duck and they would pray that the ISIS would not head their way. After giving
birth, Tarhata and her husband decided to evacuate. Her husband carried one of
the younger children in a sling, while holding another child. Tarhata, wearing her
bloodied malong (a traditional tube skirt), carried her newborn and another child
who almost got lost. The family started walking towards safety and even under
intermittent rain. After hours of walking in the dark, they arrived in Provincial
Capitol of Marawi. From there, they were able to hitch a ride going to Buruun
evacuation center.
Commented [3]: Where?
Upon the family’s arrival at the EC, they were provided with relief goods. Tarhata
and her baby were also given medical attention. While Tarhata was thankful that
her family survived the ordeal, she still worries for her elderly father – a homebased IDP – who relies on her for relief goods. Currently, her immediate needs in
the EC were similar with other IDPs interviewed. The importance of having a tent
inside the covered court-evacuation area is crucial for her and her family, due to
the constant rain and drizzle that manage to get in the covered court. Also, she
wanted work for her husband so that they would have money to buy their
needs, and money to start anew.
When asked about her message for the President, she rambles and said, “si
Duterte di ko naman siya sinisisi, pero minsan sinisisi ko siya. Kasi, ano nangyari
sa Marawi, barilan, putukan… Yung Marawi binomba na talaga nila, gusto na
nilang mawala yung ano… Ano pa kaya ang babalikan namin sa Marawi?” (I
don’t blame Duterte, but sometimes I do because of what happen in Marawi.
Look at what happen to Marawi, gunfires, shootings… They really bombed
Marawi, they really want to eradicate… What else can we look forward to in
Marawi?) Tarhata and her husband admitted that they voted for Duterte;
however, Tarhata is very disappointed with the President. She complained that,
when he visited their EC he didn’t came inside the covered court to see their
condition. She regretted voting for him, she said. That it was a waste of vote
because of what’s happening in Marawi – the bombings and the worry that
nothing would be left afterwards. Her last message to the President is more of a
challenge, she said “Ang mensahe ko kay Duterte sana imulat nya yung mata
nya. Makita nya kami, hindi puro story lang siya. Tingnan nya kami kung ano ang
kalagayan namin sa gym… Sana makausap nya ang mayor dito kahit konting
bahay lang mabigyan ang mga pamilya… Yun lang masasabi ko sa kanya, imulat
nya ang mata nya sa mga mahihirap. Kasi totoo nga, mayaman po kayo, kami
mahirap lang, walang mapuntahan… Oo nga pinagbintangan nya kami kung
bakit nakapasok ang ISIS, eh ano naman paki-alam namin dun, mahirap lang
kami…” (My message to Duterte is for him to open his eyes. To look at us, and
not focus on his own stories. He should look at our situation inside the
gymnasium… I hope he talks to the Mayor here, so they can give us a small
house for the families… This is the only thing I can say to him; he should look at
the poor people. Yes, it is true, he is rich, and we are poor; the poor that can go
nowhere. He also accused us of letting the ISIS come in, in Marawi. But what do
we care about that, we are just poor…)
Commented [4]: Who is she talking about? Duterte?
Face with the challenges and difficulties of an internally displaced person,
Tarhata draws strength from her new born and from her children. She has to be
strong for them, she said. Despite all that has happened, she is also thankful that
her family is safe and that her father was able to get out of Marawi. ###
Fatima, a solo-parent to eight (8) children; whose four children are still missing
namely: Norhoda Lumabao (22 years old), Rashida Lumabao (21 years old),
Prencess Farhana Lumabao (16 years old), Kadapi Lumabao (10 years old).
Fatima, welcomed me into her tiny area at Buruun School of Fisheries, inside the
gymnasium or covered court. When I finally settle down and sit near her, she
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