LAND OF SURVIVORS

               Lynah was not able to take the SASE examination because she was in the hospital in Cagayan when the SASE is administered it is because

her mother is at risk in giving birth to her new sister. So, she missed the exam. However thanks to the CET exam which is given before the enrollment Lynah was able to study in MSU. She took the SASE exam and with the GOD’s hope she passed.

          It was the first time of Lynah to experience the longest and hardest enrollment process she had been.  For one week she was in the admission for enrollment with the sudden heat of the sun and tiredness of standing whole day. After securing an admission form, you will go to the college where you want to be admitted and have the chairman’s signature then you will back to the admission for I.D number and other processing after that you have an I.D number you will be back to the college for enrollment of subjects which lasts a week or three days, after securing that you had enrolled subjects you will be back to the cashier  and line in a very long line for tuition fee and  then go to the other parts of the university such as the SSG and DSA and then the last process is the registrar for printing of COR which is the certification that you are totally enrolled. Huhh how hard it is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

          Then at the beginning of the classes you will be surrendered to hike in the far-away buildings. Then some of your instructor are terrors and so much selective or choosy in all of her projects given to you such as the term paper writing. You will not be exempted in overnights for projects or group presentations. Sometimes you will not have a sleep in consecutive nights because of the marathon exams. The very hard one is the math subjects because most of the Math teachers are smiling singko. So, you should not be confident that you can pass because the teacher is always smiling at the class or because you are her favorite students. After that sem, enrollment in second semester will come and you will be stressed again in the enrollment. Most of the time there is no open subjects or the subjects were closed or locked. There are really students who are studying going to class with 9, 12, 14, or under load. Because of these things we can say that the one who graduated here is really a survivor.

          Currently, Lynah is studying in this school taking up Bachelor of Secondary Education major in English.  

HOMECOMING II

        Lhy’s family was not able to go back in Manila even though her grandfather mourning days is already finished. Her father decided to stay in Mindanao because he was afraid if the case of her lolo will be happened again to her lola. As according to her father, her lola is severely sicked. So, her father decide to stay and take care of her lola and as according to her father also, he does not want that her lola will leave without him in her side just what happen to her lolo because that thing is the big regrets of her father.

          Her father required Lynah and her ate went back in Mindanao and continue there study here,   their house and store in Manila has been rented and they will have the money through her aunt there.

          Lynah continue her study in Marawi City National High School where she enrolled Third Year. Here, she had been a cultural shock. All her girl classmate is wearing vail or kombong and she forced to do so because it is an Islamic city. She can’t wear her old fit dresses because her relatives are angry and tell her that it is not Manila. Even the way she speaks is commented by her relatives specially the old ones. They say that she is a meranao so she must speak meranao. So, she needs to make a big adjustment in all of these things.

         

          In her first years in school, she saw that her classmate is irritated on her because she use to speak in tagalong language and they see her boastful. She cannot explain that she is from Manila because she was afraid what will be their reactions and she thought that they might expect a lot from her. But, when she tried to be true to her seatmate they did not do what she thought so, she is now confident. As the time passes by, she knew more of her classmates and some of them became her friends.

          She had a new circle of friends and all these friends of her are her seatmate at the front seat.  As what common friends do they are always together and talking about the things that is nonsense it just to have a topic to be talked. At exams, they shared their answers to each other and if there is one friend who is absent they will make her a quiz if there is a quiz. Lynah study hard to fulfill the expectations of her classmates and relatives, so at the end of the class she belongs to the top students.

          In fourth year, all of her classmates in third year became her classmate and they belong to same section which is the section one. Here, the competition became closer. There are some wherein their top place is not consistent and she was afraid if she falls to the last but hopefully it did not happen. She graduated as the first honorable mention in this school.

         

IS THIS LOVE?

