BY DATU MUSSOLINI SINSUAT LIDASAN
THERE is a specific kind of quiet that settles over you when you swap the humid, heavy air of Davao for the frost of Northwest China. This New Year’s holiday, my wife, our two sons, and I stood on the ancient cobblestones of Xi’an, watching the first delicate flakes of snow drift from a slate-gray sky. It felt like a quiet blessing—a stark, sterile contrast to the world we had temporarily left behind.
To be honest, we didn’t just travel for the sights; we traveled to breathe. For us Filipinos, 2025 was a gauntlet. It was a year where the national spirit felt frayed by a relentless cycle of graft and corruption scandals that seemed to dominate every headline. From the streets of Manila to the coffee shops of Davao, the air was thick with the tension of mass protests and a deep-seated public disillusionment. With presidential trust ratings hitting historic lows, a shadow of cynicism had begun to dim the usual vibrant optimism of our people.
As a father, I felt the weight of it. How do you explain to your sons a landscape where the institutions meant to protect them are under such heavy scrutiny? We needed a sanctuary. In the biting cold of Xi’an, we found a strange, huddling warmth. Navigating a foreign city in winter forces a family closer together; the “us” that had been worn thin by the stresses of home began to knit itself back together in the silence of the snow.
For any Mindanaon, a walk through Xi’an’s famous Muslim Quarter is a sensory epiphany. We are a people of the “multicultural tapestry,” and this place felt like a grander echo of our own night markets on the Silk Road. The air, heady with cumin and chili, reminded me of the resilience of culture even when politics are in flux.
We feasted on halal Chinese classics. First, the sizzling lamb skewers. Blistered over charcoal and heavy with spice. Then we tried the plump jiazi. Dumplings that offered a literal taste of comfort. And lastly, the beef noodles. A soul-warming broth that made the sub-zero temperatures bearable. It was a poignant reminder of how faith and flavor weave together across centuries—a story of endurance that we in Mindanao understand in our very bones.
Beyond the history and the food, it was the people who offered the most profound clarity. We spent the heart of our trip celebrating the birthday of my dear friend Mr. Kenn’s wife. Kenn’s story is one that resonates with the Filipino soul: a man defined by legacy and the courage to pivot.
Hailing from a distinguished line of military officers, Kenn chose the service of the classroom before building his own business. Over birthday cake, he spoke of his vision for his son—to one day wear the nation’s uniform and reconnect with his grandfather’s legacy. In that moment, I saw the living pulse of a different nation honoring its past while navigating the possibilities of the present. It was a reminder that even in times of national doubt, the individual commitment to service and family remains the most accurate compass.
As we left the shadow of the Bell Tower, my mind was already planning a return. I yearn to further explore Xi’an’s ancient mosques—silent, thousand-year-old witnesses to Islamic heritage that feel so relevant to our own history in the South.
Each visit to this crossroads of civilizations deepens a bond, not just with a friend, but with a sense of perspective. Xi’an reminded me that civilizations endure far longer than administrations. We returned to Davao not just with photos, but with a renewed strength to face the challenges of our own shores.
Until next time, Xi’an. Shukran.
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Datu Mussolini Sinsuat Lidasan, JD is a dedicated peace advocate and subject matter expert in Bangsamoro governance and conflict resolution. With over 25 years of experience, he served as a Member of Parliament (2019–2022) and a Commissioner of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission. As the Founding Director of the Al Qalam Institute at Ateneo de Davao University, Datu Mussolini bridges the gap between academia and policy. His career is defined by international collaboration with the UN, KAICIID, and the US State Department (IVLP), focusing on countering extremism and youth empowerment. From financial governance at Al Amanah Islamic Bank to grassroots peace facilitation, he remains a leading voice in interfaith dialogue and security in the Philippines.
