PDSI: article

Margie and Maricel: Scholars, Volunteers of Today…Leaders of Tomorrow
by Crissy Guerrero

On a cold summer day, at 1,200 meters above sea level in the Caraballo mountains of Nueva Vizcaya, Margie Emag was elected by over one hundred indigenous youth representatives to be the Vice Chairperson of their national youth leadership organization.

We were so proud. It had all been worth it.

The scholars with Dioning Banua.

Margie was one of the first scholars of the PDSI, a development program conceptualized and implemented by the JVP alumni of Palawan. Through the years, the JVP volunteers of Palawan have had a strong affinity to the island even after their volunteer year of service. To us, Palawan was a special, second home. All the batches from 1991 through 2000, had volunteers that came back to the province. We were all bitten by the Kambak-kambak bug as they called it and felt the pull, like a powerful magnet that continues to draw you to the island province. Volunteers did different things upon their return. Some were absorbed into NGOs, another started a small enterprise, and another married a Palaweña. Others just continued to visit because it was such a dynamic place where the environment and social climate were conducive to living, working, growing and learning.

But all of us were aware that Palawan’s cultural, social and ecological conditions were fragile. Times were changing and Palawan wasn’t the quaint, frontier “adventure” land anymore. Extractive industries, tourism, commercialization, increasing migrant populations and rising poverty left Palawan in a delicate balance. The pursuit of sustainable development despite the growing competition for land and natural resources raised many questions. The politicized public sector had little experience in implementing programs to improve the lives of poor Palaweños, thus development efforts were often directed and steered by the third sector, the NGO movement. Development efforts were increasing in a vibrant NGO community, a promising trend. But we knew that development workers needed formation and educational support to be effective leaders and actors. Thus we conceptualized PDSI.

Palawan's horizon.

PDSI or the Palawan Development Scholars and Interns is a program that seeks to promote and contribute to people centered, sustainable development initiatives in Palawan. This is accomplished by supporting both formal instruction and practical, experiential learning of native-born Palaweños. The program currently assists underprivileged development practitioners or those aspiring for careers in development to complete tertiary education. Scholars are also immersed in social development organizations during breaks in the school year to receive balanced formation.

Today Margie, the newly elected national youth leader, has completed her bachelor’s degree in business management. She applies her skills by volunteering at a local indigenous peoples federation in developing their honey enterprise. She has also found the funds to pursue her masteral studies in the field of education.

Margie is a model for Maricel. Maricel is a 4th year college student and she too wishes to graduate. Ever since her father was hospitalized and connected to an oxygen tank for his severe asthma attacks, Maricel knew she wanted to become a nurse. She knew she would make a difference if she could provide first aid and basic health care services to family and community members. As a 4th year nursing student, Maricel has completed community field work and the required practicum in Manila hospitals and institutes. The program has also provided her the opportunity to explore traditional healing through interaction with practitioners of traditional health care methods, the opportunities of doing such being minimal within the strict medical profession itself. Next year, when Maricel graduates, she will be one of the first of the Tagbanua tribe to become a full-fledged nurse.

Our contributions have been small in the formation of Margie and Maricel. But generous individuals are slowly helping us to extend the program to more people also interested in investing in the Palaweño youth--- the leaders and the hope of tomorrow.