Villagers turn election fallout into opportunity

MAITUM, Sarangani (November 18, 2007) – People of Barangay New La Union will build a T'boli tribal village for school kids who have been asked to leave their temporary shelters.

52 T'boli pupils from Tulad, a hinterland village, got evicted after a losing candidate in the barangay elections asked their parents to vacate his lot where the kid's huts stood.

"We will try to build typical T'boli huts so Tulad pupils will have a place to stay during schooldays," said Digs Movilla, barangay captain-elect of New La Union.

Movilla, who also operates the White Water Tubing Adventure facility here, said he is willing to let the parents build the huts in his land.

"We can have a place for the kids to stay and we could also showcase the T'boli culture for the tourists who visit our barangay," Movilla said.

"Tulad", which means picture in T'boli, can be reached after a three-hour hike of river crossings and climbing hills. An old and dilapidated logging road serves as the main path but only for a while. The rest is a trail for horses.

The remote village is part of the town of Kiamba but its kids go to Kipalkuda Elementary School in New La Union since it is more accessible.

Tulad voters are also registered in Maitum where their goods are traded.

Since it is virtually impossible for the kids to go home every afternoon from school, their parents had requested the land-owner, then an incumbent barangay official, if they could build huts on his land for the kids to stay during school days.

The huts, made of light materials, house up to 10 kids who have to fend for themselves on weekdays. Their parents check on them at least twice a week or if they have goods to sell downtown.

The land-owner who ran for re-election, but lost, now wants the huts of the children out of his land. His group was voted poorly in Tulad.

But soon after, other land-owners offered to let the pupils build huts in their land.

"There are offers from good citizens for us to build huts for our children in New La Union," said Mandy Flang, a resident of Tulad.

"We are trying to decide where is the best place for the kids to stay during schooldays," added Flang.

The planned hamlet – a T'boli theme park if completed – has a cost estimate of P10,000 to P15,000 per hut.

The locals were calling for government and private sector donors to partner with them in developing the theme park-cum-pupils shelter.

"I hope that by January, we will be able to solve the problem of the kids. They have been absent for a week now," said Movilla who added that if the plan pushes thru, the kids and the parents can also benefit economically from the tribal village.

"They can sell their products in the village and maybe do a cultural presentation for the tourists," said Movilla.

New La Union has enjoyed rising tourist arrivals since 2004 after it launched the exciting White Water Tubing Adventure.

The latest craze in Central Mindanao in terms of eco-tourism, the river tubing has attracted more than 10,000 visitors who braved the sudden drops, strong current and coldness of the Pangi River.

Pangi river is considered one of the cleanest rivers in country. It was awarded the 2nd cleanest river in the Philippines by the Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran in 2003. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/RIO)