Hailing from the indigenous Higaonon farming community of Sinakungan, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur, Aljun Lenario knows the cycle of planting and harvesting full well. On June 11, 2019, he reaped the fruits of his hard work in a most special way: he completed his four-year course and received his college diploma. 

Together with fellow Higaonon, Ricman Lidanhug, Aljun graduated from Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology (ASSCAT) with a degree in Agricultural Technology. They have both been supported by Cartwheel Foundation, Inc. throughout college as among grantees of the Young Indigenous Peoples (YIP) Leaders Program. 

Here, Aljun shares his most striking realizations, relevant learnings, and hopes for the future as he continues on his journey in giving back to the community. 

What inspired you to finish college? 

I want to help myself first and then my community. There were times when financial difficulties would get us down. But we would think to ourselves, to regain strength, that we just have to keep on in our studies. 

The nomadic system is what the Higaonon have been used to. Every year, it has become practice to move to another place  where we can grow our crops like corn and upland rice without having a permanent residence.

We have been introduced to different ways where a single plot of land may be used permanently for our planting and harvesting. This is to add on to what we already know about farming. This is not to turn our back on our past; we will always care for our land, we will not forget our rituals. 

(Nais kong matulungan ang aking sarili bago ang community. Minsan medyo nanghihina kami sa financial na pangangailangan. Naisip naming ang nagbibigay-lakas ay ang pagpapatuloy lang ng aming pag-aaral.

(Hindi mawawala ang nomadikong sistema sa mga Higaonon. Bawat taon, lumilipat kami sa pinagtataniman ng mais o palay nang walang permanenteng tirahan. 

(Naipakilala sa amin ang ibang paraan na kung may lugar naman na, maaaring magkaroon ng tanim na permanente. Dagdag ito sa kaaalaman namin tungkol sa pagtatanim. Hindi namin kalilimutan ang nakaraan namin; laging aalagaan ang lupa at ‘di kalilimutan ang pagriritwal.)

What are some of your realizations from your experience in college? 

I would like to take with me the reminder never to forget our own culture. But at the same time, our people are thriving. 

It is important that we add to our knowledge about planting and harvesting. If we become open to remaining on a permanent plot of land, there is the promise of more crops. All this can be done without forgetting our culture. There could be other influences but we will not allow it to destroy our culture. 

(Gusto kong baunin yung natutunan ko na ‘di natin kalimutan ang kultura natin. At kasabay nito, lumalago tayo. 

(Mahalagang madagdagan ang kaalaman tungkol sa pagtanim. Kung may lugar na permanente, maaaring dumami ang pananim. Lahat ng ito ay maaaring magawa at ‘di nalilimutan ang kultura. Maaaring may ibang influence pero hindi ikasisira ng aming kultura.)

What are your plans after graduation? 

I will be helping in the farm of my alma mater, San Luis Lumad Community High School. I will work specifically for their organic farming initiatives. I will be able to gain more work experience before going back home. 

When I am back in Sinakungan, I hope to organize our community members. I will of course still be open to our traditional nomadic system but at the same time contribute new practices into our culture of farming.

I see that the saying, “The youth is the hope of our people” should be directly applied in our own communities. 

(Magtatrabaho ako sa farm ng aking alma mater, ang San Luis Lumad Community High School. Doon ako sa kanilang organic farming. Gusto kong lumalim pa muna ang aking experience bago ako umuwi.

(Pagkabalik ko ng Sinakungan, nais kong i-organisa ang mga tao sa pagtatanim. Puwede naman din na may nomadikong sistema at puwede ding impluwensiyahan ang kultura ng pagtatanim.

(Doon sa mismong komunidad dapat i-apply ang kasabihang, “Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan.”)

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Our sincerest gratitude goes out to those who generously supported Aljun by helping send him through college. 

As he gives back to his community in simple yet profound ways, he is able to share and multiply the many good fruits of his education–all while deepening appreciation for the culture of his beloved people, the Higaonon.