“It is in fact a part of the function of education to help us escape, not from our own time—for we are bound by that—but from the intellectual and emotional limitations of our time.”- T.S. Eliot

THEIRS is a story of struggle, of ending the inter-generational poverty within their family and for every dignity that was crushed upon them.

Yet, at first they could not comprehend the scorn, the utter lack of respect for them.

The Sulodnon-Bukidnon group in Barangay Agbun-od, Jamindan, Capiz strongly believe that the only way to unshackle the chain of poverty and discrimination is through education.

Education will empower them to be equal with anyone else. They realized they have to equip themselves with knowledge- using their determination and patience.

Village chief Julieta Balbino relates her struggles when she was young. “Naagyan gid na kon sang una ang kabudlay mag eskwela. Malakat ako halin sa amon Domingo sang hapon kay didto ako ga eskwela sa banwa. Pag Biyernes naman sang hapon malakat naman kami kay sang una wala salakyan nga ga biyahe sa amon bisan motorcycle. (Before, I experienced difficulty in going to school. I had to walk to the town proper Sunday afternoon in time for our class on Monday. I had to walk again on Friday because there is no means of transportation not even motorcycle).”

Julieta felt and appeared differently from her classmates. Her classmates would taunt her for using a buri bag. “Hambal sang mga classmates ko daw Bukidnon kuno ako, (My classmates tell me I’m a Bukidnon).”

She fights back saying their water was pure and clean while theirs was like their filth. “Bisan Bukidnon ako gatimakas ako sa pag eskwela. (Even if I’m a Bukidnon, I persevered to go to school), “says Julieta.

Julieta was determined to finish her study not minding her struggles. She recalls they would collect young taro leaves in the mountain and sell it. “Kon Sabado gapanulaon kami. Gina bugkos-bugkos namon kag ibaligya para may balon ako sa Domingo (During Saturdays, we could gather vegetables, tied it up and sell it so that we will have money on Sunday).”

Julieta was full of hope, she would eat boiled banana for her breakfast just to make it to school. Her snack for recess is also boiled banana. “May mga amiga man ako nga gahatag sa akon pagkaon (I have friends who shared their snacks with me).”

Her determination to finish her study was ripped when Julieta lost her parents. At nine, she learns hard labor in order to live. “Bata pa lang ako, ga trabaho na ako sa tawo (I was young then but I already learned hard labor), says Julieta.

Wiping her bead of tears, Julieta says she really wanted to finish her study. “Sa gihapon nagtimakas ako makatapos bisan Grade 6 lang (Yet, I persevered until I finished Grade 6), she says.

Her dreams of getting a college diploma was lost but her strong belief that education will take them out of poverty and regain their dignity did not wane.

When a group from the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) is looking for a scholar, Julieta immediately recommended her nephew Mansueto Balbino.

Like her aunt, Mansueto had been exposed on the hardship of living in the mountain in his early age. “Sang bata pa kami nakita na namon ang kapigadohon sang pangabuhi sa bukid. Ang amon ginikanan panguma kag pang-uling lang ila trabaho (When we were young, we already experienced hardship. Our parents are farmers and are into charcoal making).”

BREAKING THE CHAIN

Mansueto, 34 stresses he wants to economically uplift the life of his parents by getting an education. It was his motivation in pursuing a degree in college. “Amo na motivation ko nga makatapos para mabuligan ko ang akon ginikanan sa anda pagpangabuhi (That is my motivation, to help my parents).”

He has also to put up with the insults of lowlanders about the Sulodnon-Bukidnon group. “Manubo ang pagtan-aw sang mga tawo sa amon. Makita nila kami gani hambal nila ari naman ang taga bukid. Wala naman ka eskwela, nag bakero naman sang carabao (People belittled us. When they see us, they would tag us as people from the mountain. He has not been to school, he tends the carabao).”

Then opportunity came, a scholarship for Indigenous Peoples was offered under the Assistance Training for Indigenous People (ATIP) of the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples.

Mansueto and two other members of Aeta (Ati) from Numancia, Aklan and Barotac Viejo were admitted in the scholarship grant. There, he enrolled in the Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education.

“Maayo lang may mga tawo nga may maayo bala sang tagipusoon nga nagbulig sa akon sa pag pa-eskwela. (It is good that there are kind-hearted people who helped me get to school), “he says.

