The images of the conflict in Marawi and displacement of its residents have been in the news for months. For years now, our visual memory banks had been overwhelmed by similar images in many parts of the world. The story line is the same with different personalities and power structure. What remains constant is the pain and suffering of the innocent residents.

What makes Marawi different from the rest of the conflict zones around the world is the architecture and infrastructure destroyed. This specific documentation is intended so that we will not forget.

The uniqueness and character of the Islamic City of Marawi had been built, repaired, and preserved by generation of its residents during periods of peace, conflict and prosperity.

No amount of expense and architectural rehabilitation can bring it back to its old glory and grandeur. After years of resisting attempts to install modernity to the City of Marawi, change will happen because of the unrelenting military firepower used to end the siege with complete disregard of its impact to the lives of the peace-loving residents and the preservation of its architectural heritage and its religious history.

The grief and agony of the residents of the Islamic City of Marawi are all manifested by vented steel bars, and blown-up roofs and concrete walls. The lingering smell of Palapa and Maranao delicacies in their destroyed kitchens are now replaced with odor of gunpowder, dirt and rotten food.

The sacred and beautiful mosques, minarets and prayer rooms were desecrated and are now empty and unusable. The overgrown weeds and other vegetation are like voices of anger and frustration to the long overdue promise of rehabilitation and the lack of accountability to deliver in time the many promises made.

These painful images of destruction are to remind us of what extremism can bring to our lives and how the enormous power of military infrastructure can wreak havoc on people’s lives, homes and communities.

Through this collection of images, I hope the young and future generations of Muslim Mindanao and the Philippine nation will not forget the destruction but also find ways to prevent it from happening again.