Year of Service (YOS) experience in Tawagan

Every day comes a new experience, especially for a new volunteer like me in Balay Mindanaw. A new day of rediscovering who we are and what we are capable of is a big challenge. Each new day brings me an opportunity to see the many changes in my everyday life and a chance to acquire capabilities that would help me ensure the progress of my existence.

It was last July 13, 2011 when our batch of the Year of Service (YOS) Volunteers was finally commissioned to various areas of work and responsibilities after finishing a 2 months of orientation program and 1 week area exposure in Aleosan, North Cotabato. We were sent off to our assigned institution shortly after a mass celebration with Archbishop Antonio Ledesma and a short program at the Museu de Oro grounds at Xavier University. The program was like a turnover ceremony, a beginning of a new journey for us volunteers. For me, this is a new chapter of my volunteer experience. Previously, I volunteered for development work among the lumads in Bukidnon, particularly with the Matigsalug Manobo for two years. It was such an amazing period for me. I had a very rich experience with them, learning their ways and understanding their behavior. Living with them, and internalizing their culture somehow contributed to who I am now. I couldn’t express in words how grateful I am to this tribe who, in one way or the other, nourished my growth.

Now that I find myself in this new adventure with Balay Mindanaw, a new page of a new chapter will be inked with a whole new experience. True enough, on that same day right after the program, I, together with my co-volunteers Regine and Dana, and Ate Sabcee, one of the BMFI staff, went off to join the first Local Peace Consultation to be held in Cagwait, Surigao del Sur. Before the commissioning ceremony, we were already told a day before that we will be joining the activity. I was a bit excited and at the same time anxious because I didn’t know what to prepare. I was excited about the beautiful beach they were talking about in that place, breathtaking white beaches. I always dream of it. On our way going to Cagwait, I was awed with the beautiful sceneries along the coast lines of Surigao del Sur. Islets and islands, white sand beaches, and crystal clear blue waters fascinated my eyes. It reminded me of one of my favorite films, “The Beach,” starring Lionardo DiCaprio. On the other side of the road, majestic trees and wild bushes appeared like flowers for display surfaced before me, and hills filled with coconut trees, with their leaves moving like waves in the sea as they were blown by the wind, stand in abundance. It was such a wonder. When we reached Cagwait, in Barangay Tawagan, right away we were introduced to the participants of the LPC and we arrived exactly on time for the afternoon snacks.


Posing at the Japanese stone Structure in Barangay Tawagan. Next to him is the mighty blue ocean of the Pacific.

The barangay was named “tawagan,” which means “to call for,” because it was then a place by the seashore to call other people living across the sea. The distance of the two barangays is just close to half kilometer that residents just call out loud if they needed something from each other.

The next day, the peace consultation began with preliminaries led by Bau, Mayor Bonie Ondona and Barangay Captain Julie Andoy. It soon proceeded in the data gathering for the rest of the hours. We arrived in time to facilitate the different sectoral groupings and get the vital information of the barangay and help assist in the data collection process. I and another volunteer of BMFI, Jahm, were assigned in the Land Use sector. I was the documentor of our sector. It was my first time to handle such task and it was not easy because I always got out of focus while listening to their interesting stories. I get to react and exchange ideas with the participants unconsciously and forgetting to write down the details of their stories. It was able to take down notes only on their answers to the guide questions. I know it was not enough Nevertheless, that experience provided me a space for improvement.

We held our small group discussion beside a small waterfall called Tugunan Falls. Waterfalls are believed to be a dwelling place of “diwatas” (fairies) among the Matigsalugs. They consider it a holy ground. This could have been also true among the settlers in this barangay. When we were there at the waterfall, taking pictures, one of our participants who was pregnant didn’t join. I learned later on that it’s part of their belief in that area that there are spirits dwelling in that waterfall. The pregnant woman refused joining because she believes that her actions might cause her harm. In this case, they still value and respect the existence of such beings. I think this belief will guide them in protecting and preserving the gifts of nature. What a wonder.


	At the white beach of Cagwait.

I was further moved inside the wonders of Barangay Tawagan when we visited the Japanese stone structure. It was a breathtaking experience. It was an extraordinary splendor. Walking around that wide flat sharp rock along the ocean coast, you will find colorful aquatic life playing before your eyes. It’s a live aquarium according to Ate Bing. Manong Dencio, the head of the fisher folks, told me that was the place where they get the most of those giant lato which they serve for snacks. One tasty appetizer, especially when dipped in vinegar. Speaking of food, brace yourself. Barangay Tawagan provides delicacies that are remarkably delicious. It was my first time to eat lobsters and raw squids. The taste of the banagan and kopa, a local name for lobsters, is so tasty that you will eat most part of it. They also have plenty of root crops, such as karlang, ube, kamote, etc. Nutritious foods overflow in the area. What a wonderful barangay.

Many things happened the next day. Kaloy, together with guests Elmar, Elisabeth, and Preese from MISEREOR, joined us and shared inspirational messages to the participants. The guests were so elated when they saw the beauty of the barangay, especially upon seeing and listening to the active participation of the people. Their participation, as realized by Kaloy, is a symbol or a manifestation that they are starting to own the process by putting their hands for the future. This brings me to a reflection that, as a part of this team, I play a role, even though how small, in helping the people realize their dreams. Therefore I should also take responsibility for my actions. The active participation of the people lies on the active involvement of the team. I should help in assuring the interplay of such dynamics.


Helping in the documentation.

“Most of the people here consider themselves poor because they don’t have money. For me, you are the richest people. You have all the resources.” These words from Bibing struck me and I agree with her as she uttered these words and closed the last part of the consultation.

I think it’s the system that affects the mindset of the people. I believe that time will come when the local people will fully understand their capacities, then they will change the way they look at their selves, hopefully. In my reflection that afternoon, I shared with them how fortunate I was to join in the activity and that I came to think that I want to retire in that kind of place when I grow old. They laughed about it. I also told them that anytime, after having been there, I am ready to die for I have seen the most beautiful things in life that I longed to see. But then, for the meantime, I will continue living not just for myself, but for the people where my capacities are drawn and where my experiences are fulfilled.

[Melascom Malikay, or “Miyak” for short, is a new volunteer of Balay Mindanaw commissioned by the Year of Service (YOS) Volunteer Programme of the Ateneo de Cagayan (Xavier) University in Cagayan de Oro City. He is assigned in Balay Mindanaw's community peacebuilding and development program based in Surigao el Sur only last July 15, 2011.]

Helping Build Empowered and Sustainable Communities in Mindanao. Helping Build Peace.