EVEN the Marawi siege cannot dampen the hopes of the youth for the better life; this is what 24-year-old graduating student Jalal Jamel has proved.
Jamel, an Agricultural Education graduating Moro student at the Mindanao State University, said his parents were crying to stop him from enrolling for another school year as the siege broke out but he insisted.
"Tinatagan ko yung sarili ko kasi graduating ako, hindi pwedeng ma-extend pa ako. Umiyak ako, parents ko kasi ayaw nila talaga, may college naman daw doon sa amin at doon nalang daw ako mag-aral, fourth year naman ako, back to zero na-sign naman ang units," he said.
He said that he already accepted that death could be the fate he will face as he continues his quest for a degree, and thus pursued and study despite the onset of the siege at Mindanao State University in Marawi City, which is thirty minutes away from his home in Bubong, Lanao del Sur.
“Upon the start of the siege near our dorm, it seemed like there is an earthquake, the loud sound of gunshots caused our glass window to shake, there were only three of us in that dorm and we were so afraid,” he said.
Jamel said that he was not able to sleep for three days.
The siege left them stranded, the fare leading to his home dramatically increased from P25 to P700. But last April 2018, six months after the end of the siege has been declared, Jamel said that it has gone back to normal.
Aside from being stranded, helplessness is also among the primary emotions he felt.
"Yung tipong ang pamilya mo andun sa town gusto mong tumulong pero hindi pwede, mahirap yung pinagdaanan namin as bakwit, stranded rin kami sa daan," he said.
He said that his aunt was even trapped in the Ground Zero for a week and they cannot do anything.
“That event has really huge effect on me because I had many relatives who died on that siege,” he said.
Despite how harrowing his experience was, Jamel is now days away from his graduation in June. He can only give a message of hope, having achieved what he wanted in life even if he faced some challenges along the way.
“Huwag po tayong mawalan ng pag-asa even though nasira na lahat, nakaplano kasi iyan ni God. So isa yan sa mga test na kapag na-overcome mo, merong kasamang ginhawa, hindi po hadlang ang siege,” he said.
Without doubt, Jamel was among the young Moros who did not allow the siege to stop them from achieving their dreams and goals. In fact, he is one of the 50 artists from Marawi whose artworks were shown in an exhibit called “Paint for Peace to Rebuild Marawi.” The artworks were shown in an exhibit at Art Portal of Galvez at Door 1-A Paseo de Legaspi, 115 Pelayo St. from April 24 to 27.
Jamel’s painting, entitled “Bakwit is real,” shows the young and the old in silhouette bringing their belongings as they flee from the war.
He said that painting such artwork allowed him to express what he felt.
Right now, as a dancer also of ethnic and contemporary dances, Jamel eyes to spearhead workshops for ethnic dance for those who were traumatized by the siege.
“Gusto ko munang tumulong sa mga kabataan, nag-propose ako ng workshop for ethnic dance as therapy for those who are traumatized victims of the siege, kasali po kasi ako sa Sining Kambayoka, isa rin sa advocacy ko na i-promote and i-preserve ang culture ng Maranao,” he said.
As a graduating student this coming June, Jamel said he has mixed feelings because the celebration of his graduation could have been merrier if it would be held in Marawi city where many of his relatives reside.
Aside from his pursuits in art, Jamel said as he graduates, he wishes to practice his course, which according to him would be very beneficial to their locality whose main livelihood is primarily centered on growing rice.
Jamel also wishes for peace in his land.
“Sana magkaroon ng kapayapaan, noon hanggang ngayon, wala pa rin, stop the war and choose peace. Hindi solusyon ang pumatay ng tao, hindi solusyon na masira ang isang bayan, para maasam ang gusto nila, pagmamahal ang solusyon diyan, dahil pare-pareha lang naman tayo Christian man o Muslim, tayo ay Pilipino,” he said.