Reaping the Fruits of Transformative Education
The need for an education to escape poverty
I am Kring, a Mandaya, a Filipina.
I have always believed that education is much more meaningful if it can contribute to solving the many ills creeping in our societies. That belief has been strengthened by my education at the Pamulaan Center for Indigenous People’s Education - University of Southeastern Philippines, an educational institution dedicated to the indigenous peoples in the Philippines.
I grew up in a poor community, a poor family. Having experienced poverty in all its realness motivated me to work harder and do better in my studies. Then came Pamulaan.
With its mission of providing education for self-reliance and community service, Pamulaan allowed me to learn so many things about myself and the indigenous communities in the Philippines. It has deepened my passion and commitment for development work. As one of its 265 graduates to date, I have fully committed my life to continuing to learn and grow from the many diverse experiences of people I meet along the way, and to make a difference in their lives no matter how small.
For and with the indigenous peoples of the Philippines
When I graduated from Pamulaan, I joined the Assisi Foundation. My work at the foundation has allowed me to engage with various ethnolinguistic groups in the Philippines. You see, the Philippines is an archipelago with over 7,100 islands and home to around 110 ethnolinguistic groups practicing unique cultures and traditions.
Like in many other parts of the world, indigenous peoples in the Philippines have a long history of oppression and marginalization. Many of these injustices have been carried on into the present times. Despite the various legal instruments in place, they continue to struggle for their rights to be recognized and respected.
As the Senior Program Officer for the Livelihood and Leadership Program, I get to work with community entrepreneurs, indigenous leaders, youth advocates, various local government agencies, and local & international civil society organizations. Together, we continue to work for the sustainable development of indigenous communities. I also get to work closely with youth volunteers and indigenous leaders who are also very eager to work towards the betterment of their communities.
During the nine years of my life’s work at Assisi, I’ve learned to appreciate my Pamulaan formation all the more. It prepared me to be more discerning, critical, and innovative. Both Pamulaan and Assisi allowed me to explore many things about myself that I didn’t know existed. I learned to test my limits, and to continue to explore ways to learn, to serve, and to grow.
Towards a brighter future
While working for Assisi and volunteering for Pamulaan, I also got to complete my Master’s Degree in Community Development at the University of the Philippines. Earlier this year, I was also awarded a scholarship for an advanced Master’s Programme in Cultural Anthropology and Development Studies at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, in Leuven, Belgium.
I believe these opportunities for higher education are significant avenues for me to hopefully make a greater contribution not only to the indigenous peoples of the Philippines, but also to those throughout the world.
