Ten college grantees from ethnic groups all over the Philippines under the Young Indigenous Peoples (YIP) Leaders Program of Cartwheel Foundation, Inc. (CFI) graduated with a degree in Sociology and Anthropology from the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP)-Pamulaan Center for Indigenous Peoples Education in Mintal, Davao on March 31, 2015.  Their batch boasts of 33 graduates in total, with the rest being given support by other partner organizations.

CFI Team members Pia Ortiz-Luis, Celia Jurado and Rainey Sarmiento joined the pre-graduation festivities as well, while Co-Founder and Corporate Secretary Nanette Lorenzo-Santos addressed the students in the partners’ response speech during the commencement exercises. Also in attendance was Ms. Michelle Uson-Laurel of Children’s Hope Fund-Hong Kong, an organization that has been sponsoring five YIP grantees from the graduating batch throughout their four years in college.

Special Leadership Awards were conferred to three of CFI’s YIP grantee-graduates: Dandan Quillano of the Manobo Tribe for Cultural Integrity, Normindo Mosela of the Teduray Tribe for Environmental Concerns, and Dionesio Lumawas Jr. of the Subanen Tribe for Community Service. The Board of Regents of USEP and Pamulaan also expressed their appreciation to CFI for the “committed [partnership] in empowering the Indigenous Peoples through Culture-based and Relevant Education and Transformative Leadership Formation” since the school’s founding in 2005.

Other YIP grantee-graduates for batch 2015 were Bea Abelardo of the Teduray Tribe, Mary Ann Alas of the Subanen Tribe, Roderick Donato of the Ifugao Tribe, May One Malintad of the Mandaya Tribe, Henry Astudillo Jr. of the Kankana-ey Tribe, Joan May Purungganan of the Binongan Tribe, and Cras Mae Degollado of the B’laan Tribe.

 

 

Baccalaureate Mass and Solidarity Night

Together with the graduating batch’s family members, friends, and partner organizations, Archbishop Romulo Valles, D.D. of Davao celebrated the Baccalaureate Mass on March 30, Monday. In his homily, he noted how the students seemed to be “glowing” in beauty as they were dressed in their respective tribal attires. He added that it was not just about their clothes but was surely drawn from within – the deep fulfilment of having accomplished much in their studies and the readiness to respond to the call of service in their own communities. Acknowledging that the students and their families were of different faith backgrounds, the Archbishop commended them for a most meaningful thanksgiving ceremony.

The entire Pamulaan community again gathered immediately after the mass as a Solidarity Night of joyous song, dance, and merry-making was celebrated around a bonfire at the school’s amphitheatre. Representatives from the parents, teachers, and partner organizations were given opportunity to congratulate the graduates in a short message. Students in turn, expressed their sincerest thanks. Other groups shared cultural performances from their own tribes and all attendees joined in the community dance towards the end.

 

 

Kumustahan with other YIP grantees

Apart from the 10 graduates, CFI’s 11 other grantees were gathered by the CFI Team in a short kumustahan session on March 29, Sunday. They expressed how they felt about their own performance in the past school year and what they were looking forward to in the months ahead. CFI Team members also took time to share the organization’s vision of keeping in touch even after graduation and encouraging active involvement in a community of socially-responsible IP leaders through various means of communication, wherever they may be.

 

Pamulaan Elementary School Graduation

CFI Team members were thankful to have been invited also to the 15^th Commencement Exercises of Pamulaan Elementary School in the indigenous Matigsalog mountain community of Marilog District, Davao on the morning of March 30, Monday. Among the programme’s activities was an opening ritual by the elders and traditional songs and dances by the students together with other community members. Teachers in the school are all graduates of Pamulaan College in Mintal, Davao and are themselves of indigenous background also.

 

 

We salute you, Batch 2015 Pamulaanean Graduates – we trust you all will mightily keep on in your journey as transformative community leaders. To all the sponsors and advocates who have been steadfastly supporting the YIP Program, our warmest thanks for helping our indigenous youth realize their dreams, one step at a time!