FOR the Indigenous Community in Talaingod, Davao del Norte, having a school in their community is a significant blessing, especially since many of them either did not finish school or never had the chance to attend elementary school.
When the Salugpungan schools arrived in their community, they thought it would be the path to the long-desired education.
“When the Salugpungan schools was found to be supported by the communist party, the community started to lose faith. It became easy for them to penetrate the [minds of] children because parents dream of their kids going to college through the Salugpungan,” said Juanito Bongcalas, Former Coordinator Salugpungan School.
The people of Talaingod are now appealing to the government to provide free schools for the youth of the IP community.
“We are appealing to the government to provide us with free education. Since the Salugpungan school are now closed, the Department of Education should establish new schools,” said Bongcalas.
“We want our children to live decent lives because we don’t want our children and grandchildren to follow in our footsteps. None of us got to go to school. I never attended preschool. That’s why I keep repeating that we hope our request will be granted,” said Lieutenant Apoga, Former Commanding Officer Subregional Guerilla Unit, SRCS, SMRC.
Meanwhile, Former cadre Arian Jane Ramos has a challenge for the Marcos administration: if the leftist groups could provide schools for the IP community in Talaingod, then, there is no reason the government can’t do the same thing.
“The reason why we surrendered is because we trust the government to really help us and our indigenous peoples. Education is very basic. As former cadres deeply immersed in the community, we understand the culture of indigenous peoples. They have this special need, which cannot be compared to the usual situation of city youth. If the CPP-NPA-NDF could establish 22 schools in Talaingod, why can’t the government?” expressed Arian Jane Ramos President, Kalinaw SEMR.
Salugpungan schools in Talaingod were shut down in 2019 due to supporting the communist terrorist group CPP-NPA-NDF, which taught indigenous community youth to hate the government, join rallies, and some were recruited into armed struggle.
