The OMI Indigenous Peoples (IP) ministry in the Philippine province is a vast and important ministry of the OMI congregation catering and working with the different tribal groups in the country, namely; the Tedurays in Maguindanao, the Dulangan-Manobo in Sultan Kudarat and the Sama of Sulu and Tawi-tawi.
In Langgal, Senator Ninoy Aquino, Sultan Kudarat, Fr. Danilo “Danny” Pacate, OMI is assigned as IP director among the Dulangan-Manobo. This tribal group is among the poorest in the province of Sultan Kudarat. While many of these people are still nomads, tiling forested lands from one area to another, foraging food from the deep forests, some of them are already settled in communities in different areas together with other Christian settlers, mostly in the deep mountains of Sultan Kudarat.
Fr. Pacate is from Kisante, Makilala, North Cotabato. He entered the seminary as a young professional. He used to worked with PLDT company for many years before deciding to join the congregation of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
The IP ministry in Langgal, S.N.A., Sultan Kudarat is helping the Manobos for many years now in different ways such as in land conflict, the Ancestral Domain, health and education.
Before the pandemic, selected IP students were living in the OMI dormitory located in Langgal, Sultan Kudarat. They were offered with free meals and dormitory while assisting them in their school needs.
In July 15, 2020, Fr. Pacate introduced the tutorial program for the IP students due to the changes in education system, from face-to-face to modular classes. The tutorial program aims to assist the students in their modules since most of their parents are illiterate. “If we will not assist them through this program (tutorial), most of the students will not be able to cope with their studies because most of their parents can’t provide them the necessary assistance,” Fr. Pacate said.
The tutorial program consists of 2 Manobo teachers who are college graduates living in their community. This program is designed for the students to have a better and effective mentoring since the teachers are using their native language. Receiving only P4,000 a month as allowance, these teachers are painstakingly giving their time everyday to assist the IP students. For Fr. Pacate, hiring these teachers is the most viable opportunity since looking for available teachers in the area is quite difficult.
Ms. Lorna Labordo, a Manobo college graduate, a former scholar of MCJ (Missionaries of Christ Jesus) a group of religious women who used to work with the Manobos in previous years is assigned in sitio Bagsing and sitio Taliwa, both under barangay Gapok, Sultan Kudarat. On the other hand, Ms. Salvie Watamama, also a Manobo college graduate is assigned in Benebol, Gapok, Sultan Kudarat.
Sitio Benebol has 28 IP students (scholars) while Sitio Bagsing and Taliwa have 29 IP students. In Sitio Kapayagan, Lagubang, Sultan Kudarat, 8 IP students are under the OMI IP ministry.
The modular sessions are conducted daily in these areas. For several years, these students are under the scholarship of the OMI from grades 6 to 12.
Aside from education, the OMI IP ministry is also involved with helping the people in their basic needs. In sitio Kapayagan, for example, Fr. Pacate is supporting the Abaca plantation of the IPs. The program will add extra income for the families living in the community to help them address their basic needs knowing that Abaca can be a good source of income for its high price and availability in the area.
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