Circa 1995.
I was in my 2nd grade when my teacher asked me about what I
want to be when I grow up.
I looked at her and I answered shyly, “I want to help children like me
build a home for children who are astray; to feed them with Spaghetti like my
Mom used to cook for me; and give them Barbie dolls so we could play together.”
My teacher believing that I had an innocent and quite ambitious dream
supported my answer by saying, “So, you want to build an orphanage?”
Without knowing what an orphanage was, I simply nodded and said, “Yes!”
April, 2015.
After 20 years, I realized that I am never close to my dream. I am
still thriving to become a better person and working my way out to earn a
living. Overlooking and forgetting the dream I created decades ago, I tried to
convince myself not to feel guilty. After all, people change; and when they do
change, their dreams also change. But as what “The Alchemist” is trying to
convey to its every reader, “When you want something, all the universe conspires
in helping you to achieve it”, I started to relive my dream.
The War Divided the Land and Tore
the Children
The influence of social media, people are vulnerable to whatever news
(biased or unbiased/propaganda or factual) they see or read. Confusion, anger,
and even emotional outrage could happen. This exactly was the situation when I
scrolled the newsfeed sometime in March, 2015. The headline caught my
attention. I then found myself following the news between the NPA, the AFP and
the Indigenous People and the injustices I believe these chaos brought about.
Women were slayed, children were killed, houses were destroyed and disputes
turned into overall mishaps. These scenarios weren’t new but these kind of news
and information always bring me heartaches, trauma and hate.
Then, I remembered Mindanao - “The Land of Promise,” a land bestowed
with so much natural resources, beauty,
a culture so rich and the “lumad” generation that has been surviving in the
advent of modernization and might literally vanish because of war. A film then
rolled in my cerebral cortex while uttering the words, “I must be there! I must
take part. I am a Filipino! I must do whatever it takes to help the IP’s.”
The Casual Meeting turned into
a Promise
Davao. October 2014. Somewhere in a fast food chain, my friend and I were
talking about my experience when I had my climb in Mt. Apo a few days ago. At
the same time, he also shared his experience while staying in Davao. The
conversation became serious when the topic about the “lumad” group was
mentioned out of nowhere.
“How do you want to teach?” he finally asked me.
“I can volunteer as long as I am needed,” I replied without a second
thought.
“There are deafening bombs…there are rebels and military from time to
time…are you ready for that?” he said apathetically.
“I am ready to serve,” I did not hold my answer.
“When are you going to start?” he asked with strong conviction.
“I will arrange that ASAP,” was my reassuring reply.
Half-A-Year and I am Back
True to my words, I returned to Davao with a greater cause - to fight
for the oppressed “lumad”. I was accompanied by a friend and my Mom. Except
from the tremendous flight experience, we were all set to fulfill a promise I
made months ago. It wasn’t easy. Even if my friends agreed to my plan for an
Outreach Program, we need to consider the financial aspect and the logistics.
With only a few months of preparation and donations we gathered, we finally
booked a flight in January while gathering as much information as we could and
widening our contacts for the “Lumad Project”. (The flight tickets were from our own pockets.)
April 1, 2015. Two days
before our flight to Davao, we received an information warning us about the
place.
“It is a military hotspot,” was
the text message we received.
Then we called the informant.
At the back of my mind, I still wanted to go.
“Are you okay about this? I won’t compromise my job,” was my friend’s
reply when we were getting ready a night before the flight.
“I am. We can do it.” I insisted.
Another phone call this time a straight warning.
“You will be accompanied by a
group for you to be safe; otherwise, you wouldn’t want to blame us” was our
trusted-confidant.
Without much being said, we made a diversion – another plan.
Bagobo/Bagobo-Klata and their Fight for their Ancestral Home
Since we made a diversion of our plan to visit the Manobo Tribe, my
friend from Davao offered his help to look for another IP group. We were
endorsed to the Bagobo/Bagobo-Klata Tribe in Sitio Kahusayan, Tugbok District,
Davao City.
Ever since we arrived in Davao City, we had to work non-stop for
the outreach program – health kits (shampoo, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, and
hand towel), feeding program (hotdog, fish ball, egg and rice), and educational
kits (notebooks, pencils and crayons) and of course, since I would be teaching
these children, we bought something for the visual aid. Finally, we finished
our preparation at 4 o’clock in the morning; had a little nap and headed to
Tugbok District.
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| "Vigourous kids during our art session." |
A Mountain Home
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| "I was amazed that in the community, they have these twin brothers." |
Sitio Kahusayan is home to a community of Bagobos, Bagobo-Klatas and Bisaya
peasants. Since 2014, the Kahugpungan sa Lumad has partnered with the Rural
Missionaries of the Philippines and the Salugpungan Ta Tanu Igkanogon (Unite
for the Defense of Our Ancestral Land -- a Talaingod Manobo initiated school
system for lumads and marginalized peasants) to build a kindergarten and
elementary school within their community.
