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The Jesuit mission in Bukidnon: Caring for Lumads

Lumad students from the Binhi Te Peglaom Dormitory

Caring for Lumads: The Fr. Leoni Mission Foundation Inc. (FLMFI)

Fr.-Leno-Mission-Foundation-Inc.-150x150 The Jesuit mission in Bukidnon: Caring for LumadsThe Fr. Leoni Mission Foundation, Inc., is a non-stock, non-profit organization established in 1998 by Fr. Mateo Sanchez of the Society of Jesus in honor of the late Italian Jesuit, Fr. Ferrucio Leoni, SJ.
The Foundation was established in response to the growing concerns of the Lumads in Bukidnon. The indigenous people in Bukidnon have long been isolated  from opportunities  that lead to improved lives. The exploitation from unsavory characters have only worsened their condition. Thus, FLMFI started the literacy, livelihood and education programs for the Lumads.

For a time, the literacy, livelihood and scholarship programs ran successfully even with the constant change of the foundation leadership as appointed by the Society of Jesus. However,  the drive to become  sustainable has come to fore because of volatile US and Europe financial markets where majority of its donors come from.   With the leadership of its new president, Fr. Braulio M. Dahunan, SJ, the foundation is embarking on reviving the program to continue the mission as it stands. LUMAD (Life for the Underprivileged and Marginalized through Advocacy and Development) Program aims to not only continue the literacy, livelihood, and scholarship programs of the foundation but also achieve sustainability by gradually entering into social enterprises that will eventually support its programs in the future.

As IP Ministry Coordinator of the Society of Jesus in the Philippines, SJ, Fr. Dahunan SJ set up the“Kahungyaman Cultural Center for Peace and Development”  on January 17, 2013.  Currently, the center serves as the base for the programs and projects of FLMFI.  In the said center, the “Binhi Te Peglaom (Seed of Hope) Lumad Scholars Dormitory” for elementary and high school scholars, Heritage House, Mission House, Organic-Agriculture Production Demo Farm and Food Production and Livelihood Center are located.

Vision-Mission statement

We envision a holistic human formation of the Indigenous Peoples in their process for self-determination and for the sustainable development of their communities that is respectful to their culture and in accordance with their needs and aspirations.  Thus, we need–

1. to deepen Jesuit presence, accompaniment and involvement with the Indigenous Peoples in the spirit of solidarity with them;

2. to provide direction in their struggle through community organizing participatory action research;

3. to empower their communities and leaderships through communal discernment and strengthening of roles and responsibilities in sowing good seeds for future generations to nurture and uphold;

4. to promote authentic dialogue and integration of culture and faith through a mutual enrichment between the indigenous culture, spirituality, religion and the Catholic Christian faith.

LUMAD programs: (Life for the Underprivileged and Marginalized through Advocacy and Development Programs)

LUMAD is a Visayan term that means “native” or “indigenous” person. They are more referred specifically to the natives or indigenous people that can be found in the Mindanao Region of the Philippines, a region that has often been associated with war and violence over the years. While many LUMADS suffer first-hand, the collateral damages of war such as displacement, loss of basic necessities, livelihood and housing, many also suffer neglect and exploitation brought about by loss of opportunities and inability of government to provide the basic necessities that would constitute what we call LIFE.

IP YOUTH EDUCATION AND FORMATION PROGRAM

Community-based Literacy program (kahungyaman literacy centers)

This program aims to provide non-formal basic education to Indigenous People (IP) communities.  Since many of the children and adult IPs are unable to read and write because of lack of access to formal basic education, they are vulnerable to the deceptions of lowland traders and politicians.  We have literacy centers for day care pupils and alternative learning system for adult and out-of-school youth.  These centers are ran by volunteer para-teachers who reside in the area.  Educational materials and food during school days are provided to help the learners in their learning and to free themselves from household chores that may take them away from learning.  It is hoped that with this program, we will lessen the percentage of illiteracy among IP communities

Formal basic education scholarship program (binhi té péglaom lumad scholars dormitory)

This program aims to provide formal basic education to IP youth who have the capacity to go through the rigors of formal education.  Since public schools are far from their homes, most often they would stop schooling due to lack of sufficient food for their weekly consumption.  Thus, we have taken scholars to live in the “Binhi Te Peglaom Lumad Scholars Dormitory” to go through formal education in a nearby public school in the Poblacion for elementary students and in Fr. Leoni Memorial School for high school students.  Aside from providing them with quality education, the dormitory provides holistic formation to the scholars with the hope that they will become future leaders who will serve in their respective communities. 

