A year after Marawi siege, hopes still high for evacuees

MARAWI CITY - Calling the prayer in time for iftar (breaking of the fast) made Haji Muhaimin emotional.Muhaimin, the 49-year old imam (prayer leader) in Sagonsongan resettlement site's local mosque, expressed his gratitude to the Almighty for sparing his life in last year's war in Marawi City. Marami ang namatay sa amin. Nagpapasalamat ako sa Allah na nabigyan ako ng isa pang buhay. Naging parang panata ko na ang maging bilal, Muhaimin said He said that many of his relatives died in crossfire.For couple Gulam and Wanisa Dia, the siege robbed them of a lifetime's worth of memories. Masakit sa amin na nawala lahat ng kinalakihan namin, Gulam said.However, they both expressed how Hataman's visit Wednesday gave them a glimmer of hope to return to where they built their lives. Sa pagbisita niya dito, nasabi namin ang hangarin namin na makabalik kami sa Marawi at makikipagtulungan daw siya sa amin, Wanisa said.Najma Radia, 23, on the other hand, remains hopeful that they will still find their parents.Najma, Gulam and Wanisa, and Muhaimin are among the thousands of the individuals displaced by the siege.Hataman, meanwhile, reiterated the importance of unity in rebuilding. In our efforts towards healing, we must go back to the core of our faith as Muslims and, as we fast together as we honor the Holy Month, we must remember that with every hardship comes relief, the governor said. As we fulfill our duties as Muslims, we must also remember to continue the work that lies ahead of us together, as we worship Allah and dedicate all our efforts for his glory, he added. (Bureau of Public Information)