The ‘Angel’ of Lake Sebu

WE first met in this mountaintop strawberry farm overlooking the mystical Lake Sebu. A petite woman of 62 years with a disarming smile. With her group was a Korean philanthropist who brought computers he donated for students of Indigenous Learning School of Tenuos. The Korean introduced her to us as the “Angel of Lake Sebu”. Her name is ANITA CASTILLON, widowed at 24 years old, and a graduate of the University of Mindanao major in History and Filipino.

She worked for 18 years at the Santa Cruz Mission, a mission run by Passionist Fathers in the isolated town of Lake Sebu, first as elementary teacher then later as principal in Grade School and High School. “Through these experiences I became strong amid all challenges in my life.” She adapted the dialect and culture of the T’bolis and immersed herself in helping them.

She taught with passion and love for the tribal children of Lake Sebu and made them her family. In 1995 hungering to do more she resigned from the Mission to bring basic education right to the doorsteps of IPs (Indigenous People). She walked long distances through dangerous terrains to teach children how to read, write, draw and count. Later she opened her own schools because public schools are far from the tribal communities and IPs are so poor they cannot afford even public education.

Today Nanay Anita runs 3 IP schools: two kindergarten and the one in Takunel is now an elementary school with 120 students. These are called Indigenous Learning School (ILS) and use the IP Curriculum with T’Boli teachers who are college graduates. Tuition fee is only P20/month with the condition that parents plant root crops and vegetables in their homes and around the school yard to ensure proper nutrition for the students. Parents help in cooking the food for the school feeding program. She conducts livelihood training for parents to enable them to earn more and afford the P20/month tuition fees.

She also believes in the preservation of the IPs culture. Educating IPs is more effective when one uses their own indigenous culture and tradition because they can relate to it from their own experiences. Nanay Anita asks parents to read or tell folktales to their students and to lead in the singing of their own songs and chants. Despite her small frame Nanay Anita is big in courage. She is able to bring together various government agencies and the military to provide basic services to far-flung indigenous communities. Her selfless work has not gone unnoticed. Last August 14, 2015 she was chosen by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) as top winner of the Triennial Exemplary Individual Award from among 295 nominees from all over the country. The RAFI award is given to “individuals or institutions who have committed themselves to building a more humane, equitable and caring society”. With the prize money she plans to put up a water system for her schools in the mountain. It is said that Lake Sebu is a land of dream weavers; Nanay Anita dreams of a better life for her beloved T’Boli children and she pleads ‘for the government to give better services.’

“I continue to extend help in terms of education. I need more to help the tribal children who are in marginalized areas. These schools are a big help to them. Through my passion and advocacy in life, my dreams will come true. I want to extend more schools in other barangays of Lake Sebu.” (Marian Raquel)