Because their parent is in Mindanao, Lhy and her ate has to sacrifice and work hard in order to support their daily needs and living and to money for their projects. Luckily, their school schedule of her ate is not the same, her ate is in the morning schedule and she is in afternoon. At morning, when her ate is in the school she is the one who opens their store and saleslady and when her ate came, they will exchange, she will go the class in the afternoon in it is her ate who is a saleslady in the store.

Since, she is in the store everyday she became familiarize to the people in the market; and there is one person who catch her attention, it is the guy who is the son of the owner of the third store after their store. This guy is so cute and every time it passes by to their store she can’t help to stare at him and make her heart beat faster. Every morning, she is so excited to see the guy and if she was not able to see that guy she feels mad and misses him. Some times she intended to pass by in the store of the guy just to see him.

Before the school year ends, she is wondering because she did not see the guy for a long time. She feels worry and concern of what had happen to him. She wants to know where the guy is, why he faded away. Because of this she did not feel anymore excitement whenever she goes to the store. She did not hear or have any information about the guy because she is shy to ask their store neighbor about him because they may tease her.

TIME TO SAY GOODBYE

   

    Second year is the worst period in Lynah’s life. In this year, she lost her best friends. First, Johairah did not enroll in this year; she went to Mindanao to continue her study and as according to Johairah it is her parent’s will or decision and she need to follow them. Lhy and Amerah have no choice to accept it because they are not the one who has control to Johairah’s life. At the second grading period Lhy is so depressed because it is Amerah who will go to the province and the reason is that the father of Amerah died and they need to bury it in their place. As according to Amerah all her family will come to the province. Even though Lhy is sad about what happen to Amerah’s father she became sadder when she hears that Amerah has to go in the province. Amerah went to province and lhynah became so much depressed because she lost the two important person in her life.

          No matter what happen Lhynah’s life must continue. So she still needs to study and continue on. Sometimes she visits and go to her classmates in first year but still it is different than before.

         

          On the next year which is 2003, it is Lynah’s family who need to go back in the province because her grandfather died. Upon hearing the news that her father die it is like that Lynah’s world fall because she was not able to see her lolo in a long time and now that he is already dead she doesn’t have any chance to see him, thank him for offering his love when she was a child and taking care of her and ask forgiveness for all the bad things she made and makes her lolo’s head aches.  Lhy cries so much and there is so much pain in her heart.

          The day after hearing the news, her family went back in Mindanao and again it adds in the pain she feels because she and her ate remained because they need to finish the school year.

GARDENIA

          Lynah and her friends decided to continue their high school at Commonwealth High School. There, even though they were not became classmates at least they belong to the same building and their harmonious friendship continues. Even though both of them meet new friends, their friendship remains strong. Every recess time they go together to the canteen and eat together and in dismissal time they wait each other go home together.

          Lynah meets new friends at her section, the section Gardenia. This section is the ever happiest section in their building. Most of her classmate are gullible and playful specially Marichu Mariano the small but terrible girl.  They have a harmonious relationship at their section, especially the girls. Most of them are joker and expressive. There is no single discussion in the classroom where there are no teasing and laughing, even the teacher laughs and enjoy the class. One of the factor also why they can act like that is because all of their teacher are kind and happy go lucky especially their adviser. Another teacher which they like most also is their teacher in science who is a very joker and full of humor. Whenever she discuss she did not forget to say a joke and that make the discussion humorous and enjoyable.

          Every break time, they are always spent it in playing at the oval or outside in their room. They use to play matayataya, aso at daga, sipa and badminton; and even the students from the other section joins them and became their friends including Amerah and Johairah. Because of this the first years became united.

          Like the flower Gardenia which is a beautiful flower, their friendship and relationship become good, harmonious and beautiful; and like the flower blooms their friendship blooms and grows.

FINALLY

Reaching in grade IV, Lhy and her sister Samina are separated. Lhy belongs to section 3 while Samina is in the other section. Lhy is so sad because aside from that she does not have any classmate from her friends or from grade 3. She meets and had new friends but not so close as her previous friends.

