Campaign for “Letters of Hope” for soldiers and civilians in Marawi City on

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jun 26): Campaign for “Letters of Hope” for soldiers and civilians in Marawi City on

People from other regions and even those living abroad can reach out and offer prayers to soldiers and affected residents in Marawi City through “letters of hope”.

Cabinet Secretary Khal Mambuay-Campong of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) said a group of private individuals in Luzon started the campaign in coordination with the autonomous region.

“Actually this idea started when a doctor who visited Marawi City launched a donation drive for garments and thank you notes to soldiers in the city fighting the local terror groups,” Sec. Campong, who is from Marawi City, said.

Assisted by colleages from Luzon, Campong backs the campaign and assured to deliver the letters not only for the soldiers but also to civilians affected by the ongoing firefight between government forces and local terror groups.

Rinz Araneta, a teacher from PAREF Woodrose School in Ayala Alabang in Metro Manila said her group has seen the positive impact of this campaign to the soldiers thus extending the campaign to include civilians especially those most affected by the crisis.

The campaign also includes sending messages of hope through the email address mgzaraneta@gmail.com , Araneta said.

“Our letters make their way to our noble soldiers, let us also extend this spirit of love and oneness to those severely affected by this war – our displaced brothers and sisters,” Araneta said.

“Let us send them letters that express love, that give hope, that show or mavbe, even just attempt at understanding,” added Araneta.

As this developed, DepEd’s provincial office in Cavite has also issued a memorandum requesting all the schools to encourage teachers and students to send letters to the victims, Campong said.

It’s an expression of motivation and hope. We, the people of Marawi, need the prayers and words of hope,” she said.

Noting a positive response, Campong said, those interested to send letters to children and parents in Marawi City can send through Araneta’s e-mail address or through drop-off points at Quezon City Science High School and at Veritas Catholic School in Paranaque.

The group of Sec. Campong and Araneta will distribute the collected letters to the evacuation centers in Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte by first week of July.

Data from ARMM’s Crisis Management Committee showed that a total of 252,282 individuals or 51,651 families have been displaced by the crisis who are in evacuation centers or are staying with relatives.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1661498187296/campaign-for-letters-of-hope-for-soldiers-and-civilians-in-marawi-city-on