Some of the children evacuees from Marawi City had no idea why they left their homes to live in a cramped abode so stranger to them, others had traumatic experiences that are hard to forget.
There were these kids who were left by their parents in their homes and got first-hand contact with the Maute rebels, who barged in their houses and stationed there for many days before leaving.
“Whenever they (children) see people holding guns, they call them ISIS,” said Aliah Dimaporo Cimafranca, a program consultant of Philippine Sports Commission.
Children from conflict-plagued Marawi carried with them forgettable stories as they now live in evacuation centers in another city of Iligan just 30 kilometers away.
This prodded the Department of Social Welfare to seek help from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to provide fun and entertainment for the children affected by the government’s war against the Maute in Marawi.
On Saturday, staff from the PSC and volunteers from the Mindanao State University, flocked to Sgt. Miguel Canoy Memorial Cultural School in Baru-un to hold fun games and sports clinics for some 300 children living in a nearby evacuation center.
Muslim and Christian kids played together in parlor games like Maria Went to Town, which they coined here Fatimah Went to Town, and sports clinics in soccer, basketball and volleyball.
Among them was the youngest participant in four-year-old Christopher Bascones Jr., one of the five children of Analyn and Christopher Sr, who have been living for two months now at the evacuation center inside the Buru-un National School of Fisheries.
“Gustong-gusto niya talagang maglaro, pag inawat mo nagagalit yan. Kaya enjoy na enjoy siya talaga,” said her mother Analyn.
Christopher could relate well with his teammates and gamely followed instructions from the football volunteer coach.
He later joined younger kids, mostly girls, in the fun games. Her siblings also played in other games and sports clinics.
Christopher’s family left Marawi on the morning of July 24, the second day of the Marawi conflict.
“Hindi kami nakaalis nung gabi kasi natatakot kami na baka maharang kami ng Maute group at kunin ang mga asawa namin,” said Analyn, while cuddling her four-month old son, the youngest among her children.
They used to live in Basoc, Malotlot in Marawi City.
Analyn and the others present were so moved at the sight of their children playing and enjoying the Children’s Games that they expressed hopes that the PSC would come back and do it again, not just in their place but also in other evacuation sites.
The PSC will do just that.
“I will recommend to chairman (Butch Ramirez) that we should do these in other evacuation centers. From what I saw today, my heart really goes to these beautiful children who came here to have fun and be happy,” said PSC commissioner Charles Maxey.
He flew to Iligan, just a couple of hours after arriving from Singapore where he accompanied the Philippine Team which had a successful participation in the Asean School Games.
“They (children) undergo counseling from DSWD and our help was asked to provide fun and games for these children, to let them play and enjoy, not just pure competition,” Maxey said.
Maxey said he will instruct the PSC staff to leave all the equipment which can be used by the volunteers from Mindanao State University to continue conducting regular games even on a smaller scale.
“We should do these on a regular basis because and hindi naman makukuha ang ultimate objective overnight. I will also suggest to chairman (Ramirez) na bumalik kami dito,” Maxey added.
Aong the volunters from MSU is Ahmad Kabiron, a PE instructor at the state university.
“Nakakapagod pero masarap na nakikita mong masaya ung mga bata, pati yung mga magulang na nakabantay sa kanila.. At nakita natin natin ung friendship and bonding among the kids.”
He said they are able to teach some sense of discipline and provide temporary relief for children.
“Iyung iba sobrang apektado talaga nawalan ng kabuhayan ang family at naalis sa mga bahay nilang kinalakihan. Pwede pa rin naman palang tumawa at maging Masaya, kahit pansamantala lang.”
Kabiron left the MSU campus on the second day of the siege.
He was entertaining guests from Philippine Sports Institute that included former track queen Elma Muros before they got evacuated.
“Iyung gabi ng July 23, magkakasama pa kami sa MSU campus and nakarinig na kami ng mga putok. Sabi ko naman kina Mam Elma, pangkarinawan lang dito yun at mawawala din. Iyun pala yun na ang atake ng Maute,” said Kabiron
Kabiron and his family now live with relatives in Iligan.
Nenita Samung, Dean of MSU’s College of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation, led the volunteer group from MSU.
She was also from Marawi and has been staying in Iligan until the situation normalizes at MSU campus, which is situated atop a hill, three kilometers from the Marawi City proper.
She said the Children’s Games provided a therapeutic psychological experience for the children affected by the conflict.
“The children need more than just material things. With this activity, we were able to develop friendship among them. We also teach them how to understand papano manalo at matalo. Especially na ung feelings nila talo sila dahil napaalis sila sa bayan nila.”