In 2007-2008, I had a wonderful opportunity to work with the youth seaweed farmers in Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi for a project supported by the International Youth Foundation (IYF) and US Agency for International Development (USAID). The work was really challenging. It changed a lot inside of me. The fact that I was going to work in the Philippines' southernmost was already a thrill for me. I was like 3 hours away from Sandakan, Malaysia. Sitangkai has pristine waters. It has a lot to offer. My REGULAR meal includes fresh grilled lapu-lapu (ehem), seaweeds (of course since Sitangkai is the world's largest seaweed producer), clams, squid, and octopus. However, having my stomach full poses danger anytime. Where would I release my "excess baggage? Comfort rooms were so unpopular in the area. So, what I did was to program my dealings with my excesses. I have to rush to the mangroves early morning when nobody is awake, so that no one notices me when I release my tension. Hehehe.
Despite the beauty that Sitangkai offers, I was touched by the sad situation of the young kids who were everywhere in the islets. The average number of kids in every household is 10 and above (huh!). I pity the kids especially in the Island of Sikulan where 90% of the inhabitants are non-literates. When we first visited them, they were full of enthusiasm to show us their place. They would readily offer their sincere smiles. There was no safe water to drink and no health clinic to attend to their illnesses. Children often have pale and cracked lips perhaps because of poor hydration. Rain water is their only source of potable water. When it seldom rains, they also seldom drink (huhu). The "nearest" school was in the mainland Sibutu, which is an hour drive by motor boat. So, kids were left uneducated.
I was moved into tears when I first introduced the Alphabet to the youth who were in the age of between 12-23. It was their first time to see ABC... Though some went to primary school, they did not finish learning because they lacked the resources to continue schooling. Since the program was for the youth, the young kids were envious. They wanted to participate in our learning sessions but the program design prevented us from accepting them. Hence, during the program launch in October 2007, Mr. Jim. Herras, Project Specialist for Consuelo Foundation, who went with us, was moved with the situation of the people, especially the children.
When he came back to Manila, he shared what he witnessed to his wife Julie, who heads the Philippine office of the Little Candle Foundation. The foundation was very quick to respond to the sad situation and asked my organization, PDAP to work out an alternative learning system for the kids of Sikulan. Later on, the learning center was built. Thanks to the kindness of Little Candle and thanks to the Mayor of Sibutu who allowed us to build the center by donating a portion of the islet. We thought we already solved the problem. Another concern was for a full time teacher to handle the classes. We have remedied this by training one mother, the only college level in the area, to handle literacy class. We have sought the assistance of Consuelo Foundation once again to lend us their instructional materials. Consuelo Foundation is very kind to us and to the kids. As I left the area for a new assignment in my organization, I wondered how the kids are doing there right now. Are they able to memorize their ABCs? Count numbers 1 to 10? Or brush their teeth at least once a day? But where would they get the brush and the toothpaste? They are so isolated. They are much closer to the waves of Celebes Sea.
I HOPE that something is done to address the problem in the area. I have heard of so many controversies involving our corrupt government officials to the tune of hundreds of millions and even billions of bribes, kickbacks, SOPs, and scams. I hate to think that while they fatten their pockets and satisfy their greed, there are many kids in this part of the Philippines that are forgotten.
No, I am not losing my FAITH. The memorable work I had in Sitangkai made me more HOPEFUL to see more lives improved, HOPES renewed, and more reason to SMILE for the kids of Sitangkai.
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