It takes a village

Some 15 years ago, I spent many days and nights in Basilan in the northernmost tip of the Sulu Archipelago.

I was working on a story about a martyred priest and along the way, I encountered a lot of people – a blind seer, church workers, rebels, soldiers, etc. but my most memorable encounter was with the sea gypsies of the province.

They are the Badjaos, a forgotten tribe and said to be the most marginalized among indigenous peoples in the country.

I found myself immersing in their community at sea – in their makeshift wooden shelters on stilts connected to each other by wobbly bridges.

Their cots are almost empty with nothing much inside, no appliances, no furniture, just pieces of cloths where they sleep. They live in extreme poverty and it takes very little for them to survive and exist. Their homes have no electricity; they live on fresh fish and cassava. They entertain themselves with dreams and songs.

That was more than a decade ago.

Today, they continue to live in poverty; some have found their way to urban centers in Metro Manila begging for alms.

Then and now, this neglected tribe badly needs help.

Beacon of hope

Ma. Ella Fabella, master teacher II at Zamboanga City’s Maasin Learning Center, is doing just that – serving as a beacon of hope for the Badjaos in her province.

As an Indigenous People’s Education Program teacher, Ella works with Sama-Bajau kids to guide them to become better persons with dignity and pride and who will stand up for their tribe.

Teacher Ella started Project B.E.A.R. or Bajau Educational Activities and Recreation and pioneered Pantawid Tutorial Reading Program at Maasin Learning Center – an innovative initiative where 4Ps parent-leaders serve as tutors to Sama-Bajau learners.

It’s a challenging job. Sometimes, she said, the Badjao children fall asleep because they find their classrooms very comfortable with the electric fans compared to their own homes.

I learned about Ella’s story during the final judging of the Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos. I was part of the Final Board of Judges, which was chaired Senator Mark Villar and co-chaired by Supreme Court Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh.

Ella is among the ten awardees who will receive their award on Sept. 4.

I was particularly moved by Ella’s work because I know very well how badly the Badjaos need help.

As I said in my column on Tuesday (Outstanding Filipinos), I will share here the winners’ projects and success stories.

For sure, these Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos are not defined by a single endeavor but these accomplishments are worth sharing nonetheless.

Here are their stories as compiled by Metrobank Foundation:

Franco Apoyon of Zamboanga Sibugay is head teacher II of Kabasalan National High School. An advocate of environmental education, he developed a product called “Plantable Paper” and promotes sustainable practices among last-mile barangays.

Decibel Faustino-Eslava, professor 9 at the University of the Philippines Los Baños provides guidance to holistic environmental management approaches. She also leads the research on the impacts of mining activities on watersheds in the country.

Another awardee is pyschologist Maria Regina Hechanova-Alampay, a professor at the Ateneo de Manila University. Her Katatagan framework is a free community-based mental health intervention program that is being replicated by LGUs. It addresses mental recovery and rehabilitation from drug abuse, among others.

Meet the outstanding soldiers

Staff Sergeant Michael Rayanon of San Vicente Palawan works with the youth and the indigenous communities in Palawan through proactive engagement and empowerment initiatives.

Major Ron Villarosa of the Philippine Army has sought unconventional approaches to provide solutions to the root causes of armed conflict in his areas of operation, particularly by transforming communities into farmlands for the returnees.

Capt. Salvador Sambalilo is the Philippine Navy’s cyber systems innovator. I also like his work because it focused on cyber warfare, a different battlefield. He also spearheaded the modernization of the Philippine Navy’s administrative information systems, replacing outdated legacy systems. He advocated for the key cybersecurity strategies within the Navy and developed initiatives involving cyber reservist recruitment and gamifying cyber awareness campaigns to advance digital transformation.

Meet the outstanding police officers

Police Staff Sergeant Llena Sol-Josefa Jovita is a community care advocate in Cagayan de Oro. Her advocacy is also something close to my heart because it’s an important women’s issue – breastfeeding.

She implemented the “Gatas Mo Kinabuhi Ko” program in Cagayan de Oro City which allows mothers who are unable to breastfeed to obtain milk from healthy, lactating women.

Police Major Mark Balmaceda, another awardee, contributed to the liberation of Marawi City, with a focus on strategic military operations, hostage rescue and the recovery of enemy weapons.

Last but not least is police lieutenant colonel Bryan Bernardino, chief of police in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat. He plays an active role in creating a peaceful community from a venue of conflict and war.

For sure, these accomplishments are no small feat. Metrobank Foundation serves the nation well by recognizing outstanding Filipinos.

There is an African proverb that says it takes a village to raise a child.

I’d like to tweak this and dare say that it takes a village of many villages to change society but, more importantly, it takes nation-loving individuals to create that village of change.

Kudos to these individuals for being the change they want to see.

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Email: [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @eyesgonzales. Column archives at EyesWideOpen on FB.