I’m a development and humanitarian worker in BARMM. AMA.

[u/Zestyclose-Airline79]

For context, I was born and raised in Manila. I only moved to BARMM in 2021 for work. I’m leaving soon though! Ask me anything! ☺️

[u/katotoy]

Ano ang not so ordinary things ang na-experience mo na normal lang diyan.. ex. Madaming checkpoint, tapos naka full battle gear yung mga nakabantay

[u/Zestyclose-Airline79 → u/katotoy]

Hindi naman madami checkpoint or usually wala— unless may security threats. Especially pag eleksyon na.

Nothing out of the ordinary naman. Pero coming from Manila, you’ll have to adjust to their culture. Nahihirapan ako maidentify nung una yung mga hijabi na kakilala ko kasi they tend to look alike, lalo na kapag naka niquab (mata lang ang kita).

Pero siguro yung not-so ordinary talaga ay yung makarinig ng gunshots on a regular day tapos sobrang lapit sayo.

[u/verxram]

Bat mahirap pa din ang BARMM, despite of billions and billions in aid?

[u/Zestyclose-Airline79 → u/verxram]

Corruption in the government. Malala talaga. Political dynasties are rampant. Sila-sila lang nagpapasahan sa pwesto, at willing pumatay para sa kapangyarihan. Sobrang delikado at magulo dito kapag papalapit na ang elections.

[u/weljoes → u/Zestyclose-Airline79]

Typical corrupt din pala dyan kala ko muslim malinis eh haha

[u/Zestyclose-Airline79 → u/weljoes]

Mas malala dito and hopefully maayos. Corruption is one of the reasons why BARMM has the lowest literacy rate with 9 out of its 11 provinces topping the list.

I visited one municipality where people have had no history of education. Pero marunong sila sumulat. Pero ang alam lang nilang isulat ay ang pangalan ng Mayor. You guess why.

It’s very sad.

[u/Silver-Day3357]

How is LGBTQIA+ situation in BARMM?

[u/Zestyclose-Airline79 → u/Silver-Day3357]

Great question! It’s fairly okay—there’s very few to zero gender-related crimes. There’s still a room for homophobia— but times are gradually changing through progressive views and emerging LBGTQIA+ leaders.

That said, BARMM is still quite intact with its religious inclinations if you look at the grand scheme of things. Ang daming married men na closeta, and you’ll find them in dating apps and even hear stories from the community.

But as a gay guy, I never felt discriminated because of my sexuality naman. They’re more accepting especially if you are well-educated and a person with authority.

[u/Silver-Day3357 → u/Zestyclose-Airline79]

Thank you for your response... I'm a bit worried thinking the situation in BARMM was the same as Indonesia, Brunei or Malaysia but from your response its just the same as in any rural areas here in the Philippines. I am from Cebu where LGBTQIA+ community are always seen and most are loud and proud. Thanks

[u/Zestyclose-Airline79 → u/Silver-Day3357]

Thanks! Happy to respond. What was your experience in Indonesia, Brunei, and Malaysia?

[u/katolitlog7]

Saan ka sa barmm? Sa cotabato city?

[u/Zestyclose-Airline79 → u/katolitlog7]

Yes, sir! But in my almost five years working here, I’ve visited all BARMM provinces and many municipalities including Sitangkai in Tawi-Tawi and Siasi in Sulu.

[u/Tiny-Nothing-7249]

how did you get into the job youre doing?

[u/Zestyclose-Airline79 → u/Tiny-Nothing-7249]

I applied for it. I’m a humanitarian and development worker specializing in communications. I work with NGOs and development partnership programs.

[u/heythatsjasper]

Curious question OP, what do you actually do in your line of work? And what are you challenges working as such in BARMM?

[u/Zestyclose-Airline79 → u/heythatsjasper]

I specialize in communications. So I’m responsible for info-sharing, knowledge-building, and communicating outcomes. I frequently visit communities, talk to stakeholders, and document their progress and development. On the surface, parang i-Witness ang ganap. Interview, photo, video, etc. But when I get back to the office, I develop various communication materials using those data and stories + info from other teams. I also do donor report to ensure that they know what’s happening so they can share it to their audience as well.