 

Volunteers for IP communities & enhancement program

This program aims to develop our scholars who graduated from high school to become more equipped and ready for college education as they prepare to take examinations for scholarship grants while they are also engaged in teaching, organizing, social enterprise and entrepreneurial activities of Fr. Leoni Mission Foundation, Incorporated.  This program will also serve as an on-going formation with regard to personal development, as well as, leadership and communication skills of our scholars.

College aid and vocational support program

This program aims to facilitate our high school graduate scholars to get scholarship grants or sponsorships either for college or voc-tech courses according to their capacities and capabilities.  They will still continue to be closely monitored by Fr. Leoni Mission Foundation, Incorporated, while at the same time they will continue with their involvements with FLMFI activities and formation programs.  We instil a sense of responsibility to our scholars so that they will hopefully go back to serve their own people and develop their communities.   

We now have five college scholars who get scholarship grants but we are supporting them for their living allowances:  Jession Diwangan is a DOST and XU scholar taking up BS-ECE in Xavier University; Mitchell Ayawon is a Monark Foundation Technical Institute scholar; Reymond Ally, Margie Tumalas and Gia Sarinao are BIC scholars taking up BS-Religious Education in San Isidro College.  We need Php 118,200.00 every year to support them in their studies.

SUSTAINABLE ORGANIC-AGRICULTURE AND ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

This program aims to sustain all our programs by generating income through organic-agriculture production and social enterprise.  This will also provide sustainable human and community development through trainings on organic-agriculture and entrepreneurship that will ensure food security and livelihood.  This program will also ensure the protection of the environment and proper management of natural resources. Apparently this program develops a deeper sense of cooperation and solidarity amongst the Indigenous Peoples for sustainable development of their particular communities and for lasting peace at large. 

     

We just started this recently, and so we need assistance in order to develop this further and be able to produce more products.  Thus, we need a start-up capital of Php 200,000.00.

IP LEADERSHIP ENHANCEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

This program aims to empower IP leaders who will be responsible in realizing sustainable development and lasting peace in their communities in the spirit of solidarity and in the promotion of the common good.  Thus, it is crucial to accompany these leaders in their process of becoming credible and trustworthy leaders: who will safeguard their beautiful cultural heritage and tradition; who will have vision for their people; and who will carry-out their mission in the manner befitting of a good IP leader.  Seminars, workshops, trainings, and formation programs will be provided in order to capacitate and equip leaders.    

We need Php 124,000.00 every year in order to support the activities of IP leaders in their Social, Political, Economic, Communal and Spiritual (SPECS) formation.  We are also facilitating seminars, workshops and trainings that will capacitate and equip them as leaders.

Donate

You can course your donations via:

  1. Credit Card – Visit www.phjesuits.org and click on “Give Online”
  2. Bank of the Philippines (BPI) Branch – Make a bill’s payment to  “PJAA”; indicate name in place of reference number.
  3. BPI Online, ATM or Phone – Enroll “PJAA” as a biller/merchant and make a payment. (Note: Please send us acopy of your transaction slip by fax to 926-8150 or by email to aid@phejsuits.org and include your contact information so that we can properly acknowledge your donations.)

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The Jesuit mission in Culion, Palawan: Helping the Tagbanuas

Tagbanua children

Introduction

The Literacy Program  in Culion, Palawan aims to develop the reading and writing skills of both the adults and children in selected Tagbanua  communities.   The program also aims to preserve the Tagbanua’s local culture and develop stronger and more confident communities.

