Because We Are Human || Stories From Marawi
As the war for Marawi rages on, it is easy to despair, to become complacent, even easier to forget. It is easy to forget not the war; rather, the people left in her wake. And it is in their forgetting where the tragedy lies.
#BeHumanized
#BeHumanized
Let us take this time to read their stories: Calamity and Resilience, Sultan Moner, and Kagawad of Bangulo
CALAMITY AND RESILIENCE: A testament to the heart of Filipinos || #BeHumanized
There is nothing glorious or sweet about war and one cannot help but feel despair as one witnesses the suffering of the refugees from the chaos in Marawi; however, the Philippine flag, and her people, wave the nation's colors, proudly defying the calamity which has been set against them.
The war in Marawi has left countless of people displaced. Drained of resources, the refugees brave long crowded lines, huddling under whatever structure available, ranging from over crowded rooms, to tents, even underneath a truck, hoping that there would still be enough resources for them when it is their turn.
In spite of the blazing sun or the humid monsoon rains, these elderly patiently waited their turn to receive aid. Even though some of the people were crowding, pushing, arguing, and shoving, some refugees still made way for the elderly and gave them priority.
At this point, the Capitol was a ghost town. Roads were blocked, once opulent houses were now boarded up and spray painted to indicate if it had been cleared of threats, and the sound of intensifying gunfire filled the air.
In spite of the chaos, Filipinos have shown to be quite resilient. This father had just finished weeping and sharing how his child wanted to go back to school yet there was nothing he can do about it. When the camera faced him, he fought against the pain of loss, gathered his composure, wiped away the tears, struggled to put on a brave face, smiled in front of the camera, and threw the peace sign, defying the power of war.
SULTAN MONER: The gates of Dilabayan have been opened to you || #BeHumanized
Sultan Moner, a soft spoken man who commands deep respect from his community, recounts how the Christians reached out to him and his community. He expresses his gratitude toward the Christian workers who, in the past, have taken the initiative in ministering to them by helping them to get back on their feet. He shares how, save for the newly built houses in his community, majority of the houses were built by the Christians.
Hear excerpts from Sultan Moner's interview regarding the birth and growth of his relationship with the Christians:
Hear excerpts from Sultan Moner's interview regarding the birth and growth of his relationship with the Christians:
KAGAWAD OF BANGULO: There is no one for us to turn to except you || #BeHumanized
This person simply stared at me as I took his picture. His reaction was difficult to read, as he seemed completely lost with the reality that he had just received aid from strangers. He only realized his confusion when his friend yells from the other side of the covered area to smile. After taking his picture, he sat down and shared his story with me. He shared how the war caused him to lose his job and the ability to provide for his growing family. He also shared that due to the war, he is not able to send his children to school. He expressed how they, the refugees of Marawi, have no one else to turn to except you
Listen to some excerpts from his story below as he expresses how the war has affected him and his family:
Listen to some excerpts from his story below as he expresses how the war has affected him and his family:
War is only glorious to those who have no experience of it - Pindar
About B. W. A. H.
#BeHumanized
#BeHumanized
B.W.A.H is a project that shares the stories of people: from the common, the unheard, and the mundane, to what is popular, the unique, and even to the extraordinary. It is a place where we meet the faces behind each story: reminding us that behind each story is a person, and that every person is significant. All our stories are important because we are human.
