Changing the world, one child at a time

by Rachel C. Barawid
(originally published in Manila Bulletin)


A group of reformed youths in Mindanao leave their wasted lives behind to become changemakers in their communities.

Nineteen-year-old Rustie Quintana started living on the streets of Cagayan de Oro City at five. He survived by sniffing rugby, stealing and peddling drugs.

Rhyan Casino, 31, on the other hand, dropped out of school to pursue a gypsy-like lifestyle, going through life with no direction and destination.

High school graduate David Yañez, 20, wanted to continue his studies but could not afford it.

Then one day, the paths of these three outcasts crossed. And they found inspiration, healing, and hope in one another.

Now organized into a group of artisans called Dream Arts Kagay-an, the three and several others like them combine their talents in an arts and crafts business that aims to support themselves and their communities.

Eventually, the group was recognized and awarded a R100,000 grant for their business. Out of more than a hundred aspiring youth groups, Dream Arts was chosen among the top three winners, representing Mindanao in the "I am a Changemaker" project grant competition of the British Council.

WASTED LIVES

Rustie and his older brother ran away from home and grew up on the streets. But at seven, Rustie found himself abandoned when his brother was jailed for stealing food. He was then forced to support himself by taking on odd jobs such as washing cars, selling newspapers, balut and other street food. But it just wasn’t enough, so Rustie began stealing, snatching bags, sniffing rugby and doing drugs.

But he still dreamt of going to school even amid the darkness he was surrounded with.

"Pag abot ko ng nine years old, nagdesisyon ako na gusto ko mag-aral. Noon pa lang may ambisyon na ko. Naiinggit ako pag may nakikita akong mga estudyante,’’ Rustie looks back.

Through local and foreign social workers who spent time reading the Bible to him and other streetkids, Rustie realized that he needed to turn away from his old ways. "Kaya isang araw pumunta ako sa police station. Sabi ko gusto ko mag-aral. Hinatid ako sa Mother Teresa Foundation sa Cagayan de Oro at pinag-aral nila ako. One month lang ako nag kinder. Nakita nila magaling ako kaya naaccelerate ako ng Grade 1, tapos Grade 3, tapos Grade 5 kaagad. Pero nung pag Grade 6 ko nagstop ako kasi wala na yung tumulong," recalls Rustie.

A Malaysian non-government organization offered Rustie a scholarship in Malaysia but his brother who escaped from prison, prevented him from going. His friends also disoriented him about the opportunity to study abroad. "Tinatakot ako ng mga kaibigan ko na huwag na daw ako sumama kasi tatadtarin ako dun baka di na ko makauwi. So opportunity na sana yun. Bata pa ko nun kaya naniwala ako," he relates.

He lost the opportunity to continue his studies and his brother again dragged Rustie back into their old life on the streets. "Kapatid ko bine-blame ko talaga kasi kung hindi niya ko ginalaw dun going straight na sana ako," he admits.

But this time, he didn’t get away with it. "Natuto ako mag drugs. Puro kasamaan na ginawa ko, how to get big money. So nag benta ako ng shabu. Runner ako. Everyday malaki bentahan. Tapos nahuli ako sa Iligan nung 14 years old ako."

Rustie could have rotted in the maximum security prison but since he was a minor, he was sent to rehabilitation instead. It was here where he finally reformed as he discovered his worth and developed a relationship with the Lord. Because of a good record, Rustie was able to cut short his five-year sentence. His brother and friends were again waiting for him. But he decided to stick to his decision to change.

"Sawang-sawa na ko sa kasamaan. Inisip ko paglabas ko anong gagawin ko? Pag hindi ko babaguhin sarili ko para akong mabahong isda, babalik na naman. Gusto ko tikman ang kabutihan," reveals Rustie whose friends weren’t lucky enough to survive the jungle in the streets as most of them were salvaged.

STARTING ANEW

Fresh out of rehab, Rustie met Rhyan in a fiesta. Seeing the latter’s painting in an exhibit, Rustie suddenly saw himself in it and understood what it meant. It turned out Rhyan lived carelessly as well, choosing to bum around than finish his studies at the Ateneo de Cagayan.

"Gaya nila nawalan din ako ng direksyon dati. Pero dumating yung point na narealize ko na dapat na ko magbago. Nakilala ko ang Panginoon kaya nabalik ako sa tamang daan. At simula noon, sinikap ko rin na makatulong sa mga taong katulad ko," shares Rhyan who has since been a talented musician, painter and cultural worker of various ethnic tribes in Mindanao.

He later on formed the Dream Arts Kagay-an, a group of artists with exceptional talents in various arts such as painting, music, handicraft-making, and performing. They go around various places particularly in festivals to perform, and sell crafts which are mostly indigenous products they made themselves or sourced from tribal communities. Rustie joined Rhyan’s group and from then on discovered a whole new world that is much kinder to him.