Mansueto says his parents could not afford to send him to school and their daily earnings are not even enough to buy food for their family.
In the first day of school, they immediately experienced discrimination. “Pagsulod namon didto sa library, hindi kami pasudlon abi nila Badjao kami (They barred us from getting in. They must have thought we were Badjaos).”

The issue was resolved by the Dean of College of Education, who served as their foster mother while at the Silliman University.
Manuelito describes going to Silliman University is tough. “Kon wala ka motivation, hindi ka makatapos. Ang motivation ko nga makabulig sa akon ginikanan nagtulod sa akon para makatapos (If you lack motivation, you will not finish. Motivation drove me to finish my studies).”

The taunts and mocks he experienced became his driving force to struggle more. Mansueto learned how to ignore the jeers and listen only to his dreams. “Masubo ang akon inagyan bag-o katapos sang eskwela (I have experienced misery before I earn a degree).”

His perseverance was tested on his second year at the university, when the scholarship grant only provides them of free tuition fee. When finances or the lack thereof got in the way, he applied as student assistant in the university’s office and canteen. They were provided with free lunch.

“Layo pa ang amon boarding house sa eskwelahan. Masakay pa kami sa trisikol. Kon aga sakay kami. Kon hapon bantayan namon ang ga deliver sang amon pagkaon kag pauna sino sakay kon hindi kasakay malakat (Our boarding house is far from the university. We ride in the tricycle every morning. In the afternoon, we will wait for the vehicle that delivers our food and have a free ride in it. If we cannot have a free ride, we will walk), “says Manuelito.

With the meager allowance, Manuelito worked as student assistant in the university’s canteen. He was being paid per hour and given free food. It was a big help for his allowance.

It is not only the financial aspect that affects Manuelito while studying. His longing for his parents also affects him. “Ang kahidlaw sa akon ginikanan isa sa mga challenge man. Siyempre ako lang didto, wala ako relatives kag ka kilala (My longing for my parents is also a challenge. I alone there, don’t have relatives and acquaintances there).”

His persistence and patience paved way. In 1995, he graduated from college in the presence of his proud parents, whom did not have the opportunity to finish elementary. Manuelito’s graduation picture painted a victory.

“Hindi kita magdula sang paglaum. Kon isipon lang naton nga indi kita katapos apang may mga opportunidad mag-abot sa aton. Grab ini pag-abot sa imo. Ako isa sina ka buhi nga testamento. Gin grab ko ang opportunidad sa pag-eskwela. Sigurado ako kon himoon mo ang tanan nga maayo (Let us not lose hope. We may think we can finish schooling but there are opportunities that come our way. Grab it once it comes to you. I am a living testament to that. I grabbed the opportunity to study. And am sure If you give it your best, I don’t think you won’t finish it), “says Mansueto.

Today, he is now teaching in the fourth grade of the Agbun-od Elementary School. “Hambal sang amon professor, pag graduate namon balik kami sa amon ginhalinan kag magtudlo sa mga kabataan (Our professor told us to return and teach to the place where we came from), says Mansueto.

Mansueto like his wife Mary Joy is also an IP teacher. She teaches in Grade 2 at the Agbun-od Elementary School.
Unlike her husband who is a scholar, Mary Joy finished her bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Capiz State University in Mambusao, Capiz with her parent’s help.

Mary Joy says education is really important. People will look down on you if you are not a graduate. “Ang edukasyon para sa amon nga mga I.P. importante gid (Education is important to us IPs.).”

She says people will always call them as people from the mountains if they are not educated. Being an IP is not a hindrance if they want to pursue their studies. Prove to them that you can do what they do. “Wala ko ko lang ginasapak kon ginhambalan nila ako nga Bukidnon ako (I don’t mind being called a Bukidnon).“

ENCOURAGE THE YOUNG

As a teacher, Mansueto says he will encourage the IP children to go to school and never stop to aspire for a better life by having a degree. He says the current generation are lucky enough compared to them.

Students at the Agbun-od Elementary School are now enjoying the 2-classroom building funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of the Australian Embassy.

He says the classrooms are conducive for learning. It is spacious and has two comfort rooms, for female and male students. The completion of the classroom came on the right time.

Some of the classrooms at the Agbun-od Elementary School were destroyed by Typhoon Yolanda.

The students have no more reasons in not going to school and the government has done its part by providing them the structure for learning, he ended./Maricar M. Calubiran/dswd6