Uprooted from their homeland: Lived experiences of Marawi siege ‘Bakwits’ in General Santos City

The increasing prevalence of forced displacement due to armed conflict remains a critical global concern. In the Philippine context, the 2017 Marawi Siege led to the internal displacement of thousands of Maranao families. Despite extensive discourse on forced migration, limited studies have explored the lived experiences of Marawi ‘bakwits’ who resettled in urban centers like General Santos City. Addressing this gap, the study aimed to explore the adversities, coping strategies, and resilience of Maranao internally displaced persons (IDPs) in a multicultural urban environment. Guided by the socio-ecological framework and resilience theory, this qualitative research employed a phenomenological approach. Ten Maranao bakwits residing in General Santos City were selected through purposive and snowball sampling. Data were gathered using in-depth interviews and thematically analyzed. Findings revealed that displacement was largely driven by threats to safety, loss of livelihood, and destruction of infrastructure. Participants encountered socio-economic hardships, cultural displacement, and limited access to support services. Despite these challenges, they demonstrated remarkable resilience through adaptive strategies rooted in faith, familial support, community solidarity, and strong resolve to move forward. Informal networks, religious practices, and livelihood initiatives were critical to their recovery and social integration. The study emphasizes the importance of context-sensitive support systems and inclusive policies in helping displaced populations rebuild their lives. It further contributes to peacebuilding and social cohesion efforts by amplifying the voices of the displaced.