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[av_heading heading=’BORDERLESS | Set Marawi City free!’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY RHODA GARZON-CAMPILLAN
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Tuesday, June 13, 2017
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WHEN I was a teenager, there was a part of me that shouted freedom and independence. My mom was not that strict but she had rules that we needed to follow.
I understood her. She wanted me to be safe and focus on my studies. She did not want me to run with the wrong crowd.
My concept of freedom back then was rather superficial. All I wanted was for my mom to allow me to do the things I wanted to do, visit places I wanted to see, and have fun with the people I considered friends.
If you ask me know if I liked what she did (created rules for me to follow), I would say yes. I understood and truly appreciated what she did.
As a mom now, I would do exactly what she did because I know it is for the best of my kid. However, if I am going to answer the question as a teenager, perhaps I would say no. Teenage life is the best time to explore, make decisions, commit mistakes, and learn from it. I did not want anyone curtailing my freedom. I wanted to do whatever it was that I desired to do. I wanted independence.
Yesterday was Philippines Independence Day. I guess the same feeling enveloped the Filipinos more than a hundred years ago when they struggled to attain freedom. It was not an easy feat. Thousands of lives were lost. Homes were destroyed. Feelings were pained. However, because of the altruistic love of Filipinos to our mother land, we regained our freedom. The Philippine flag was raised at Kawit, Cavite for the first time after over 300 years of bondage. It was a day of great pride and jubilation. Finally, freedom was attained.
But even until now, I still wonder. Are we really free in the truest sense of the word? I guess not.
When I think of freedom these past few days, I think of Marawi City. The war claimed so many lives, destroyed properties and crushed dreams. If I am given a chance to make a wish, it would be for peace and freedom for the Maranaos.
I cannot fully grasp the cause of the conflict. It may be about ethnicity and politics. It may perhaps be about terrorism. Whatever the motivation of this war, only one thing is certain – everybody is a loser. None of the parties was victorious.
With the turn of events, I rarely read and watch news. I do not want to suck in negativity. I have enough already. But deep inside, I grieve for the lives lost, especially the civilians and the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. I lament for all the children who witnessed and experienced violence. They could have been in school pursuing their ambitions. They could have been realizing their dreams. But because of this war their future has become uncertain.
I pray that Marawi City could taste freedom soon. I hope they will never give up in this fight. I hope one of these days the Philippine flag will also be raised there and war and chaos will be over. Maranaos will be able to put back the broken pieces and try to regain what they lost. It will not be easy. They need all the support they can get from the government, and they will need all the prayers from us.
The concept of freedom has changed, at least for me especially in this contemporary times where peace is vague and violence is practically everywhere. For me, independence is setting the Maranaos free. Seeing them go back to their homes and live normal lives is my fervent wish for all our brothers and sisters in Marawi.
This is not going to be a walk in the park. It is not going to be an overnight change. This requires a lot of prayer and hard work. May God heal Marawi; may God heal our land./PN
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