"Bob", is a young man with an incredible desire to lead his people. He is the second son of one of the most respected elders of the Ata tribe in southern Philippines. Early 2016, seeing his potential as a young leader of the tribe, the iEmergence team invited Bob to work with them in their journey of developing Panuluanan, a traditional place for learning culture, among his own people.
Bob began to share how he is slowly finding purpose in his journey with his people. Bob explains: "It is different when you are helping your own tribe. There is great joy." It was this time that people around him began to see a change in him.
Roel Arthur Ali III, known fondly as "Bob", is a young man with an incredible desire to lead his people. He is the second son of one of the most respected elders of the Ata tribe in southern Philippines. Although he was born in a village in the mountains of Paquibato, he grew up in the city of Davao. When the iEmergence team first met Bob, he was a shy kid but a very respectful one. During conversations, he would only sit behind his father and listen intently, and would speak only if he was asked to. More often, we would see Bob playing traditional musical instruments such as the bangkakaw and kuglung. Music was more his safe space.
Early 2016, seeing his potential as a young leader of the tribe, the iEmergence team invited Bob to work with them in their journey of developing Panuluanan, a traditional place for learning culture, among his own people. In their visits to the community, he began to share how he is slowly finding purpose in his journey with his people. Bob explains: "It is different when you are helping your own tribe. There is great joy."
It was this time that people around him began to see a change in him. We began to call him 'Bob the Builder' because he was helping build this space of learning. The title started in jest but it eventually became his identity in the tribe, especially among the younger generations.
He now helps organize meetings and conversations with elders and community leaders, and shares his thoughts so openly. Aside from this, Bob has also found delight in another craft other than music. It is amazing to see his eagerness to learn to visually document their journey behind the camera so others may also come to appreciate their culture.
From being a timid young man, Bob has grown to be an emerging leader of the community and an inspiration to other Ata youth. Younger ones now look up to him and are encouraged to learn, engage and appreciate their unique identity as God's gift to their tribe.
Adapted with permission from Indigenews, February 2017 © Indigenous Pathways
