Ameenah M., the eldest of three siblings, grew up believing that the bustling business her family built in the heart of Marawi City would define their future. Their shop, known for selling bags, luggages, and assorted dry goods was more than a marketplace; it was a community hub where people exchanged stories, shared laughter, and witnessed the resilience of Maranao traders. Her father, a respected entrepreneur, managed the business with precision, while her mother, a dedicated public-school teacher, instilled in her the values of patience and perseverance. Ameenah worked alongside her father at their original store, while her two brothers managed an expansion shop just a few streets away. Life was stable—prosperous even—until May 2017, when the siege of Marawi shattered their world.
Gunfire and explosions echoed through the city as militants stormed the streets, leaving devastation in their wake. In mere days, their home, business, and livelihood crumbled. Forced to flee, Ameenah and her family sought refuge in an evacuation center, enduring five months in cramped, unsanitary conditions. The uncertainty was suffocating, but her father reassured them that they would rebuild. They relocated to Cagayan de Oro City, living on the lower floor of her father’s ancestral house. Determined to start anew, they made the difficult decision to move to Manila, hoping to reclaim a sense of stability.
Quiapo was their first stop. The district, known for its dense marketplace, seemed promising, but it quickly proved to be harsh and unstable. The competition was cutthroat, and the cost of rent was beyond their reach. When financial struggles forced them to close their shop, they relocated to the Tutuban Commercial District. Just as they were beginning to adjust, tragedy struck—their mother suffered a stroke. Though she recovered, her health never fully returned. Ameenah took on the responsibility of caring for her while managing their struggling business. Before long, a second stroke took their mother away. Grief had no place in their reality—there were bills to pay, and the business had to survive.
As the years passed, hardships continued to mount. Though the war in Marawi officially ended in 2022, the city remained in ruins. Friends and relatives who had stayed behind spoke of homes reduced to rubble and businesses lost to the wreckage. Meanwhile, in Manila, their struggles worsened. Rent hikes forced them to abandon shop after shop, and some months, they barely broke even. Then came the final betrayal—their father remarried and left without a word, choosing a new life while his children fought to hold onto what little they had left. Ameenah and her brothers stood in their empty store, their future uncertain. Giving up would have been easy, but she refused.
Determined to survive, Ameenah and her brothers restructured their business model. They shifted to online selling, leveraging social media to reach more customers. They found suppliers offering lower prices and adapted to the shifting landscape of digital commerce. Small victories followed—first, an increase in sales, then a growing customer base. When a retail space in a prime location in the Greenhills Shopping District became available, they seized the opportunity. This time, they negotiated rent carefully, securing a long-term lease that ensured their stability.
Through sheer resilience, their business flourished once again. They diversified their merchandise, expanded their online presence, and reconnected with suppliers from Mindanao, ensuring their products remained authentic and unique. Ameenah, once the young girl helping her father in Marawi, now led a thriving enterprise. The past had been painful, marked by loss and betrayal, but they had built something even stronger than before. Standing in their bustling shop, she knew every struggle had been worth it. They had survived. They had endured. And most importantly, they had won. (Contact: [email protected])
By Joe Larano Jr.
