Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 2) — Singer and National Youth Commission (NYC) Chairperson Aiza Seguerra shared some love with victims of the Marawi crisis on Saturday when she visited displaced families in an evacuation center in the municipality of Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur.
Seguerra, who before taking office as a pubic servant gained popularity as a singer and child actress, interacted with and performed for the thousands of evacuees in the center who had been forced to flee their city amid the more than month-long Marawi clash between Maute forces and government troops.
In a post by the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Bureau of Public Information, Seguerra is seen interacting with the evacuees, even giving a hug to one of the displaced residents.
Some of the evacuees, who had fled their hometown after the crisis started on May 23, were also seen teary eyed as Seguerra serenaded them with trademark songs in a mini-concert.
In a video taken by Office on the Bangsamoro Youth Affairs (OBYA-ARMM) Executive Director Amir Mawallil, Seguerra was seen giving words of comfort and inspiration to the evacuees
“Sa nangyayari po, Minsan nakikita natin na parang walang pagasa, pero naniniwala po ako na hanggat may kinabukasan may pagasa,” she said.
[Translation: With all that’s happening, sometimes we feel like there’s no hope. But I believe that as long as there’s a future, there is hope.]
She also reminded the Marawi residents that their fellow Filipinos were there for them amid their struggles.
“Lahat po sana alam ninyo na kami po ay nandito [I hope you all know that we are here] and we are one with you.”
According to the ARMM Bureau of Public Information, the visit was done in coordination with the ARMM’s Office on the Bangsamoro Youth Affairs (OBYA-ARMM). The team is also expected to visit some evacuation centers in Lanao del Norte on Sunday.
On July 1, the NYC along with the OBYA-ARMM also conducted a dialogue with about 100 youth leaders in different organizations in Marawi City.
The ARMM Crisis Management Committee has recorded 191,685 individuals in Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte evacuation centers.
During her visit, Seguerra gave the evacuees words of comfort, saying the crisis would end eventually.
“Pagdating ng panahon, matatapos din ang gulo at magkakaroon ng kapayapaan dito sa Mindanao basta patuloy lang tayong magkaisa,” Seguerra said.
[Translation: Someday this conflict will also end and there will be peace in Mindanao as long as we work together.]
Prior to Seguerra, Actress Angel Locsin had also visited displaced Marawi residents in evacuation centers to sympathize with them and bring relief goods.
