Greetings of peace, friendship, and solidarity to all!
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) is one with the Maranao people as you celebrate this year’s Marawi Week of Peace.
Over the years, the people of Marawi have gone through challenges which tested your faith, patience and resolve. However, the Maranao spirit always prevailed, enabling you to surmount these trials and move forward.
The Marawi siege was perhaps one of the painful chapters in your city’s history. Nandoon po ako. Nasaksihan ko kung paanong ang pangyayaring ito ay nagdulot ng napakalaking pinsala sa inyong lugar at dalamhati sa inyong mga mamamayan.
Despite this traumatic experience, your people have overcome the odds and are now on the path towards recovery. Your city is like a phoenix; it is slowly rising from the ashes and spreading its wings — ready to fly and soar high.
Your celebration of this year’s Marawi Week of Peace is a testament of the Maranao people’s unwavering commitment to the principles of peace, mutual understanding and solidartiy.
Ang okasyong ito ay nagpapakita na sa gitna ng napakaraming pagsubok, ang mga residente ng Marawi ay may kakayahang lumaban, bumangon at umukit ng isang mas magandang kinabukasan.
As our nation faces an unprecedented health crisis, the Maranao people are once again called upon to protect the city against an unseen enemy that threatens to take away all the gains you have achieved.
We have seen how the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically altered our way of life. Once thriving communities have become virtual ghost towns, as economic activity has come to a standstill and people keep themselves locked inside their homes.
Ngunit buo ang aking paniniwala na ang mga kapatid nating Maranao ay hindi kailanman aatras sa laban na ito. Bagkos, ito ang magsisilbing daan upang kayo — tayong lahat — ay magbubuklod-buklod at sama-samang pupuksain ang sakit na ito.
As we commemorate this year’s Marawi Week of Peace, let us recall the lessons from our past experiences and apply these to the situation we are now facing. By doing so, we can win this battle.
Tandaan po natin na ang laban na ito ay hindi lamang upang pangalagaan ang ating kalusugan at itaguyod ang ating mga kabuhayan, ngunit para din panatilihin ang kapayapaan at katahimikan sa ating mga komunidad.
Makatitiyak po kayo na ang pamahalaan, sa pamamagitan ng National Task Force Against COVID-19, ay mananatili sa inyong likuran upang tulungan kayong maitawid ang inyong mga pangangailangan sa panahon ng krisis na ito.
Naniniwala kami sa tibay, tapang at lakas ng loob ng ating mga kapatid na Maranao. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit napagtagumpayan ninyo ang mga nagdaang krisis. Ito din ang magiging susi sa ating tagumpay laban sa COVID-19.
We congratulate the City Government of Marawi for spearheading this year’s Marawi Week of Peace. You have always been a reliable partner and staunch supporter of government in its peacebuilding efforts.
We would also like to express our gratitude to members of Marawi’s civil society, foreign donor community as well as the security sector who have been working very hard to bring much needed relief assistance to the Maranao people.
At sa mga mamamayan po ng Marawi, nananalig ako sa inyong kakayahan na harapin ang mga hamon na dulot ng COVID-19. Kung tayong lahat ay magkakaisa at magtutulungan, ay magtatagumpay po tayo. We shall heal as one. Inshallah!
Maraming salamat at mabuhay tayong lahat!
