#IbaYan: Angel Locsin meets Bro. Martin Francisco, a missionary who devoted his life to help the Dumagats develop and protect their ancestral domain.

In this day and age of technology and modernization, there lies a traditional ethnic group with colorful and rich culture in the mountains of Sierra Madre. For Iba Yan’s 15th episode, Angel Locsin and team Iba Yan went all the way to Norzagaray Bulacan to visit indigenous group, Dumagat.

Angel Locsin visited ‘Punduhan’ which serves as a stop-over for Dumagats whenever they need a place to stay, food or any basic needs. It was founded by Bro. Martin Francisco, a missionary and the Chairman of Sierra Madre Environmental Inc. Bro. Martin has been in ‘Punduhan’ for a little over 24 years now with these goals in mind: “Buhayin, ipalaganap at tiyaking hindi maglalaho ang kultura.”

Bro. Martin talked about the culture and his experience living with the tribe and also shared how being with them changed his perception to the Dumagats. According to him, before he even set foot to their ancestral domain, some people have been discouraging him with negative stories about these people but living with them prove it all wrong.

Bro. Martin devoted his time to help the Dumagats and admitted that there are times that he gets discouraged and get tired but thinking about what could happen to the Dumagats without him made him stay. “May pagkakataong nakakadiscourage, pinanghihinaan tayo ng loob at napapagod din tayo, tinitingnan ko ‘yung mga katutubo, ‘pag ako’y umalis dito, ano na ang mangyayari sa mga katutubo.”

“Pinagpapasalamat ko sa Diyos na naging bahagi ako ng buhay nila at naging bahagi sila ng buhay ko.” Bro. Martin said.

Bro. Martin gave Angel Locsin a tour in ‘Punduhan’ and shared more stories about their life in their ancestral domain and introduced other Dumagats and their culture to Angel Locsin and team Iba Yan.



Source: Twitter

Watch full episode here:


Source: Team Angel PH