Walking with the Mountains:
Living Laudato Si’ in Bukidnon
From April 30 to May 7, 2025, a JRS team journeyed into the mountains of Bukidnon, Mindanao, as part of an exploratory mission. Initiated and led by Chair, Caroline, a passionate community builder, they visited and observed under-served indigenous communities. For the author Pamela, it was also a journey to listen deeply to the cries of the earth and the poor, as Laudato Si’ calls us to do.
Our group of volunteers (Caroline, Corina, Michelle, Shaune and I) was blessed with the presence of Louie Bacomo, Regional Office Program Director, Climate and Forced Displacement. A son of the land himself, Louie brought gentle strength and clarity, accompanying us through each leg of the journey.
The three-part journey to Bendum, Sitio Kaulayanan, and finally Malaybalay revealed a different face of hope, struggle, and faith.
Bendum: Where the Forest Speaks
Our journey began in Bendum, a Pulangiyēn indigenous village nestled deep in the mountains. Here, Fr Pedro Walpole, SJ, with a deep love for the people and the land he has served for decades, welcomed us with quiet humility.
As we moved under the canopy of towering trees, led by Fr Pedro, we learnt of the ecological fragility and the slow erosion of biodiversity, indigenous farmers trapped in exploitative markets, the pain of preventable maternal deaths due to lack of accessible care and the loss of cultural identity.
Yet amid the survival pressures from the community, there was quiet hope. At the Apu Palamguwan Cultural Education Center (APC), children dance and sing in their native language, proudly sharing traditional food like linupak and carabao milk. Their confidence and joy, even in hardship, were contagious.
Sunday Mass in Bendum’s open-air chapel was a moment of profound stillness. As the liturgy unfolded, the weight of the people’s struggles and the strength of their faith was a reminder that Laudato Si’ is not an abstract idea but a way of life, lived humbly and daily in this community.
Kaulayanan: Where Tears Spoke Generations
From Bendum, we travelled further into the Mirayon region to Sitio Kaulayanan, accessible only by motorbike and a steep, muddy climb. There, we experienced even more deeply the rugged simplicity of mountain life.
Here, we met a young mother of three, whose courage moved us deeply. With tears streaming down her face, she shared her decision to return to school despite the challenges, determined to give her children the opportunities she never had.
The elders also spoke candidly about their hopes: the need to preserve their traditions and pass on their wisdom, to protect their children’s cultural identity. Their voices carried a sense of urgency, knowing that time and circumstances often work against them.
Malaybalay: Words That Reaffirmed the Journey
Our journey concluded at the Jesuit Retreat House in Malaybalay, where we met Fr. Bros SJ, who helped us weave together all that we experienced. He echoed the vision of an early Jesuit missionary to the Philippines, Fr. Vincent Cullen SJ.
“Improving the lives of the indigenous people is more important than building houses of prayer. What matters is empowering them to stand with dignity, to lead their people, and to protect their rights and the land they love.”
These words clearly resonated with us. This journey was not about quick solutions, but about accompaniment — walking with communities, listening deeply, and standing beside them as they rise with their own strength.
What This Journey Awakened
For us, it was a deeper understanding that care for creation cannot be separated from care for the poor. We witnessed Laudato Si’ come alive in the resilience of Bendum’s youth, the tears of Kaulayanan’s mothers, and the forest walks with Fr. Pedro. We felt compassion and the need to act in solidarity with concrete commitments.
I have since returned to Bendum with a firm commitment to strengthen the Crèche project, ensuring indigenous mothers and babies are supported with dignity. I plan to work with Jesuit ministries and the local community to lay the foundation for a Research and Education Centre for education, mental wellness support, and sustainable community interventions to empower women and protect children.
Michelle will help support women’s livelihoods by reviewing the marketability of handcrafted citronella balm products carefully made by indigenous women. The balms more than soothe as they sustain biodiversity, responsible farming, and provide the dignity of work.
An Invitation to Walk with Us
Come with us and walk the mountains too. Through an integrated initiative that links climate resilience, early childhood care, and women’s economic empowerment, the journey is only beginning. Pope Francis reminds us:
“Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or secondary aspect of our faith.”
For more information, email us at contact@jrssg.org