The Anothen

Project
A project intended to provide Education, Opportunity, and
Hope for the Badjao.

* anthen. Greek: - from the beginning, from

their origin

Revised 1/6/2016

Who are the Badjao?

The Badjao were once-boat-dwelling people traditionally found in the southwestern

Philippines (Basilan and Tawi-Tawi areas), northwestern Malaysia and the northern
parts of Indonesia down to Johore where legend traces their origin. They have since
been driven to near extinction due to the exploitation by the neighboring dominant
tribes like the Tausog, the Yakans and even the Christians. In addition, disease and
their apparent inability to cope with social changes has also lead them to be known
as a vanishing tribe.

The Badjaos are peace-loving people, oftentimes to a fault. They would endure all
forms of hardship, inconvenience and lost opportunities only to avoid getting into
trouble, especially with people not of their own tribe. Hence, they prefer to live in
peace by themselves at the coastal fringes of population centers, mangrove areas,
coves and islets.

Most Badjaos are fishermen (traditionally, all of them were) and they live on the
bounties of the sea or on what is left of it. Having lost their traditional fishing
grounds due to armed conflict, commercial fishing, pirates and poachers, they are
left with meager means of livelihood.

Extreme poverty has forced many of them to resort to begging as a means of

survival. Wherever they live, they are considered citizens of the lowest class:
ignorant, dirty, stench-smelling and deprived, and most people have very low
regard for them. In different parts of Mindanao their situation is a picture of
complete neglect that has driven whole families to flock to cities like Davao.

The Badjaos are no doubt an oppressed tribe and they are one of the poorest ethnic
groups found in southeast Asia.

We hope to change the current cycle of poverty the Badjao found in Davao City
currently find themselves in by creating educational and income generating projects

by Identifing suitable means coherent with the tribes culture that will sustain their
lifestyle and also provide monetary assistance to finance their communal activities.

Reasoning behind the Anothen Project

The Badjao found in Davao City, in particular the village at Isla Verde, face a
multitude of problems. The lack of educational and income generating
opportunities are the primary causes of their current impoverished lifestyles and
living conditions. In addition, many of the Badjao have health issues resulting from
poor sanitation and the lack of medical treatment.

Badjao girl playing in a dangerous environment at Isla Verde

There is a great need for Income generating facilities that can enhance the
prospects of livelihood for the adult members of the community and educational
facilities to meet the learning requirements of the children. However, with the over
crowded conditions currently found at Isla Verde, it is almost impossible to address
these needs.
The solution to this problem is to relocate a portion of the Badjao community to
another site which can provide communal facilities which would include a learning
center, livelihood center, and a medical clinic. These facilities would be housed in a
single building surrounded by traditional Badjao houses where the families would
dwell and share a common comfort room/bathing area.
Currently literacy rates among the Badjao in the Philippines are below 10%, and
fewer than 20% of all Badjao children are enrolled in school. Our long-term
commitment is to eventually provide access to school for all Badjao children, so that
each child may have a chance to realize their educational goals and reach their full
potential.
A medical clinic will need to be equipped with complete first aid and emergency
treatment supplies for the safety assurance of the residents. Classes could also be
held at the clinic to teach the Badjao proper hygiene and sanitation practices which
will aid them in developing a more healthy and productive lifestyle.

Rehabilitated Badjao village in Zambaonga

This new site will be called The Anothen

Badjao Community
The focus of this project is to cater to the immediate needs of the Badjao
community in an effort to improve their cultural, physical, social, economic, and
environmental conditions. This project aims to improve the lives of the Badjao by
providing them with solutions that will address their current and future needs and
help them in becoming more adapted and accepted citizens of Davao City.
The Anothen community will include the following:
45 Houses (There will be 44 families with a total of 218 individuals initially
benefiting from this project)
Learning Center
Livelihood facility
Medical clinic
Community comfort room
Recreational/playground facilities
We also intend to create a community that is environmentally responsible. We hope
to provide solar lighting to each home as well as use solar generated electricity to
support our community building which will house our learning and livelihood
facilities. In addition, we hope to preserve the surrounding natural habitat by
encouraging proper waste disposal as well as planting and maintaining mangrove
trees or similar vegitation in an effort to preserve the coastal area and to attract
more native wildlife.

Mangrove trees surrounding a Badjao village in Maluso, Basilan

We will design a community that will require more social interaction that will
develop new economic options by transitioning it into a progressive community.
Once established, the Anothen Badjao community would be a candidate for a
cultural tourism site which would generate further interest from the public as well as
additional income opportunities for the Badjao.

Handicrafts being produced by the Badjao in Maluso, Basilan

An Example of how Cultural Tourism can

Benefit Tribal Peoples
Batwa Development Program

Batwa is an Indigenous tribe in Bwindi in Uganda, who were originally dwellers of

the forest in the east Africa. They were known as dancers and story tellers and live
by the support of the forests natural supplies such as plants and fruits. They
transfer from one forest to another in search of fresh supplies of food. They live in
temporary dwellings made out tree branches and leaves which they left after few
months in search for another forest.

The Batwa Experience was created by the displaced Batwa pygmies to educate their
children and to share their amazing heritage and traditions with the world. Since
1992, the Batwa have been unable to live in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, their
ancestors home. Yet they have not forgotten the old ways.

This program allows visitors to step back in time to see how the Batwa lived for
millenia in the Bwindi, one of the most beautiful jungles on earth and home of the
famous mountain gorillas. People can enjoy an incredible day hike in the rain forest
with Batwa guides, see how the Batwa lived and hunted, learn about medicinal
plants, and watch for animals and birds.

Visitors will hear ancient legends and traditional songs, watch energetic dances,
and join in on a mock hunting party. They can even test their skills with a Batwa
bow and arrow.

Source:

http://www.batwaexperience.com/
http://www.batwabaskets.org/

This same approach could be applied to the Badjao community as part of their
own cultural preservation and restoration project to support their lifestyle, attract
tourists, and eventually lift them from poverty.
Whats needed is a concerted effort across all sectors to improve opportunities and
create better life chances for the Badjao in Davao City.

Proposed layout of the Anothen Badjao

Village

Footprint: Approximately 2,500 sq. Meters

Estimated project costs*: P750,000 P1,000,000 ($16,300 $21,700)

Community Building Floorplan