MANILA, Philippines — Four Marawi filmmakers, who lived through the horrors of war, will tell stories of heroism, struggle, and healing of the people of the city through new films to be shown on national television.
ANC’s “New Moon” series, which will air starting on May 21, aims to look into Marawi from the lenses of four of its own young filmmakers. The films will be shown within the timeslots of “Early Edition,” “Top Story,” and “The World Tonight.”
Students Sittie Alyssah Diron and Geral Jan Nino Omelio from Mindanao State University (MSU), ARMM assistant cabinet secretary Omar Ali, and MSU-Marawi professor Ali Yusoph are the featured filmmakers.
Sittie, who is a college senior taking up Journalism, is behind the film “Matou,” based on the story of Mastora “Matou” Dadayan, a farmer and fisherman living in a small barangay in Marawi City. During the siege, Matou’s wife and unborn child passed away, leaving him alone to take care of their older son.
Sittie recalled that she was at home with her youngest sibling when the war broke out. Her family evacuated to Iligan City and to this day, she believes that everything happens for a reason.
“The Maute Group’s ideology is wrong especially on the idea of Jihad, which led to the disaster of our city. But at the end of the day, they are still my brothers and sisters in Islam as the AFP are my brothers and sisters in humanity,” Sittie said.
Geral is also a senior in MSU-Marawi taking up Developmental Communication. He produced “Kanlungan” with fellow students. The film tells the story of teenager Zohmaya and her younger siblings, how they had a simpler, happier life back when they had not lost their home. They have lived with different families in the aftermath of the Marawi siege.
“My realization after the crisis is that it’s not religion that we should be afraid of but marginalization because when people are marginalized and deprived of social services, they will have no choice but to rise against the government,” Geral said.
Omar’s film “Suicide Squad,” meanwhile, tells the story of a group of rescuers trained for natural disaster calamities. Never in their wildest imagination did they think that one day they will be saving people from all walks of life — from terrorists who took siege of their beloved city, to their own loved ones.
Completing the list is Ali’s “Islam,” which he produced with his wife Sur. Their film tells the story of someone trying to make sense of virtues amid living through the dire consequences of war waged by fellow Muslims in the name of Allah.
With the guidance and technical support of ABS-CBN journalists, these young men and women bring forth authentic and unfiltered stories from the ground that can enlighten and inspire the nation.
The four films will be put together into one full episode to be anchored by broadcast legend Tina Monzon Palma and aired soon on ANC.