On the other side
May 23, 2017
The battle of Marawi, on the island of Mindanao, started when the Philippine Army tried to capture Isnlon Hapilon, the head of a militant group that pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. The Maute group then joined forces with the militant group, making the battle even longer and deadlier.
In Marawi City, where a tremendous and endless love began
Jacob, a Marawi City resident of 20 years, was in a relationship with Luna, a 19-year-old city girl.
Jacob and Luna were both typical Marawi Medical School students at the time, Jacob was a valedictorian of his class and lived a simple life. Getting to and from school and vice versa. He is satisfied with the way he lives. Some could argue that he needed a girlfriend, but Jacob considers having one to be an act of idiocy; he doesn't believe in love because his parents divorced many years ago not until he met Luna, a simple yet lovely girl when he first saw Luna, it was like everything was on slow motion, his heartbeat fast, it was the time that he knew that it was love, at first sight, Jacob said to himself.” is this love? Am I really feeling this?”
Days later
Luna and Jacob were sent to a one-week leadership camp by their teacher, and both Luna and Jacob decided to go.
"Hi, I'm Luna, you're Jacob, right?" Luna asked as she introduced herself to Jacob. I heard you're your class's valedictorian."
"Yes, I’m Jacob, and I'm glad you'll be my partner," Jacob said.
Little do they know that it is the start of their journey on reaching what so-called “love”
On the leadership camp, their feelings developed as Jacob confessed that he likes Luna
"I've liked you Luna since the day we first met," Jacob says shyly. "I know this seems bold, but give me a week and I'll get you."
Luna’s face is as red as an apple because she’s feeling the same towards Jacob
Jacob wins Luna's heart a week later. Jacob's moves are as quick as lightning, as he won Luna's heart within a week.
They do the things that most couples do: they go to school together, have meals together, and confront challenges together, a perfect puppy love, some might say. They're on their way to achieving their respective goals, although it was only for a short while.
May 23, 2017
Chaos started as the media broadcasted about the Marawi siege
Government against terrorist, people against extremist
For its citizens, every day was a war for existence; many have died just because of their convictions. As the sun sets in the west, many dreams have been shattered and dread seeps into the minds of the innocent. The conflict wreaks havoc on people's lives as if they were insignificant.
On October 23, 2017, the Philippine army declared the end of the bloody five-month-long siege in the southern city of Marawi, punctuating the battle with the killing of 42 suspected armed fighters affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, or ISIS).
4 years after the war
Life has returned to normal in Marawi, and Jacob has resumed his relationship with Luna.
He misses Luna because they haven't seen each other in a long time. Jacob continues to adore Luna as if the war never happened, every day he meets Luna at their meeting place and spends their time together.
A worried Jacob's mother followed him, and when he discovered Jacob sitting on the rose-scented grass, he hugged him and comforted him. "Please let go of Luna and let her rest in peace, my son, it's been 4 years since Luna died."
As soon as Jacob heard those words, his world shattered into a million pieces, his heart crumbled, and he finally came to his senses, realizing that the meeting site had always been Luna's grave.
Luna was one of a million Marawi crisis casualties four years ago.
