IN war, even if there are battles won, there are no victors. There is no honor or glory when the most innocent become victims of war. While many of us have read and have been horrified by the war stories in Mindanao, the headlines cannot articulate the deep, far-reaching fear and trauma experienced by those who face death every single day.
Renowned lens man Jun de Leon captured the haunted faces of those who are caught in the middle of the conflict in his recent exhibit, Children at the Crossroads, which was held at SM Aura Premier from April 24 to 27. From the thousands taken during his seven-day excursion in war-torn Maguindanao, 46 eloquent photographs were displayed to share the heart-wrenching stories of remarkable resiliency, inviolable spirit and quite hope. Through these photographs, de Leon urged the public to open their eyes and become witness to the atrocities of war.
De Leon partnered with writer/editor An Mercado-Alcantara, and his son, Tim, who put the entire journey on film. Earlier this year, they had set out to ground zero (Mamasapano, Maguindanao) where they gained exclusive entry into the 45th Infantry Battalion camps, the evacuation centers, and even Camp Abubakar and Camp Afghan, the largest Moro Islamic Liberation Front camp in the region. The trip took place weeks after the widely publicized Mamasapano incident, which resulted in the death of more than 60 people, including 44 police officers of the Philippine National Police Special Action Forces.
At the launch of the exhibit on April 24, Norombai Utto, the valedictorian of Hadji Salik Kalaing National High School, Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao, spoke before the attentive crowd:
“Sana araw-araw graduation na lang, para walang military operation at para walang mamatay. Mag-invest tayo sa edukasyon, hindi sa giyera [I hope every day there’s a graduation, so there wouldn’t be any military operation, and no one would die. Let us invest in education, not in war].
“Para sa mga taong may pananagutan sa atin at sa nangyayari ngayon sa ating bayan, ito po ang aking pakiusap: Itigil na po ninyo ang giyera. Sa halip na kaguluhan ang inyong suportahan, sana po ay sa edukasyon at kaalaman kayo mamuhunan, at hindi takot ang magiging pundasyon ng kapayapaan sa ating bayan [For those who are responsible for what is happening in our country, I have one request: Stop the war. Instead of supporting conflict, invest in education and knowledge. Do not let fear be the foundation of peace in our country].”
Present as well at the occasion was Corporal Julhaib Ajijul, the last man standing at a close-range encounter between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in March, which killed five of his comrades. He is the proud father of an honor student who received three medals during graduation on March 27. (Ajijul had been given special permission to leave the battle zone temporarily in order to attend the graduation ceremony.)
“Marami na akong pinagdaanan na laban before makarating sa Maguindanao. Galing kami sa gulo at sanay na. Sana ang gobyerno makamit na ang kapayapaan, para wala nang giyera. Sawa na kami sa giyera, sa Pilipino versus Pilipino [I have been through many battles before Maguindanao. We (the military) are used to conflict. But we hope that the government may finally end war and choose peace. We are tired of fighting, Filipino against Filipino],” shared the war hero.
Through the eyes of a soldier who have seen his fellowmen die on the battlefield, and of a child who sees hope despite living in the crossfire, can we begin to understand the true cost of peace. Helping in the campaign for awareness, de Leon’s evocative prints take us out of our comfort zone and into the lives of our suffering countrymen.
“I don’t have an agenda,” explained de Leon, regarding the purpose of his exhibit.
“I’m not pro-peace or pro-war. I just want people to think. I want them to think before they say anything, before they press that keyboard.”
Children at the Crossroads is supported by Canon Philippines Inc., the United Nations Development Program, Bench, Belo and SM Supermalls. The exhibit will be on display in different parts of the country at select SM Malls.