LOYOLA SCHOOLS of the Marawi Volunteers at Bit.Ly/Lsb2019-Marawi
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Heirloom langkit weaving Read the complete account LOYOLA SCHOOLS of the Marawi volunteers at bit.ly/lsb2019-marawi. BuildBulletin community. Nurture hope. vol 10 ■ no 2 ■ 2nd sem 2018–19 ■ ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY STORIES Marawi Ground Zero OF Seeing, PAIN AND Listening, RESILIENCE FROM Sharing: MARAWI Ateneo faculty and Jesuits together with teachers and students of the Marawi City SPED Learning Resource Center The Saduc-Guimba Grand Mosque n March 2 to 3, 2019, Loyola Accompanied by volunteers from Bangon and accessories. They hope this direction will Schools faculty volunteers— Marawi and a jeep of six soldiers, we saw what encourage the younger generation and the Bob Guevara, Trish Lambino, the locals described as a bustling, picturesque public to support this art form.” Rae Sanchez, Paolo Arago, city brimming with commerce and culture sChools Guelan Luarca, and Rina now turned into a ghost town. Rows of OSimpas—went on an exposure trip to Marawi. skeletal husks of abandoned buildings lined Sanchez recalls, “‘Back to zero.’ This was the Organized with the help of Fr. Ben Nebres, SJ the streets. What used to be walls painted common expression we heard from different and accompanied by Fr. Augustine Thomas, SJ, technicolor were now gray and crept upon teachers in the various schools that we went the immersion activity was in coordination by green vines; nature had taken over the to, all of which used to be in ground zero. with various partners such as Gawad Kalinga ruins. What used to be homes, workplaces, The teachers spoke of so much loss—the and Synergeia Foundation. Arago, Luarca, and and schools were now cement carcasses SPED teachers lost all of their equipment Sanchez recounted the highlights of their pockmarked with bullet holes and bomb save for one laptop, while the teachers of two-day visit at Kusina ng Kalinga, Ground craters. Yet the most haunting experience Sagonsongan told stories of losing their Zero, Maranao Collectibles, and various was visiting the Saduc-Guimba Grand Mosque personal belongings and houses. Some schools around the city. where the siege began. Entering the middle teachers lost students to the war as well; of the sacred space, we found abandoned many cried over a Grade 8 pupil who joined Kusina ng Kalinga logbooks of prayers and a teddy bear torn in ISIS and was killed.” Luarca shares, “Over a hot meal of pinalapang half on the floor, a chilling reminder of the “The teachers longed to return home, manok, we got to speak with the cooks at lives that used to call Marawi home.” but ground zero is still far from being Kusina ng Kalinga who shared their stories rehabilitated. Yet amidst their painful and the Maranao ColleCtibles of the Marawi siege. During that fateful uncertain situation, these teachers have day, two of them were worshiping in the Arago recounts, “One of the most interesting refused to let their experiences of loss mosque. In the middle of prayer, they heard places we visited in the city was The Maranao overcome them. They run schools outside men shouting orders for everyone to leave. Collectibles. Founded by Salika Maguindanao- ground zero, teach students using the limited Gunfire ensued soon after, along with days Samad and Jardin Samad, it aims to promote materials available to them, and even check of uncertainty on whether or not they would and foster the tradition and culture of the papers on sari-sari store benches. Many of survive the war and reunite with their Maranao through their indigenous heirloom them have kept going because of their faith families. Another narrated how she had weaving. They produce langkit, colorful bands in Allah.” just spent P4,000 that day on items to sell as that may have either repeating geometric “Many of us felt an instant connection a vendor, only to have all her wares either patterns or the okir, stylized flora designs in with the teachers because we are also teachers stolen or destroyed in the rush to evacuate. abstract forms. These woven bands are then and had similar reasons for choosing to be All of them left their homes and workplaces hand-sewn to a malongor and a landap to teachers. We could identify with their feelings with nothing but the clothes on their backs, create unique traditional garments.” of compassion for their students and with losing their houses and means of living. Two “As a weaving studio, they teach and their hopes to impart values to the youth.” years later, with the help of Gawad Kalinga employ mostly women and fellow evacuees and Ms. Gabbie Tomboc, they have all begun from the siege as a way to help these people Through the two-day immersion, the rebuilding their lives as cooks in Kusina ng re-establish their livelihood. The group even volunteers’ eyes, ears, and hearts were Kalinga and by serving lunch to public school pushed to continue their work in evacuation opened to witness the complex situation of students—a testament to their resilience, centers using makeshift hand looms during rehabilitating Marawi. As much as the stories courage, and hope.” the height of the siege. Now, in the aftermath shared and sights seen revealed the effects of of war, the founders are exploring the human cruelty and poverty, they too testified ground Zero possibility of bringing their business to a to the admirable resilience, faith, and hope of Luarca says, “We were granted special modern platform by incorporating their Muslims and Christians working together to permission to see Marawi Ground Zero. traditional weaving into trendier clothing raise the quality of life in the community. 