"Ang pakiramdam ko ngayon magaan. Naglalakad ka ng walang takot. Hindi tulad dati na lagi ka nagtatago. Wala ka naaapakan at gumagawa ka ng kabutihan. Youth leader na rin ako sa mga street kids sa amin. Gumagawa kami ng kanta at nagba-Bible study kami," Rustie happily shares, adding that he lives in a dormitory now and not in the streets.

He proudly reported that his brother is a changed man as well. Seeing the change in him, his brother also turned his back from his old ways and started an ukay-ukay business.

The highlight of his new life, Rustie says, is the golden opportunity to go back to school. He just finished taking the Accredition and Equivalency Test under the Alternative Learning System program of the Department of Education in their area and is now awaiting the results. If he passes, Rustie will be able to go to college at Xavier University through a scholarship grant being offered to him by a priest.

FINDING GUIDANCE

David, the youngest in Rhyan’s Dream Arts group, started his life in the right direction but got lost along the way.

Although a member of the Higaonon tribe in Talakag, Bukidnon, David grew up in the city without knowing his culture and traditions. In high school, David was forced to work for his tuition because his mother, a massage therapist, could no longer afford it. His brothers, didn’t want to shoulder that responsibility.

Yet David made good in school and even joined competitions for his skill in drawing and painting. "Gusto ko maging architect or draftsman. Isa akong percussionist at flutist. Mahilig din ako gumawa ng mga crafts, ornaments, bags. At binebenta ko mga native products ko sa Divisoria park sa Cagayan."

But no matter how talented he is, David’s meager earnings from his crafts were not enough to send him to college. They were offers of scholarships but he was forced to decline because he didn’t have money for transportation, food or for projects required in school.

Then, David met Rhyan in one of the trade fairs where they were both selling their wares.

"Niyaya ako ni Kuya Rhyan sumama sa kanya at pumunta sa Malaybalay para magtinda. Sabi ko sarili ko baka eto na yung opportunity na hinihintay ko. Pag ibang tao kasama ko, mabigat pakiramdam ko. Pag siya ang gaan at walang iniisip na masama," he recalls.

"Naisip ko paano yun, hahayaan nalang ba natin hanggang dun na lang ang buhay nila Rustie at David? Magja-janitor ba? I realized may potential sila Rustie at David kaso hindi na cha-channel. Kaya dapat gamitin talento, para makapasok sila sa mainstream of society. Yung Dreams Arts ang naging vehicle for this project," says Rhyan.

Apart from involving them in his arts and crafts business called Dire-Husi, Rhyan also organized them as a pool of performers, according to their talents. Rustie and David act as human statues who perform for audiences in night markets and fairs. Some are fire dancers. Others engage in henna tattooing and quick sketching.

"Sa ganitong paraan, na-channel yung energy ng mga street kids from doing bad to worthwhile things. Higit sa lahat, nabigyan sila ng pagkakataon magbago at mawala ang tingin sa kanila bilang basura sa society," Rhyan says.

ASPIRING FOR BIGGER DREAMS

Through their Dire-Husi business which won the project grant from British Council, Rhyan hopes to fulfill bigger dreams for their group and other youths in Mindanao.

"We want to interconnect indigenous youth artisans to the urban youth fashionistas through our products. Gusto namin na mapatronize din ng mga kababayan natin ang mga katutubong produkto na tulad ng pagpatronize nila sa mga gawa sa ibang bansa," he explains.

He hopes to achieve this by targeting the youths in Manila particularly in high-end universities. Aside from having the money to spend, they can also start a new trend of tribal wear fashion by using their products.

"We want the youth to see the beauty of our native products which even has a meaning based on tribal beliefs. Hopefully, maging catalyst itong grant for the entry of Filipino tribal products into the mainstream market. So local artists in Mindanao can empower themselves and channel their energy from being bums to productive, useful citizens of the society and their communities," he says.

Seeing the transformation of these youths is the ultimate goal of the project, according to Rhyan.

"Ang payo ko sa mga kasama ko, start a new life. Baguhin nila mga pananaw nila sa buhay. What you sow is what you reap. Kung anong tinanim mo ngayon, yun din ang aanihin mo. Kaya kung gagawa ka ng kabutihan tiyak kabutihan din makukuha mo," says Rustie who someday aspires to become a lawyer.

In all these opportunities, Rhyan never fails to remind the people he took under his care, to keep their values intact and remain grounded. They may be enjoying all the attention they were deprived of, but they should never abuse it nor take for granted.

"Kahit magaling na sila magperform at nakikita sa TV, lagi ko sila pinaaalahanan. Lahat kami ay pantay-pantay. Yung kahinaan ko, kalakasan nila. Sama-sama kami sa isang barko at maglalayag patungo sa tagumpay," Rhyan concludes.