Josephine Leonista, an Aeta from Brgy. Bacong in Alabat, Quezon learned to write her name through the help of her co-volunteers in the Kalahi-CIDSS project. She has proudly wrote her name in the required documents for their water system sub-project which now serves the permanent source of clean water supply for the 130 households in their barangay.

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CHANGING THE AETA’S PERSPECTIVE THROUGH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

For a 50 year old woman who had never set foot in a school to study, it was her greatest life achievement to stroke the letters of her name in a piece of paper. Josephine would have never done it, if not to her active participation as a Kalahi-CIDSS volunteer.

“Ang pakay ko lang naman ay makatulong sa proyektong patubig dito sa aming barangay. Hindi ko akalain na sa edad at kalagayan kong ito ay matututo pa kong magsulat, kahit pangalan ko lamang,” said Josephine Leonista, an Aeta residing at the mountainous area of Brgy. Bacong in Alabat, Quezon.

Josephine is one of the Aetas who volunteered for the Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) water system sub-project at Brgy. Bacong in 2012. Her ethnicity did not become a barrier for her to help in having a clean water supply for the community.

“Maski ako’y isang Aeta na hindi nakapag-aral at hindi makapagsulat tulad ng mga nasa ibaba, handa pa rin akong mag-volunteer para sa proyektong makakapagbigay ng malaking tulong sa aming barangay,” Josephine humbly shared.

Kalahi-CIDSS is one of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) programs that aims to empower communities in planning, deciding, and implementing community projects in barangays. It follows the community driven development approach wherein every member of the community is being involved in carrying-out need-responsive projects for their barangays. This approach ensures the inclusion of indigenous groups and other vulnerable sectors along the process.

Turning tides

During the first few meetings of community volunteers, Josephine admitted that she remained aloof from the group. She was timid because of her distinct native appearance which she thinks might set people away from her. She was also worried that she might not deliver her tasks well because she lacks formal education.

But those clouds of worries were blown by the kind smiles and support of her co-volunteers.

“Hindi ko akalain na sila pa ang lalapit sakin para makipag-usap at makipag-kaibigan. Sa trabaho naman, matyaga nila akong tinuturuan at tinutulungan sa mga dapat kong gawin. Hindi na ako naging mahiyain. Naramdaman kong parte talaga ako ng grupo,” Josephine recounted.

Josephine is a member of the Audit and Inventory Team which functions as the overseer of the materials used for the project. The team is responsible in monitoring the number of supplies needed for the project including its storage to keep it in quality condition.

With such task, the volunteers need to write their inventories in forms. Since Josephine cannot read nor write, her co-members assist her in doing it. However, to assure accountability, volunteers’ signatures are required. This was a big challenge for Josephine, but she bravely picked up the pen and overcame it.

“Hirap akong hawakan ang bolpen at nanginginig ang kamay ko dahil na rin siguro sa pasma at pagod sa araw-araw na pagtatrabaho. Hindi ko pa ma-kontrol ang laki ng mga letra na naisusulat ko. Pero pinag-aralan ko ng paulit-ulit hangga’t kaya ko ng maisulat ng maayos ang pangalan ko. Nakakapirma na ko sa mga kailangan na forms at dokumento,” Josephine proudly shared.

Genuinely grateful

Josephine’s determination to go beyond her comfort zone was to secure the barangay with a permanent source of clean water supply. For years, they were relying to the nearby river for drinking and general use at home.

Summer is even tougher for them. The river usually dries up during this season and they need to dig holes and find water source to survive.

But now that they have fully constructed the PhP944,000.00 worth water system project, it tells a different story for the 130 households of Brgy. Bacong benefiting from it.

“Kung dati ay abala kami sa paghahanap ng bukal ng tubig, ngayon ay ang paglilinis ng tangke na ang tinatrabaho namin. Sobrang pinangangalagaan namin ang proyektong ito dahil malaking tulong talaga siya sa amin,” Josephine shared with a smile.

Josephine also shared her delight with the barangay council for installing additional tap stand near their area, which was one of the barangay’s counterparts to Kalahi-CIDSS. The tap stand was posted in the mountainous part of the barangay to reach the Aeta Community where Josephine resides.

“Ako po talaga ay lubos na nagpapasalamat dahil maski kaming mga Aeta na naninirihan sa kabundukan ay nakakatangap ng tulong sa barangay at gobyerno. Kahit papaano ay nakaangat-angat kami sa kahirapan ng buhay,” Josephine joyfully said.

It was easy for Josephine to show her sweetest smiles and say her heartwarming words of “thank you” as it genuinely comes from her heart. These warm gestures are her simple ways to give her gratitude and appreciation to the project that made a significant change in her life.