The Untold Hope in The Slumbered Island Of Boracay

When I was young, I always read magazines about the most beautiful resorts, beaches and Islands in the world. One of these can be found in our country, the Philippines. Known for its powdery white sands and crystal clear waters, this tiny silent tropical island made it on the top of the list of the best islands in the world. This is Boracay, a God's perfect gift, our little paradise.

Two years ago, I went to boracay for the first time for a business trip.

As a first timer, I was so excited. When I arrived, I saw these huge buildings, five star hotels and an ongoing construction of a mall. Business was booming and massive tourists would come every single day. It was so different from what I’ve read from the magazines more than a decade ago.

Just this year, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered a six months rehabilitation of the world’s famous tourist destination. According to the government, many of the establishments operating in the island were violating environmental policies.

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This is somehow good news to some as the island will be back to its original clean environment. The intent was good but many were affected. Resorts, restaurants and other businesses stopped their operations in the island.

Recently, the PLDT Smart foundation supported its retailers and subscribers who were affected by the six months closure of the island through ‘Alay sa Boracay ‘program. The group distributed a bag of grocery items such as canned goods, rice and over the counter medicines.

Some of the beneficiaries were from the Ati tribe, the natives and original residents of Boracay.

The activity finished ahead of time. So, I decided to stroll along the shoreline. The place was very odd. What used to be very loud and busy tourist destination now only have very few people. The relaxing sound of the waves crashing against the shore dominates the area.

Along the way, I also spoke to some residents I met who were busy cleaning in certain parts of the island. While talking to them, an idea popped in my head. Why not visit the Ati Community Village since I still have the luxury of time staying in the island?

The Ati Community village is located in the other side of the island at sitio Lugutan in Brgy. Manoc-manoc. From the Hotel, I rode a trike for 15 minutes going to the area. I was greeted by some Ati residents and I saw some faces that were present during the relief distribution. My purpose of going there is to look for a subject who can be featured in the Smart’s CSR Facebook page. There I met Ma’am Lourdes Tamboon, who also happened to be a Smart retailer in their village.

Ms. Lourdes invited me to her house and started talking about good the things that Smart Communications has brought to the Island. As a retailer she noticed that the network's connection is very fast and reliable, especially the mobile data. It also helped her in searching materials online that she could use for her class. Aside from being a retailer, she is also a teacher. The latter caught my attention, so, I decided to ask her to talk more about her personal life.

I found out during the interview that Ms. Lourdes is the first teacher coming from their tribe. She finished a degree in Bachelor of Elementary Education in Iloilo as a scholar. She is one among the few in their tribe who graduated in college and earned a degree. Ms. Lourdes is now teaching the indigenous community especially the young Ati at Tubuanan Ati Learning Center in sitio Tulubhan, Manoc-manoc.

It was very challenging for her to study college far from her family and her comfort zone but it did not hinder her to pursue her studies. Her only goal was to finish college and earn a degree because she believes that education could change her life. She wanted to be an inspiration to her community.

As years goes by, Ms. Lourdes could say that the Ati especially the children are slowly emerging from the island’s mainstream society. She said during her time most of the Ati were subject of bullying because of their skin color, thus discouraging them to stop going to school. Today, the Ati children are now gaining more confidence especially in school. Ati children are now finishing with honors and are determined to finish schooling and earn a degree.

In the midst of our conversation, around 5 in the afternoon, bunch of Ati students, some were Ms. Lourdes’ nieces, came home from school. Most of them are from Grades 9 and 10. I took the opportunity to ask them what they want to do after finishing High school. Some said they wanted to become a teacher just like their Aunt Lourdes teaching in their community, others wanted to be a flight attendant and a policewoman. Such an inspiring answers coming from these young children who wanted to be a successful in the future and to serve back to their community.

There is more to discover about Boracay aside from beaches and vibrant nightlife. There are stories of success, determination and hope. The stories of the Ati tribe especially Teacher Lourdes, could be an inspiration to some not just for her tribe. Who knows, the next person leading the country is coming from the indigenous community.