by Christine Grace B. Sidchogan-Fuchigami
How people cope with challenging situations fascinated me ever since. And when people come out as better versions of themselves despite setbacks, my admiration is further ignited.
Hence when one of my thesis students conducted a study on how former rebels adapted as they reintegrated to their families and communities, I took time to read their narratives.
To contextualize, the former rebels are defined as those who voluntarily abandoned the armed struggle and opted to go back to their families (National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict). In the undergraduate study of Carmen C. Malabong of Benguet State University, narratives of former rebels were captured. The participants of the study decided to go back to their families and communities about four to five years ago.
Highlight results revealed that alongside the process of reintegrating their lives with their families, the former rebels experienced various forms of challenges. Among these are embarrassment, fear for security, feeling of guilt, discrimination, low morale and depression. These challenges usually manifest in multiples. For instance, they are constantly tagged by their previous affiliation with the armed struggle, hence the feeling of discrimination. The stigma lingers. As an effect, they are experiencing difficulties in interacting with other people, and even their productivity at work is affected. The continued red-tagging is another primary concern.
And yet despite these setbacks, they are coping. Interestingly, they see opportunities. One of them was a leader in the armed struggle, and this person used the leadership capabilities in their community. This person is grateful that his community gives significance to his voice, therefore his assertions are heard. The organizing skills come in handy also as they try to participate in their community affairs.
But where do they get the strength to cope? The research participants shared that the support from their families are their turning points in finally deciding to ‘come back.’ Their families even conducted cleansing rituals to help ‘seal the past’ and provide ease in the reintegration process. The research participants collectively shared that their families are even sharing the burden, lessening the weight of stigma.
Acceptance of their past and its effects at the present also serve as their springboard in ‘moving on.’ They narrated that while this transpired after how many years, the process of accepting their situation and ‘fate’ is pathbreaking for them. With the acceptance came the openness to seek help such as counseling and asking for prayers. It also accorded them more sense of worth – that they are capable also of becoming productive citizens. Acceptance likewise helped in maintaining their cheerful outlook in life because they know that the stigma will linger, therefore they need to be constantly anchored on optimism and hopefulness.
Open communication with other people is also an important aspect in their coping process. Despite their reservations at first, eventually, they are able to share their stories to other people. According to them, this somehow lessened the burden felt, and their society became more accepting too.
These narratives tell us that for people to adapt in challenging situations in a better manner, collective support is important. While families may be able to provide support, the larger society’s help is also imperative. It is also worth mentioning that safe spaces should be accorded to everyone, regardless of their lived identities.
Coping up is not a linear process, in fact it is a complex, intricate phenomenon. How these former rebels adapted regardless of the stigma and personal struggles makes them worth the admiration. True to what they say, the only way out is through. And to get through, collective help for the person in need is what would enable possibilities and opportunities for them. **
