LANAO DEL SUR – Singer Aiza Seguerra has brought cheers Sunday to the faces of many war refugees from Marawi City after visiting evacuation centers and singing them songs of hope and dreams even as fighting continues between security forces and local Islamic State militants.
Sporting a pair of jeans and long sleeves, Seguerra, also the head of the National Youth Commission, went to the Saguiaran evacuation site in Lanao del Sur province. Wearing a thin veil out of respect to the predominantly Muslim refugees, Seguerra shook hands and spoke to them.
“Ako po ay walang dalang anything kundi awit at sana po sa munting paraan sa munting mga kanta na kakantahin ko sana ay mabigyan kayo ng konting kasiyahan despite of all the things na pinagdadaanan ninyo po ngayon,” Seguerra said.
After the mini-concert in Saguiaran, Seguerra proceeded to Bur-un evacuation center in Iligan City where she also visited refugees and talked to them. Seguerra went around the cramped camp and spent some time with children and their mothers before holding another mini-concert.
“Nandito po ako, wala po akong dala na kahit ano, pero ako ay nandito upang bigyan kayo ng konting entertainment, kayo po ay kantahan. Sana po kahit papaano ay makagaan at makatulong po sa inyong pinagdadaanan,” Seguerra said. “Pagdating ng panahon, matatapos din ang gulo at magkakaroon ng kapayapaan dito sa Mindanao basta patuloy lang tayong magkaisa.”
Executive Director Amir Mawallil, of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao – Office on the Bangsamoro Youth Affairs, accompanied Seguerra’s small group. According to ARMM’s Crisis Management Committee, more than 191,600 refugees are now in different evacuation sites. (Mindanao Examiner)
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