As the youth of Adat B’laan, an indigenous group in South Cotabato, experience increased exposure and enjoy the benefits of modernization, embracing mainstream society practices has sometimes taken priority over knowing and understanding their ethnic language, rituals and traditions. In the past few years, this has resulted in the cultural erosion of the Adat B’laan.
Team members at the leading BPO and digital solutions firm Telus International Philippines (TIP) learned of the Adat B’laan situation through a funding proposal submitted by the GeoChris Foundation to Telus International Philippines’ Community Board and decided to help.
The Telus International Philippines Community Board awarded GeoChris and the Adat B’laan community a P455,396-grant to finance programs to revive cultural awareness among the Adat B’laan youth.
Apart from offering learning modules, the Adat B’laan aims to widen the reach of their culture and establish partnerships with private and government stakeholders. They have also expanded their offerings to service research, cultural shows, and exchanges, in the process generating income for the community through cultural tourism. (pr)
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