danny escabarte’s blog

I CAME face to face with children of the Aeta Tribe during a recent visit to the village of Kanawan located in the boundary of Subic, Zambales and Morong, Bataan in Northern Luzon. Considered to be one of the early inhabiotants of the Philippines, they are a wandering people with distinct culture. They have dark skin, generally with short curly hair and  beautiful features that blend naturally with their forest environment. They survived on hunting, collecting food in the forest and farming.

AETA CHILDREN lived simple lifestyles, carrying the unique character of the Aeta Tribe.

 So confined to the forest and mountain environment, they play and mingled among themeselves and sometimes display shyness when facing stangers. Not as a sign of inferiority but of self preservation. However, when one starts to talk and listen to them....a spontaneous exchange of friendly gestures follow.

MOTHERLY care and protection is one of the tribe's distinct features. Aeta mother usually brings her younger children wherever she goes.

 

 

Going down or coming back to the village, collecting food in the forest, taking a bath or doing some laundry, the Aeta Mother always carry with her the youngest among children.

 

The FATHER also plays complimentary roles in assisting the mother take care and in rearing the child. Although the main role of the father is to raise, protect, hunt and feed the FAMILY, he is not exempt from taking

household chores such as cooking or taking care of the kids.

He plaYs the stronger roles. Together with other men of the tribe, they become the warriors in times of conflict or when the existence of the tribe is threatened. Intermarriages among lowlanders outside of the tribe is also being accepted. Most of the members of the tribe still worship their "Apo Anito" (GOD). They go to the mountain on the spot where they are intructed to go and "Talk" (Pray) for blessings, guindance or protection, whatever their intentions are.

AETA Children also goes to school like any other children from christian lowlanders, however, they often drop out of school before the school year ends because of poverty. FOOD and SURVIVAL is their priority.

 

 

One of their livelihood is to sell homemade walling or shelter materials made from bamboos and other materials found in the forest.

 

 

 

AETA children are hopefull that someday, a brighter future will be within their grasp as they start their journey through education and other opportunities that they may find along the way. 

Feeling the pain and pressure brought by poverty and economic difficulties, parents of students at Panglima Arasiya Elementary School in Sanga-Sanga, Tawi-Tawi have sought ways and means to support their children’s education. “It is very difficult for majority of parents to send their children to school,” Harris Duya, president of the parents, teachers association (PTA) disclosedt. “Even for enrolment fees, they can hardly pay for the kids,” he said in local dialect.

Basura Mo, Edukasyon Ko (Your garbage, My education) campaign has put together teachers, parents and children’s efforts in raising funds from collected garbage in the community to support education needs in this part of the country.

The garbage recycling project was an offshoot of series of discussion among parents and teachers during PTA assemblies. “We sought parents’ ideas on how to cushion the impact of poverty among school children. The assembly agreed to launch a waste recycling program; where household recyclable garbage such as plastics, tin cans and bottles are collected and sold to traders in Bongao”, Duya disclosed.

Dubbed as “Basura Mo, Edukasyon Ko” program, the project aims to encourage parents to send their children to school and support them using earnings generated through the garbage recycling project. “We help each other ease the burden of sending kids to school through this effort, and at the same time cleaning the environment of plastic wastes and other recyclable garbage,” Duya stressed.

“This is the only school in Tawi-Tawi that does not collect PTA fee during enrolment,” Mussah Gaib, the PTA secretary said. “The money that we raised in this project is used mainly to support education needs of our children such as buying school supplies and other education-related necessities in school,” she added.
 
Since it started in January this year, Basura Mo, Eduakasyon ko has already provided assorted school supplies to school children at Panglima Arasya Elementary School. Instead of paying PTA fee, parents bring to school collected garbage and turned it over for segregation before being sold to traders.

“About PhP3,000.00 has been raised during the first delivery of recyclable garbage, and we are confident that the next round will raise more than triple the amount of our first effort”, Duya said. Presently, the PTA is negotiating for better price of tin cans that they collected, which is only being paid at PhP2.50 per kilo in Bongao.

The PTA would soon be also reviving their school-based feeding program for children once they raised a sustainable amount in their waste recycling program. Panglima Arasiya Elementary School has about 500 school children enrolled in the current school year, and only 5 of the 23 teaching personnel have regular teaching items while the rest are volunteers. 

Last year, a Petron school building and chairs have been turned over to the school, boosting the needed intervention to improve access to quality education for children. Capability trainings for parents and mentoring seminar workshops for teachers have also been conducted to improve capabilities of those involved in children’s education in the community. Implemented by PBSP, these initiatives are part of the Education Quality and Access for Learning & Livelihood Skills (EQuALLS 2) Project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). 

