Victims can’t move on without closure

HEALING ART Children of some of themassacre victims present one of their “healing” artworks and
murals after undergoing workshops conducted by Kunst, a group of Filipino artists. —JULIE S. ALIPALA

AMPATUAN, MAGUINDANAO—June Colleen Maravilla was 14 years old when her father, Ernesto, was killed here along with 57 others seven years ago.

On her first visit to the massacre site, June tried to put sense to the 58 white markers, one of which had the name of her father.

Today, June is a one of the jail employees at Marbel Correctional.

“I did not have a clue then. Now, I know more about what happened. It’s really painful. Seven years and still no justice,” she said in an interview with the Inquirer.

Ian Jay Roy Perante, son of journalist Ronnie Perante, also recalled the day when he just walked around the massacre site, watching his mother lit candles and offer flowers.

“Now, I’m the family breadwinner,” Perante, now a college graduate, said.

“My younger brother was still a baby when it happened. Now, he is 7 years old. We have finished college, but the case is still in court,” he said.

Children’s first visit

Ryan Rosauro, chair of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), said it was the first for some of the children to visit the massacre site in Sitio Masalay, Barangay Salman, on Monday.

When the massacre was discovered, only parents, siblings and other relatives of the slain journalists came up here to see the place. The children were kept away to spare them trauma and stress.

Editha Tiamzon, wife of slain UNTV journalist Daniel Tiamzon, said it was the first time for her to bring her two daughters to the massacre site.

“It’s more painful now,” Editha said.

Grace Morales, wife of Rosell Morales, said it was “very important for us to keep our children informed.”

“But this is the first time children meet each other and together they went up to Masalay,” she said.

Still hurting

Morales admitted that she thought the pain would eventually heal.

“But when they started sharing their experiences with the others and started opening up to us, that’s when we realized that they were not yet OK,” she said.

“I can see in their eyes the longing for justice,” she added.

Morales’ 15-year-old daughter, Ruschiel Faye Marie, composed a song, “Hustisya,” that she dedicated to all the families of the massacre victims.

The NUJP and the Kunst, a group of local and international artists, conducted an art workshop to help the children confront their losses and help each other cope with the trauma.

Rowena Paraan, former chair of the NUJP, said many of the family members were trying to get on with their lives, but were disappointed over the delay in the conviction of the Ampatuans, the family accused of the killings.

“Moving on means continuing with their lives, doing what they have to do, like working, sending the children to school,” Paraan said.

During P-Noy’s term

“But moving on with closure? I think that can be obtained when there is conviction and those behind the massacre are punished,” Paraan said, adding that many of the victims’ families are disappointed with the government.

“Former President Benigno Aquino III and former Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said there would be conviction during P-Noy’s term,” she said.