Surigao tribes light first ever Christmas tree

The following is a press release from the 3^rd Special Forces “Arrowhead” Battalion, Philippine Army, 

With the free, prior and informed consent from indigenous peoples (IP) leaders, the first ever Christmas tree was lighted at the tribal hall in Sitio Simuwao in Lianga, Surigao del Sur, on Wednesday, November 24.

With the influence of the Christian religious sectors, particularly the Dominican sisters, Aglipayan, Catholic Churches, and various religious missionaries, many of the IP communities were converted and have accepted the tradition of Christmas. 

The community support team worked with the IP community to make a Christmas tree out of recycled materials, further adorned with colorful lights. According to the team, the Christmas tree symbolizes peace, hope, love, and reconciliation which are the virtues obtained from the story of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Felix Tayon, Sitio Kilometer 9 vice chairman and a member of the Malahutayong Pakigbisog Alang sa mga Sumusunod (MAPASU), said that gradually, he could see the positive developmental changes in their community.

“Hindi lang talaga mabigla sa una dahil dati takot talaga kami sa mga sundalo, pero ngayon, unti-unti na kaming nasasanay na kasama sila at nakikita naming ang kaibahan ngayon (At first, we were scared of the military, but now, we gradually get used to being with them and see changes),” Tayon said. 

The support team is composed of the 9th Special Forces “Hounds” Company of the 3rd Special Forces “Arrowhead” Battalion, 41st Civil-Military Operations (CMO) Company and the Philippine National Police Community Relations with the Barangay Local Government of Diatagon, the Sangguniang Kabataan, and the Diatagon Indigenous Peoples’ Mandatory Representative (IPMR). 

Meanwhile, The provincial task force to end local communist armed conflict and the military continues to humbly reach out to the religious sectors and MAPASU to reconcile and work together to attain lasting peace in the Andap Valley Complex, citing that they have one common goal which is to end conflict. – Rappler.com