2 LOYOLA SCHOOLS Bulletin Build community. Nurture hope. Accompanied by Fr. Arnel Aquino, SJ, Himig Heswita performs his composition, “I am ever with you” Bukas Palad Music Ministry opens the concert with Fr. Manoling Franciso, sj’s “Huwag kang mangamba” (“Do not be afraid”) Ateneo Boys Choir sings John Rutter’s “Look at the World” A prayer concert for theAccompanied Diocese by Fr. Manoling Francisco, sj, Bukas Palad Music Ministry, Ateneo Boys Choir, of Himig Heswita, and Kalookan Noel Cabangon lead the entire community in singing Fr. Eddie Hontiveros, sj’s “Pananagutan” By Ali FigueroA photos courtesy of the ninoy and cory aquino foundation ince the Philippine government declared its war on drugs, the City of Caloocan has had one of the highest incidences of extrajudicial killings (EJK) related to police operations. The video of the Noel Cabangon leads killing of Kian delos Santos community singing by Caloocan City policemen sparked outrage and led many to question the tactics of the government. In the middle Sof this situation sits the Bishop of the Diocese of Kalookan, Ateneo alumnus Pablo Virgilio “Ambo” David. Ateneo de Manila University’s humble offering for the diocese was a prayer concert Bishop Ambo David shares videos Fr. Jett Villarin, sj shares mounted on January 20, 2019 at Hyundai of recent EJKs in Caloocan his closing remarks Hall, Areté. It was a joint project with the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus, in way, moments after a man was shot dead in Kalookan upon the bishop’s invitation: partnership with Tanging Yaman Foundation the street in broad daylight. the Sacred Heart Mission Station in and Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation. In the second part, “Pagninilay” Kaunlaran Village, Dagat-dagatan. Entitled Hesus na Aking Kapatid (Jesus My (“Reflection”), he invited the audience to Resident priest, Fr. Willy Samson, SJ, Brother), the concert was a three-part view and reflect on current events through assisted by two Jesuit scholastics, brings event which wove musical numbers with the lens of Catholic Faith. He emphasized the Church and the Word of God to the reflections by Bishop Ambo. faith that leads to action, which brought poorest of the poor, administering the Tickets sold out two weeks before the the concert to its final part, “Pagtugon” Sacraments especially the Holy Eucharist, event, helping achieve its goal of raising (“Response”). even in streets and blind alleys. awareness and funds for social programs, In “Pagtugon,” the bishop shared that As the concert neared its end, Ateneo particularly the education of orphans and the the diocese had chosen to work with President Fr. Jett Villarin, SJ gave his closing physical and psychological rehabilitation of the government, despite the challenges remarks. He shared his hope that the communities torn by violence. and amidst seeming contradictions. gathering be an opportunity for all to grow In the first part, “Pagkilatis” Even as the President of the Philippines in solidarity with those who suffer, and to (“Discernment”), Bishop Ambo shared himself continues to lambast Bishop find Jesus our brother in the faces of his stories of EJKs in his community, and our Ambo, the Commission on Social Service beloved poor. Hesus na Aking Kapatid came alarmingly growing culture of violence. He and Development Ministry continues to to a close with Fr. Manoling Francisco, SJ shared new CCTV and mobile phone footage collaborate with police and local government leading all the performers—Bukas Palad of several recent killings, and talked of how units for legal assistance, plea bargaining, Music Ministry, Ateneo Boys Choir, Himig desensitized and weary many people have and rehabilitation programs. Heswita with Fr. Arnel Aquino, SJ, and Noel become. One of the videos showed Caloocan The Philippine Jesuits have also Cabangon—and the community in singing bystanders just looking on or going their own established a mission in the Diocese of “Pananagutan” (“Responsibility”). volume 10 ■ number 2 ■ 2nd semester 2018–2019 ■ ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY 3 Ateneo comes together for the University Way of the Cross Photos courtesy oF UCPRO Road, Science Education Complex, Residence field.