Indigenous People’s community is one of the most vulnerable groups of people. A tribe who needs more attention and help to become responsive and resilient in life challenges. In this competitive time, giving them more attention is vital in building a bridge towards collective development all over the country.

Barangay Villaflorida in the town of Ocampo, Camarines Sur, is considered as one of the homes of IP Community. 70% of the 1,349 population are IP. The place was formerly a part of Barangay Anawan and later declared as Barangay in the 1950s which was named after Florida, a flower planted in the area and Villa which means “village”.

Starting as a separate community, the residents long for improvement and seek assistance to put their dreams into realization. However, their journey did not become easy. Their tribe encountered various problems including the school facilities and access roads. Considering  their current situation, it became difficult for them to implement projects because of lack of funds or resources. Despite the challenges, they never give up and stop on pursuing their dreams for their community. Little by little, their hard work paid off and their desire was fulfilled with the help of Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) program as it reached their community.

“Malaking tulong po ang KALAHI-CIDSS program sa aming barangay…isa pa akong mag-aaral noon pinaka-problema talaga yung Daycare Center… bali ginagamit namin yung barangay chapel na nagsilbing kanlungan ng mga bata na nag-aaral,” Eric said

(KALAHI-CIDSS program is a big help in our barangay… I was still a student before the main problem here was the Daycare Center… we are using the barangay chapel that serves as the shelter of the children.)

When the KALAHI-CIDSS came to Barangay Villaflorida, Eric was still studying. Since the number of people who had access to education in their barangay during that time was so minimal, Eric decided to become a volunteer and help his community to implement the sub-project.  While studying, he ensures that he can do his roles and responsibilities as a Bookkeeper in order to help their community.

“Kasi noong panahon po dito kasi sa aming barangay kulang po yung nakapag-aaral. At least, kahit papano meron na din po akong nalalaman at sabi ko tutulong na lang po ako para at least madali ‘yung mga ginagawa…kaya ‘yun na lang po yung naging ano sa akin para [mag-volunteer], kasi adhikain ko nga makapagsilbi para mapaunlad po ang aming community.” Eric said.

(Before here in our barangay, the people with access to education were so minimal. At least, I know something and I said I will help to make it easy…so that is what pushed me to become a volunteer, because it is also my desire to serve for our community to improve.)

A path from Community Volunteer to a Community Servant

Being part of the IP community and growing up seeing the difficulties and struggles of the residents, Eric’s desires in helping their barangay burst out in his mind and heart. A dream that seems to be impossible for others but never to a determined and resilient man like him. His journey as community volunteer ignites his dream of serving his community. This led him into becoming the elected Barangay Chairperson of Villaflorida.

“Ah, bali para sa akin talaga, [ang pangarap ko] yung mapaunlad po at matulungan ko ang barangay. Isa po ‘yun sa adhikain ko kasi namulat po ako sa barangay na walang-wala talaga,” Nape said.

(For me, my dream is to improve and help our barangay. That is one of my desires because I was born in a barangay that has nothing.)

Eric’s voyage as a volunteer kindled his desires in helping the community even more which led him into fulfilling his dreams little by little with the help of KALAHI-CIDSS. His experience as a community volunteer helped him hone his leadership skills and discovered what he can do for his community. He is thankful because he learned a lot as a community volunteer and now he was able to apply all the learnings he acquired during those times.

“Marami po kasi yung mga trainings [ng KALAHI-CIDSS] na nagagamit ko din ngayon sa barangay namin. Leadership trainings, [na nagturo] kung paano mo ihahandle yung mga tao sa barangay. Kung paano mo sila imomotivate na ganito, ganyan, mag support sa mga programa. Marami po akong natutunan lalo na yung paglelead, kahit sa hanggang ngayon nagagamit ko pa po ‘yun,” Eric happily said.

(KALAHI-CIDSS has so much training and I still use it now in our barangay. The leadership training which taught how to handle the people in the barangay and on how to motivate them to support the program. I learned a lot, especially in leading that I still utilize now.)

The training that the KALAHI-CIDSS provided to the community volunteers proved how the program helped the community to be empowered by acquiring new learning and skills. The knowledge Eric gained when he was a community volunteer serves as his guide in his new journey now. Furthermore, the sub-projects not only resulted in having a conducive place of learning and improved access, this also led to igniting the active participation and cooperation of the residents which is also one of their problems before, every time there is an activity in their barangay.

“…ngayon kapag may mga programa, kahit anumang programa ng barangay na isinasagawa ay madali silang pumunta at nakikipag-participate. Compare noon, talagang wala, kahit puntahan mo sa mga bahay nila, wala lang kasi yung hanapbuhay po nila yung inuuna nila. Sa ngayon ay talagang mabilisan na silang nag-reresponse,” Nape happily shared.

(…now if there is a program, whatever program of the barangay that is being conducted, they easily go and participate. Compared to before where no one is participating, even if you go to their house, they will prioritize their work. Now, they easily respond.)

As the time passed by, the improvements in the community of Barangay Villaflorida can be seen most especially in terms of the participation of the residents. The community became empowered and realized how essential their participation is in the community. Eric’s dream for their barangay is now having its fulfillment little by little through the help of KALAHI-CIDSS. With this, Eric emphasized how useful the Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach was and it helped to empower the IP community.

“Maganda [ang CDD] kasi na e-encourage mo po yung community at naipapaliwanag sa kanila na sila talaga ang unang-una na mangunguna sa isang proyekto na hindi lamang mga barangay official. Sila po talaga yung mangunguna, dapat aware sila sa mga programa at kailangan sila makilahok sa programa ng barangay lalong-lalo na yung KALAHI [-CIDSS],” said Nape.

(CDD is good because it encourages the community and it was able to explain to them that they were the ones to lead the project and not only the barangay official. The community members were really the ones to lead, they should be aware of the program and they need to participate in the program of barangay, especially the KALAHI-CIDSS.)

Written by: Alexandra H. Burce