The Basura Mo, Edukasyon Ko initiative was a result of strategic partnership between parents and teachers who participated in the series of trainings held in Tawi-Tawi and outside of the province. (danny escabarte)

About the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP)

The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) is the largest corporate-led, non-profit social development foundation in the Philippines. PBSP is at the forefront in the fight against poverty through trailblazing programs developed and implemented with the strategic commitment of more than 240 PBSP member-companies, and corporate citizenship partners. PBSP operates nationwide, with programs in Education, Enterprise Development, Health and Water, and Area Resource Management. Working with partners and communities, PBSP’s programs assist the poor towards self-reliance and improved quality of life.

 

The sea was calm when we left Bongao, Tawi-Tawi Wednesday morning. This trip will bring us to two islands where science laboratory projects for high school students have been implemented by PBSP. These were Tubig Indangan National High School in Simunul and Balimbing National High School in Panglima Sugala.

 

There were only 2 passengers occupying the seats of the seacraft that we hired: I and my companion assigned in the area and Damsir Aralal, the boat owner who will bring us to the islands. The small boat has a seating capacity of 20 passengers; this means that we will be traveling light in this particular trip.

 

We left Chinese Pier in Bongao at about 7:00 in the morning for the 45 minute boat ride to the island of Simunul. About twenty minutes into our trip, dark clouds started to form in the horizon towards the island.

 

Few minutes later, heavy downpour started drenching us. The rainfall was so heavy that we can no longer see the islands and Bongao, the place where we left about 30 minutes ago. Our small boat is now being battered by big waves and heavy rains.

 

Rainwater is now filling our boat, so I told my companion that we bail out some water into the sea. We were tossed by the waves as we maintained stability of the seacraft. It was at this point that Damsir- our skipper asked me in local dialect: “Shall we proceed?” he said with uncertainty marking his face. “We go back to Bongao”, I replied.

 

We attempted to go back but it’s now zero visibility. We don’t know where we are heading to, so I told Damsir to shut off our engines and wait for the rain and waves to cease. For 2 hours we were battered by big waves and heavy rains.  I tried to contact someone in Tawi-Tawi but my celphone got no network coverage. I dialed 112 and 117 but still no result.

 

My companion was able to send an SOS message to a teacher in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi with the request to locate us after we have been adrift for 2 hours. Coincidentally, another wooden boat with about 60 passengers on board was on the verge of sinking on the same time that we relayed our message. This we knew later when we safely reached our destination. Fortunately, the sinking boat was located and rescued by the sea craft sent by the Philippine Coast Guard, but they failed to find us.

Taken after the storm hit us in Tawi-tawi

I smiled for the 1st time after stormy seas ceased and survived the storm that hit us for 2 hrs

 

However, we are thankful that we came out of the storm safe and sound. I said to Damsir that we offer a “Duwa’a Salamat” (Thanksgiving prayer) for this wonderful experience of ours. Before leaving Simunul, we passed by the Holy Shrine of Sheik Makdum- the first Arabian Missionary who set foot in this island, and planted the first mosque from where the Islamic Faith spread through out the Philippines. I genuflect at the shrine’s doorstep, said a short thanksgiving prayer before we boarded our boat back to Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

 

 

JEREMIAH, 7, has just started his second week in school. He is now in Grade II- grade school level. Sometimes he finds it difficult to rise up early as his class statrs at 6:30 in the morning, so before going sleep at night he will remind his mother and I to wake him early. I usually wake up at 4:00am, so the task belongs to me.

Just lately, I came across some of his sketches/drawings, so I find it good to share some with you. He loves drawing, he loves insects in our garden, he loves nature. Here are some of his sketches:

This is his drawing about Noah's Ark, the Great Flood. One of the beautiful stories that he cant forget, Noah's Ark inspired him to take care of nature, to take care of animals and plants because God made them.

JEREMIAH is really inclined to nature. All his drawings carry this theme. It's my wish that he carry this passion as he grow together with other children in the neighborhood.

 

I LEARNED TO appreciate Valentines Day when I am in High School already. Although during my grade school, we celebrate this special day greeting our teachers and singing them Love Songs connected to the occasion. But its only in High School that I appreciate the celebration.

 

 

We usually hold our Juniors and Seniors Prom during this special day. Before we left High School Life as Seniors, we had our last engagement with the Juniors in our Alma mater.

Hand made cards serves as sweet reminders of Friendship and Love.

But more importantly, this Day of the Hearts & Day of Love gave more meaning to us in the family and became more memorable after that unexpected incident on Valentines Day in 1999.

