Hope for a better tomorrow

When the Marawi Siege happened, Sittie Nadja’s family lost their small rice business in Dansalan, Marawi City. With seven children in the family, this made it difficult for them to make ends meet. When the lockdown was implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic, her father who made a living as a jeepney driver was unable to work. 

“Pinapalakas na lamang ng mga magulang [ang] loob namin para kayanin ang nangyari (Our parents give us the strength to endure our problems),” Sittie Nadja said. Their parents Noroden and Junaira inculcated in them the value of education even at an early age. 

Sittie Nadja, 13, is a Grade 6 student at Saguiaran Elementary School. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, face-to-face classes were suspended in Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur where she and her family currently reside. She lamented the difficulty of distance learning, “Sarili na lamang sikap na maintindihan ko ang mga halimbawa na ibinibigay sa amin na aaralin namin (I do my best to understand the examples given to us on my own).”  

Sittie Nadja was one of the participants of the Family Development and Media Literacy Sessions conducted especially for daughters. She learned the importance of being respectful and obedient to her parents. “Nalaman ko ang aking mga responsibilidad bilang isang anak (I learned my responsibilities as a daughter),” she said. Despite the challenges brought about by modular learning, Sittie Nadja resolved to do her best in her studies, which according to her, is her only way to help her parents. 

Aslanie, 16, is the eldest son in the family. His father, Alikhan, works as a security guard at the National Power Corporation for P5,000 a month. Despite the threat of COVID-19, his father still has to work because it is the only income source for their family. 

Aslanie is a Grade 10 student at Sultan Angin Memorial National High School. “Mahirap, ang hirap mag-aral ngayon, mas maganda pa rin ‘yung face to face kasi naiintindihan mo discussion ng teacher mo. Kapag sa bahay lang, ang hirap pag ikaw lang umintindi (Distance learning is very difficult. I still prefer face to face classes with the teacher. It’s very difficult to understand the lessons on your own),” he said. In order to understand the module, Aslanie and his friends conduct group studies in the neighborhood to discuss the lessons. Aslanie shared that walking to school everyday is what he misses the most. 

Like Sittie Nadja, Aslanie also participated in the Family Development and Media Literacy Sessions conducted specifically for sons. He learned the importance of unity in the family. “Bilang panganay na kuya, natutunan ko sa session na ito ang pagbigay galang, pagpapahalaga sa mga magulang (As the eldest son, I learned the importance of respecting my parents),” he said. Aside from this, he also learned to be careful and critical in sharing posts in social media to avoid spreading wrong information. “Alhamdulillah, nagpapasalamat ako sa mga natutunan ko sa session na ito (Alhamdulillah, I am very thankful for everything I learned from the session),” Aslanie said.  

It has been a year since the COVID-19 pandemic started and stringent quarantine guidelines were put in place. Aslanie shared that once the pandemic is over, he is very eager to get back to studying in the Madrasah. 

Sittie Nadja, on the other hand, looks forward to celebrating the end of the pandemic. “Makakasama ko na rin mga kaibigan ko mamasyal, mag-aral, at pwede na makalabas (I can finally be with my friends, go to school, and go out of the house),” she said. 

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The Family Development and Media Literacy Sessions is a joint initiative of IDEALS, Soar High Knowledge Foundation, and Children Peace Movement Council under the Mindanaoan Youth Voices for Peace project funded by the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF). It primarily aims to strengthen the capacities of parents and their children for peaceful conflict resolution within their family and community and develop the family’s media literacy.