because his parents have decided to stay in MSU to take care of their ailing parents
and to look after their small farm.
Despite his disability, Aminodin possesses a cheerful and positive disposition. At home,
he always moves around and helps with the chores. He plants and grows fruit bearing
trees. He is also conversant although he can only speak and understand Maranaoan
dialect. Casmirah have high hopes for his brother. She believes that his brother will excel
in school if given a chance to study.
Recently, however, it was observed that Aminodin is easily frightened by loud noises; he
also throws a fit whenever he hears people shouting. His sisters fear that Aminodin may
have been traumatized by his experiences of war in Marawi. “Talagang nagkaroon siya
ng trauma, kapag nagsisigawan umiiyak, tapos natatakot siya. Binibigyan nalang
namin siya ng snacks para tumigil.”
Their displacement made the situation more difficult not only for Aminodin, but to her
sisters as well. Inside the evacuation center, no available support was made available
to Children with Disabilities, and their families. For instance, Aminodin has to be carried
by her sisters behind their backs whenever he needs to use the toilet. Such is not an
easy task considering that Aminodin is bigger than her siblings, and comfort rooms are
located meters away from the sleeping area. “Nahihirapan talaga kami lalo na wala
kasi yung father namin. Kapag mag-ccr siya, ang layo ng CR namin; ung bubuhatin
namin mas malaki pa sa amin. Ang hirap pero nagsasacrifice talaga kami kasi kawawa
naman siya,” explains Casmirah.
Oftentimes Aminodin would want to join activities that are conducted in the
evacuation center for children. When volunteers arrive, Aminodin would try to crawl
towards the activity area using his hands. Sadly, he was always left behind as his hands
are no match to the quick feet of other children.
Jamal Ibrahim, 14 years old situated is a tricycle driver and a resident of Brgy. Raya
Madaya, Marawi City.
During his interview he revealed that on May 23, 2017 (first day of fighting between the
military and the Maute Group), he was hired to transport a passenger to Wato
Balindong, Lanao del Sur. When he returned to their house in Raya Madaya, Marawi
City, he was surprised because he did not see his parents, brothers and sisters at their
house.
He was informed later on that his family had fled to an unknown area for fear of being
hit with bullets or killed by the warring parties. He tried asking for their whereabouts but
no one could tell him. He then went to Brgy. Bangolo, Marawi City where he met some
members of the Maute Group. One man even tried to convince him to join their group
by offering him with an M16 rifle. When he decided to refuse, he was told to flee so that
he would not be killed.
He went to a nearby area in Brgy. Saduc, Marawi City where he met some military
personnel aboard an armoured vehicle. The said military men rescued him and
brought him to the Provincial Capitol of Lanao del Sur where he stayed for ten (10)
days. After which, he was brought to the Evacuation Center in Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur
where he is staying until now.
Jamal Ibrahim was in the state of stress and trauma when he was interviewed because
he did not see his parents, brothers and sisters since the start of the siege in Marawi City
and he does not know where they are now. He was not able to mention the names of
his parents, and the interviewer did not try to ask again as he was already crying by the
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