The UNICA Post

13/08/2025

𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞 | 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 (𝗖𝗦𝗦𝗛) “𝗦𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗮 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘀.”

Students and faculty explored booths prepared by each of the CSSH departments. The event featured interactive activities, food bazaars, and fun freebies, all aimed at welcoming new students to the university.

Photos by
Norwafa Adapun, 3rd Year BA Media Education

26/07/2025

26/07/2025

‼️ ATTENTION ‼️
To all new enrollees wearing DIY dental braces:

Please be informed that medical certificates will not be issued to individuals with self-applied or DIY dental braces.

You are required to have these removed prior to your visit to the MSU Main – Medical Services Department (Infirmary).

🔍 Important Reminder:
DIY braces pose serious health risks, including tooth loss, infections, and irreversible damage to your gums and bones. According to the Philippine Dental Association (PDA) and the Department of Health (DOH), DIY orthodontics is strongly discouraged and considered unsafe due to the lack of professional supervision and sterilization.

This also applies to OLD STUDENTS of this University.

26/07/2025

WE ARE ACCEPTING NEW STUDENTS!

Inviting incoming first year students this First Semester, AY 2025-2026 to enroll in any of our three (3) degree programs:

Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies (major in Media Education)
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism
Bachelor of Science in Development Communication

Admission is OPEN to all Senior High School Tracks!

For inquiries, text or call our Dept Admission Officer, Mr Fahad Panggaga ( #09309801065).

ADMISSION IS ONGOING!
(Hurry! Slots are limited.)

See you at the Communication & Media Studies Department located at the first floor of the College of Social Sciences & Humanities, MSU Campus, Marawi (right beside the Dean's Office).

Come & join our team! ❤

24/07/2025

Behind Every Triumph: Stories of the Class of ’25 Take the Spotlight

For every cap that soared into the air, there was a story—of early morning classes, quiet struggles, unexpected detours, and moments that shaped both minds and hearts.

These stories were at the center of the tribute ceremony held on July 21 by the Communication and Media Studies Department (CMSD) of Mindanao State University-Marawi, honoring its graduates from the Class of 2025.

The graduates are Alaiza Java, Omar Gaga Jr., Najerah Tomaga, Mary Grace Yosores, Mohader Gandamato, and Aizel Pinatacan—each carrying not just academic achievements, but deeply personal journeys of perseverance and hope.

“Taking up this degree is a challenge in itself,” shared Najerah Tomaga. “It was never part of my original plan, so it was hard for me to stay. But Alhamdulillah, there is always a reason for everything that happens.”

For Omar Gaga Jr., a magna cm laude graduate of BA Journalism, that purpose was clear from the beginning. His passion kept him grounded through the demands of university life.

“You should know your passion. It’s important—because without it, you might feel lost. When you know your passion, you will know where you are going.”

But the victories celebrated that day were never theirs alone. Behind each graduate stood a family that sacrificed, struggled, and dreamed alongside them.

Jeffel Dondoy Java, father of Alaiza Java—also a magna cm laude graduate in Journalism—moved the audience with a heartfelt message.

“Kahit minsan wala tayong makain, hindi tayo mayaman, nag-pursigi ka pa rin na makatapos. ‘Yun lang ay sapat na sa amin na magulang mo—lalong lalo na sa nanay mo.”

Alaiza’s academic success was not just a personal achievement; it was a symbol of the quiet strength that defines many MSU-Marawi students—those who rise not despite hardship, but because of it.

CMSD Chairperson Maria Ninotchka Herrera affirmed this spirit in her message: “As we pay tribute to this milestone, let it remind us that education is not just about finishing—it is about becoming. Today, we celebrate not only what you have become, but also what you can still become.”

As these graduates step into the ever-evolving fields of media and communication, their stories continue. The triumph of graduation is only the beginning.

Omar leaves a message that captures both their journey and their calling: “The world needs more storytellers than ever.” #

By Sorayyah D. Abdullah, 3rd Year BA Journalism
Photos by Norhana Naik, 3rd Year BS Development Communication

23/07/2025

05/06/2025

𝐊𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐨, 𝐁𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐨: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐧 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐔𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐬 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬

“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴. 𝘚𝘰, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬.” These were the powerful words of veteran Filipina journalist Ms. Inday Espina-Varona during her lecture on the importance of citizen journalism as a tool for telling local stories.

