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Almaira and Sahara Pamanay are homesick. They miss their small farm house and their friends at school back in Mandulog, Iligan City in southern Philippines. But for now the sisters must settle with sharing a cramped madrasah (Islamic school) with fellow evacuees.
Last September, at the sound of a distant gunfire, the Pamanay family hurriedly left everything they have and headed to the evacuation center in nearby Upper Hinaplanon. All fifth-grader Sahara could remember is that she ran as fast as she could, while her younger sister Almaira, a third-grader, was very frightened. Like her daughters, Amilah Pamanay, 46, wants to return to their farm soon, if not for the sustained threat of the MILF in their barangay. The longer her family stays in evacuation, the more she worries for her six children. “Life is hard here [in the evacuation center],” she said. “We ran out of food… and the children here are hungry most of the time. A lot of them got sick.” Evelyn Cabaro, a social worker from Iligan City, also feels the plight of children evacuees she serves. “What they went through is not easy for them… These kids were scared,” she said. “Also, their parents’ problems become their problems, too.” Good thing Operation Blessing’s Holiday of Hope and Cheers project teamed up with AAI’s Kiddie Fun Day to bring a message of joy and peace to more affected children in conflict-ridden Lanao del Norte. OB and AAI visited Almaira, Sahara and other children evacuees at Upper Hinaplanon last October 18. At the sight of OB and AAI’s convoy, the kids jumped and screamed with delight. Everyone, even the parents and social workers, enjoyed an afternoon of games and songs. Around 200 Maranao children were all smiles as they received toys, loot bags, snacks and bowls of hot chicken porridge. “Thousands of children in Mindanao live in the shadow of fear due to the continual threat of armed conflict,” said Rohaniza Sumndad, Philippine director of AAI. “So we were able to wage peace through fun and laughter.” OB and AAI also served 165 kids in Marawi City and 219 children evacuees in Barangay Kulasihan, Kolambugan in Lanao del Norte last month. When Amilah saw her daughters having a great time, her worries seem to be carried off by the children’s cheerful laughter. “What you’ve done here was beautiful. Thank you!” she said. |
