A Tribute to Hegelung Master Ma Fil Angkoy

Who is Ma Fil Angkoy?

Ma Fil – Means “Tatay ko”, He was half T’Boli and half Ubo, a farmer and a full blooded musician. Known for his talent and mastery on playing Hegelung a wooden two-string lute, hand carved by him. Ma Fil was a father of three, but life stayed so short for a Hegelung master, he passed away last October 26, 2014 while still on the hospital recovering from his chest pain and swollen leg, ill-fated happens when he fell and hits his head. 

I wasn’t able to meet Ma Fil in person, but he left a legacy and passed the gratefulness of T’Boli culture music and dance to the young children and youths, that will be remembered thru the century. Wherever you are rest in peace Tatay Ma Fil.


Tribute and Gift Giving

As a tribute for Ma Fil, a group of mountaineers headed by Mam Sherlyn Diaz Reyes decided to spend their holiday season vacation at Ma Fil Tribal house, located at the remote highland of Barangay Tasiman, a village in Lake Sebu.  

We arrived late at the tribal house because of the side trip adventure at seven falls and some of our colleagues got lost on their way to the village, but still we are happily greeted by Ma Fil’s eldest son and the children’s who waited for our arrival. 

After we unload our simple surprises for the kids, we asked them to gather around together with their parents at the tribal house.

We started the activity with a prayer leaded by a local in the village. I was moved when I saw these kids, because you can feel their heartfelt and sincere prayer.

Next is the teary eyed daughter of Ma Fil who warmed welcomed us with a short speech. She was so happy, because even though her father was no longer here, who will joyfully play his Hegelung and exchange jokes with us, we are still there and haven’t forgotten the bond that her father builds together with his mountaineer friends.

Now for the most awaited part of the activity, where the children’s could not wait anymore, M’ Sherlyn and M’ Kat prepared a draw lots for the lucky children who will get the major prizes, but of course all the children will have their own gifts too.

Children are patiently waiting for their name to be called.

Every child in the village is so excited to open the gift and play the toys they received. For us it may perhaps a very simple thing, but for those children it really means a lot. The smile on their faces brought back a hundred times joy in our hearts.

The activity doesn’t end with only gift and snacks. The team also prepares parlor games for everybody which has been actively joined by the energetic children’s.

This cute little fellow catches my attention, while busy playing a pair of stick.  I gave him chocolate and asked him to join the other kids. Hehehe He just smiled and run to her mother.

It was a very long and tiring day for everybody and too bad for me because I got a painful headache that day, which hinders me to join the game. :(

We stayed overnight at the tribal house, the night was cold and showery. But we still have a good night sleep because of the fresh air, a village that is free from the city pollution. All you can hear that night is are the whooshing wind and buzzing of the insects.

The beautiful sunrise view at the highland of Barangay Tasiman, Ma Fil tribal house. 

How to go to Ma Fil Tribal House

Take a bus from Koronadal City going to Surallah, and from Surallah take a PUV going to Lake Sebu and tell the driver to drop you at the town proper. You may now ride a habal-habal and tell him you’ll be going at Ma Fil tribal house. Fare from town proper to tribal house is 50 pesos per head, but if you are a solo traveller you can pay 100 pesos for the ride.

The good thing in riding habal-habal is because you can ask them to stop if you want to take pictures and while on your way to tribal house they will tell you a story about their place, where to go and what the best places to dine-in.

It’s so nice to share your blessing to other people, especially the children’s. We may not been all gifted by a fortunate life, but what matters most is life must still goes on. Let’s cherish every moment we have for life is so fragile and short.


Thanks so much Mam Sherlyn Diaz Reyes for inviting us to join the gang, we are grateful to be part of this meaningful activity. God bless to all who support the activity that made it successful.

For more travel adventure like us on Facebook for updates.

Team Bundol 4th ECO Trek

Started by a group of neighborhood friends, and an outdoor enthusiast based in Poblacion Alabel, Sarangani Province a group name TEAM BUNDOL was born. BUNDOL was originated from the Hiligaynon term for “slow” or “awkward” later on, as the group grows in number and has been renowned by the society BUNDOL is now an acronym for Backpacker United for the Defense of Life. Since the group started way back on the year 2011 they had organized various activities that support education by providing school supplies to schools located in the remote area of Sarangani Province. And now it became an annual activity called ECO TREK, partnered with local organizations and other mountaineering group who shares the same advocacy.

The following are the objectives of ECO Trek, as stated by Sir Ariel Lalisan President of Team Bundol on his interview with Yadu Karu.

ECO TREK Objectives:

a) To promote responsible mountaineering while discovering potential eco- tourism attractions in the province;
b) To initiate various actions for environmental conservation and protection;
c) To support education by delivering books and school supplies to schools in far flung barangays and sitios; and 
d) To inspire other mountaineering organizations to do similar efforts.

