Recently in the APC/ESSC office in Malaybalay, we shared on the Jesuit ministry to Indigenous Peoples. Many people are new while others have been long at the work; but the depth of human engagement and simply the love of experienced with the Pulangiyen community have moved all.

Grace Duterte has worked with ESSC for over six years and shared her insights during the discussion. Grace saw the neglect of the local culture and our role in alleviating status of Indigenous Peoples and supporting them in their desire for equality and integration with broader society. This is a whole new dimension to her work, which she is not previously engaged.

“I saw the presentation on responses to indigenous community needs and it opened my eyes; I realize that we can do much more in seeking quality life with Indigenous Peoples. It is a great challenge for me to find out how am I going to love the culture and understand further these people. By ethnicity, I am one of them, but in my thoughts, deeds, and acts are not as theirs. Getting to know their language would be my goal now so that I may be able to relate with them. Not even a single word can I speak and understand. My grandmother is a pure Lumad "Bukidnon tribe" but she didn't even bother though she had quite some time, to teach us about the language. Maybe that was the effect of society on her; she thought it is better not to even talk of her life and her people even to her children.

Over the past decades, these people are often times the discriminated ones. They are not given any importance or place; they are deprived of benefits that they ought to have. They are treated as unequal and so they do not have life they might be longing for, a life that anybody longs for. It is as if they do not belong to society; it has been too hard for them to attain, and it has gone too far out of their reach. They seem to be "kawawa" (unfortunate). Why have we done this to them?

I have come to realize how much time I have wasted in not making the effort of knowing more deeply what and who I am. I never thought of the people and the culture as important for me to know. Or maybe because I also do not have the will to know it since we were not taught of their culture, practice and tradition. If I could only bring back the time, when my "lola" (grandmother) was still alive, then I could ask her these important facts and realities.

Deep in my heart, I feel for these people. But I have never been able to understand the true value and meaning of their life, as I have never known how it feels to be one of them. It is not about who has done any good to them but it is all about valuing, respecting, understanding, and treating them the way we wanted to be treated. Pedro said that the work in Bendum is not about him or other Jesuits, it is not about the organization; but it is about the willingness and courage to do good and help Pulangiyen and others alleviate their status and with equality they engage in society.

Establishing programs and activities for the purpose of the community in developing their potentials, skills, knowledge, abilities and capabilities to be productive individuals – fully alive and sharing their lives – is what it is about. It is about bridging the gap between the IPs and local society. Thus giving opportunity for them to be emotionally, physically, mentally, spiritually, economically stable for them to be confident and relate with society; this allows the community to be also good citizens. With the close coordination, participation and engagement of different individuals, organization, this human development has been realized. It’s a matter of getting involved and living within their means.

This could be the way that I may be able to grasp a better understanding of why I need to belong and be part of a culture. It doesn't matter who and what we are but how we can be of help in attaining the goals of human development. It is a challenge in me that I should take much more consideration of as a new beginning and examine my values and attitudes towards these people.

The institute has done much in accompanying them as they develop their potentials, gain an education and safeguard their rights. Despite our differences, our perceptions, attitudes, values, character, religion, thoughts and ideals, we could still be one working in harmony for peace, prosperity and equality with the intention of total human development.”