Children from Marawi undergo trauma therapy in Manila

Atherapy and trauma treatment program has been offered to more than 170 conflictstricken children studying in Manila, the city government said.

“HATS” (or Healing after Trauma Services) aims to help the Marawi children in adjusting to their new environment and cope with their harrowing experiences from the war-torn city.

The HATS is being conducted by the Division of City Schools (DCS)Manila led by Dr. Wilfredo Cabral at the Geronimo Santiago Elementary School (GSES) in Quiapo. The program ended yesterday.

The beneficiaries were elementary and high school students from Marawi City who are currently enrolled in the different schools in Manila.

The displaced children have been enrolled at the GSES and Ramon Avanceña High School in Quiapo and other nearby public schools, according to Cabral.

"From the time na nagkaroon na kami ng bata coming from Marawi, pina-observe na namin yung mga bata sa teacher ano yung manifestation nila (Since we learned that we have students from Marawi, we asked the teachers to observe them and their manifestation)," said Rodel C. Sampang, Principal of GSES, during an interview with The Manila Bulletin.

“’Yung iba, ang comment ng teacher, nakatulala, nakatingin [sa kung saan]. So, doon namin na ano (assess) that we need counseling sa mga bata (The teachers said some of them are in deep thought. So we assessed that they need counseling)," he said.

Sampang said that some students were able to adjust easily in their new environment but "they still need counseling.”