Defining the News
July 9, 2024, 6:05 pm“As a child, I dreamed of becoming a Disney Princess, but God had a higher plan for me—to be a Blaan Princess. The Blaan tribe adopted me and gave me the name Bai Mebe Kasbakas , which I believe was inspired by the Holy Spirit. It was indeed a blessed day.”
The Blaan people, indigenous to what is now General Santos City, have a rich history intertwined with the Tboli tribe. Their name means “our counterpart tribe.” Traditionally, the Blaan lived in the plains, mountains, and near the ocean. Spanish missionaries first documented them, observing their settlements throughout Mindanao, particularly in central and southern regions.
The first Christian settler in the area was Alberto Olarte, who arrived in 1925 from Baseo, Spain, via Manila. Olarte married a Blaan woman and introduced Christianity to the region. In 1939, the National Land Settlement Administration , led by General Paulino T. Santos, established four settlement districts in the area now known as General Santos City. These districts—Marbel, Tupi, Polomolok, and Lagao—later became part of Northern, Middle, and Southern Koronadal in Cotabato Province.
Despite numerous setbacks, the Blaan people continue their fight to safeguard their cultural heritage amidst historical displacement and ongoing obstacles. Their enduring journey represents a complex but resilient quest for recognition and justice in the face of modern challenges.As a proud woman with indigenous Filipino roots and part of the military, Kristine has projects lined up to collaborate with the Philippine Navy, AFP, and indigenous leaders.
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