DAVAO DEL NORTE | Members of the Davao del Norte Ata-Manobo tribe and children of former New People’s Army (NPA) fighters are finding acceptance as local leaders, communities, and stakeholders unite in fighting for equality and supporting the tribe, historically a primary target for insurgent recruitment.
Recently, Rurelyn Bay-ao—a 4th-year BSPA scholar at KCAST Kapalong and daughter of a former rebel couple—received ₱20,000.00 in educational assistance from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) through Governor Edwin I. Jubahib’s Balay Kalinaw Peace Center.
“Wala nako mabati nga outcast mi. Gipangga mi sa school (I don’t feel like an outcast. The school welcomed and loved us),” she said. She expressed excitement about graduating and serving her community, the Ata-Manobo tribe.
Her institution, KCAST Kapalong, is a local government-funded college supported by Mayor Edgar and Tess Timbol, offering scholarships to poor and deserving students.
Under Center Head Jacquiline Bandong, Balay Kalinaw is committed to eliminating discrimination and fostering equality, peace, and harmony across the province. Governor Jubahib champions this initiative under the slogan “One Davnor, One People, We Are One,” aiming to bridge social divides and promote reconciliation.
“We are one and equal in the eyes of God. This government has always been for the people, aiming for meaningful outcomes in the lives of our former rebels and their children,” Bandong stated.
Rurelyn is one of many beneficiaries of the Balay Kalinaw Peace Center, which has also launched educational initiatives in remote areas by deploying soldier-teachers to conduct Alternative Learning System (ALS) classes for the Ata-Manobo community. This program is conducted in coordination with the 60th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army and the Department of Education.
Additionally, Balay Kalinaw has established extensive livelihood programs to help former rebels restart their lives after years in the armed movement.