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Tag: #BARMM

When Leaders Come Together, Children Win

Posted on by Florendo Guevara

What made the difference in the recent Regional Education Council (REC) dialogue in Davao City?

It was the unexpected yet unprecedented presence of the important leaders who possess a unique blend of gravitas, confidence, and authenticity that captivates and inspires those around them. They command attention of others who listen intently to what, why and how they do things.

Synergeia has always expressed its belief in the transformative power of leadership presence in the work it does with local leaders and communities. Its founder and chief mentor, Dr. Milwida Guevara, never hesitated to ask, probe and manifest disappointment in situations where the Governor or the Mayor is MIA- missing in action. And why is that?

Because Synergeia values leadership presence as it HELPS:

HASTENS the building of trust and connection with their teams on a deeper level.

ENABLES leaders to inspire confidence and motivate others to take action.

LEADS teams to effectively navigate difficult situations and communicate their vision and goals.

PROVIDES a more visible stamp of interest and support of leaders to initiatives that address issues and challenges of communities.

SETS a culture of collective participation, engagement and collaboration in communities.

During the BARMM-REC meeting, the leaders were present. They were there to connect meaningfully with their stakeholders, listen emphatically to the problems at hand, share experiences and insights on actual cases, strengthen partnerships and cooperation and move forward with concrete actions.

The powerhouse of leaders included:

  • DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian (Former Synergeia Mayor/Education Champion)
  • DILG Richard Villacorte , Director of Support to Local Governance Development (SLGP)
  • Former Mayor Oscar Moreno / Chairman of Northern Mindanao REC
  • 3 BARMM Members of Parliament and 1 Vice Governor (All former Mayors and partners of Synergeia)
  • 24 Mayors and Vice Mayors from Central Mindanao, Lanao del Sur and Sulu

It was an extraordinary moment where leadership presence made the REC to shine as a potent tool for education governance and pushed the agenda of raising reading competencies and literacy to the limits of infinite possibilities.

This is where the REC can really move education to new frontiers of innovation, change and commitment.

Truly, when leaders come together, our children win!

BARMM’s REC In Action

Posted on by Florendo Guevara

Finally, the regional education councils in BARMM broke through and refreshed expectations about where the future of its education mission is heading.

Its Regional Education Council or REC, fueled by renewed vitality, optimism and forward-looking outlook and instilled with the spirit of Synergeia’s belief in BARMM’s capacity for change, proved its significance and critical role in shaping and nurturing the education and learning capabilities of its young students, particularly in boosting reading performance.

The agenda of the RECs was rich and powered by 56 attendees of strong governance backgrounds which resulted in an open and engaging discussion of insights, perspectives and actions on its uptake of pressing education issues and challenges besetting its education plan and programs.

These attendees included,

  • DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian (Former Synergeia Mayor/Education Champion);
  • DILG Director Richard Villacorte, Support to Local Governance Development (SLGP);
  • Former Mayor Oscar Moreno
  • 3 BARMM Members of Parliament and 1 Vice Governor; and
  • 24 Mayors and Vice Mayors from Central Mindanao, Lanao del Sur and Sulu.

Clearly, the REC as a potent mechanism for change and transformation in education cannot be overlooked. The sharing of experiences, including that of Valenzuela City in the effective implementation of its reading program and the success of the Proof of Concept initiative in the Province of Iloilo, triggered a collective buy-in of how BARMM, through the REC, can scale-up its education innovations and ultimately follow the path of these model local communities.

Guardians of the Lake: Abdila’s Story

Posted on by synergeia

At 4:30 every morning, long before the sun casts its golden reflection on Lake Buluan, Abdila Dalib is already preparing for his daily rounds. At 42, he wears many hats: a father to six children, a husband to a wife working abroad, and a garbage collector in the lakeside municipality of Mangudadatu, Maguindanao del Sur.

His story isn’t just one of survival—it’s one of quiet heroism.

With limited job opportunities in their community, Abdila’s wife made the difficult decision to work as a domestic helper in the Middle East. Her remittances are a lifeline, but they’re not enough to sustain a growing family. That’s where Abdila’s job comes in—not only as a means of livelihood, but as a pillar of their children’s education.

But being a garbage collector in Mangudadatu is no ordinary task.

Armed with only one garbage truck for over 4,000 households, Abdila and his team serve a community riddled with challenges. The lake, once a source of beauty and bounty, now receives waste from unmanaged open pits, worsened by floods that wash unsegregated trash from the uplands down into its waters.

And then there’s the danger.

Some of the villages Abdila visits are home to armed groups, using the lake’s pathways to evade conflict and arrest. Bullet casings sometimes mix with food waste and plastic wrappers—silent reminders of the risks Abdila faces just to do his job.

Yet he continues. Every day. With dignity.

Because for Abdila, this work is not just about collecting garbage—it’s about protecting the lake, the heart of their community.

When he separates and weighs PET bottles and explains to families why it matters, some laugh. Others listen. But Abdila doesn’t mind. He knows that education begins with example, and for every child that sees a garbage collector treat waste like it has value, a seed of awareness is planted.

The sale of PET bottles brings in a little extra cash—a small relief on top of a meager wage—but more than that, it gives him hope. Hope that the community will learn. Hope that the lake will heal. Hope that his children will inherit not a problem, but a solution.

As Abdila puts it:
“We are not just collecting garbage—we are guarding the lake. We are stewards of our home, for our children and the generations to come.”

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