The said activity is now on its 4th year, last November 28-29, 2014 ECO Trek was held at Sitio Fallel, Kiamba, Sarangani Province. Mountaineers from different groups and places around Mindanao gathered together to extend their support for the team. We assembled at the ECPC Environmental Conservation and Protection Center Building located at Sarangani Provincial Capitol.

During registration at ECPC, we are accommodated by the members of the group.

It’s already 9 in the morning behind schedule when we depart from Provincial Capitol to Kiamba, Sarangani Province. I have never experience attending in an organize event who follows the itinerary schedule. Based on experience it is really difficult to do so, because sometimes there are circumstances that we need to deal first.

Wew! “Huli man at magaling, makakahabol din” it is lunch time already when we arrived at Barangay Tamadang our jump-off point to Falel. The group decided to have their lunch first before continuing the trek, to gain strength before the two hour assault to Purok Falel.

1pm when we started our trek, for the welcome we need to cross the river, you have to be very extra careful because the current was strong especially when it rains.

We are also task to carry school supplies and tree sibling needed for reforestation one of the main objectives of ECO Trek. And here’s my share. ^_^

Hahaha feel so tired that I need to carry a stick. :p Word of advice make sure that you are physically fit when going for an outdoor adventure. Jog at least 30mins a day for two weeks, this will give you enough stamina to go on.

At last! Before it gets dark we arrived at Falel Elementary School that serves us our Campsite. We fetch our tent and rest to catch our breath. We also prepare for the next activity.

Purok Falel has a tradition where they will put an unfortunate new born child in a hanging coffin that died during the labor. Because they believe that the soul of the unfortunate who have not eaten any food and crawl on the surface will go directly to heaven. A culture that has been practiced and passed to them century ago. I wasn't able to capture a nice picture because the coffin is unrecognizable and already rotten.

On our way to hanging coffin, it is a three minutes trek from the campsite.

After visiting the infamous hanging coffin, here comes the main purpose of ECO Trek. We assembled the kids to give school supplies and organized small games to entertain them. A hot soup for a cold and tiring afternoon is also prepared by TEAM Bundol to serve a hungry stomach.

At the end of the day, the activity was successfully held, reforestation, distribution of school supplies and feeding program. Thanks so much to TEAM Bundol and to all the participants who support the activity. It was indeed simple but the happiness it brought to the young kids is priceless. 

For more travel adventure like us on Facebook for updates.

Hearts Day Outreach and Feeding

February is the month where we celebrate Valentine’s Day, some say it’s the month of love. In its place of the traditional dating with love ones and partners I choose to join Earth Panic Environment Club Activity themed “Gugma Sa Kinaiyahan Tabang Sa Katawhan”, I think this would be the best thing to share love with someone. This activity will endow with charity to young children lives in Barangay Bagong Silang, San Jose, General Santos City. Charity is very important, because it teaches us to care for those who are less fortunate. And also teach us compassion and empathy.

Packed and loaded with goods our truck is now ready to go, heading to Barangay Bagong Silang.

As we travel to our destination, troublesome incident happened. Due to so many heavy loads in our truck, it had a hard time driving into an elevated area that end us trapped in the place. We have no choice but to unload our bags and walk to a nearby sitio to ask some help.

Finally after an hour of waiting for help, another truck came to rescue and helped us to tow our stranded truck.  And thank God we arrived at Barangay Bagong Silang safe and sound.

At the front gate of the school a young little boy caught my attention, selling tilapia. I ask him how much he sells it; he said it cost 50 pesos for 6 pieces of tilapia no matter how big and small it is. That’s cheap in the City it cost 80 pesos per kilo or more so I brought one, now we have a yummy fresh tilapia ready to be grill for dinner.

On our way going inside the school we are welcomed by these young innocent little children’s.

After we fixed our things and have a 30 minutes rest, the outreach program was started with parlor games, participated by every little child in the Barangay.

Numerous games have been prepared for the children headed by the staff of EPEC group and Ms. Riza.

Hmnnn.. I smell something that makes my stomach growl from hunger. Now I know the reason why, this is the most waited moment for everyone. Snack time! ^_^ Riza is also celebrating her birthday that day, so the perfect partner is hot spaghetti and juice.

Cute little innocent kiddies are waiting for the staff to start the distribution of yummy spaghetti.

At last together with the local teacher, she helped us organized the children’s to form a line orderly.

Hey! Hey! What are you guys doing in the line? They said little children not a big cold blooded Ogre.

A young boy patiently waiting for his plate to be filled with hot spaghetti.

Local teacher assisted the children waiting for their turn, while the EPEC staff is busy distributing foods.

It was indeed a tiring day, but the happiness we brought to the children is incomparable and priceless. I love looking to the children with the smile on their face. They are filled with curiosity and very innocent. I wanted to be back another time in Barangay Bagong Silang and have a bonding moment with those kid’s. Thanks so much EPEC Team for organizing the said activity and also to the group of mountaineers who gave donations, clothes, toys and foods.