A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT OF BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN ALS TO THE BADJAO COMMUNITY AT

BATANGAS CITY

MARK LOUIS M. MAGRACIA

Who are the Badjaos?•Filipino Muslim Ethnic group sea gypsies and group of boat dwellers people•called Samal Luwaan (outcast) or Samal Laud (people of the ocean)•religion is Islam •poorest ethnic group in Sulu•Badjao men are expert wooden boat makers and spear fishers•women are weavers of sleeping mats called "banig“•100% illiterate•categorized as "the poorest among the poor"

The Badjaos were 100% illiterate, poor and malnourished. Now they are completely changed. You will witness in the pictures below how many Badjao children were able to receive education and have a better chance in life. 

Born Again Badjao Church

Bringing the Good News to Minority People

Educating the Badjaos

In Batangas

ALS Graduates 

ALS (Alternative Learning System) is a Philippine Department of Education program for the Filipino Out-of-School Youth and adults. Most of the receipients are learners living below the poverty line, predominantly coming from depressed, disadvantaged, undeserved communities. Several Badjaos were recepient of this program and have benefited from it. Lots of Badjao children, youth and adults graduated from this program and provide a better chance for them in the society.

Preaching the Badjaos Through Community Development 

Preaching to the Badjaos has not been easy, their culture is different, their language is different and their way of living is different. I came to the island of Malitam last 1999 with my wife armed only with the Bible and the passion for the lost. The Lord has given us strategies on winning their hearts to God. The pictures below speaks for themselves of how great God has done and how He changed the lives of the Badjao people living in Malitam island.

Strategy 1 - Building Influence With the Community 

Strategy 2 - Relief and Food Distribution

Strategy 3 - Health and Nutrition

we supply the babies and children with vitamins

Strategy 4 - Improving Literacy and Education

School is named as "Shining Light Christian Academy"

Strategy 5 - Medical and Dental Assistance

Strategy 6 - Providing Livelihood

crop growers

Strategy 7 - Providing Water

Badjao youth who passed the ALS Accreditation test given by the government. These kids who were outcasts of the society are completely changed. It only takes two hands and a determined heart to help them.

   

Elementary level kids who graduated. Who could imagine they will wear white graduating gowns?

   

A new batch of elementary graduates.

   

Badjao youth waiting in line for the graduation ceremony to start. At the front, Ps. Albert and Mommy Ellen also awaiting eagerly to see them stand at the platform to receive their graduation certificates.

   

ALS School graduates together with Ps. Albert and Mommy Ellen. See how beautiful their smiles are! A sign of hope, joy and a bright future, not only for them but for the country as a whole.

Eunice and her parents, a Badjao family posing for a picture. I remember Eunice when she was a little girl, but look at her now. She was able to graduate and have greater chance for a bright future. 

   

The ALS graduating class

Shining Light Christian Academy Preparatory School at Malitam Island within the Badjao community

Pioneering staff members of the school

First class of the school

Students doing their class seatwork THEY NO LONGER THE STREETS OF BATANGAS TO BEG FOR MONEY OR FOOD

1st Moving Up ceremony for preparatory students  A BREAKTHROUGH IN THE HISTORY OF BADJAOS!

Batch of Badjao Kid graduates for 2003-2004  Future leaders who will be able to help their own people

ALS Badjaos in Grade 3-5

 Some Badjao children are now able to go to regular elementary school in Batangas City, Philippines. Seemingly impossible with their former situation.

   

Some Badjao children in the regular school

 Elementary Children and ALS Kids

School bag recepients. Thank you to our donors! Now they can carry their books and notebooks to school without getting it wet in the rain.

ALS class composing of members from outside the Badjao community.

Graduates who are now entering High School and College

INDIVIDUALS

Graduated from pipe fitting and scaffolding course

Acceleration Class and Computing for the Badjaos!

 

The computing age has penetrated the Badjao community already!

Several Badjaos are now learning how to use computers. The pictures

below show the acceleration class and the Badjaos computer classes.

•All Badjao children are now registered in the civil registry and the adults in voters registration (they all took Christian names!). •Each Badjao house has their own toilet, garden and cleanliness is highly observed.•They are no longer malnourished, sickly, no longer beggars and thieves in the streets, no longer ills of the society, no longer illiterate and no longer sickly and mentally retarded.

CHANGES

http://bornagainbadjaochurch.org

REFERENCE:

I GUESS THAT’S ALL…THANKS!