Who is best to help Indigenous Peoples (IPs) but fellow IPs themselves? This is exactly what fresh graduate Chrislyn “Kring” Da-aw of the Dibabawon-Mangguangan tribe has committed to do.

“Gusto kong maibahagi ang mga natutunan ko sa aking kapwa katutubo,” (“I want to share what I learned to my fellow IPs”), she explains.

Kring was raised in New Corella, Davao del Norte. She completed her degree in Agricultural Technology from Pamulaan Center for IP Education in 2018 as among Cartwheel Foundation Inc.’s Young IP Leaders Program grantees. Now, she serves as a volunteer program associate of Cartwheel, under the Companions of Assisi Development Foundation for Peace Program (CAP), assisting in community organizing initiatives for indigenous Tagbanua partners in Culion, Palawan.

Apart from the culturally relevant college education she received from Pamulaan, Kring says she is grateful for their additional training and yearly community service learning opportunity. Every summer, she would go back to her hometown, contributing to development efforts for her own people—fulfilling roles like meeting facilitator to report writer and community organizer. No task seemed too big or too small; she embraced each as a chance to grow, learn more, and keep on sharing.

 

 

Kring has chosen to widen her reach in dedicating knowledge and capacities for the benefit of other IP groups also in need. Currently based mostly in Sitio Alulad, Culion, Palawan, Kring assists the programs team of Cartwheel in education and community mobilization. She has coordinated the setting up of a FAITH (Food Always In The Home) garden right beside the schoolroom; she follows up necessary requirements to move forward the mobile registration process for Tagbanua community members who are still without birth certificates; she teaches selected classes to the young learners; and she helps facilitate meetings of Magsaragpon Tagbanua, their local tribal education council with committees coming together to ultimately sustain education and related initiatives in their area.

She admits that all this is challenging yet very relevant work. And she remains very proud of her IP roots, motivated to carry on.

 

 

When asked about her aspirations for her own people, she replies, “Pangarap kong magkaroon ng tribal council para sa kabataan. Karamihan sa nag-aaral sa siyudad ay nakakalimutan na ang mga salita namin, ang mga sayaw, ang kultura.” (“I wish to have a tribal council for our youth. Most of those who study in the city for our language, our dances, our culture.”)

With visionary IP youth leaders like Kring willing to follow through with the tedious work of community development, the future of our nation’s peoples with their rich heritage remains bright and hope-filled.