Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte – “Life is truly beautiful in simplicity. When we lead a simple life, we achieve an unknown happiness – a happiness that surpasses any other form of happiness,” Avijeet Das, poet and writer of New Delhi, India said.
Through simple living, we achieve a bigger understanding of the true purpose of life just like in one of the communities in the town of Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte.
Inside the small nipa huts surrounding the trees and crops, you will see the big smiles of the Manides. This tribal group is living in the mountainous part of Barangay Osmeña in the town of Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte. This 26-hectare land was declared as their ancestral domain.
Currently, there are 52 Manide families living in the said barangay. It is greatly observed the simple living of the tribal group because they have a more relaxed life as compared to the people living in the city. They also grow their own food and use less modern technology.
According to Joy Del Rosario, former Municipal Area Coordinator (MAC), the community has zero crime rate. Through this, it shows that simple living makes people realize the opulence of love, life and the unbridled beauty of the natural world. In the middle of their peaceful community, a daycare center strongly stands. As the door of the daycare center opens, Ricky Noblesala, 24, proudly recounts the infrastructure they have built under the DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS that became their symbol of unity as a tribe.
The Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan- Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) is a DSWD program that seeks to help alleviate poverty through community-driven development (CDD).
According to Ricky, they saw the need of the tribe to construct a daycare center in order for the young Manides to study and gain new knowledge.
“Nakita naming na dumarami ang mga batang nangangailangang pumasok sa paaralan subalit malayo ang lalakarin ng mga bata kaya naisip namin ang daycare center (We were able to come up with a daycare center because of the rising number of young Manides who have to walk long distance just to attend school),” Ricky said.
Big Changes
As of now, there have been many changes not only to the people residing in the main town but also to the community of Manide.
Before, they were shy and afraid of the people living in the town due to bad experiences such as discrimination and abuse. They were afraid to talk to other people because of their belief that they will be used as slaves.
After the Indigenous People Rights Act (Republic Act 8371) was implemented, there have been changes. The Manides became more confident because of the training or seminars provided by the different agencies explaining to them the benefits they can get as part of the tribal group.
It is important for Ricky to be part of Kalahi-CIDSS wherein he is one of the community volunteers of the said project.
“Katulad ng mga seminar na aking dinaluhan natutunan ko ang simpleng bookkeeping, (Because of the seminars I’ve attended, I was able to learn simple bookkeeping),” he added
Mas natutuunan ko ng pansin bilang katutubo na hindi lang kami umiikot sa aming lupaing ninuno dahil pwede rin kaming makihalubilo, lumabas at ipahay ang aming (Also, I was able to learn that we [Manides] do not only revolve around our ancestral domain because we have the ability to talk, show and share our learnings as a tribal community),” Ricky explained.
Part of the changes they’ve experienced is the education wherein many Manides were able to read and write not only the youth but also the elders.
Ricky was also one of them who has graduated college in 2014 with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Agriculture at Camarines Norte State College. Through this, he was able to impart the knowledge he acquired to his fellow Manides.
Moreover, he works as a daycare worker for two (2) years wherein he teaches the young Manides from 8:00 in the morning until 10:00 AM.
According to Ricky, the daycare center served for the greater purpose because the young Manides were able to grasp education.
“Dito sa daycare center, makikita ang kahalagahan ng edukasyon (In the daycare center, you will see the importance of education,” he said.
Also, the Manides will no longer experience the muddy path when they are going to the town because of the ongoing construction of access road under DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS in their community with a distance of 1.3 kilometers from the Manide village to the daycare center.
The vehicles will not anymore experience immobility when going to the community because the path will be smooth for the delivery of services for the Manides.
Being Open to the People Living in the Cities
Little by little, the Manides became more open when dealing with the people living in the cities and vice-versa.
According to Ricky, they have the ability to talk to the people living in the cities. They are also included in the activities of the town.
He also added that they have received great support from the barangay in their tribal activities such as Indigenous Peoples’ Week, a celebration during the month of October.
In the eyes of Ricky, he is full of eagerness to pursue projects that will improve their tribe and he is willing to achieve the needs of their daycare center such as the additional books and supplies for the students.
The community volunteer is positive that there will be a rise of Indigenous people finishing college.
“Sa ngayon kaya na naming patunayan na bilang katutubo may kaalaman na rin kami. Kaya na rin naming makisabayan sa mga tao at alam na rin naming ang mga karapatan ng mga katutubo (As of now, we can already prove to others that as tribespeople, we have acquired knowledge that we can share. Also, we have the capability to protect our rights and welfare of our tribe),” he said.
With the advancement of technology, the Manides are also adapting to the developments. In connection with this, Ricky has cellphone and Facebook account for faster communication.
Even though there has been continuous change in the society, Ricky will never leave the tribe.
According to him, the tribe is more important as compared to thrive in the city.
“Mas masaya ako na kaharap ko ang kapwa ko katutubo. Dito ako lumaki, kaya paninindigan ko na isa akong katutubo. Proud na proud ako na parte ako ng tribo (I am happy living with the tribe. I grew up here [village] so I am proud to be part of this tribe),” he exclaimed. /ramsertan/
About DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS
The DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS had allocated the province of Camarines Norte with a total implementation grant of Php 327.403 million and local counterpart contribution of Php 4.503 million from barangay and municipal local government units (LGUs) to fund community-managed sub-projects.
In the municipality of Jose Panganiban, there are 22 sub-projects that were funded by the program wherein two (2) of these sub-projects are from Barangay Osmeña.
The daycare center with a total cost of Php 837,000.00 has also served as an evacuation center of the Manides.
On the other hand, the construction of the access road has a total implementation grant of Php 3,929, 574.00 and local counterpart contribution of Php 11,456.00.
For more information, visit the website: http://ncddp.dswd.gov.ph/site/faqs