ON THURSDAY, April 28, I was privileged to interview Jim John “JJ” Tolentino in my radio program “Ang Probinsya Subong” over Radyo Negrense 100.3 (Mhz) FM.
JJ, 28, is a proud member of the Indigenous Peoples (IP) Bukidnon in Barangay Igmaya-an, Don Salvador Benedicto (DSB), Negros Occidental.
The tribe per se speaks of JJ’s real standing in life – economically deprived.
But just last week, JJ “rocked” the province. He became an instant celebrity after graduating at Central Philippines State University (CPSU) – San Carlos Campus with the degree Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management (BSHRM), summa cum laude.
JJ, an academic scholar (IP Category) of the provincial government, bested thousands of graduates from 10 CPSU campuses in the entire province with a general weighted average of 1.21 or 93%.
What a feat, indeed! And what an honor for his family and tribe!
Being a member of an IP community is no ordinary ordeal – they’re prone to societal discrimination. Yet, JJ stood his ground beyond expectation.
IPs are a marginalized sector. They always face lots of “harshest” realities. These include, per the Amnesty International, eviction from their ancestral lands; being denied of the opportunity to express their culture; physical attacks; treated as second-class citizens and discriminated in the legal system. Hence, they’re vulnerable to both physical and verbal violence/abuse.
On record, around the world, there are 370 million IPs in 90 countries, but most are in Asia.
In the Philippines, 10 to 20 percent of the 102.9 million Filipinos are IPs. And they belong to the official 110 ethno-linguistic groups.
In Negros, there are three major IP groups – Ate, Ata and Panay-Bukinon.
So, to promote, protect, preserve and advance their rights, welfare, history, culture and tradition, there is Republic Act 8371. Section 16 of the edict provides that IP have the right to participate fully, if they so choose, at all levels of decision-making in matters which may affect their rights, lives and destinies through procedures determined by them.
Moreover, under this particular statute, the IP may also maintain and develop their own indigenous political structure, and the State will ensure that they are given mandatory representation in policy-making bodies and other local legislative councils.
BURNING DESIRE
But going back to JJ, talking to him (up close and personal), I can’t help but admire this very humble lad. A formidable aim to finish college and then land a job and help his farmer-parents and seven siblings triggered his extraordinary accomplishment worthy of praise and emulation.
Quite touching, right?
But what made JJ’s real life story marvelous was the exuding humility within. The plainness in the way he narrated his story was superb. Relatable, as in!
Yes, JJ’s story – highlighted by poverty, struggles and lots of challenges – is common to everyone. But what’s unique in it is, of course, the “it”. And that “it” is the burning desire within his heart and mind to really finish college no matter what happens.
Thus, in spite of hardships and fund lack, he never failed to don a “brave heart”, even accepting “odd” jobs just to swerve his way closer to his desire.
And when he spotted a chance, he immediately succumbed to become a working student at the Registrar’s Office of CPSU. Then, he poured all his energies in working and, at the same time, studying. He literally and figuratively chased every single second of the day just to keep his promise to his parents.
But thanks to the scholarship program of the province solely for the IP; it “rescued” JJ from a melancholy situation.
He was already in second year college when he became a provincial government scholar.
As a grantee, JJ received P3,000 monthly allowance and an additional P3,500 for books and uniforms every semester – a big help for him and his parents.
TIME MANAGEMENT
Despite this, JJ’s struggle(s) didn’t stop there.
In fact, his life became more “complicated” after assuming the presidency of their supreme student government (SSG). He was in third year at that time. Time, then, turned out to be his very “nemesis”
He needed to juggle from study to his SSG duties and responsibilities and vice versa. In between, he also worked as a part-time real estate agent. But being used to real life struggles and church’s missionary work, it helped him a lot to balance everything.
Thus, converting the day to night and night to day just to cope with all the tasks he had pn his shoulders became a normal “daily menu” for JJ.
But amid unavoidable challenges, he just reminded himself of his “secret promise” to his parents:”Mag-eskwela lang gid mi tarong agud mabayran ko ang sakripisyo sang akon ginikanan.”
‘SALT’ OF THE TRIBE
Well, no doubt that JJ will become “salt” not just for their tribe but of the entire DSB town. And I believe he’s more than ready to give “flavor” to their community.
Too, with his enormous dream of establishing a food business in Igmaya-an, it ain’t far he’ll become another millennial of the IP with “worth and substance”.
Yes, JJ is capable of propelling himself and even his tribal community to greatness. Just imagine that two months prior to his graduation last week, the CPSU management had already hired him as one of their college instructors.
Such was an unexpected opportunity that also amazed JJ.
But working abroad when it’s high-time remains his “as is where is” dream. Then, go back to DSB and establish a food business. Great plan!
IMPOSSIBLE TO POSSIBLE
JJ can be a potential role model for the IP youth. Or he can be the like of the five noted idealistic IP youth in the Philippines now with exceptional social-slash-political advocacies.
They’re Ria Esteves, 27, youth organizer (Agta tribe); Shernan Gamol, 29, councilor of the Municipality of Mansalay in Oriental Mindoro (Mangyan tribe); DM Alburo, 24, founder of a non-government organization (Tagabawa-Bagobo tribe); Merly Suday, 29, sustainable livelihood champion (Bukidnon tribe); and Tan Gican, 26, environmental advocate (Bukidnon tribe).
Maybe, not so long, I do believe JJ will be added in the list.
If JJ sees “nothing’s impossible” in attaining even the highest Latin honors in college, then, he can also make the impossible becomes possible for their tribe-sake soonest.
But the simplest yet sincerest thing JJ can do is to (always) ponder on what former Indian actor and model Jackie Shroff had said: “As a child, I have seen what poverty is, and I try, to the best of my limits, to ensure that no kid should be deprived of his ambitions.”
Well, I trust JJ. He can really make another notable difference in the society. He simply needs another “rock-solid” support for him to create another “magic” and show the real “might” of the deprived in uplifting the status and integrity of the IP communities in Negros.
After all, he’s indeed a “star struck” survivor who simply dreamed, believed and so he ultimately survived!/PN