I was cleaning our backyard and fixing the fence when a neighbor came to bring the bad news to me. "Your brother has been ambushed, he was among the 5 church workers killed on the spot by the rebels," the neighbor told me. I was shocked by the painful news early that Sunday morning. I went immediately to the funeral parlor and there I saw the lifeless body of the 5 church workers.

I was filled with anger and hatred at the time. My late brother were among the 6 church workers who'll represent our parish of Saint Vincent Ferrer in the Annual Lenten Alay Kapwa Seminar in the city when the tragedy took place. My brother left a widowed mother with 5 children, dreams shattered because of this violent incident.

 

This is supposed to be a beautiful day, but it turned out to be painful and bloody. Only 1 survived the carnage- a lady catechist.

A Valentines Day sprinkled with blood of innocent civilians, church workers whose only dream is to raise their family and children amidst challenges being experienced by most people in the village.

I learned a deeper meaning of Valentines Day after this painful experience.

LOVE expressed not only in words but written in blood. Incidentally, February 14 is also the birthday of my eldest daughter Sarah Jane. She is 17 years old now.

Valentines Day is being celebrated as Peace Memorial Day by the Catholic Church in Basilan, Philippines. For it is on this day, that 5 church workers gave their ultimate service to the church amidst the violence that rocked the island province up to this time.

THE SERVICE JEEP owned by the Claretian Missionaries in our place, where the church workers rode to their final destination that fateful Valentines Day years ago was now enshrined as PEACE MEMORIAL for all those who work for peace and seek it in their hearts!

 

PEACE IS POSSIBLE! this is the central message of Timor Leste President and 1996 Nobel Peace Laureate Jose Ramos Horta when he visited Wednesday, January 14, Davao City, Philippines to share his insights on the topic: Is Long-Lasting Peace An Attainable Dream?

Audience composed of students, workers from government & non-government organizations, clergy, nuns, businessmen and some members of the diplomatic & foreign community in Davao City listened to President Ramos Horta as he shared their experience in building a nation that is now known as Timor Leste, a former province of Indonesia.

"PEACE is possible in the Middle East. Peace is possible in Gaza. Only Israelis and Palestinians can bring Peace to their Land, Only Filipinos can bring Peace in the Philippines..in Mindanao, and not the outside mediators or negotiators," President Jose Ramos Horta said in his 1-hour talk, which inspires many among the audience. "Peace is possible in Myanmar, peace is possible in Timor Leste! he goes on to say. The continued house arrest of Aung Suu Kyi is an indictment to us," he added.

 

An East Timorese young lady who is now studying at the Ateneo de Davao University urged her President to send more East Timorese students to the Philippines, and learn also from the experiences of the youths here.

The Pressident replied that he would arrange for that.

When asked to mediate in the stalled peace talk with the government of the Republic of the Philippines and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), he said in reply, "As a human being, how can I refuse?.

President Ramos Horta stressed that PEACE is not abstract. It must start within ourselves. There's a need to dialogue...for dialogue is a healing process he said. Every leader must heed people's cry for peace. We are now "heavy nuclearized"- referring to nuclear armaments possessed by some countries. "Nuclear arms cannot solve extreme poverty," he said. "We cant talk peace when there is extreme poverty," he added.

Why could we not live as brothers and sisters? he asked the audience.

President Ramos Horta thanked the Filipino People for inspiring them to solve East Timor's problem peacefully. In 1986, Filipinos launched "People Power" and toppled the dictatorial and oppressive regime of Marcos without much bloodshed, bringing a new era of responsible governance in the country.

Ramos Horta proposed a Peace Plan for East Timor during its darkest moment of survival. Phase I- Humanitarian efforts to ease the pain and suffering of civilians (2 years), Phase II- Autonomy which includes pull out of Indonesian troops in East Timor (within 5 years) and, Phase III- Self Determination (within 12 years period). The Peace Formula earned him the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize.

INDEED PEACE IS POSSIBLE IF WE SEEK AND WANT IT!

I WAS AMAZED at how some people uses their ingenuity to deliver services, in this case; health needs for  community residents of Barangay Darong, Davao del Sur. More than half of the village' population of over 3,000+ is composed of children. Like in any typical poor villages in the country, budget for health services is wanting. THANKS to the kindness of individuals and groups who made available the needed health services to the villagers of Darong.

From the outside or inside of the "building", you will not notice that the structure is made up of two 20-footer container vans joined together. Inside the

structure is an air-conditioner clinic that serves the health requirements of poor villagers mostly children who seek treatment here.

