linda with other GK full-time volunteers during the GK Highway of Peace in Lanao del Norte last April 2007

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At Parsugpatan GK Village in Patikul, Sulu with other Muslim Filipinas and GK community members