By Dr. Josette T. Biyo, DOST-SEI Director

They are victims of the Marawi siege.  They are professionals- mostly teachers. But they lost their homes, families, relatives and livelihood during the siege.  They saw hope when DOST-SEI granted them scholarships to pursue graduate studies at the Mindanao State University in Marawi (MSU-Marawi) and MSU Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT).  During this COVID-19 crisis, they feel it’s their turn to give back.

These DOST-SEI Bangon Marawi graduate scholars in the College of Education of MSU Marawi and graduate school of MSU-IIT polled their stipends for the months of March to May, to buy sacks of rice and goods which they distributed to the different municipalities of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte.  As of yesterday, they have distributed food packs to the following areas in Muslim Mindanao: Marawi City, Balo-i in Lanao del norte, and Saguiaran, Marantao, Maguing, and Tugaya in Lanao del Sur. The scholars have pledged to continue helping our fellowmen in the Bangsamoro Autonomuous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in whatever capacity they can to help at this time of crisis.

During the DOST-SEI Patriot Scholars Formation program attended by our Bangon Marawi Scholars, they named their batch “TEAM BATIS,” (Team River).  They said that like a river, our love and compassion should flow freely from our hearts.  “Pag-ibig tulad ng batis diwa ko…”  Our love for our fellowmen should indeed, flow freely…

 “May Allah give us more blessings so that we can continue what we have started,”  quoted from Khar M. Usman, a DOST-SEI Bangon Marawi Scholar.

More power to you TEAM BATIS.  We are very proud of you.