A River of 104 Crossings

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Reaching for a treasure beyond the mountains

– George D. Mertz –

An ancient range of mountains, pushing skyward between the pressures of two tectonic plates are obscure as a light easterly wind moves the clouds through their valleys and far up the sides of their lush peaks.  We drive higher up into the mist shrouding this narrow dirt road.

Nearly 350 meters, (1,100 feet), above the eastern shore of the Sarangani Bay, on the southeastern finger of the Philippine island of Mindanao, we turn right. Taking a steep downhill link, we slowly descend into to an area known as Pag-asa.  A river, one changing its personality at even the slightest thought of a tropical downpour, runs through it.

As we descend beneath the clouds, the rain begins.  Belieing its intention of turning into a torrential downpour, the rain  adds to the gravity of the deteriorating rock strewn road.  We continue our decent into the valley.

A small stream, easily crossed, brings a comment from Movi, my fiancee.  “You know, if this rain continues, we may not make it back across this because of flooding.”

She may be right.  Most likely, that’s how it’s going to happen.

A small village stands beside the river of first encounter.  A sari sari store, with a bamboo and thatch overhead covering at its front, is our first choice of shelter.  With umbrellas and a couple of tuna sandwiches in hand, we dash from the vehicle and take shelter.

We are in Pag-asa this afternoon, for no other reason than to be here.

From a direction opposite of our travel a motorcycle with it’s driver and 3 riders, two young ladies and one young man, wheel up to us.  All seek to share the shelter of the store.  All are soaked to the bone and shivering.

Questions and answers fly back and forth.

“Where are you from”, Movi asks.

“We’re from Alabel,” Emelyn answers.

“If you’re from Alabel, why were you traveling from the opposite direction,” she asks?

“We were not able to cross the river because the current is so strong and we can’t pass through it.  We had to come back,” the teacher answers.

The three riders are teachers who work for the Alabel School District.  It’s their job to trek back into the jungle to teach children who are of the indigenous group known as B’laans.

The shivering continues.  I fetch a large towel from the vehicle for Emelyn, one of the young ladies.

Under more favorable conditions, at a point beyond the first river crossing, where the motorcycle can go no farther, the teachers walk for 4 to 5 hours, crossing the swings of the river, 26 times.  The number of river crossings change with the mood swings of the water.

We learn they make this trek, in and out, twice a month.  Another group of teachers relieve them at established intervals.  Therefore, each group crosses the river 104 times per month and hike, back and forth, for 18 hours, through less than hospitable terrain.

We listen to their story of a close call with a Cobra and how, at times, they are stranded overnight in a downpour between two curves of the serpentine like river; unable to pass due to the rising water.

They are returning to Alabel.  We offer to relieve them of the unholy experience of getting back on that motorcycle in this rain and climbing up one of the most rugged roads in this region.  Needless to say, they accept.

Backtracking, we head for Alabel.  Again, we reach the stream of Movi’s concern.  True to her previous comment, it’s now a raging torrent of water. We stop and access the situation.

This 1986 Mitsubishi Pajero is a 4-wheel drive vehicle.  It rides on 31-inch tires. All of this brings about a final assessment as to whether or not we’ll attempt to cross that which these mountains are so rapidly giving up.

The captain speaks. “In Texas, every year, there are a number of idiots who die while trying to cross water like this.  They die even after they’re warned every year on the weather stations.  We will not die.  We’re going to wait here until this is passable.”

We exchange stories and watch others trying to cross, as we wait.  None succeed. Finally, the instruction to ‘load-up,’ is given.

“More of you in the vehicle will make it heavier and easier to cross this water.  Besides, if I am going to die, I don’t want to die alone,” I inform them.

This humor, from a U.S. citizen, is rarely understood in the Philippines. No response from the audience is heard. Barring the failed joke, all else goes well.

The teachers have no survival gear.  They have nothing to keep them dry on days like this.  They have nothing to provide them light when stranded over night in the jungle. Even the living conditions at their destination are primitive.

We exchange personal information as we drop each of them off at their respective homes in Alabel.  We offer to provide them, through our non-government organization, (NGO), Gensan Relief and Community Exchange, Inc. (GRACE), survival gear and other supplies for their needs.

They are appreciative of our concern and offer to help.

Two large suitcases in-tow, one housing approximately 25 kilos, (50 pounds), of survival gear and supplies, is with me on a subsequent return trip from Grapevine, Texas to General Santos City.

On January 8, 2010, Gensan Relief and Community Exchange, Inc., ‘makes-good’ on its promise.  All of the survival gear and supplies is delivered to ten teachers who trek through the jungle to teach the 400 children at the New Canaan Integrated School, New Canaan, Pag-asa, Alabel, in the Sarangani Province.

Our support for these teachers stems, in part, from our recognition of their meeting their unique requirements and responsibilities placed upon them.  Their job, when compared to the livlihood of most people you may know, is distinctly different.  They, with their discomforts, trials and the tribulations they suffer to perform this contribution to society, do so in a fashion that stands them above so many others.

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Turning Over the Survival Gear and Supplies

List of Donated Items

(3)  First Aid Kits – (171 Pieces in each)
(3)  Pkgs.of 100′ Nylon Rope
(2)  LED Head Worn Lamps/Batt’s
(2)  Crank Flashlights/Cell Charger
(20) Emergency Rain Parkas
(3)  Tubes Antibiotic Ointment
(23) Dry Storage Bags
(4)   10 oz. Nite Time Cough Med’s.
(2)   Machete’s (Bolo’s)
(2)   Water Proof  Match Holders
(2)   1 lb. Pkgs.Coffee & Filters
(1)   Solar Lighting Unit for Hut
(4)   Cans of Insect Repellent

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Solar Lighting for the Teachers Village Hut

Bringing light to a dark world

A solar lighting unit, designed and constructed by Peter Putnam of Newport Beach, California, is shown to the teachers and staff of the Alabel School District, who work with the least of amenities for the greatest benefit of the children.

This solar lighting unit is being installed in the hut of the teachers who teach in New Canaan Integrated School, New Canaan, Pag-asa, Alabel, Philippines.

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The Teachers

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Pictures of Honorable Mention

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