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.