SCWA Charity Goods Reached the Remotest B’laan Communities in Malapatan

30 health volunteers together with Dr. Roel Cagape travelled almost 12 hours from General Santos City to Upper Suyan,Malapatan, the highest mountain in Sarangani Province where B’laan community leaves to deliver the charity goods from Shalom Crest Wizard Academy (SCWA) and some donations from various organizations and individuals.

The volunteers depart General Santos on December 11 and had an overnight stay at the municipality of Malapatan. They waked up early morning at 2 AM and reaches the community almost 12noon. They trekked the muddy road and hilly terrain under the heat of the sun and the occasional rains before reach the community.

These communities were very poor. Their crops were always eaten by rats. Kara David of i-Witness together with the group recently documented the community where malnourishment of the children were noted. As a result of protein deficiency the cheeks of children became edematous, distended abdomen, thin extremeties, discoloration of hair and weakness. The condition worsens by iodine deficiency as a result of thiocyanate intake from cassava, their staple food. Thiocyanate will make iodine unavailable for thyroid hormone production which is important for all the metabolic processes in the body.

“Bong Salamat”, were said every time they received the gifts. The goods received from various donors were repacked and were given to 150 persons and children in Sitio Datalnay and 200 in Sitio Ulo Fitam. The volunteers stayed in the community for 6 days. Some of their activities include games, caroling ang giving kerosene lamps, origami peace dove making, vegetable gardening, assisting in CR construction and installation of mouse traps and others.

The charity caravan of SCWA is an annual activity of the school during their foundation day. This year, they included indigenous peoples from various places including Upper Suyan and Datal Anay in Glan and Sitio Akmurok, Malungon. Representative from various communities received the goods and in return shared their stories, cultural song and dances.

In the next days with the community brought natïve chicken for the volunteers in the house they built for them as a token of gratitude but the group told them to raise it instead. Ironically, chickens were usually served for those help labor their farm and sometimes children left them nothing to eat except casava.

SCWA pupils realized how abundant they are as they heard stories of the indigenous peoples’ quest for survival. After the activities some shared their experiences:

CHILDREN OF DATALNAY. Children of Bintay Family were the reflection of the state of health in the community. Their faces and some other children there looked the same because of some nutrient deficiency. Physically chubby but were malnourished.

Alexander Jalipa, GSSC President, "I've realized how blessed I am! Learning the plight of the poor children in some remote areas of our province, gave me more desire to be more patient, more tolerant and more understanding in my daily life. When we see people who barely have anything, it's like a 'poke' to remind me of the food we have on the table, the comfortable home which gives us shelter, and the many conveniences of life. I am grateful for this opportunity to somehow share the simple things I have with these people."

Tristan John Cabangisan says, “Masaya. Dahil nakatulong ako sa aking kapwa dahil masakit tingnan na marami namamatay sa gutom at nakakaawa… dapat silang tulungan. Good feeling. Kasi nakahelp ako sa kapwa…. Para din a sila magutom at maging malakas sila sa gatas at pagakain na binigay naming… at maging masaya sila.”

Thank you SCWA, thank you various donors, thank you volunteers!