Prior to the Marawi Crisis, 42 year-old Johaira lived in Banggolo, Marawi City together with her husband and seven (7) children.
I met Johaira in early May. I was standing near the checkpoint of Mapandi Bridge observing the atmosphere of the Kambisita when I overheard someone say “it hurts me every time I see Banggolo, most especially the Plaza; it makes me want to cry.” Her statement caught my attention and it was from there that we began to converse. She shared with me details of her life prior to the Marawi Crisis, which include her livelihood as a street sweeper of Barangay Banggolo. Her passion for her livelihood was evident in our conversation, and driven by her love for family as well as the community in which they lived.
I followed Johaira during her visit inside the Most Affected Areas (MAA). Together with her husband and one of their children, we stood by a street close to the Plaza and saw their house in ruins. It was only then that Johaira expressed how she could accept the loss of her house, but could not bear the loss of Banggolo as it was her home and the place in which she had served her time and put her effort towards. “I couldn’t even stand to see a piece of paper in the streets so I would often pick these up and throw it” she shared.
It pains her greatly to have seen Banggolo — a place she took care of, even adding flowers around its Plaza — damaged. However, Johaira is hopeful that she will one day return to the place she calls home, and in the mean time will draw strength from this hope and her family that remains to be intact.
Before we parted ways, I asked her if I could take a photo of her in the Plaza together with the remaining flowers she put. She happily obliged and smiled by the flowers and at the comfort provided by their familiarity. I too couldn’t help but smile for her and stand in awe of her passion for her work, driven by love for her community and the place she calls home.
— Fahada B. Camim