 In grade V, Lhy is so surprised because she did not expect that she had meranao classmates and these two classmates of her became her friends, they are Amerah Salic and Johairah Saransaman.

          At first, she did not know that these two classmates of her are maranaos, it is actually it is amerah who first approach her. Amerah confronted her, “you are meranao, right?. Lhy was shocked and ask Amerah if how she knew. Amerah replied that aside from it is obvious in her family name, she used to see her visits to some stall there. So, Lhy knew that Amerah also has a stall in the market. Lhy was introduced by Amerah to Johairah who is there classmate also. Lhy shocked again as she knew that this beautiful girl is a meranao.  This introduction is the starts of their friendship; and Lhy became happy again as before when she was in grade one to three. The three are always together and as time pass by their friendship become deeper. They became best friends.  

          Reaching at grade six, the three became classmates again, so, they are so happy. Just like when they were in grade three, they are always doing some funny things and they are always happy and laughing inside the classroom. Sometimes at weekend they go to market and visit to each other stall/store. If they have an assignment or project they did it at the one’s stall or at the one’s house. Therefore, their parents became friends also.

         

          On March 2002, graduation day has come and each of them is happy because finally they will graduate after all. Lhy’s family is so happy because after the hard work and sacrifices, finally their child graduates. Lhy had a simple celebration at their home with their relatives. They are so enjoy eating together.

PICNIC IN THE CLASSROOM

In grade two, Lhy and Sam are Classmates again but they do not have any classmates in where their classmates in grade one. Here, they meets new friends and it become larger than before. Most of their classmates are kind and generous. Their seatmate at the front seat and at the back seat became their close friends. They make a new circle of friendship. In their group, it becomes their habit that every recess the put their baons or foods in one desk sharing and eating together and they call it themselves a picnic.

There are times that they all bringing rice and like a picnic outdoor, they have their small picnic at the classroom. This thing makes them happy and strengthens the bond of their friendship. They are actually nine in the group; three at the back of Lhy and Sam’s seat and three at the front.

During quizzes or exam, they share their answer to each other and they are helping each other in making their assignments. The school year ends and they all got a good marks at the final.

In grade three, three of them become Lhy and Sam’s Classmate and the picnic in the classroom continue until in this grade and some of their classmates adapt it. Some of their friends in grade two were lost but there are new ones. So, the same as in the grade two, they are also helping each other and enjoy the company of each other. Sometimes their friends visits at their house and the next day they are the one who will visit in the house of their friends.

THE CHRISTMAS PARTY

Lhy and her sister took their grade one level at Commonwealth Elementary School which is a public school and as what should be expected they are classmates. At first they are afraid to enter the room so that their mother had to accompany them and introduce tem to their teacher. They noticed that their mother and teacher knew each other, so they asked their mother if their vibrations is true and their mother replied yes! They know each other because their teacher is the teacher also of their older sister when it was in grade one, so their fear in the teacher lessen when they knew that. Their sister told that ma’am Sky is such a kind teacher.

In the first grading period it was their mother who accompany them in the school but in the remaining periods it was their ate who is with them is going to school in a reason also that they have the same schedule with their ate. At first, they are afraid to mingle with their classmates because as what they see, some of their classmates look hypocrite but at the end their impression was wrong because they are friendly and kind, so, they became friends. As what they said don’t judge the book by its cover.

Moreover, December has come and they have a Christmas party before the December break. Their teacher announced that their Christmas party is on December 17. when they get home in the house they told it to their mother but their sister argued and insisted that the Christmas party of all level is on 18 but because they are young they follow their ate’s words. In December 17, they go to school wearing school uniform knowing that their Christmas is on the next day. When they arrive at the classroom they are surprised because all their classmates are wearing beautiful dresses and bring gifts. They are so much embarrassed and ashamed. As their teacher asks them why that is happen, they tell the truths that make the teacher laugh at them. Even though they did not have a beautiful dress they still join in the party as what their teacher told them. They join in the game and others but in the exchanging time they have so much regrets. They are been out of place and envy with their classmates who are opening the gifts they receive.