On May 21 to 23, the Kinaiyahan Program, a youth-led initiative advocating for climate justice and environmental awareness, launched the Tingog Project—a citizen journalism training initiated to empower Lumad and Moro youths in Mindanao. The training was held at the Kalimudan Hall in Marawi City, featuring prominent journalists Ms. Inday Espina-Varona, Ms. Carolyn Arguillas, and Mr. Froilan Gallardo.

In partnership with the Communication and Media Studies Department of Mindanao State University (MSU)-Marawi and the Kalimudan sa Ranao Foundation, Inc., this program is under Mindanao Climate Justice (MCJ), an NGO focused on sustainable development and social justice. To manifest this project, Kinaiyahan also collaborated internally with other MCJ programs, including its Duyog and Panalipod programs.

Isabela Dela Cruz, the program officer of MCJ’s Duyog Program, explained how the project was inspired by the challenges faced by their partner communities in sharing their stories. "𝘚𝘢 𝘛𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘯, 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘬𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘢-𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘨 𝘔𝘊𝘑 𝘯𝘢 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘬𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘬𝘰𝘭 𝘴𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘯𝘪𝘭𝘢 𝘥𝘢𝘩𝘪𝘭 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘢’𝘺 𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘰𝘵 𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘴.”

“𝘐𝘯 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘊𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘰, 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥, ‘𝘈𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘴, 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴,” she added.

Participants included Lumad youth from Bukidnon, SoCCSKSarGen, and Lanao del Sur, along with Moro students from MSU, and internally displaced persons from the Reclaiming Marawi Movement (RMM).

On the first day, Ms. Varona discussed the importance of gaining context from sharing personal stories and the discipline to do so effectively. She guided participants in recounting their firsthand experiences of land grabbing, environmental exploitation, and political violence, highlighting the authenticity in each narrative.

Ms. Varona explained how telling simple stories could show the reality of a community, saying, “𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯, 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴. 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺.”

Ultimately, Ms. Varona reminds us that it takes a story to inspire an action. “𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘣 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱,” she added.

Furthermore, Ms.Carolyn Arguillas echoed this notion, emphasizing how simple, grounded stories can spark justice and solidarity.

On the second day, Mr. Froilan Gallardo led a workshop on photojournalism, highlighting the power of images in telling untold stories.

"𝘛𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺," he said, describing how photographs capture history and offer a lens for those who aren’t present.

After the training, some participants shared how they plan to utilize their voices to bring their communities’ issues into sharp focus.
Participant Mailyn Lagwas, a Talaandig from Bukidnon and a community development student, expressed her intention to utilize her knowledge to inspire the youth in her community to pursue their education and combat discrimination.

“𝘚𝘢 𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯, 𝘬𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘴 𝘬𝘢𝘺𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘨𝘦,” Mailyn explained.

Additionally, Angelika Moral, a participant and a B’laan from Sultan Kudarat, said, “𝘉𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘐𝘗, 𝘬𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘢, 𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘶𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘯𝘰, 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘬𝘢𝘴𝘺𝘰𝘯. 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩.”

On the third day, the group visited Ground Zero in Marawi, including the Buganga temporary shelter, the Gadungan permanent shelter, and the Maqbara cemetery, to commemorate the Marawi Siege and hear firsthand accounts from internally displaced persons (IDPs).

“𝘔𝘢𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘱 𝘬𝘢𝘮𝘪, 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘢𝘩𝘪𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘯 𝘱𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘢—𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘐𝘋𝘗𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘪,” shared Lagwas after the visit.

This project marked the launch of the Kinaiyahan Network Mindanao, a youth-led platform created to amplify Lumad and Moro voices on climate justice and local issues.

“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘺𝘮𝘣𝘰𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺,” said Dela Cruz. “𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘴, 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯—𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘨𝘰 𝘶𝘯𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥.”

The three-day project concluded with the election of the network’s officers, where elected co-chairpersons were Nurainie Rakim from ComMStud and Boynaflor Yacumba Jr. of Bukidnon, each representing Moro and Lumad youth, respectively. #

By
Fayzah Inshirah Cosna Ala, 3rd Year BS Development Communication
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Photos by
Nurainie Rakim, 4th Year BA Journalism

30/05/2025

𝐈-𝐊𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐨 | 𝐄𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 “𝐁𝐚𝐤-𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠” 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐢

“𝘌𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘯𝘢 𝘱𝘰 𝘬𝘢𝘮𝘪 𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘵𝘢 𝘯𝘪𝘺𝘰 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘱𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘭𝘶𝘨𝘢𝘳 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯—𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵. 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘶𝘵𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘢𝘮𝘪 𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘰𝘣𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘰. 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘐𝘋𝘗𝘴.” These were the words of Division Four Leader Almairah Indol, an Internally Displaced Person (IDP) residing at the Buganga temporary shelter—echoing a frustration that has only deepened over time.

