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Berjaya and Kitcharao: 7 Years in the Waiting

by Claire Ericta


When you witness a man look straight into another's and hold it steady as he expresses gratitude for the fulfillment of his dreams and of his people, you will find yourself in tears. Datu Embat thanked Paul Soo (and the rest of the Berjaya group) from his soul.



***


I have always looked forward to the turnover of houses with Berjaya – Berjaya is one of GK’s most generous partners yet they are also among the most down to earth.  My guess is that they are as eager about the turnovers for more or less the same reasons I am: it’s the perfect excuse to explore the most rural of areas in the country, and it presents a golden opportunity to spend time with colleagues outside the typical work atmosphere and most importantly, to meet the communities they “invested” in.  Later it would turn out I was right.


***

When we reached the site, Datu Embat was already waiting for us. To be a little more specific, Datu Embat and his people have been waiting for us for seven years now. 


He stood waiting at the foot of the steps that led to a village of 30 houses with lime green-painted walls.



A group had engaged them for a reforestation program, but when that ended, they turned to GK.  Every month since, our community organizers would visit their community in the hills of Brgy Mahayahay, Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte. Kuya Emman and Odin were there to simply share meals and have plenty of dialogues about the values they lived by (we call this “the GK way”), and from these visits grew a mutual respect and friendship between this Mamanwa tribe and GK. Sometimes, at the height of worrying about when the next meal is or how to send the children to school, the trust of the tribe’s elders and leaders would waver. There was an instance when Datu Embat felt for his “bolo” during a visit. Kuya Emman and Odin seem amused by it today, but I bet it was not a laughing matter back then.   


Kuya Emman tells me that Datu Embat broke into tears and hugged him really tight when he heard the news about the 30 sure houses to be built. “Akala ko wala na’to.” That I have never had to worry about something as natural as a place to come home to makes me understand very well the depth of Datu Embat’s gratitude for the Berjaya group represented by Paul.




***

“Okay lang po ba sa inyo na gawa sa simento ang mga bahay niyo?” I asked Datu Embat. 


“Okay na okay. Tingnan mo naman ung tirahan namin. Lumalakas na rin ang mga ulan,” said Datu Embat. A fear of super typhoons is starting to catch up with them. 


Paul Soo had to ask me why I asked. “Cause I remember hearing a story about an IP community who preferred to sleep outside the houses awarded them – they were so used to living in a wooden one.”


Briefly I worked with a group that carried the indigenous people’s cause, and adapting things to make it “culturally-appropriate” was a huge part of the process. The topic had always been tricky one for me – how far do we go in respecting and/or challenging their cultural ways and belief systems as we help empower them to participate in today’s society?  


Reflecting on the question again after the turnover, I realize (and this I have GK to thank for) that there is little point to this question. Just as every community is unique, so is there a different way of answering. Ultimately, it goes back to building a solid relationship with them so that a genuine conversation about their future can transpire. Maybe just maybe, more battles can be won if focused on helping restore their dignity and addressing poverty – and the rest can follow suit. 


That said, in this particular village, one answer came in the form of a gray space that borrowed the technology of a fireplace and a chimney. Our local teams altered the typical GK house design so that our IP friends can continue using chopped wood for cooking, tailor-fit yet practical for now.




***

Here’s a classic. From seven years ago they say when everybody was at least seven pounds less.  (Peace guys!!!)


After visiting the community a number of times, the team found out that the kids took their regular bath in the waterfalls higher up in the mountains. With much excitement, they all agreed to do a trip on the team’s next visit.


“Gaano ba kalayo?” asked the Team.


“Malapit lang, Kuya!” the kids answered. 


“O sige, tara!” Towels and change of attires on hand, they started the trek.   It was a hot day, the sun was showing off. A dip in the waters would be perfect.


An hour later, “Malayo pa ba?” 


“Hindi Kuya, malapit na! Andun lang o,” pointing their pressed mouths towards the direction of the falls. 


At this point, the excitement was starting to wear off, and everyone had started to have a little bit of tan in them. This conversation was a number of times. 


Three hours later, they reach their destination. That’s when they learned “malapit na” is relative. It takes the kids forty-five minutes to get to the falls. 




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