CHAPTER I

PROJECT BACKGROUND

A. The Project
The Philippines has a total land area of 30 million hectares. Half of the country is
hilly and mostly categorized as a Forest Zone and part of the Public Domain. 15% of
the country’s total population is etnolinguistic which composes of 160 groups. The
Philippines is slowly losing its forest cover and has to cope with the influx of mining
activities in the uplands even in the coastal area continuous development of tourism-
related facilities like hotel and resort also affect some of the IP’s living and relying on
the coastal area of the Philippines. The Indigenous People represent nearly 14% of the
country’s population. They are among the poorest and disadvantaged social group in
the country. Illiteracy, unemployment, and incidence of poverty are much higher among
them than the rest of the population. IP settlement is remote, without access to basic
services, and are characterized by a high incidence of morbidity, mortality, and
malnutrition.
In the Philippines, there are 160 group of indigenous or ethnic tribes found on
different regions. The indigenous people are descendants of the original inhabitants of
the Philippines. Each group has a distinct culture, traditions, and language. They are
groups of people living rather in a traditional way. One of this group is the Badjao or
Bajau which means man of the seas, this tribal group is known as the sea gypsies
because they moved with the wind and the tide on their small houseboat called
“Vintas”, they can be found in many coastal settlements and inhabit the waters and
shores of the Sulu archipelago. A legend tells that these tribal group came from the
shores of Johore in Indonesia, princess Ayesha of Johore was betrothed to a Sulu
sultan but she really wanted to marry the Sultan of Brunei. One day, a large fleet of war
boats escorted the Princess to Sulu, the fleet was intercepted by the man she really
loved, the sultan from Brunei. The escorting fleet could not return without the princess
and kept on sailing the seas, only mooring, and uninhabited islands; some of them
turned to piracy and roamed the seas to search for fortune and glory. Others only
searched for food and became fishermen, the Sulu Sea had an abundance of fish that
helped them sustain their livelihood. The Badjao’s still live in houseboats, clustered
near the coastline of Southern Mindanao and other coastal parts of the Philippines. But
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they also built stilt houses near fertile fishing grounds; these houses are the temporary
refuge during times that these boathouses need repairs. These wanderers of the
Southern seas are born on the water, live on their boats and say they will only set foot
on land only to die.
There is a small barangay in the province of Batangas were a Badjao community is
found, In Brgy. Malitam in Batangas City there are 200 families of Badjao which started
only in 2 families 2 decades ago. The community is located on the mouth of
Calumpang River towards Batangas Bay, fishing is the main source of livelihood but
some are already employed. Due to the onslaught of typhoon Nina in Dec.2016, the
mouth of Calumpang River has widened and some the houses in the area were
destroyed causing the Badjao to move to further inland. There are existing problems
due to the undeveloped community and poor planning techniques some of the badjao’s
culture was gone due to the needs of their family which can only be sustain in living on
lands rather than living on boats and go on the different coastal part of the Philippines
to search for good fortune. Thru interview respondents identified these problems
within their community:
1. Unstable source of income and poverty
Like the normal people of a community Badjao’s needs to finance their
survival needs such as water, food, and shelter. Fishing is their main
source of income but due to a disaster like strong typhoon and storm
surge and the decline in fish catch due to water pollution they are
having a hard time collecting money for their needs.
2. Illiteracy
Almost all of the older generation of Badjaos is illiterate. Respondent
said that they were unable to read and write because they were not
sent to school by their parents back then. Badjaos experience
discrimination and self-fulfilling prophecy. They were tagged as a slow
learner. Badjao kids also experience bullying that’s why some of them
are tired of going to school.
3. High Population rate
For the Badjao resident “the more people in the community, the
merrier”. These are one of the unseen problems in the badjao
community and one of the root cause of this problem is the early
marriage. There is a Christian-teaching Ministry that is locally situated
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 in the Badjao community since 2001. It helps residents to become
educated by providing scholarship, school supplies, and financial
assistance, especially moral and spiritual support.
4. Lack of security of tenure
Badjao community is of the most affected when it comes to the impact
of climate change. The rising of sea level and strong typhoon displace
badjao and push them to find another safe place since they are
always looking for a place near the sea. Their anxiety is that the
government might use the land where they occupy and that they will
have to go back to Mindanao. Their nightmare is to be in a war zone
once again.

