By: Angelika N. Buergo
MALAY, Aklan – Malay Agape Sunbeam Academy (MASA) held its first all-Ati pageant to celebrate the Indigenous People Month and to empower the Ati youths as well.
MASA Principal Lilia Tiamson said the pageant aims to prove Ati children are ‘capable’ of doing bigger things and instil ‘confidence’ of who they are.
“Mr. and Ms. MASA Ati 2019 is not a typical event or a mere search of who among the students is the most beautiful or the wittiest. Its main purpose is to hone our Ati with confidence and pride for what they are capable of doing and becoming – to empower them,” Tiamson added.
The contestants walked the stage in gowns and tuxedos, national attire, sportswear, and recycled costumes made by their teachers and classmates.
“All of the teachers served in committees – from organizing the event down to the making of the candidates’ costumes. Even the staff contributed in the pageant, and of course, the parents and contestants,” Tiamson stated.
Tiamson also explained that along celebrating the Indigenous People month, the pageant is also a show of gratitude to the foreign sponsors of the school, combining the emphasis of the importance of the native roots and nations being united.
“Ati students will represent a country of their choice. Since the school is supported by many foreign sponsors around the globe, this is our way of appreciating them,” she said.
“We wanted to tell our students also na hindi lang naman sila ang may dark-colored skin, other countries din. So in a way, we are also educating them,” she added.
Sixteen students from Grades 7 to 10 joined the pageant where Marky Sinag and Angelee Regen Vicente were crowned winners.
“Happy ako. Wa man ako ga-expect nga ako madaog. Basta binigay ko po yung best ko,” Vicente said.
Vicente said their teachers trained them to walk on heels and stride while wearing gowns after their classes.
“Magkaroon ng confidence kag mag-training nga indi mahuya sa ibang tawo at maglakad sa sandals. Bukon abi kami sanay nga maglakad sa mataas nga heels,” she added.
Vicente said that she is happy that she is given a chance to walk on stage just like her beauty queen idol Catriona Gray.
“Masaya po kami kasi napapanood lang naming si Catriona, ngayon na-experience din po naming ganun din,” she added.
ADVOCACY PROJECT
Instead of the typical fundraising event that school pageants usually hold, the contest did not require the contestants to raise funds for the school but to collect 1.5-liter bottles for their advocacy project.
“We asked them na sana hindi ito puro pera, just like other contest na nagre-raise ng money. But for us, we want to raise responsibility among our candidates that what they are going to work on is for beautifying our surroundings – yung itong garden nga is one way,” said Tiamson.
“Sabi ko sa kanila, we will have this with a purpose. Napakagandang aming tanawin, napakagandang aming lugar; why not make this garden beautiful?” she added.
Tiamson said the gardening project will also help the school’s feeding program since the academy also provides free lunches to its students.
“’Yung mga pananim at gulayan for us ay makatutulong sa aming lunch feeding. Libre ang pagkain nila everyday but we need more food lalo na ang vegetables,” she said.
Aside from providing free lunches, the school also opened its doors to any Ati in the village who is willing to learn.
SCHOOL FOR ATI
MASA was recognized by the Department of Education as a mono-Indigenous People School – a school for Ati.
However, as a missionary school, the funds are dependent on donations and sponsorship.
MASA Director of External Activities and Ati Community Relations & Development Clod Tiamson said that most of the structures and buildings in the school were donated by foreign and local sponsors.
“This school started with only two classrooms, but now we are expanding na up to senior high,” he said.
The pageant is among the many activities and programs of the school for the students, he added.
“Marami na kaming programs and contests. We even get to compete sa WVRAA (West Visayas Athletic Association) Meet and one of our students also had the chance to go to Korea,” he said.
According to Tiamson, the school played an important part to the Ati community especially in providing them an avenue to learn without fear of discrimination.
“Dito [MASA] hindi sila natatakot matuto kasi kung sa ibang school sila, may mga nambu-bully. So the school, in a way, provides them a safe haven,” he said.
