Badjao Village Clean Up Drive and Project Palikuran

Badjao Village 
Barangay Malitam
Batangas City

Sustainable Sanitation Brings Good Health, Dignity and Well Being 

Traditionally, The Badjao's had no permanent shelter and lived on their boats, for many years. They are oppressed tribe, referred to as Luwa'an by other Muslim tribe, which means outcast,  a common myth mean God forsaken.

Wikipilipinas (the hip n free Philippine Encyclopedia )  categorizes Badjao into three types based on their living,  the sedentary, those who are striving for a changes of their live  and willing to have permanent homes. The semi sedentary who spends periods of time alternatively their houseboats and village homes, and lastly the sea gypsies, who live in houseboats  sailing from one island to another in search of  marine products, such as sea cucumber, sea weeds, shells, fish, pearl,and many among others. They come to shore only to sell or barter their  marine commodities,  for farmed products and other necessities.

The Badyao in Barangay Malitam is considered as sedentary they live in stilt house or similar to stilt house near the body of water because their heritage is is associated with water and  most of their livelihood depends on the sea.

The Badjao have bad reputation and humiliated among fellow people including some of their Muslim  brothers because of begging, that started in the sea port of Zamboanga and nearby islands .Now they are scattered in some places including in Luzon island  because they do not know where they are going or where else in the vast sea or anywhere in this world for them to find  peace. As fishermen or as  sea gypsies the sea bandits ransacks their  livelihood, in the land there always a fear because of the military presence where they feel that anytime there is war.

To those often interact with the Badjao community proves that they are peace loving loving people. They hate wars and incomprehensible. They are a group of Muslim  that never  engage to any illegal activities including their livelihood fishing  done in natural method.  Because of their desire for peace and be away to any conflict it resulted for them to be uneducated and illiterate. Begging is become their alternative (NOT ALL) livelihood to continue  living. Fishing as primary  livelihood become poor because of illegal activity of illegal fishing.

Akyat Aral is more than a charity.

Akyat Aral is a powerful force for a change....

Akyat Aral real understanding and empathy for others truly comes through their experience. Akyat Aral believed that connecting and touching lives of others is a million times  more powerful than making a million cash donations to the less privilege communities.
Through  research Akyat Aral discovered the theBadjao Village in Barngay Malitam in Batangas City,  the ocular team never waster time  and immediately proceed to the place and define the immediate needs of the community.

Akyat Aral created a project “Clean Up Drive and Project Palikuran”  is an empowerment program to make a tangible difference to the lives of our Badjao brothers and sister as well as for their children that offer a place of dignity and hope for their mind and in their heart. This is to let them believe that all things are possible and they have the power over their future. Through this initial  program they will overcome disappointment and to become empowered citizens with practical life, and  skills that they can put in action to tackle the positive change for themselves as well as for their community.

In the second visit of Akyat Aral they endorse the first contribution of volunteers and donors for immediate start of the comport room(palikuran)

Akyat Aral gives priority for the toilet, because the group believes if they not die in war in Mindanao they may get ill due to poor sanitation that may leads to their children to death.  Cleanliness in the community is just as important as cleanliness for  individuals and families. When human waste(feces) is not managed properly, it pollutes water, foods and soil with germs and leads to diarrhea and other serious health problems. Using toilets prevent germs from getting into the environment, protects the health of the whole community.

The group also made a well for the toilet. The continuous use, lost of dust and mud, every day the water gradually cleanses, that according to the locals,  it can be used for washing clothes and other household utensils.  Akyat Aral want to build another one to support the water needs of the community.

The Event:

The program start s with volunteers and community cleaning together to show the importance of healthy surrounding.

Cleanliness is not a work which they should do forcefully. It is a good habit and healthy way for their healthy life. All type of cleanliness is very necessary for their good health whether it is personal cleanliness, surrounding cleanliness, environment cleanliness, and other form of cleanliness.  They should be highly aware about how to maintain cleanliness in their daily lives. It is very simple to include cleanliness in their habit. They should never compromise with cleanliness, it is as necessary as food and water for them. It should be practiced from their children that can only be initiated by their parent as their responsibility.

Medical Mission: 

Hair Cutting/Grooming:

Story Telling:

Parlor Games and Other Fun Games:

Distribution of School Supplies, Slippers, Food Goodies and Others:

Cooking:

Distribution of Foods:

Eating Time:

Turn Over of Toilet:

The toilet is place where the Badjao community exercise the habit of cleanliness, the habit  of keeping themselves physically and mentally clean. Unfortunately there still a lot of materials needed to complete the four door toilet.

We in Akyat Aral is dedicated to the process of making this happen but your help is badly needed. Donation will bring us closer to our goal  including the school building for the Badjao children. We are excited and eager to see those projects be succeed. Everyone can be a part of this by supporting our mission.

TRIVIA: 

The Badjao Village in Malitam is  located along  Calumpang river, Batangas City  few meters away from the threshold  of the sea. The village was formed in 1979, when a seven families evacuated from Lamitan, Basilan in the middle of war between the government military forces and Muslim extremist. They went to Zamboanga to board a ship going Cebu City. From Cebu, using a Banka they first arrived in Masbate then after, they reach the Barangay Malitam, near the body of water away from  the resident of the town.. Due to continuous war in Basilan in 1975 they multiplied from 7 families to almost 100 families and  about 300 children as of to date,

The livelihood of the community is fishing, but it difficult to catch fish this time due to illegal practice of fishing in the past.  Some of them are selling pearl in the resorts around Batangas. Due to difficulties in life, some of the children can not avoid begging in the sea ports of Batangas. As tradition, the women or the mother remain in the house. With the Badjao scattered 

 in Metro Manila they have no connections with them and they did not know anything about  it, and they themselves wondering who was behind them.

Our Gratitude

To all Akyat Aral donors and supporters, thank  you for all your help.

To Akyat Aral Volunteers, Thank you for your understanding, patience and dedication to all Akyat Aral project

To every one who made this project possible. Thank you

Its a Mission of Hope for the Children

In kind and cash donation accepted

For cash donation you may deposit your cash donation to our official bank account

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