MaLITAM BADJAO VILLAGE

Brgy.Malitam, Batangas City, Batangas

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 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.

A. ACIO 1
 MaLITAM BADJAO VILLAGE
Brgy.Malitam, Batangas City, Batangas
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 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.

A. ACIO 2
 MaLITAM BADJAO VILLAGE
Brgy.Malitam, Batangas City, Batangas

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.
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

A. ACIO 3
 MaLITAM BADJAO VILLAGE
Brgy.Malitam, Batangas City, Batangas
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.

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.

A. ACIO 4
 MaLITAM BADJAO VILLAGE
Brgy.Malitam, Batangas City, Batangas

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

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.

A. ACIO 5