#marawisiege

On May 23, 2015 armed men claiming to be Isis sympathizers tried to take over the entire Marawi City, shooting down civilians, raiding buildings and residences, as well as kidnapping children.  What was once a bustling Islamic hub in a quiet Southern corner of Mindanao became a wasteland, no thanks to these individuals whose sought harm for the sake of power, money, and world-infamy.

It has been a year after the Marawi Siege.

I could still remember the unmistakable fear and uncertainty that gripped the entire Island of Mindanao as the thought of the Maute group and company might descend on their cities, towns, and villages, all while the rest of the country worried about the possibility of repeating the horrors of the Martial Law since the entire Mindanao, three days after the siege, was declared under Martial Law.

Weighing such things, however, it was more important to look at the safety of the survivors — surviving individuals, surviving families, surviving cities, towns, and villages.

Children from Marawi in a spur-of-the moment art session with the artist

I still remember having spent my time lounging in one of my hang-outs, Kopi Luwak, some days after the start of the siege.  There were some kids belonging to a couple of Maranao families who stayed in the nearby hotel after getting out of Marawi.  The kids seemed restless, but somehow my drawing and painting drew their attention in the couple of days I was hanging out in the coffeeshop.

This gave me an idea — I let them use my art materials to paint whatever they felt painting.  I could still remember from their elated faces as they drew and painted on the torn sketch pad blanks I provided them — a far cry from the wondering stares these kids had as they thought when they will get to go back to their homes.

Three of the Kids in an evacuation camp we went to. Check out the little girl in pink — she is actually my model for the painting.

It was just a single experience, but in the next weeks and months, after joining a couple of seminars in Psychosocial first aid as well and counseling, I joined a couple of  groups of volunteers — one an art group, and the other a coalition of NGOs — helping out evaucation camps by assisting in distribution of goods as well as promoting Psychosocial first aid and counseling services.  As an artist, I assisted in conducting art sessions with children in the hopes of keeping their minds occupied and slowly helping them release all the pent up emotions from the incident.

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Looking back at last year’s experiences, I realize that artists have a role not just as sensory storytellers.  There is more that an artist can do, and getting grounded from time to time and linking with those in need can enable an artist — who is, usually, well-tuned not only to one’s emotions but also highly sensitive to others.  Such “enabling” can give the artist not just introspection on things and of the world, but also allow them to get a deeper look at the world — a transcendental view, sensation, and immersion of something bigger than what others can see, one which, in the long run and hopefully if the artist can portray in their works, can aid in the progress of humanity.