THE TWINS

In April which is summer Lhy and her younger sister that is next to her name Samina (Mamni is her pet name) enrolled in the summer kindergarten program by Egesia Ni Kristo. Every time they go to school they are accompanied by their mother and get them in the dismissal time. Lhy is so happy because she meets new friends. Every recess time they are palying together in the garden. She also enjoy singing and dancing kiddie rhymes such wency spider, ako ay may lobo and so on. She also enjoy watching different kinds and colorful fishes in pond at the back of the church. Above all, her favorite time and hobby is eating her snack….

Furthermore, the thing which she hates so much is by calling them twins with her sister. Every time they will pass to the people they will recognized as twins and no wonder why the people mistakenly think that they are twins because of their clothes. From shoes, socks and dresses they are the same with her sister and the only difference is the color. If someones ask them if they are twins, they will answer no because that is the truth but the people seems not believing in them, it may be because also they have they the same height or what so ever.

Samina actually gets a higher mark than Lhy and may be one of the reason is that she did not totally familiarize in tagalog. So, when they graduate Samina got a ribbon and she was not. But then it did not embarrass her because she’s only a child and she is not aware of what happening.

After the graduation they directly step in the grade one because Lhy is already seven years old and she will be late in her level. They both step to grade one because Mamni are afraid of being alone, she would not go to school if Lhy is not with her.

THE ARRIVAL

It was early in the morning when they arrive at the coastline of Manila. Suddenly, she was surprised seeing that her parents are there with there other relatives and waiting for them. When they get off from the ship, she was tightly hus and kiss by her parents.

Just like before, while arriving from in the taxi she keeps on looking outside and watching the environment. In her mind, she taught that there are so many changes takes place in just one year. The buildings become gigantic than before. The high ways become numerous and wider, the billboards become bigger and taller, there are many cars with different styles and become more luxurious. And there are new establishments such as the LRT. Manila become more larger than before.

When they are passing by in the street going to their house, she cannot merely recognize the place. Because there are many houses added. When she ask where street they are in that time. Her uncle answer Katuparan and as what she remember the street where they are living before is Katibayan. This new street is quiet far in the market.

When she arrived at their house, it larger than there house before and according to her father they bought this lot and they build their own house and Lynah is happy upon hearing that. She saw alittle girl running to her mother and her mother told the girl that her ate Lhy had come. At first, Lhy was not able to recognize the girl but at the end it comes to her mind that the girl is Amina-her fourth younger sister. She saw also a baby boy which is a months old, her mother told that the baby boy is her brother . She was happy again upon hearing that because that baby boy is her first little brother.

I'M MISSING YOU

Living with her grandparents, Lynah feels the warmth love of their parents and how their parents care them so much. Every time her lolo came back from the farm she has something from him such as barbecued corn, fruits and specially pugo’s egg which is her favorite. Whenever her lola went to the Marawi, she has pasalubong from her when she get home. Sometimes she along with her sister is brought by her lola in the store and buy her some foods such as softdrinks, biscuits and candies. Their clothes are washed also by her lola even though she is big enough to do that in her own. If it is already late in the afternoon and wherein she did not get home, her lola will find her worrying if about happens her.

Despite of these things, there are times that Lynah is thinking of her parents and other siblings. She misses them so much. She is imagining if they are okay, what they are doing and if they miss her also. Every time that there are someone came from Manila, she always have an items from her parents. Sometimes it is toys, clothes, biscuits, etc. and in that moment she is very happy not only because of those items but she knew in her heart that she was not forgotten by her parents and that they love her so much with her sister.

After ramadhan in the year 1996, her lola go to Manila for Hajj and they are with her in going there because they are requested by their parents; and another reason why Lynah must go to Manila is because for her to study. She is already seven and it is too late if at her age she cannot step to kinder or grade one.