As Marawi marked the 8th anniversary of the 2017 siege, what weighed heavily was not just the passage of time, but the growing burden of displacement that IDPs continue to endure.

On May 23, 2025, a whole-day commemoration was led by the Kalimudan sa Ranao Foundation, Inc., the Marawi Accompaniment Advocacy (MAA), the Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID), and the Reclaiming Marawi Movement (RMM). This may not be their first tribute to the event, but the call remains as urgent as ever.

“𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘯𝘢 𝘪𝘵𝘰,” said Mr. Amenodin T. Cali, Executive Director of Kalimudan. “𝘐𝘣𝘢’𝘵 𝘪𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘢 𝘵𝘢𝘰, 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘥, 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘴, 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴. 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘰, 𝘭𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘢 𝘴𝘢 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺.”

The group began their day with a visit to Ground Zero, accompanied by IDPs from various shelters, along with Lumad and Moro delegates from the Kinaiyahan project—a program under Mindanao Climate Justice focused on achieving change through community-led climate and social justice efforts.

As they gathered amid the reconstructed city center, they chanted, “Kambalingan sa Marawi!”—a call to return home. Their banners bore messages of loss and longing as they looked around, recalling the Marawi they once knew, now overshadowed by grand new structures built on the ruins of their former homes.

“𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱 𝘯𝘪𝘭𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘡𝘦𝘳𝘰. 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘰 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘢 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘬𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘐𝘋𝘗𝘴. 𝘈𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘪𝘭𝘢 𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘺,” said Prof. Tirmizi Abdullah of the Mindanao State University (MSU)-Marawi History Department.
“𝘈𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘶𝘬𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘺 𝘬𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘶𝘸𝘪 𝘯𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘵𝘢𝘰. 𝘋𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰 𝘴𝘢 𝘐𝘋𝘗𝘴. 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘰 𝘯𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘢 𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘯? 𝘕𝘢𝘴𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘱𝘢 𝘳𝘪𝘯,” he added.

From Ground Zero, the group visited the temporary shelter in Barangay Buganga to hear directly from division leaders about their daily struggles.

“𝘐𝘴𝘢 𝘴𝘢 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘱 𝘯𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘺𝘰𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘺 ‘𝘺𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢,” said Subair Mangadang, one of the leaders. “𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘣𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘥 𝘯𝘨 500 𝘱𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢 𝘴𝘢 𝘶𝘱𝘢, 𝘵𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘴 200 𝘱𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘴 𝘱𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢 𝘴𝘢 𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘸.” He added that only those who could afford to buy water pumps had access to water, forcing others to search elsewhere.

Almairah Indol echoed further concerns, “𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘯, 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘮 𝘬𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘢 𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯 𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘰𝘣𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘰. 𝘕𝘰𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘯𝘢, 𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘨𝘺𝘢𝘯 𝘬𝘢𝘮𝘪 𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘢𝘬𝘰—25 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘴 𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘢 𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘢𝘰𝘯. 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘰 𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘢𝘰𝘯, 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘢 𝘯𝘪 𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘨𝘢𝘱 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘐𝘋𝘗𝘴.”

Their simple plea was for a faster and fairer compensation process from the Marawi Compensation Board (MCB), the body responsible for addressing claims related to property loss and damage.

“𝘒𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘶𝘩𝘢 𝘯𝘢 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯, 𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘯𝘢 𝘬𝘢𝘮𝘪,” said Mangadang, referring to the amount of compensation declared in their affidavits. Only then, they say, will they be able to return and rebuild their homes.

However, the hardship extends beyond temporary shelters. The group’s next visit, to a relocation site in Barangay Gadungan, revealed a deeper truth. There, residents live far from city centers and essential services, leaving them isolated despite supposedly having found permanence.

Angelika Moral, a B’laan delegate from Kinaiyahan, shared her sadness and awe towards the IDPs' perseverance, “𝘕𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘬𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘬𝘰 𝘥𝘢𝘩𝘪𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘯, 𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘯𝘢, 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪 𝘱𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘢 𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘶𝘸𝘪 𝘴𝘢 𝘬𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺. 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘣𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘯, 𝘯𝘢𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘨 𝘳𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘰 𝘢𝘬𝘰 𝘬𝘢𝘴𝘪 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘯.”

