It has been seven months since a surprise attack erupted in Mindanao, Philippines. A group called the Maute, inspired by the terrorist group ISIS, launched a siege against the small town of Marawi located in Lanao del Sur. A lot has happened since the start of the Battle of Marawi — the President suspending the Writ of Habeas of Corpus, the leaders of the Maute being captured, and the controversial Martial Law in Marawi. In between these events were bombarding against the innocent citizens of Marawi. Around 1,000 bodies were reported dead.
On October 17, 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte declared Marawi as “liberated from the terrorist influence.” This means that Maute terrorists no longer have complete control over Marawi City. However despite the announcement, the fight to rise up still continues.
This Christmas, the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu (DSPNSDA) sympathizes with the victims of the Battle of Marawi. DSPNSDA puts up a display of a Marawi-themed Belen in line with the events that occurred in the city. The background features the ruined mosques and houses in the city.
During the Christmas eve mass, a song for the Marawi people and fighters was also sang while photos from the siege were bieng played on the screen.
Let us continue to pray for our fellow Filipinos who are still struggling to get up after the war in Marawi. (Kristine Tuting)
Mariele Aquino
Junior Writer, Website Team, Media Ministry
Mariele R. Aquino is a member and website writer of the NSDA’s Media and Public Information Ministry, an aspiring future medical specialist and currently a STEM senior high school student in the Royal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas. Her principle in life is that genuine success is something achieved through a path and battlefield of dodging a thousand bullets without the course of self-centered desires and conducts for temporary existential accomplishment. As a form of simple youthful religious fervor, Mariele used her skills, talent and dedication in writing to serve her Lord but also to grow not only intellectually but more on spiritually.