HOME COMING

In September of 1994, Lynah’s family went back in Mindanao because October is the time of her mother to give birth to her fourth sister. So, the rime has come and on the day of October seventeen, her mother gives birth to a healthy baby girl and they names it Amina. After few weeks when her mother is completely recovered from giving birth they go back to Manila because their first child is there in Manila, she was remained because she is schooling and their only purpose of getting back home is just to give birth.

Again, in going to Manila they are accompanied by their relatives and Lynah is so much excited because she will travel in the ship again. A minute before the departure her grandmother take her in the store to buy some ice cream for them. After they came from the store she saw that the ship has already departed and it’s already far away from the coastline. Knowing that she has been left, she cries so much loud and calling her mother and father. It circulate in her mind that everything is a plan; the buying of ice cream is just to trick and she feels so much anger with her parents because he cannot imagine why her parents decided to live her .

After a long time of crying, she noticed that her aunt is carrying her second sister which is only two years old. Therefore, she is not the only left by her parents but also her sister.

LIFE IN THE CITY

It is already night when they arrive at the coastline of Manila. Because it is already night they decided to spent their night in a hotel. At the hotel, there are some relatives visits them and some are offering their houses for them to spend the night. However, her father refused from their offers for unknown reason.

In the morning, the uncle of her father comes along with his family and they all together live the hotel. While arriving from the taxi, Lynah keeps on looking outside and amaze with the tall buildings she sees outside. She is wondering also of how the two story high-way made such as the EDSA and crowded with different styles of cars, lights billboards and so on.

Finally, they arrive in Quezon City particularly in the place of their destination. It is in the market where they first go and again she was shocked with the different people crowded the market. Then, they go to the house of her father’s uncle which is in the back of the market. They live her for two weeks and after that they found a house to rent. They transfer to their new house.

In their own house they live happily and harmoniously. In day time, her parents are in the market to manage their business and it is her ate left in the house with them. Every afternoon, their mother comes to home to cook for their lunch and after that she will go back again to the market with her husband’s lunch. At late afternoon, she will arrive early than her husband because she needs to cook for the supper. Then her husband will arrive at ten in the evening. This is usually the everyday routine of Lynah’s parents.

Sometimes, Lynah or either of her siblings is brought by her mother in the market. In Lynah is very happy whenever she is in the market. Everytime also that her parents arrive at home they have a pasalubong from them.

After one month, they have their own store; they bought the store beside the store of her father’s uncle and there business is vastly increasing. In June, her ate begins schooling.

NEW LIFE IN THE NEW YEAR

As the year 1992 ends, the conflict settled. As the year 1992 goodbyes, the war goodbyes also and peace and order restored. As the New Year approach, it is also the new beginning for the people leaving the stormy days of the past and starts a new life. They are now free and safe to do anything; the men are now safe in working in their farms while mothers left at home taking care of their child and they are now confident leaving their home to wash their clothes in the river. Children are now freely playing at the yards and the students and teachers go to school without fear and worries.

Suddenly, Lynah’s father went in Manila with the small amount of money they get from the animals they sold. With the god’s hope, after few weeks, he was able to send a small amount of money; and as according to his letter it is the profit he got in investing the money he had in the business.

As what have been stated to his letter, he is now temporarily living in the house of his uncle in the Commonwealth, Quezon City. Indeed, with the small he had, he used it as a capital in a RTW business. At first he displays his items in the front of his uncle store or stall. Luckily, the sale was good and the business vastly improving.

After 5 months, he arrived back home and Lynah and her siblings are so much happy because after the long time of waiting and missing their father, finally they can now hug him and kiss him. However, he did not stay long because his only purpose of getting home is to have his family and bring them in Manila. Lynah and her siblings are so much happy because finally they can see Manila.

On May 15, 2003, Lynah’s family departs to Manila. They are accompanied by their relatives and it can be seen from their faces how they are sad in losing their family. When the time comes wherein they need to get into the ship, she saw her mother, father, uncles, aunties, grandparents and other relatives crying. Her grandparents and titas kissed them.