Medicines and consultations are free, giving a breather to the difficulties being experienced by people living in this part of Davao del Sur, Southern Philippines.

The facade and interior of the 2 container vans have been built using bamboo slabs and lumber. It's roofing is made up of anahaw leaves (a palm tree) and cogon grass.

San Miguel Brewery, Inc (SMB Inc.). built this clinic in a van to help address the needed health services community residents who travels to Davao City (a 1 hour ride) to seek quality medical attention. The project is a concrete manifestation of SMB, Inc' s corporate social concern for indigent villagers who badly need the services. A village school, Darong Elementary School has also been adopted by the company. School children are given supplementary feeding to address under nourshment among kids, and is being bankrolled by San Miguel Foundation.

The Clinic is being manned by a doctor and a nurse and is open 1:00pm to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday. HOW I Wish, the so-called "low cost" and "socialized" housing projects of government of other private builders will see the posibility of using recycled container vans as durable materials for housing. In this way, houses will become affordable to ordinary employees, helping them in very concrete ways.

 

  

 

I AM thinking what to blog about as the New Year starts, but it seems too difficult to compose. It's back to normal now, meaning back to work after the long holidays. I tried to recall what I did last month and was encouraged to blog about the poor Sama Badjau tribe I visited in Tawi-Tawi, Southwestern Philippines.

 

A Sama Badjau seaweeds farmer held in his hand a 12-day old seaweeds. Farming the seas with these marine plants have cushioned the negative impact brought by poverty to the people. While the economies of the world trembled because of the crisis, the peace-loving Sama Badjau face each day with great optimism.

 

 

Meanwhile in Lamitan, Basilan; poor children of farmers and fishermen goes to school despite the challenges of poverty. Some of them go to school without breakfast, no shoes and even writing materials.

 

They are grateful for the book donation given to them by generous individuals (students and teachers) in one school in the United States. The books somewhat lightened the difficultites they are currently experiencing. With great optimism, they face the future with hope and faith that something good is in store for them and their families too.

 

In Zamboanga, 250 bicycles were handed over to poor high school students who stay far from school. The assistance is part of the education aid package from Spain's Agencia Española de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarollo (AECID).

 

The aid package consisted of 13 school buildings, science laboratory equipment, speech lab, technology and livelihood tools and equipment, feeding program for undernourished kids among others.

At least 23,000 school children have been benefited because of the assistance.

Many things can still be done to address poverty and difficulties of children. WE CAN learn from THEM as they overcome the challenges with great optimism. A brighter future awaits us...Have a prosperous and peaceful New Year..GbU!

WE were not able to go to Church today...Feast of the Holy Family, so I turned on the television set and watch the Eucharistic Celebration on TV.

In his homily, ArchBishop Fernando Capalla, DD emphasized on the important role of families in responding to God's call

 

In Davao City, Philippines; we have more than 800 thousand Catholics but responses to the call of Priesthood is wanting. We have 80 seminarians under formation and only 1 is scheduled for the ordination in the coming days. Bishop Capalla has appealed to the families to nurture the Faith and encouraged young people to respond to God's call by becoming a priest, religious and missionary. And the Family plays an important role in this call.

You know, I failed 2 times in qualifying examination to enter the seminary after my high school graduation. Fr. Eduardo Monge, cmf- our parish priest wanted me to enter the seminary and become a priest someday...but I failed. Perhaps, my sons: Dan Joshua (14 yrs. old, 3rd year High School) and youngest Jeremiah (6 yrs. old, Grade I) would be called someday. I will do my best to guide them...if ever they are called, our family is willing to offer them to God...to serve according to His will.

I wish the same for other families!

A heart-shaped island caught my attention during my recent travel to Tawi-Tawi, Southern Philippines. I took this picture from the window of the 19-seater airplane that I rode during my area visit to the island recently.

A little bit blurred shot, but I am happy to capture this photo where two fishermen prepare to get their catch using hook and line. Tawi-Tawi, Southern Philippines is rich in marine resources. Seaweeds farming and fishing are the main livelihood of island residents. Income derived from this underakings supported education of children and food necessities of families. Although, the islands were considered number 1 supplier of seaweeds and other marine products, majority of its residents still live in poverty.

 

Seaweeds farming has now become the major source of income among fishermen in Tawi-Tawi. "If not because of seaweeds, many would suffer and have difficult lives", a policeman told me. A kilo of dried seaweeds sells at PhP70 pesos to PhP120 pesos depending on supplies.

 

Beautiful beaches abound in Tawi-Tawi, world class in beauty so to speak. Try exploring one if you're here and enjoy the experience!