About

ABOUT SULADS IN THE PHILIPPINES

WHAT IS SULADS?

SULAD is a Manobo word which means Brother/Sister.

We made an acronym and added S to it.

SULADS (Socio-economic Uplift Literacy Anthropological and Developmental Services) is a Non Government Organization a program sending Para teachers to the interior jungles of Mindanao to reach the unreached tribes with free education. SULADS is duly Accredited Literacy Services with DepED (Department of Education) Region X under the ALS (Alternative Learning System) program.

SULADS has been waving the banner high of the Philippine Government’s thrust in Education “Literacy For All. “

 

SULADS program started in 1969. It was then called SM (Student Missionary) program of Mountain View College fathered by the late Jim Zachary, then professor of Theology. The first Manobo village opened was Dampaan, in Conception, Valencia, Bukidnon. Then it crept through the forest to San Fernando, Bukidnon. The eight active literacy centers in 70’s and 80’s were Durian, Bulalang, Dao, Balaas, Usarayan, Mahayag, all from San Fernando and Sto. Domingo in Quezon, and Dampaan in Conception Valencia, Bukidnon.In 1987 the program was stopped due to financial problems.

In 1994, the program was revived with God’s help having kindhearted donors from the USA to finance the program. Led by Dr. Fred Webb then financial consultant of MVC with former Student Missionaries Daryl Famisaran, Joel Velasco and Alejandro Panes, MVC SULADS reopened the closed ones and opened new territories. At present SULADS has thirty six (36) active literacy centers in eight provinces of Mindanao. 8 in Bukidnon, 8 in Cotabato, 2 in Davao, 5 in Agusan, 3 in Surigao, 2 in Lanao, 3 in Zamboanga, 5 in Tawitawi and 3 High Schools, one in Bukidnon, in Tawitawi and Agusan.

 

The para-teachers don’t cater only to the literacy needs of the children and adults but they are also attending to patients, teach them correct agriculture, assist in civic problems, helping their sitio and barangay leaders, teach them hygiene, teach them to be good citizens of our country the Philippines, and above all teach the value of having an almighty God to worship.

In 1996, the SULADS was registered with the DepEd (Department of Education) Region X and is now recognized by the Government as one of the front liners in educating the tribal groups and eradication of illiteracy, joining the bandwagon, “Education for All”. In 1997, DepEd Region X inspected the SULADS program in Mountain View College and voted the program the most outstanding literacy program in Region X. Daryl F. Famisaran was chosen as the Most Outstanding Literacy Worker in Region X. They entered the SULADS name into the national competition and both the SULADS and Daryl Famisaran again were selected as the most outstanding program and worker in all the Philippines.

 

The program continued on even with unstable finances. But the volunteer teachers with their unwavering commitment emerging into the program, living with the people, adopting to their culture but having no compromise of values.

Daryl Famisaran saw the need of SULADS products in the jungle Literacy Centers to be educated in secondary education level. In 2003 he pioneered in opening a High School for the Lumads (indigenous mountain tribes) high up in the mountains on the foot of the forest in Sto Domingo Lumintao Quezon Bukidnon. Because the Lumads are indigents he proposed that tuition be free. The Manobos donated some 75 hectare land for the students to till so they can have food.

For Daryl serving the people this way is just an ordinary work for him which he enjoys. Little did he know that to others this is extra ordinary that needs recognition.

In 2007 ABS-CBN recognized Daryl Famisaran as Bayaning Pilipino (Philippine Hero) among others and received a Geny Lopez award for “setting aside self for the sake of others” as the evaluators put it.

UPDATES

SULADS STAFF:

CEO - Dr. Alejandro Panes

Program Director - Daryl F. Famisaran

Field Director AMR - Ranny C. De Vera

Ministry for the Deaf – Sarah A. Famisaran

Field Supervisors:

Bobby B. Enabong

Victor L. Paradero Jr

Dev. Officer. Architect Jerry B. Belmonte

Treasurer – Hilson V. Badang

Cashier- Rebecca C. Sugdan

Driver/Mechanic – Edgar P. Sugdan