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Trekking for a cause: The story of Team Bundol
Every mountaineer knows that a majestic view will take their breath away (more so than it has already been) upon reaching a mountain summit after a grueling climb. But for the Team Bundol Mountaineers, the journey doesn't end at the summit, but in a rural school.
Crossing rivers and hills, and climbing mountains to bring books and school supplies to far-flung schools has become one of the missions of Team Bundol, outdoor enthusiasts composed of out-of-school individuals and people with unsteady jobs (in their words, mga tambay) based in Poblacion Alabel, Sarangani Province.
They decided to check out Atnayan Waterfalls at the top of a mountain in New Canaan, Brgy. Pag-asa, Alabel, Sarangani Province.
Unexpected discovery
On the way to the site, they chanced upon the New Canaan Integrated School in a small sitio.
From the town of Alabel, it takes a two-hour truck ride to the jump off point at Fofan. From there, three-and-a-half hour hike, crossing a meandering river 23 times before reaching the school. Teachers employed in that school take the same path, Lalisan said.
What struck a chord in the hearts of these mountaineers was seeing two kids, around eight or nine years old, crossing the thigh-high river on their way to school. They took off their shorts and placed them over their heads to avoid getting them wet. They held their slippers too so as not to lose them to the current of the flowing river.
It was decided then that for Bundol's first EcoTrek, books will be brought to the New Canaan Integrated School.
New mission
Three EcoTreks later, Team Bundol was able to deliver 1,000 books and about 300 packets of school supplies to far-flung schools. One of them is Dacera Integrated School in Domolok, Alabel, which ranked number one in Sarangani in the National Achievement Test, Small Schools Category.
“May reason kami na umakyat. Nakakatulong kami sa komunidad. Hindi yung picture lang,” said Mardy Bulejoy, one of the founders of Team Bundol who also works as a mall staff.
“May isang bata noong minsan, lumapit siya sakin. Sabi niya, 'Sir, ito ba ang itsura ng dinosaur?' (Doon namin naramdaman na,) kung hindi namin nadala iyong mga libro na iyon baka hindi nila malalaman kung ano ang hitsura ng dinosaur, ng giraffe, ng eagle...kasi wala naman noon dito,” he narrated.
When they're not bringing books and school supplies to far-flung schools, Team Bundol also conducts tree planting activities during their hiking trips. On March 15, they officially opened a plant nursery in Dacera Integrated School. They also taught members of the community to plant trees in an effort to make their tree-planting endeavors sustainable.
They also continue to look for new places to visit and trek in order to help Sarangani gain traction among tourists.
The group was named after an Ilonggo word for slow, weak, lame or awkward, for which one of the members was usually teased for. “Iyong isa kasi naming kasama, bundol talaga iyon!” founding member Joart Bacquiano quipped. But in 2012, they decided to change the meaning of 'Bundol' to Backpackers United for the Defense of Life.
From five founding members in 2010, the group now consists of 20 full-fledged members.
“Gusto talaga namin committed,” Lalisan said. Before becoming an official part of the team, a potential applicant has to attend at least two climbs with Team Bundol, two community services, and a feeding program. He or she should also complete a Basic Mountaineering Course organized by the group.
Team Bundol Mountaineers was one of the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) in 2013. They were given a P30,000 grant by Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, Inc. (CCFPI), which they gave to Dacera Integrated School on March 15, Saturday.
