First Badjao teacher aims to produce more professionals from their tribe

By: Lottie Salarda

The pride of Brgy Dolho, Bato Leyte, Jesus Menjani Esmani, the first Badjao teacher in their community, is committed to produce more Badjao professionals by helping his nephews to get education.

In his 22 years of working as a high school teacher, Esmani has produced two Electrical Engineers, one graduate of Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Bachelor of Science in Fisheries.

Esmani, as the youngest child in the family, witnessed the hardships of his parents raising them by fishing as their means of livelihood.

“If there’s a storm, it means there will no food available for us. It’s so painful to see my family in that kind of situation, so with the encouragement of my high school teachers, and with the help of my siblings, I pursued my studies and dreamed that one day I will have a job,” said Esmani.

He sells beauty and food products with his teachers, classmates and friends in school to help sustain his finances.

He graduated at Saint Joseph of Maasin City with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Commerce and took one and half year course for Education Major in English.

“At first, it was so difficult because during exams, I used to give promissory notes because my parents weren’t able to raise the money. Aside from selling beauty and food products, I clean our classrooms, windows, offices and comfort rooms for a fee to support my studies. My motivation at that time was when I remember my father and I encountered a storm in the sea, which I told myself that I will study hard no matter what happened. Our situation was so difficult.”

In 1996, he started his teaching career at Bato Academy, and from 2009 to present he teaches high school at Bato National High School.

“I am so happy that I witness the fruit of my efforts. My two nephews, Enrique and Dindo Esmani are already licensed Electrical Engineers. And as of now, I am helping 6 high schools, 2 elementary and one college,” Esmani added.

Not spared from bullying in school

Like any member of the minority, Esmani also experienced bullying in school because of him being a Badjao.

But these treatments never hinder his dreams to finish his studies. Esmani believes that education is the only thing in life that would level them with the majority. 

“I want Badjao children to pursue their studies; I don’t want seeing them in the streets begging for alms. The school is the right place for them, not the streets. And I wanted to change the image of my tribe from being beggars.”

Education: the best tool against racial discrimination

Esmani believes that education is the best tool to eliminate racial discrimination especially his tribe (Badjao) is known for begging alms in the streets.

He encouraged the children of his tribe to continue their studies and reach their dreams.

Meanwhile, Esmani, as we celebrate the World Teacher’s Month, has called on his fellow teachers to continue shaping the minds of their students and become their life-long inspiration.

Another aspiring teacher

Salvador Lampinigan, 40, was one of Esmani’s nephews who graduated Bachelor of Science in Education. He was the second Badjao in the community who attained a highest education.

Because of financial difficulties he faced, Lampinigan hasn’t able to take a proper review class for the Licensed Teacher Examination for him to be ready for the exam.

But he knows that someday, he will be able to teach the young generations of his tribe in their community.

From Sulu to Bato, Leyte

It was seven decades ago when a dozen of Bajao families left Jolo and sail to different islands of Visayas to avoid the hostilities in Mindanao.

There are known to be nomads.

Their ancestors who sail from Sulu finally found fish and peace in Brgy Dolho, Bato, Leyte, and settle there since 1950.

Around 700 individuals (105 families) were now living in that coastal community where the local government of Bato accepts them and allow them to settle there.

There are around 145,000 Sea Gypsies or Badjao all over the Philippines that some of them are scattered living along the coastal areas of Tawi Tawi, Sulu, Basilan, and some coastal municipalities of Zamboanga del Sur in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.

Alternative Learning System (ALS) for older Badjaos

The Department of Education in the Province of Leyte introduced the Alternative Learning System (ALS) for older Badjaos who weren’t able to get their elementary education.

One of the 31 enrollees of the ALS in the Badjao community is the 45 year-old Masijah Bansale. She didn’t finish her fifth grade in Cebu City because her family used to transfer places.

Because of the ALS, Bansale knows now how to write, read and count.

“I am happy because I was able to learn how to write, read and count. They also taught us English language,” Bansale said.

Sanitation still an issue

Meanwhile, ALS Badjao Coordinator Llarita Salilit admits that the sanitation issue remains a challenge for her. But because of her tireless efforts in educating them, the sanitation problem in the community has been lessened.

Though, their kind of lifestyle has been part of their culture, with proper education and cooperation, tribe members slowly learned the effects of poor sanitation especially to their children’s health.