5. Unmanaged solid waste and degraded natural resources

This community needs to learn the principle of solid waste
management thru a Material Recovery Facility (MRF). Respondents
agreed that the situation of the mangroves in their area is worst
instead of being a source of food it became a polluted mangrove area
because of garbage. Lack of hygiene is also a main issue; poops and
pees are everywhere. These are causing the health of the surrounding
ecosystem to decline. This is also a threat to the health of the
community because the

presence of solid waste means polluted groundwater source, the

stinking smell makes the air difficult to breathe.

6. Poor hygiene
Badjao’s need comfort room and a source of water. There were public
toilets in the community but the locals do not utilize these because
maintenance is an issue. Poverty is also a hindrance for them to buy
basic toiletries such as soap and tissue. The locals wash their clothes
in the Calumpang River. They rarely buy clean water for they have to
pay one peso (P1.00) for every gallon.

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 7. Lack of source of electricity
Badjao’s pay five pesos (P.5.00) per jar of oil in order to light their
house in the evening that goes from 7 pm to 10 pm. They have to
sleep early and stop all their activities by the time their lights run out.
Children have to work their assignments using dim light that’s why
they are having a hard time working after the electricity runs out. They
hardly focus on studying their subjects because of lack of electricity.
8. Poor water source
Residence in this Badjao community directly drink water that they buy
from the supplier. However, they boil water that is for consumption of
their children. They health might be at risk if they failed to do this.

These badjao’s built their stilts houses on land near the coast of Batangas bay
facing the sea their houses are made up of bamboo and wood and some have G.I
sheet roof. Fishing is their main source of livelihood they also sell some jewelry and
pearls. Unmanaged waste management caused them a non-hygienic environment
which can be harmful for them. Their community is also prone to storm surge and
strong winds because they are barely facing the Batangas Bay that’s why every time
that there is a tropical storm the Local Government of Batangas City is asking them to
evacuate for their safety. A good planning and zoning of their houses and other
facilities for different purposes will help them to live innovatively and harmonious
because this badjao tribe is also a Filipino that needs to live normally and help them
remove or eliminate the discrimination they are facing because of poverty and illiteracy.

B. Project Objectives
Malitam Badjao Village aims to develop a community of Badjao IP’s that will
help them lived normal and conserved their culture at the same time, lessen the
impact of poverty and illiteracy and eliminate the discrimination to the Badjao
Tribe.
 To develop an indigenous community that will conserve the Badjao’s
culture and give an ideal shelter that can be called home.
 To contribute architectural solutions through proper orientation and usage
of buildings in helping solve social and other community problems.

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C. The Client
Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation Inc.
Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation Inc. (GK) was
formally established in 2003, but the work began as early as 1994 in Bagong
Silang Caloocan City the biggest squatters relocation site in Metro Manila.
Since then it has expanded its work to over 2,000 organized communities and
has been adopted in other developing nations.
Batangas City Local Government
The City envisions a sustainably developed Badjao community: a well-
established eco-village that creates opportunities for the local residents to
augment their quality of life while preserving their culture and beliefs and
becoming productive citizens of the City without compromising the health of
the available natural resources around them.

D. Project Scope and Limitations

In general, the focus of this study is directed towards the design of a community for
the Badjao in Brgy.Malitam this will include the study of Badjao’s way of living, culture
and beliefs. This Badjao community will help the Badjao residence of Brgy.Malitam to
be productive citizens of the City and eliminate from them the discriminations and
illiteracy rate through the help of this community project. The researcher also aims to
change the perception of many Filipinos to a Badjao community or group. The
research delimits to the location of temporary relocation site for the Badjao during the
construction of Malitam Badjao Village because the Local government unit will take
care of it as this was a joint venture project of Gawad Kalinga and the local
government of Batangas City and Brgy.Malitam

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Project Development

Applicable design and planning

History of Badjao tribes, techniques, sustainable
their culture and traditions practices, eco-friendly design
and how they survive their for the Badjao houses.
daily life in the different
setting of community

An innovative and productive Badjao community that conserve their

culture and traditions and the natural resources surrounding their
community at the same time.

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