Displaced Marawi residents go out to join Independence Day celebrations

Amid explosions and sounds of gunfire, residents who were able to escape the Maute group's attack in Marawi City joined local officials and government forces in celebrating the 119th Independence Day on Monday morning.

Employees and civilians went to the Marawi City Hall and Lanao del Sur provincial capitol to join the first flag-raising ceremony since the Maute group's attack on the city on May 23.

Pamahalaang lungsod ng Marawi, sisikaping itaas ang watawat ng Pilipinas sa city hall ngayong Araw ng Kalayaan. | via @Benjielite pic.twitter.com/yiAucmUi8y

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) June 11, 2017

In these screengrabs from a live report of radio dzBB's Benjie Liwanag via Skype, the people at the Lanao del Sur provincial capitol in the city showed no signs of despair despite their horrifying experience since the attack and the ongoing military operations, which have destroyed their homes and halted their normal everyday life.

Even before the flag-raising ceremonies at the provincial capitol and the city hall, soldiers hoisted flags around the city.

In an interview with Liwanag, an evacuee at the provincial capitol said her family's home had been destroyed during a military airstrike.

The evacuee believes the city can still rise from the ruins caused by the Maute group's attack.

As Liwanag was reporting, three military planes flew above the city hall. It was followed by an explosion, Liwanag reported.

In separate posts, GMA News' Sandra Aguinaldo shared a video and photo of the flag-raising ceremony at the city hall.

AFP conducts air strikes as the Philippine flag was being raised at the Marawi City Hall. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/hRDobxnEMv

— sandra aguinaldo (@sandraguinaldo) June 12, 2017

Salute to the flag. Soldiers join the flag raising ceremony at the Marawi City Hall (building behind them). @gmanews pic.twitter.com/Q1k0L4gOPL

— sandra aguinaldo (@sandraguinaldo) June 11, 2017

The ongoing conflict in the city entered its 21st day.

A high noon salute has been scheduled by the military for the 58 soldiers and policemen who have died in the armed conflict.

A total of 138 Maute group members and 21 civilians have also been killed and thousands of families in the city and nearby areas have been displaced. —ALG, GMA News