Skills Training for IDPs kicked off

On April 25, 2018, three skills training courses: Dressmaking NC II, Bread and Pastry NC II and Cookery NC II with twenty-five (25) beneficiaries each course have kicked off while another batch of Bread and Pastry will start soon. The project was supported by Caritas Germany with St. Laurence Institute of Technology (SLIT) in Iligan...

Caritas Germany supported the Relief Distribution to IDPs affected by Marawi Conflict in Iligan City

Nine (9) months have passed since the Marawi conflict, while the government and non-government organizations (NGO) embarked on the rehabilitation initiatives, food remained at the top priority needs of IDPs in evacuation centers hence the supply is scarce. As their stay in the ECs has prolonged, the assistance they have received have been inadequate to meet...

VolunteerTales|Graduating as Survivors

by Wendy Perocho Salva Phil Valerie Malinis and Tenny Junson Andam could hardly believe that they were finally wearing their graduation toga, cap and hood. They joined the throng of more than 2,000 graduates of the Mindanao State University-Marawi City who gathered at the MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology gymnasium for the rites of what was...

VolunteerTales|What Sendong Taught Me

by Lyne Grace Vergara Michael Quirante, 25, knows too well the harsh realities of experiencing a disaster. After all, he was one among the fortunate people who survived 2011’s world’s deadliest storm, tropical storm Washi or locally known as Sendong. He heard how the rain and the wind pounded on their house’s roof and saw...

Displaced children enjoy happy moment with clowns, balloons and games

by SGarangan In the dark and cramped corners of an evacuation building in Iligan City, a refreshing sound of giggles and laughter broke the silence and the sadness that have long blanketed the place. Children were in a frenzy as clowns bearing balloons walked inside. Young men excitedly jumped in and joined the basketball and...

Marawi survivor unveils for security

by LGVergara “I was shattered with what I had to do. It felt like I was taking off who I am as a person”, Junairah Mangoda, 24 said of being forced by circumstances to remove the abaya, a loose black garment that covers her whole body and the niqab, the veil that covers her head...

Iranons welcome M’ranaos with a feast

Lala, Lanao del Norte- M'ranaos who survived the Marawi siege got a warm and festive welcome from their Iranon hosts at the Nurolhuda Al-Islamiyah, Brgy. Sigayan, Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte on June 26. In a kanduri or thanksgiving feast in celebration of the Eid’l Fitir, Johnny Balindong, a council member of the Mindanao...

Muslims continue to endure displacement on Eid al-Fitir

by MNorbe and LGVergara Lala, Lanao del Norte- As Muslims in the Philippines welcome the end of the holy month of Ramadan, the survivors of the Marawi siege still find it difficult to celebrate the Eid al-Fitir on June 25. Eid al-Fitir means “festival of breaking the fast” which brings together the ummah or the Muslim...

Organic farmers share produce for #DuyogMarawi

Iligan City- The Kahugpungan sa mga Mag-uuma ug Mamumuo sa Kabanikanhan (KASAMMA KA), an organization of farmers and farm workers in Zamboanga del Sur harvested and donated their organic produce to the #DuyogMarawi solidarity initiative for Marawi siege survivors on June 20. They collected 64 kilos corn rice, 17 kilos squash, 60 kilos sweet potato,...

Child longs to go back to school, home in Marawi

by Lyne Grace Vergara Iligan City- As children in a village in Brgy. Sta. Elena walked pass her aunt’s house in their school uniforms, Aslimah, 10, longs for the day that she too would don on her uniform and go back to her school in Lilod Bliss, Marawi City. She thinks about her teachers, her...