Eneriza Menaling
There are many things we already know, but we do not always understand them fully. By listening carefully, we discover deeper meanings and new perspectives. As part of the facilitation team at Balay Laudato Si’ in Bendum, Bukidnon, Philippines which offers workshops on Nurturing Integral Ecology in Synodality (NIES), I realized that learning becomes deeper when we listen to others.
The workshops were both challenging and meaningful. While there were moments of struggle, I was thankful for the opportunity because these experiences helped me learn and grow.
An example was the workshop on Integral Ecology. We know about nature because we see it around us every day, but through the workshops and discussions, I learned that Integral Ecology is much deeper than caring for the environment. It is also about our relationships with people, culture, and creation.
From Laudato Si’, I learned about the concept of the technocratic paradigm, which challenged my earlier understanding of technology as simply a sign of progress. I came to understand that this worldview assumes technology is the primary way to understand reality and solve problems, yet it can also make people dependent on outside resources while harming the environment.
This can be seen in the experience of farmers who are given seeds and fertilizers to help their crops grow in the short term. Over time, however, the soil’s natural nutrients are depleted, and crops become dependent on chemical fertilizers and herbicides. Our ancestors were able to grow food without these chemicals, but now many farmers feel they cannot farm without them.
Some of the seeds provided are also not meant for human consumption. They cannot be saved for the next planting season, so farmers must buy new seeds every year. This makes them dependent on outside sources and draws them into a system of financial loans that they many families cannot manage.
Because of this, I realized the importance of growing our own food and using what our land can provide. Root crops and other traditional crops are especially important today because of the changing climate. We can live more simply and continue practicing simplicity, one of the important values of the Pulangiyēn people.
The NIES workshops also encouraged us to talk more about our Indigenous culture and traditions, especially the importance of our language. One experience that has stayed with me was when a mother shared that her child could no longer qualify for a government scholarship because the child could had lost the ability to speak their mother tongue, Tinalaandig. She expressed her appreciation for how Bendum continues to sustain culture and language.
Listening to her story made me reflect on the importance of culture. Sometimes it seems that culture is valued only for scholarships or special events rather than being lived every day. This realization deepened my appreciation of the need to sustain our traditions and language.
The NIES workshops with the teachers were especially challenging for me because many of the participants had been my teachers in school. As I facilitated activities and shared inputs, I felt shy and lacked confidence. However, their encouragement and appreciation gradually motivated me. Their support helped me regain confidence and reminded me that I can do more, even when I face difficulties and pressure.
During the workshops with the Tapok Kabatan-unan, a gathering of young participants from different communities and tribes, I recognized my own growth. In the past, speaking in front of many people was difficult for me. This time, I was able to share my thoughts and experiences with confidence. I wanted to speak not only because it was my responsibility, but also because I hoped others could learn from what I had learned.
As young people, we need to stay connected to our culture and traditions. Our elders will not always be with us, so while we still have the opportunity, we should learn from them. Today, many cultural practices are slowly disappearing. Because of this, we must continue to live and practice our traditions.
We all have dreams that we want to achieve. However, while pursuing those dreams, we should not forget who we are and where we come from. As youth, we have the responsibility to continue the work our ancestors started.
I am inspired by the words Kuya Delther Dum-ogan used to remind us of our personal responsibilities and that all change begins with each one of us: “If not me, then who? If not now, then when?” and “Now is the best time, and the right person is you.” Kuya Delther is the leader of the youth group from Cabanglasan, another town in Bukidnon.
These words remind me that I have a role in sustaining our culture, caring for our environment, and continuing the legacy of our ancestors. The future of our traditions depends on what we choose to do today.
Eneriza Menaling is one of the young staff members of the Apu Palamguwan Cultural Education Center (APC) and served as one of the facilitators of the NIES workshops of the River Above Asia Oceania Ecclesial Network (RAOEN). During the summer of 2026, several workshops were held at Balay Laudato Si’ in Bendum, Bukidnon, under the theme Nurturing Integral Ecology in Synodality (NIES). Participants included people from different communities, APC school teachers, and young people from various tribes who gathered for a Tapok Kabatan-unan (youth gathering).
Photo: Participants from different Indigenous communities, together with facilitators and teachers, gather in a circle during a Nurturing Integral Ecology in Synodality (NIES) workshop at Balay Laudato Si’ in Bendum, Bukidnon, fostering dialogue, reflection, and shared learning rooted in culture, ecology, and synodality.
This article was first published in LiCAS.news.