DUMAGATs. These people are believed to be the earliest settlers in Palanan, Isabela. They look exactly like Agtas- with the black skin and kinky hair. They also have common lifestyle; they are nomads who move from one place to another in search of food.

These natives do not have their own homes. Also, neither do they have access to education nor have job to finance their daily necessities. Since they do not have money, they solely depend on the gifts of nature for their survival.

“May mga araw na wala kaming mahanap na pagkain, kaya pumupunta kami sa palengke para humingi ng makakain,” said Bulol and Merly Donato.

But Bulol wants to make a difference and put an end to their passive attitude towards life. Thus, the couple embraced Christianity.

There, Bulol and Merly were taught how to read and write. Their fear of interacting with other people, especially to the non-Dumagats, diminished.

And the transformation of these Dumagat couple continued.

The Donato family became a beneficiary of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program with the municipality of Palanan as one of the three pilot areas in region 02. “Ang Pantawid, tuluyang binago ng programang iyan ang takbo ng aming buhay,” Bulol said.

Aside from the cash grant which the couple consider a very big help to augment their financial needs, the program taught them much about their strengths and skills as human and how can they use these abilities to improve their status in life. Through their regular attendance to the Family Development Sessions (FDS), they became open-minded and empowered. Since then, their yearning to become a catalyst of change in their tribe started to ignite.

Bulol, Merly, together with other fellow Dumagats started planting fruit-bearing trees and crops for food. But since they are already empowered, they learned how to utilize what they have for their own advancement. Thus, they began selling fruits and vegetables. They used the money for buying things that cannot be found in the forest.

Because of the Pantawid Pamilya, they also recognized the existence of the government, the church, especially the schools and health centers since visiting to these facilities is part of their compliance to the program.

Cognizant of the importance of education, the hard-working parents decided to send their children to school. Luckily, fate was surely on their favor because a pastor offered a college scholarship for their second child, Mary Ann.

At first, both Bulol and Merly have second thoughts whether to send their daughter to Nueva Vizcaya or not, but when they saw Mary’s fiery determination to study and finish college, they finally let her go.

So Mary Ann, after winning her parents’ approval, went to Nueva Vizcaya and pursued Bachelor of Science in Education. For almost four years, she was not able to see and talk with her family, but she endured the agony of being away from them just to have a college degree.

Indeed, good things come to those who work hard. Just last year, Mary Ann returned to the coastal area of Palanan holding her College Diploma and License as a full-fledged teacher after passing the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET). Mary Ann came back to her family, to her community, to her municipality as the first Dumagat teacher.

Presently, Mary Ann teaches at Culasi Elementary School. She now takes charge in sending her two siblings to school. She also plays the second parent to Dumagat and non-Dumagat pupils. She teaches the children with the ABCs and 123s. But aside from the alphabets and parts of the body, Mary Ann teaches her pupils that with determination and perseverance, they too, can have a brighter tomorrow.

“Katutubo man o hindi, maitim man o maputi ang balat, hanggang mayroon kang pangarap at sasamahan mo ang pangarap na iyon ng pagsisikap at determinasyon, possible na magkaroon ng mas magandang hinaharap. Kahit sino, Dumagat man o hindi, ay kayang-kayang tumawid tungo sa kaunlaran,” Mary Ann said.

With their daughter’s achievement, Bulol and Merly cannot help but be proud and be happy. “Lahat tayo, may kakayanang umangat mula sa kahirapan. Iahad natin ng matibay at matatag an gating mga palad, dahil may mga taong hihila satin mula sa kumunoy ng paghihirap,” ended the fulfilled parents to the first Dumagat teacher.###By CHONA MAY SIMON, Municipal Link of Palanan, Isabela