Resilience and Joy: A Day with the Badjao
By Emma Nalty
A day in the life of placement: the unfiltered reality
Each day in the life of placement for me has been constant reminder of the Badjao community’s resilience and strength through hardship.
The journey for us volunteers from home to the Badjao each morning shows us the wealth and commercialism in Cebu city, contrasting with the minimal facilities that the Badjao people have been left with as a result of floods, fires and poverty.
Despite these contrasts, the community (children and adults) meet us with daily smiles, hugs, welcomes and positivity.
Within the montesory school classes of students aging 2-10, I see dedication to work school work, politeness and punctuality, and huge respect for elders.
Arising from group discussions during the lessons with our teenage class groups, the students constantly highlight an array of positives that they see in within their culture and community. (Connections with nature, love of swimming, strong traditions, love of team sport, cleanliness, etc.)
Every day in the life of placement for me has continued to show me a resilience, strength and pride within the badjao community, despite the extreme prejudice and hardships that many of them face daily.
The communal fight to keep their culture alive inspires me every day, and I feel so grateful for the privilege of spending time with and learning from them.
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