Asked of their message to the government, particularly the President, Omaira
says “sana maawa naman sila sa mga Maranaw kasi sabi nya may dugo
siya na Muslim bakit di siya naaawa?”, Aina adds “Sana tumigil na ang gulo
para makabalik na kami sa ano namin.” They also expressed their need for
support in terms of housing and employment. [ Omaira]
We hope that this war will be over soon so that we can go back to Marawi. It
is very difficult here. We would be okay even we have nothing left as long we
are back to our home. [Isuihaya Banbo]
She says even if life is difficult in Marawi, it is still better than life in
ECs. “Kung matatapos man ito, sana may maibigay na tulong na galing sa
kay pangulong Duterte, kung may maibigay man sya sa mga nawalang ng
bahay o pabahay, itatayo uli naming ang bahay name nat kung may extra
man itataya naming yung kahit na simple lang na tindahan…” [Mahid]
We hope that this war will be over soon so that we can go back to Marawi. It
is very difficult here. We would be okay even we have nothing left as long we
are back to our home. [ Isuihaya]
Appendix D: Consolidated Lived Experiences, Stories of Displaced Women and LGBTs Gathered
during the Mission on 1-5 July 2017
Lived Experiences, Stories of Displaced Women and LGBTs
Hasana, Buruun Evacuation Center
Hasana is a businesswoman in Marawi. Together with her husband, they have founded a
lumber trading in Marawi which started way back in 1987. They worked and traded every day
until the business grew and they were able to build their own house over a land which they
rented. She explained that like many from Marawi, they were used to rido, firefights but that
they were not used to prolonged fire fights and armed conflict. On the afternoon of the 23rd of
May, the family heard gunshots and they heard that their neighbors were already leaving
Marawi. The family decided to wait it out until it was dark and the electricity went out. The
family hid inside the house, hearing gunshots and afraid of going out. They could not see where
the bullets were coming from and were afraid of getting hit. Hasana said that she was most
afraid for her children, specially her 15 year old son who has long hair. She was afraid since she
heard that the Isis are calling on young men and that young men with long hair were specifically
chosen. Early morning on the 24th, the family decided that Hasana and the children had to leave
Marawi and for her husband to be left behind together with their properties (house, vehicle,
trading store). Hasana with her two children together with her sister and her two children
started walking to the City Proper. Hasana repeatedly recounted the trauma of walking the
streets of Marawi afraid of getting hit by bullets or being caught in a crossfire. Along the way she
said they saw ISIS men, but the men she saw were Maranao and not foreigners and who advised
them to hurry walking as they might be caught in the crossfire. She said that the place where she
saw the ISIS men were just aseveral meters away from e the position of the soldiers who they
also met on their way out. All throughout she was very afraid. Hasana reocunted how she walked
with her sister and other individuals fleeing Marawi. She was able to flag down a pick-up who
took almost 10 of them and gave them a ride out of Marawi bringing them in the evacuation
center in Buru-un.
When Hasana and her family arrived in the evacuation center in Buru-un, there were but
a few families there. She saw that relief goods were already pre-positioned and that
representatives were present to welcome them including the Barangay Captain of the Barangay.
49
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