The Kahugpungan sa Lumad is composed
of 55 households, 62 families, 125 males, 113 females. For school year 2015-2016,
Grade 2 had 10 pupils, Grade 1 had 12, Kindergarten had 13. The nearest elementary
school is an hour or so walk away. The Kahugpungan sa Lumad has been the victim
of, and continues to face the threat of land-grabbing and forced eviction by
Apollo Quiboloy (yes, the religious leader, self-proclaimed 'Appointed Son of
God').
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| "Classes are held here" |
It was a long ride from the central city to the mountainous area. We
need to ride a “habal-habal” bringing along our provisions. Though it was a
tricky and bumpy road meters away from the location, we managed to arrive
safely. We were greeted by the tribe’s female head as she welcomed us in her
“bahay-kubo”. We introduced ourselves to the community and much from our
expectation we were received with great hospitality. We were led in a classroom
that was decent enough to handle classes.
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| "Storytelling" |
I felt the greatest joy when children in the community started
gathering; first by pair and then by group. The tiny classroom was slowly
filled with children of different age groups. Their innocent faces and eyes
vividly manifested tremendous excitement. Those eyes were filled of dreams and
aspirations, yet they learned to be content to whatever they have. I could
almost burst with tears from what I saw.
Day 1. My friend woke up earlier than I did. She prepared the
necessary stuff to bring with us to the school. I was up a few minutes after while
giving final touches to my visual aids. At that day, I decided to retell the
story of “Ang Pagong at Ang Matsing.” It was challenging in my part since I
need to speak the Filipino language (closer to Tagalog). My guy friend had his
share too. He always made it sure that we could carry on with the activities.
I was amazed by the enthusiasm of these students (at all age group).
The respect I gained from these students are at par from what I had received
from the city. Every face painted a picture of hope. These angelic faces
transcended through my heart and soul. The will of these children to learn were
enough for me to keep going and to make each lesson worthwhile.
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| "Kids making their own name tags" |
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| "Cute kid..." |
Before we headed for lunch, I taught these children how to perform
proper handwashing. My friends and I together with the community folks
distributed the individual health kits. I could see how excited they were to
receive their own kit. Lunch was served and I felt overjoyed seeing them enjoy
the food we served. After eating, they were also taught how to brush their
teeth properly. I could see how eager they were to participate.
The afternoon
session was handled by my friend. Children were encouraged to bring out the
artists in them. They were again, very participative. I was checking on the
elderly’s blood pressure and other health issues (within my Nursing scope; more
into health teaching). At the end of the first day, my friends and I evaluated
it with contentment.
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| "Lining up for lunch" |
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| "Art session with Ate Apol" |
Day 2. The female leader prepared naturally grounded coffee (one of my
favorites ever) in a very early morning. I was also preparing my lesson for the
day, “Ang Gamo-Gamo at ang Lampara”. By 6 in the morning, somebody knocked on
our door. We heard a high-pitched voice of a female kid. We were startled
because we instructed the kids to meet them at the school by 8 in the morning.
“Ate!” the kid’s voice called up.
“Inday…” I spoke.
“Ate, magsugod nata…” was the answer.
My guy friend opened the door of the house, and we saw a very neat
little girl with her hair on a bun holding her educational kit while looking up
at us. (tears…I remembered her face while
writing these lines…I miss her!)
“Lenie!” exclaimed my girl friend. “Sayo kaayo ka, inday. Ka-nice!
Ready na kaayo ka!” she added.
“Hello, Len…moapas lang mi inday ha. Mo-eat sa mi tapos mo-adto dayon
mi sa school. Ingna nalang uban nimo nga friends…” I explained to Lenie.
“Humana man mi, Ate. Nagclean na pud mi sa classroom,” she replied
softly. (tears…it makes me want to
go back to the place again…)
“Sige…sige..magready na mi, inday…thank you!” I assured her.
Since we were not able to come on time, the children flock together to the "bahay kubo" where we stayed. It was so heart-warming. My heart almost burst because these children trusted us too much.
Not until we were done with the lessons, lunch and art sessions, we realized that we were not still ready to go. Personally, I wanted to stay. I wanted to be these children.
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| "These kids are our future. Let us take action! NOW!" |
"Ang kilum-kilom sa kinabuhing lumad" or the difficult life of the indigenous people are worth mentioning for. This minority group receives less attention from the national level. They even become subjects of ridicule when they are seen in the city.
I hope the majority will take a great mind shift and treat these IP's with equality and justice.
Lenie, Carlo and the 60 plus kids founded their dreams with the belief that someday these dreams among people who have the heart and soul that feel what they feel.
Like me, these children aim to become the best individual as they can be.
Let us become their instrument to achieve their goals.
Let us awaken our young heart and pure mind to serve others - we don't want to lose our future generation, do we?
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