 Jesuit presence in CulionCulion-map-138x150 The Jesuit mission in Culion, Palawan: Helping the Tagbanuas

In 1904, Gov. Wright of  the American Commonwealth, established  Culion  as  a leper colony paving the way for the first batch of 370 lepers from all over the archipelago to settle in 1906.   In the same year,  American Jesuits were sent to Culion to start chaplaincy work for the lepers and employees of the Philippine Health Service.  Over the years, the  Loyola College of Culion was established and has seen the chaplaincy to La Inmaculada Concepcion Parish grow and flourish.

tagbanua_photo-taken-from-ADMU-website-225x150 The Jesuit mission in Culion, Palawan: Helping the TagbanuasFr. Bok Arandia SJ, during his stay in Culion wrote, “after the establishment of the leper colony, the indigenous Tagbanua communities who were the original inhabitants of the Culion peninsula were  forced to settle in remote islands, with limited access to basic social services and education. They manage to survive through fishing, food gathering, and primitive agriculture. However, because of their inability to read, write and count, certain devious individuals have taken advantage of their ignorance, cheating them to sell their produce and catch at scandalously low prices.  Politicians have likewise used them to secure victory during elections, gathering and containing them in undisclosed holding areas distant from the influence and access of their political rivals.”

In 2006,  the Philippine province  re-examined its mission in Culion. Since there was no need for chaplaincy work due to the fewer number of lepers in the island, the Province decided to help the Tagbanuas, an Indigenous People community, through a literacy program.

In 2008, through the help of the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres, a literacy program  was began with some teachers from the parish. In 2011, Cartwheel Foundation brought their expertise and modules to help aid and systematize the program.  Since then, the parish, SPC and Cartwheel have been partners in this endeavor.

The program

Before 2011, literacy programs that were introduced had no sustainability mechanisms in place.  Hence,  there was a crucial and urgent need  to establish  one that will remain a fixture in order to equip members of the  communities with essential literacy and life skills.

The first six-month cycle of the new program began at the end of August, 2011 with forty (40) adult learners from two (2)Tagbanua communities – Alulad and Marabal.

In June 2013, the adult capability-building program ran its third cycle, further expanding operations to four (4) indigenous communities from the original two (2) pilot areas.  They have also instituted an early childhood education program for the Tagbanua communities in Culion.

Currently, the Adult Literacy Program is run by  the Cartwheel Foundation, Our Lady  of  the  Immaculate Concepcion Parish and the St. Paul of Chartres Sisters.  Fr. Arthur Nebrao, SJ is currently Parish priest of La Inmaculada Concepcion.

Culion after Typhoon Yolanda

Typhoon Yolanda hit Culion with devastating effects. These photos were taken during the visit of the Ateneo Disaster Response and Management (DReaM) Team and the Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan in Culion, Palawan last December 5 to 9. The team visited the different areas and islands devastated by Typhoon Yolanda.

Why help?

Indigenous Peoples, like the Tagbanuas are generally discriminated not only because of their physical appearance but because many of them have low self esteem due to the lack of reading and writing skills.

Please donate to support the Literacy program and help build their lives  in the aftermath of typhoon Yolanda!  The Literacy program’s next steps are:

  1. Collaborate with the Loyola College of Culion to house an IP school that would receive students who are ready for formal education through the Literacy Program.
  2. Bring the Literacy Program  to other far-flung communities.
  3. Conduct Train the Trainors workshops among previous beneficiaries to ensure continuous execution of the literacy program.

Click the Blue box above to make an on-line donation.  Or else, click here.

 

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The Bukidnon Mission District: St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish

St. Therese School of Miarayon
Fr. Noel "Weng" Bava, SJ with Talaandig youth, Miarayon, Bukidnon

St. Therese of the Child Jesus was established by Jesuit missionaries thirty (30) years ago.  It subsists largely due to the generosity of the foreign and local benefactors, mostly friends and relatives of missionaries assigned in Miarayon, who see the wisdom in educating the youth of the mission area alongside delivering spiritual nourishment of the people.

