A Day with the Atis of Anilao, Iloilo

As part of the requirements for our class in 'Socio-Cultural Foundations of Education', the whole students of the Master in Education (M.Ed.) program of the University of the Philippines Visayas went to Sitio Balagon, Barangay Badiang, in the municipality of Anilao, Iloilo to see for ourselves how our Ati brothers and sisters live their lives in general, and strive to get education in particular.

It was one Saturday in January of 2011, the day the whole Iloilo City was celebrating the Kasadyahan Festival. While everybody was heading downtown to revel, we were going the other way, to the town of Anilao which is located in the 4th congressional district of Iloilo Province.

Anilao is a 4th class municipality. According to the latest census, it has a population of around 35,000 people. It is politically subdivided into 21 barangays, one of which is Barangay Badiang.

We gathered  at Andoks across from Jaro Plaza. Our assembly time was at 6AM. We waited for our companions a little more and by 7AM, we left Iloilo City in a hired van. There were around 10 of us in the van, including our professors, Dr. Aurora Fe Bautista and Prof. Donnie Jonne Sodusta.

It was a one-hour drive up the coast from Leganes to Anilao. The town is 45 kilometers away from Iloilo City. I just slept along the way and we were a bit overcrowded. It was hard to concentrate sleeping but I managed to get some Zss nevertheless.

Just before we reached the town proper, the van took a left turn and drove through a dirt road lined with corn plantations. Not long after, we reached a dead end and we were asked to get out. We were met by the village chieftain, as well as the chairman of Barangay Badiang.

A group of school kids in their traditional attire lined both sides of the walkway to welcome us. They were chanting using the language I could not understand. We were led to a small covered gathering place decorated by flowers and potted plants.

A program was prepared by the Atis with the help of the members of the Taytay sa Kauswagan, Inc. The organization has been helping this indigenous community for years now. They have organized numerous livelihood projects for them in order to 'bridge the gap between poverty and progress,' the company's motto.

During the doxology, the school children did an interpretative dance. It was a beautiful interpretation of the 'Lord's Prayer.' The village chieftain, as well as the barangay captain of Brgy. Badiang, gave their respective welcome speeches. What they said united and brought all of us together in the common purpose at the heart of the visit - being one with them.

After the welcome program, we went around the village to interview the locals. The first house that I visited was the house of the chieftain. I was accommodated by his wife and his daughter. The house was made of very light materials very typical of rural Philippines. It is called 'kamalig' in the vernacular, a type of stilt house indigenous to the vast majority of the Filipinos.

I asked the chieftain's daughter several questions about their culture, their means of living, as well as their modes of education. She was happy to tell me that she had gone to college and that she did a lot of volunteer work in order to uplift the condition of her community. She believed that the only way for her fellow Atis to survive and go up is to be educated. She was happy that our group came to see them and learn more about their deplorable situation.

After talking to the village chieftain's daughter, I went around and one boy caught my attention. I had seen him earlier at the doxology. I approached him and asked if I could interview him. He gladly yielded. I learned that his name was Iko and he was 11 years old. He's in third grade. By the way he talked, I could sense that Iko was a smart kid.

First Time to Travel Abroad? Here's What to Do before Departure at the Airport

My first international travel took place in April of 2014. My fellow Assumption Iloilo teachers and I went to Hong Kong as part of our faculty development program. We used the Iloilo-Hong Kong route of the Cebu Pacific Air in order to avoid the hassle of going to Manila.

Since it was my first, I had to follow what my more experienced friends did. It wasn't difficult because there were more than 60 of us who went. For first timers, this is what you have to do:

Secure all your documents first. As much as possible put everything in a transparent plastic envelope for easy access.

Pay your travel tax at the designated counter. It's around Php1500. The travel tax is the levy imposed by Philippine government on individuals who are leaving the Philippines irrespective of the place where the air ticket is issued and form or place of payment.

Go to your airline counter for check-in. You will be given your boarding pass as well as your seat number. If you're departing from Iloilo International Airport, proceed to the second floor and pay the terminal fee or airport user tax of Php550. The terminal fee is paid in cash before entering the pre-departure area.

After paying your terminal fee, go to the immigration counter to have your passport stamped. All Filipino departing passengers are required to fill out the new Philippine Immigration departure cards to be given to the immigration officer at the counter. You also hand in your passport to the officer. Unless the officer has questions about your documents, it only takes 5 to 20 minutes to proceed through immigation.Say 'thank you' after your passport has been stamped.

Submit yourself as well as your carry-on baggage to security check. The officers at the scanner might ask you to put everything in your possession on a tray, including the belt you're wearing.

After going through all the security checks, you proceed to the pre-departure area and wait for your embarkation. Listen to all the announcements done through the airport's public address system to be updated about your flight.

Bon voyage!

Assumption Iloilo Museum, Iloilo City, Philippines

Assumption Iloilo is one of the few schools in Iloilo that maintain a museum. Though it's not open every day, but one can get a glimpse of what's inside during special school occasions such as its Foundation Day or on Assumption Day every 15th of August.

The museum showcases the rich history and tradition of Assumption Iloilo throughout its more than 100 years of existence. It contains religious icons, ornately-designed candelabra, old priestly-robes, school documents and photographs, and a lot more!

Assumption Iloilo Museum is located on the second floor of the main building. From the information counter, there are two stairs that lead to the museum. From the main door, it stretches until the area near the school chapel.

Actually, I have been to the museum twice already, but every time I go there, I feel something different. Maybe it's the history buff in me that was at work, but any how, it's always a special experience seeing history in all its physical manifestations. It's just surreal!

As an educator, museums are dear to me. Going to these places can bring what is taught in schools to life. They provide a unique interactive experience of getting up close to things we usually only see in books, newspapers, or on the television.

Rotunda, Monte Rosa Subdivision, Hibao-an Sur, Mandurriao, Iloilo City, Philippines

Monte Rosa is one of the posh gated communities in the Mandurriao District of Iloilo City. It is located in Barangay Hibao-an Sur, fronting Hibao-an Elementary School.

The center of the village is a beautiful rotunda located near the clubhouse. The metal garden dome in the middle is circled by trees and benches.

Monte Rosa has an amazing walking and running route. The streets inside the village are named after some of the famous cities in the world. If you're not a homeowner, just tell the security guard on duty that you want to jog around and they will let you in with a smile.