St. Scho supports Blaan communities in Sarangani

In its call for justice and equality, St. Scholastica’s Academy-Marikina has thrown its full support for the indigenous Blaan communities in Sarangani Province in  Mindanao.

The Blaan children, volunteer teachers and other members of the community had reportedly been harassed and threatened by the members of the 73rd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army since November of last year.

For over a year now, SSAM has been reaching out through donations in cash and in kind to the Blaans to help sustain their everyday needs. 

As advocates of peace, truth and justice, the SSAM community and the Benedictine sisters want to help even further.

Recently, the school hosted a symposium dubbed as Blaan- Scholastican: Gasa sa Kalinaw at the the Sister Irmengardis Hall. Among the speakers were Commission on Human Rights Director Ana Elzy Ofreneo, Melissa San Miguel of Salinlahi Alliance, Jacqueline Ruiz of Children’s Rehabilitation Center, and Joan Jaime of Kalipunan ng  mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas.

The speakers tackled issues such as the declining peace and order situation in Upper Suyan in Sarangani, the improvement of lives of the indigenous peoples and the by the 73rd Infantry Battalion to the six Blaan communities and its children.

SSAM Directress Roseve Balagat, OSB later declared the school’s full support to the Blaan tribe and the Center for Lumad Advocacy and Services, Inc. (CLANS).

The school also sent position letters to President Benigno Aquino III, Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, the committee chairman for Justice and Human Rights in the Senate and Sarangani Province Rep. Manny Pacquiao, asking them to look into the matter, to help protect the rights
of the Blaans and to provide basic education and medical services to the
community.

The Benedictine Sisters likewise intended to discuss with Blaan elders and leaders the parameters, goals and the blueprint for a peace zone called Blaan Kadait Benediktina Zone where there is no need for an armed “peace-keeping force”.
Members of CLANS also reported that seven community teachers of the Blaan Literacy School and Learning Center were compelled to leave Upper Suyan after beingthreatened by the soldiers on March 17, 2011.