Words cannot even begin to describe the joy I have felt in recent months during my regularly monthly meetings with Sr Cathy and Co in Surigao. The Badjao community are going from strength to strength despite the challenges and setbacks that come with everyday life.
In the last post I shared how in December 2021 Super Typhoon Odette devasted Surigao and indeed the Badjao community’s homes. They were literally left with what they were wearing. Since then, for the most part they have been living on the side of the road. Now I don’t mean set back on the side of the road with ample room for cars, truck, bicycles, tricycles and pedestrians to pass and travel, I mean right on the edge of the road. This as you can imagine warrants safety concerns and rightly so. Community members have been hit by passing traffic.
There have been multiple meetings with the Mayor and the mayoral office about the rebuilding or relocation of homes. Now as with anything of this nature there are often conflicting sides. It’s important to remember that the Badjao community are sea farers, their traditions and customs sit around the water and their preference is to live out over the sea. They lived in Surigao over the water, having been forced to migrate to the area when political unrest threatened their communities further south in the Mindano region. They are marginalised because they are not from the area, aren’t Christian or Catholic living in a very Christian or predominately Catholic country and they are Indigenous. Their homes were seen as an eyesore and quite bluntly weren’t wanted in this area.
Due to their location they are at risk of being displaced again probably not if, but when another super typhoon strikes, yet the side of the road is no place for families to live or bring up their children. The decision was made to relocate the community. Now the challenge was where. Some locals would rather them nowhere near them, preferably to the mountains. Now sea farers in the mountains don’t make sense to me, but for some out of sight out of mind is the best option.
Nine months or so after an election, countless meetings and negotiations , the community still didn’t have answers. The Sisters have been negotiating with them, have sought (and received) funding to rebuild and have walked with them every step of the way. (Sr Cathy – you have been amazing!) They continued to live in no man’s land and so they took matters into their own hands. They sourced materials – things that other people would consider junk and rebuilt their homes where they originally stood. The mayoral offices weren’t happy and wanted to know who gave them permission. It makes sense to me that they got sick of waiting and did what they thought best for their families. Negotiations have continued and one week it’s all systems go with a relocation site nearby that is agreeable to the Badjao Community and the Council (although not all the locals) and the next it’s not. Living life in limbo shouldn’t be the outcome, yet it is.
Despite all of this, the community has carried on. Sr Cathy has continued supporting them, encouraging them and offering all sorts of activities to build livelihoods and help them to get onto their feet. The Hope Centre has become a busy place and I cannot wait to visit it soon and spend time with these incredible people. In recent months here are some of the initiatives that have been set up and are running beautifully.
Ukay ukay (Secondhand clothing stalls) – A co-operative has been set up and they are buying and selling secondhand clothing in the area. Think of it as a mobile op shop!
Gardening – After some online basic gardening sessions, the community has come together to rebuild their garden after it was annihilated during Odette. It has been wonderful to hear that a large group of people attended a recent working bee and the area is looking ship shape.
Sewing – Last year after a successful sewing program many of the women have been continuing to practice their sewing skills. Thanks to the generosity of donors from Share Teach and Reach, two new machines were purchased and plans are underway for online sewing tutorials. The first one is almost complete – they take so long when it’s a one-man band! I hope I get them complete before enthusiasm wanes.
Youth – The younger member of the community are showing amazing leadership and are giving their time to benefit the whole community. They are keeping the Hope Centre clean and tidy and have also been assisting in meal preparations when there are community gatherings.
Mat weaving – It is important to be able to preserve culture. If elders cannot teach forthcoming generations different skills and traditions then the risk is, that particular skill or tradition can be lost. I have been so heartened to hear that the traditional weaving skill and pattern is being revived in the community. Whilst the older women are instigators of the traditional mat weaving, younger women are accompanying them. I pray that they will learn the skills and in turn pass it onto their children. The mats are made from the leaves of the pandanas tree and go through quite an arduous process even before weaving can begin.
So you can see it has been a busy place. I hope to provide some more regular updates as they come to hand and in early 2023, the plan is to visit and share more as I experience this wonderful community first hand.
So now from here I head off to finish the first sewing tutorial – a tote bag.
So Now From Here 