While in the ship, Lynah is so much amaze with the things she sees inside the ship. She keeps on looking the ocean and watching its wave dancing. She enjoys watching the fishes jumping into the water that seems they are playing. She is wondered in the wideness of the ocean which seems that it has no end and she thought that it takes a long long time to arrive in manila.

PARADISE LOST

In the late 1992, Lynah’s family forced to go back in their province at Bayang Lanao del Sur because there are conflicts takes place with the family of her father. Even they did not want to move out in this place they have to because it is the life of her father which is indanger. The cousin of her father was killed by people near at their place in the province and the family of her father’s cousin decided to revenge. The problem is that when they revenged the family’s enemy will be revenged also and it might be her father that they will catch because it is easy for them to catch him. Rido is the term in meranao which is ubusan ng lahi. So, it does not matter who ever you caught as long as it is closely connected to your enemy.

At their hometown, their life became miserable because her father help or join in the battle in revenge of his cousin. Most of their savings is used to buy some war materials such as riffles and bullets. They also give money for the food of the men who attend in battle. It is actually common to the maranaos helping their relatives particularly in the moment of hardships and fall.

Most of the time, Lynah’s father is out of home because he is in the battle field. And most of the time Lynah with her family spent the night without their father and there is always fear and worries in their hearts. Her mother is the most affected among them all it comes to the point that she cannot take her food and looking straight at the atmosphere. During night she cannot sleep because of thinking her husband; and what she did is pray for her husband safety.

The children are prohibited to play outside because the place where the battle takes place is not far away and all the people in their place cannot go to Marawi because it is the enemy’s place where you will pass by. That conflict had destroyed the lives of the people in their place; the men cannot work because instead they are in the battlefield.

The women are afraid to live their children alone in the house and every time there are someone from the battlefield, the women will interview him what is happening in the battle and to their husband.

MOMENT OF HAPPINESS

In the middle of January 24, 1989 while the full moon is watching the peaceful night. Suddenly, it witnesses the birth of a lovely girl. Despite the hard and painful labor of Mrs. Diamona Hadji Noor, it was all gone when she finally saw her baby and it was a healthy and a strong baby girl. Diamona named the baby girl “Lynah” which is a baby powder brand and the reason why she gave this name is that because the girl has a fair and white skin and it is also the powder brand she is using.

Lynah is the second daughter of Mr.Ibrahim and Mrs. Diamona Hadji Noor. Ibrahim is from Wato and Pantao a Ragat while Diamona is from Bayang and Marugong. But they are not living in either of the places mentioned. They are currently living at MSU-SPDE. SPDE is an agricultural firm and where Ibrahim work as security guard.

Lynah’s development is so fast. The expected skills in her age are met. The couple is so much happy seeing that their child is growing strong and healthy. As early as two years old, Lynah is already exposed in the farm and the life here. She was brought by her mother at the farm and where she is playing with her older sister and with the small animals such as chicks, ducklings,etc. she loves watching the fishes in the fish pond, run after the chickens, ride at the back of horse with her father, imitating the sounds of animals such as goats, cows and carabaos and especially having fun or playing with frogs in the rice pond. She loves catching the frogs and run after them, she also imitating its sound and act as a frog.

When the time of harvesting has come, they have lots of oats or “pinipi” and they love eating the new rice. Sometimes their relative visits them such as her uncles and aunts and they are so much happy seeing each other. When they come, Lynah has always a pasalubong from them such as toys, clothes or foods that make her happy. The house will be full of louder laughs and conversations. During night Lynah cannot sleep because of their endless conversation and it will continue again tomorrow in the dining while eating or in any place they were; and most of the time when they are complete they have a picnic outside door and that makes the bond of the family strongly tight.

They have a happy life at this place. They live peacefully and harmoniously far-away from the people who did nothing but to destroy her or his fellow.