Part of Former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes A. Sereno's itinerary in our town was to see some of the Mangyan Communities. She was able to visit Mangyan Education Center (MEC), and Bato-ili Buhid Community last August 31 and September 1 respectively.

In the afternoon on the day of her arrival, CJ Sereno toured at MEC, a community extension of DWCSJ and home of the IP scholars from the six tribes of Alangan, Tao-Buhid, Buhid, Hanunuo, Ratagnon and Gubatnon. Lenei Cusi, a former MEC scholar, a BEEd graduate from DWCSJ and currently doing her one-year return service, led the tour around the community located at Teachers Village. Lenei showed CJ Sereno their Balay-Adalan, Lutuan, Balay-Tinapayan, Computer Laboratory, Holtzgartner Girl's Dormitory, Boy's Dormitory, Balay-Karan-an, Faduksay Fagtungkudan or Visiting Center, and CJ Sereno was also able to have a glimpse of their palay farm, botanical garden and piggery. CJ Sereno and her staff purchased Mangyan handicrafts or Gawang Kamay ng Samahan ng mga Manghahabing Katutubong Alangan ng Kumiray (SAMAKAKU) such as balulang, basket, nito plates, and trays #SupportLocal. Ms. Baticados donated five truck-load of gravel to be flattened in the community's facade.

In the afternoon after the Youth Summit, CJ Sereno went to Batasan. She was accompanied by Mr. Omar O. Cunanan from San Jose Tourism Office; the police escorts headed by Provincial Director Jun Dexter Danao; Ms. Eileen Matute and Ms. Ruth Tablate, staff from the B1M team; Ms. Ainah Baticados, lead convenor of #Illuminate2023 Occidental Mindoro Youth Summit; Ms. Ana Mae Tividad, OSA Director of Divine Word College of San Jose and some of the student facilitators. CJ Sereno took pics at the Devil's Mountain; however, she was not able to capture the Bato-ili because of the rain. CJ Sereno also visited the Bato-ili Mangyan Buhid Community, one of the tourists spots for cultural immersion. She was greeted by the Indigenous Peoples and sang "Igway", a Mangyan song. "Ang ganda ng kanta nila. Very meaningful yung interrelation nila with the nature and how they see everything as a gift from their creator," she commented.

Afterwards, the community showcased the different handloom products and beaded holders crafted by the members of the Samahan ng mga Kababaihang Buhid para sa Gawaing Kamay. The said community houses the handloom weaving center where a 21-year-old is the youngest tutee. CJ Sereno also met Mr. Venerando Garlitos, trainer from Godgiven Handloom Trading. "Sa handloom po, dalawa lang; Naibuan at Bato-ili." He informed that the weavers are neophytes because they are more into backstrap loom. The handlooms are turned over by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in partnership with the Local Government Unit of San Jose.

- The Pioneer