09 March 2026, 1028PHT — At the foothills of Mount Apo lies the ancestral domain of the Bagobo Tagabawa people in Barangay Binaton, Digos City. For generations, this Indigenous community has regarded the mountain—known to them as Apo Sandawa—as sacred ground, a source of life, identity, and spiritual connection with the Creator. Their relationship with the land is not merely economic; it is ecological, cultural, and deeply spiritual. It is within this living tradition that our daughter, LéLé Chan, was entrusted with a sacred honor: the name Bai Madigar, which means “Lady of Goodness.” This was not simply a ceremonial title. It was an act of kinship. The Bagobo Tagabawa Indigenous Political Structure in Binaton formally embraced her as an honorary member of the tribe, affirming a relationship that our family has nurtured with the community since 2015. In Indigenous understanding, such naming is not about prestige; it is about relational responsibility across generations.
Walking with the Community Since 2015
Our relationship with the Binaton Bagobo Tagabawa community began through the peacebuilding and social enterprise initiatives of PeaceBuilders Community, Inc. (PBCI) and Coffee for Peace (CFP).
Through dialogue with the tribal leadership and local farmers, we began exploring how peacebuilding, environmental stewardship, and inclusive development could be pursued together.
Over time, this collaboration grew into multiple initiatives:
• Peace and reconciliation workshops facilitated by PBCI for the tribal council and community members.
• Coffee livelihood programs that helped farmers improve the quality and value of their harvests.
• Agroforestry projects integrating Arabica coffee with forest trees to restore degraded lands around Mt. Apo.
• Cultural and ancestral domain advocacy that affirms Indigenous identity and stewardship of their sacred lands.
These initiatives are rooted in the belief that Indigenous knowledge and modern ecological science can work together to restore the land and strengthen community resilience. 
Through training and partnership, Bagobo Tagabawa farmers learned improved coffee processing techniques that significantly increased the value of their harvest—from selling raw cherries at very low prices to producing higher-quality beans that fetch better income in the market. 
But more important than the economic results is the deepening of relationships.
This journey has never been a typical development project. It has been a companionship—a long-term walk together rooted in trust.
The Leadership of Bai Jerlina Owok
A central figure in this journey is Bai Jerlina Owok, the respected Tribal Chieftain of the Bagobo Tagabawa community in Binaton.
Her leadership has been instrumental in:
• Revitalizing Bagobo Tagabawa cultural identity
• Advocating for the protection of ancestral lands
• Promoting sustainable coffee farming and agroforestry
• Building bridges between Indigenous communities and external partners
Under her guidance, the community envisioned and developed a cultural village and peace memorial complex to tell the story of their people and make their history visible to the wider world. 
Bai Jerlina also champions environmental restoration and sustainable livelihoods, encouraging her people to reclaim their ancestral role as stewards of the forests surrounding Mt. Apo. 
Her leadership embodies the Bagobo Tagabawa understanding that governance is not merely political—it is spiritual, ecological, and communal.
Our Family’s Indigenous Names
Within the context of this relationship, members of our family were also given Bagobo names—symbols of belonging within the community:
• I was given the name Datu Pugawang (Mind Setter)
• My wife Joji Pantoja was given the name Bai Kasunayan (Lady of Peace)
• And my daughter LéLé was given the name Bai Madigar (Lady of Goodness)
These names are not symbolic decorations. They signify mutual accountability and shared responsibility.
In Indigenous culture, once kinship is established, the relationship is expected to endure—not only for the present generation but also for the generations to come.
A Relationship for the Next Generations
When the Bagobo Tagabawa community named my daughter Bai Madigar, they were doing more than honoring her character. They were recognizing a covenant of relationship between our families and their people.
They were saying:
“You belong with us. Walk with us. Care for this land and this community with us.”
For our family, this is a sacred trust.
We remain committed to journeying alongside the Bagobo Tagabawa people as they protect their ancestral domain, restore the forests of Mt. Apo, strengthen Indigenous livelihoods, and nurture a future where peace, justice, and ecological balance flourish together.
And so, with humility and gratitude, we celebrate this gift of kinship:
Our daughter LéLé is Bai Madigar — Lady of Goodness — among the Bagobo Tagabawa people of Binaton.