Later that day, the group visited Maqbara, Marawi’s public cemetery, where 297 victims of the siege are buried, many still unidentified, their graves marked only with numbers. Before these nameless headstones, the group offered prayers, remembering those who never made it back home.

The day concluded with a dialogue with the Marawi Compensation Board, represented by MCB Chairperson Atty. Moslemen T. Macaramdon, Sr., at the MSU Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanao (IPDM) Hall.

Here, the IDPs did more than just recall the siege. They remembered the life that once was, the one they are still yearning for.

After eight long years, they are not just displaced, they are still waiting. Still “𝘣𝘢𝘬-𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨” for a safe and dignified return—their 𝘬𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘯.

By
Fayzah Inshirah Cosna Alonto Ala, 3rd Year BS Development Communication
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Photos by
Nurainie Rakim, 4th Year BA Journalism

28/05/2025

𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐊𝐚 | 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐌𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐌𝐒 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐒 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞

Students from the Communication and Media Studies Department of Mindanao State University-Marawi, namely Mohammad Walid Gumal, Janisah H. Ali, Norhana Naik, and Fayzah Inshirah Cosna Ala, participated as S'bang Ka Marawi Patrollers in a dialogue between IDEALS, Inc. and the International Media Support (IMS). The IMS delegation included International Media Advisers Chris Peken and Henrik Grunnet, Program Manager Che Delos Reyes, and Program Officer Franshen Pateros.

Held on Saturday, May 24, at Farmgrill, Heaven Road, the meeting served as a needs assessment for a potential partnership between IMS and IDEALS, aimed at strengthening community journalism in Marawi.

Janisah H. Ali shared how she felt during the meeting, saying “𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘐𝘔𝘚 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴, 𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴. 𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐’𝘮 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦.”

During the dialogue, IMS representatives gained insight into the local practice of community journalism and the ways information is shared among Marawi residents, based on the testimonies of the patrollers.

After the meeting, the students accompanied the IMS and IDEALS delegation to the temporary shelters in Saguiaran, where the conversation continued with residents who also serve as broadcasters for the S'bang Ka Network. The visit included a tour of the shelter and its localized information network. #

By
Fayzah Inshirah Cosna Ala, 3rd Year BS Development Communication
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Photo from S'bang Ka Marawi

27/05/2025

OFFICIAL STATEMENT
On the Passing of the
Mindanao State University System President,
Atty. Basari D. Mapupuno

With great sadness, the Mindanao State University (MSU) community announces the untimely passing of our Mindanao State University System President, Atty. Basari D. Mapupuno, in the early hours of Tuesday, May 27, 2025.

Indeed, this is a sudden, profound and immeasurable loss for the entire MSU System. President Mapupuno was more than a leader —he was a beacon of hope, compassion, and vision. He led this University with courage and wisdom during a time beset with great challenges and transitions, always putting the welfare of the Mindanao State University at the forefront of his mission.

We, the MSU family—faculty, staff, students, alumni, and stakeholders—grieve together, united in sorrow and bound in immense gratitude for the time we were blessed with his leadership. His legacy is deeply etched not only in the achievements and reforms he championed, but in the lives he touched and the communities he served.

We extend our deepest condolences to his bereaved family, loved ones, and friends. They are not alone in this grief—we mourn with them. Together, as a community, we pause from our labors to solemnly say heartfelt prayers, for the eternal repose of this University leader, whose life was devoted to service, knowledge, and peace.

As a sign of respect, may we request all MSU system constituents to offer a moment of silence and prayer, and we request for the campus flags to be lowered to a halfmast as a symbol of our collective grief and respect.

27/05/2025

27/05/2025

𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐋𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐡𝐢 𝐖𝐚 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐈𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐡𝐢 𝐑𝐚𝐣𝐢’𝐮𝐧
“𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘥, 𝘵𝘰 𝘈𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘩 𝘸𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘏𝘪𝘮 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯.”

It is with heavy hearts that we, the Communication and Media Studies Department, along with the Union of Communication Artists (UniCA) and The UniCA Post, express our deepest sorrow over the passing of Atty. Hassanul Basari Mapupuno, the President of Mindanao State University - System. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and everyone in the MSU community during this difficult time.