When the pioneer missionaries get transferred to other assignments, benefactors and donors of the school stop supporting the school or transfer their support to other projects of the previous missionaries.  Often, the school is left operating on a shoe-string budget and on many occasions,  borrows funds from the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus for the needed upgrade and upkeep of its facilities.

The passage of  The  Enhanced Basic Education Act (R.A. 10533) in 2013, which seeks to increase and improve compulsory education from 11 to 12 years, adds to the burden because of the need to accommodate a greater number of students.

Miarayon is a barangay of the fourth class municipality of Talakag, Bukidnon. It is a community of tribal minorities: Talaandigs (80%),  Dumagats (15%), Maranaw Moslems (4%) and Igorots (1%) comprising about 5,000 families. The local dialect is Binukid but most could speak the Visayan language.  The area has limited access to water and electricity and the roads may be accessed mainly by motorcycle (habal-habal), horse-riding or walking. There is no reliable signal for telecommunication yet.

Map-289x150 The Bukidnon Mission District: St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish

Miarayon-_old-woman_FB-232x150 The Bukidnon Mission District: St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish

 THE TALAANDIGS

The Talaandigs are friendly people.  They are deeply religious and value family and social kinship.  They are reliable    and industrious.  Despite these traits, many remain poor because of the lack of opportunity to get proper education.  To know more about the Talaandigs, view the full video made by Symantec Tooth and Gum Care here.

ST. THERESE SCHOOL OF MIARAYON

St. Therese School of Miarayon is the only High School operating in the area covering about five (5) barangays or villages with about seven (7) or so public elementary schools.  The next available High Schools are some sixty  (60) or so kilometers away from the centro.  In 2015,  there are approximately 320 students. However, this figure dips radically due to  students who drop out within the first quarter of the school year.  Of the students who continued, approximately 500 students have graduated and a good number have gone on to college and earned their degrees.

Fr.-Weng-Bava-225x150 The Bukidnon Mission District: St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish
Fr. Noel “Weng” Bava, SJ Parish Priest

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The mission continues

The only school in Miarayon region with no covered hall to keep children safe from rains and the heat during out of class activities. But the kids don't complain."

The Jesuit Formation

Jesuits in the Philippines are prepared for ministry through a long and rigorous process of formation.  The formation of Jesuits for priesthood takes 11-12 years, indeed a considerable period of time.  For quality service requires quality preparation.  The costs of formation over so many years are very high.  For many years, the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus has managed to cover the cost.  But with rising costs, the Philippine Province is beginning to feel heavily the financial responsibilities of its mission.

The impact of the Jesuits in the Philippines is extraordinary and unparalleled.  They are probably best known as caring and gifted educators, but they are also deeply committed to community service, apostolic missions and religious vocations.0004-372x150 The mission continues

Over the years, so many Jesuits have lived, worked and died in the Philippines.  This is what they do – give their all, no matter what the cost.  Today there less than 300 Jesuits in the Philippine Province, of which 100 are over 70 years old, and so many of them are infirm in one way or another.  Their health and medical care have taken its toll on the finances of the Jesuits.

We appeal to our lay partners to honor and support these deserving men with your kindness, thoughtful prayers, and with your generous donations.

Jesuit Mission

Our Jesuit priests are called to bring hope, reconciliation and peace into situations of hopelessness, strife and enmity.  They are missioned to Bukidnon to serve the people in Zamboanguita and especially the indigenous people in the surrounding mountains, to the poor people and former lepers of Culion, to the prisoners of Muntinlupa, to the sick at Philippine General Hospital, to direct the Emmaus Center to provide counselling for religious and priests, and even to Myanmar, Cambodia and East Timor.

Wherever they are assigned, our Jesuit priests cannot do the work alone.  In most places where they serve, the people have very little money to put in the collection box.

tinaytayan-Elementary-School-Childrens-Mass-444x150 The mission continues
Tinaytayan Elementary School Children’s Mass     

We appeal to our friends to join our priests in their mission with prayers and through generous contributions to their apostolic works.