Political rivals unite to give ethnic Manobo children shoes

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Hundreds of ethnic Manobo school children received new pairs of shoes from erstwhile bitter political rivals who united for an outreach mission at a tribal enclave in Magpet, Cotabato.

The mission – a joint humanitarian activity of Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Mendoza and former political rival Nancy Catamco – aims to give free shoes to 500 students of Manobo Elementary School in Magpet, an upland town.

Mendoza defeated then governor Catamco during the 2022 gubernatorial race in the province.

Manobo tribal leaders in Magpet and nearby towns were quoted in radio reports expressing their elation over the reconciliation of the political rivals.

The reports said Mendoza directed the Cotabato provincial government to plan more outreach activities in ancestral lands of indigenous communities.

Mendoza is also the Regional Development Council 12 chairperson while Catamco is a leader in one of Cotabato’s indigenous groups.