Philippines, Basilan Island House

The homes of the Bajaus, the "sea nomads," are not actually on the island, but right in front: stilts planted over the ocean, next to the mangroves that protect and enliven the coast. Formidable freedivers, the sea is their life. But for a long time, the large island of Basilan, the southernmost tip of the Philippines, has been not just a refuge, but truly a "home."

Twenty-one years ago, inspired here too by our close friend Father Renato Rosso, a missionary among the world's nomads, the Pastoral Care of the Nomads was born, along with the mission of the Filipino Claretian Fathers among these people "on the periphery of the world" and of society. Step by step, they developed a broad program with the primary objective of schooling and educational support for children, later extended as far as possible to adults. Along with the need to develop livelihood and income opportunities, centered around the traditional activity of fishing.
At the same time, our meeting: as Sermig, we helped this project to be born and, throughout this time, contributed to it reaching where it is today. Amid difficulties and severe challenges, but always with hope and seizing every opportunity to spread the work initially developed in Maluso, the island's main town, and then in many other communities scattered throughout the Pangasaan region.

There have been many extreme difficulties and challenges: a long war between separatists and the central government, followed by violence and banditry; two project leaders were kidnapped for 40 days. Despite all the risks, everyone, priests and workers, have always remained close to the Bajau; Father Renato has not failed to visit them. Recurring typhoons still batter the simple structures.

Now the essentially peaceful situation allows regular school attendance, and a regular delivery of educational support, carefully tailored to each individual's needs, through community training meetings. Awareness of health care has grown, starting with maintaining hygiene and living conditions.
The family economy relies on traditional fishing, but it is severely impacted by "industrial" fishing boats and climate change. To support it, a microcredit program, a fair trade market, and smoking stations to preserve the catch have been activated. To diversify, the artistic and joyful traditional craftsmanship of working with plant fibers is increasingly promoted.

Building communities, sharing among neighbors, peaceful relationships with other communities in the area: dignity, that of children of God, even for the "nomads of the sea."

We are at a "finish line"; Thanks to the passionate service of the Claretian Fathers who have succeeded one another in the mission, especially in recent years, it has begun to benefit from the support, even significant—and well-placed—trust, of various local non-governmental organizations, and good collaboration with the local authorities. This is, in a sense, the goal of all our interventions: to develop the life of a project, promoting the capacity of the people involved, and involving all other local energies around it, until a stable living condition is achieved, with as much autonomy as possible.

This successful experience also opens the way to continuing, together with Father Renato, other interventions among nomads around the world, such as the one already underway in Madagascar, among the Bara people.


Mauro Palombo
NP May 2025

Sermig Re.Te. Association for Development
IBAN: IT29 P030 6909 6061 0000 0001 481