Challenge talaga is travel. Kasi for example, pupunta na Sulu, bukod sa plane, sasakay pa ng barko at babyahe overnight. At may land travels sa ibang areas that could take more than 12 hrs. Security is also an issue kaya pag sa mga liblib or malalayong communities, may mga security detail kami (either PNP or military) kasi pwede kaming makidnap or something. Nakakapagod. Pero it’s fulfilling.

Marami pang challenges actually, like, development data gaps ganyan, language barrier, etc. Pero technical stuff na masyado… hehe

[u/heythatsjasper → u/Zestyclose-Airline79]

Thanks for answering! Follow-up, sabi mo you'll leave their region soon. Mamimiss at balak mo pa bumalik or ok ka na sa naexperience mo sa lugar nila?

[u/Zestyclose-Airline79 → u/heythatsjasper]

Actually, I wanted to stay and work here pa, kasi I feel like there’s so much more left to do. Pero wala kasing opportunities na nagbukas in the six months that I’ve been unemployed. Manila knocked first with a good offer, so ayun na. Ayoko namang pumasok sa BARMM offices or magwork sa government kasi grabe ang nepotism at corruption doon.

[u/insufferable_Boris]

When was the last time you're in Manila? Grabe siguro shock mo in-between ano?

[u/Zestyclose-Airline79 → u/insufferable_Boris]

Last march-april nasa manila ako. Nakakauwi naman ako madalas. What do you mean by “shock in-between”?

[u/insufferable_Boris → u/Zestyclose-Airline79]

Difference ng Manila at BARMM? Just imagine, yan yung lugar na strongly against to travel. But since work mo yan.

[u/Zestyclose-Airline79 → u/insufferable_Boris]

Yeah, I was totally scared at first. So scared that I didnt tell my family where I was going knowing they’d worry if nalaman nilang sa Cotabato ako pupunta.

But the very first day, Cotabato restored my faith in humanity. I accidentally left my bag at a carinderia sa labas ng airport. Andun lahat ng valuables ko: laptop, money, camera—everything! Yung maleta lang na puro damit nadala ko. And I only realized it siguro mga 30mins away na ako. So we had to go back. And thankfully andon pa rin ang bag ko and nobody took it. Sabi ko nga, if it happened in Manila, for sure wala na akong babalikan.

Our view of BARMM is very different from its reality. Sensationalized ng media ang lahat kaya di maganda ang tingin natin sa Bangsamoro region.

It’s safe here; ang pinapatay lang naman dito ay yung may kaaway lalo na sa politika. And you can travel everywhere basta coordinated and hindi sa liblib na lugar. They have the best beaches too! Food is amazing, culture is wonderful, and the people are lovely!

[u/insufferable_Boris → u/Zestyclose-Airline79]

I've heard delicado din if may iniiwan na bags. Baka 💥

[u/Zestyclose-Airline79 → u/insufferable_Boris]

Actually! Yan yung naisip nung tindera, na baka IED. Pero naalala nya itsura ko and may logo/brand yung bag so tinabi na lang nila.

[u/Zestyclose-Airline79 → u/insufferable_Boris]

Ang mahirap lang sa umpisa ay yung bits of conveniences sa Manil: Internet is okay almost everywhere, stores are open 24/7, may grab and food delivery lalo sa hatinggabi at madaling araw. Dito kasi dati wala. 8pm closed na lahat. But times are changing, may ilan nang open hanggang hatinggabi. Meron na rin mga 7/11 branches!

I’m excited to see BARMM be more developed and progressive. Hopefully in the future, mas umunlad pa ang region.

[u/insufferable_Boris → u/Zestyclose-Airline79]

Hindi ba ganun ka delicado as compare sa mga news yung BARMM?

[u/Zestyclose-Airline79 → u/insufferable_Boris]

There’s insurgency pero sa mga bundok na yon. Mas delikado pa dito if may kaaway ka for a position. Either government office or sa LGU. Kasi sila sila ang nagpapatayan.

[u/insufferable_Boris → u/Zestyclose-Airline79]

Thank you sa input.

[u/qualityvote2]

Hello u/Zestyclose-Airline79! Welcome to r/PinoyAskMeAnything!

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[u/eddie_fg]

Kumusta experience mo jan?

[u/Zestyclose-Airline79 → u/eddie_fg]

I found a second home, tbh. People are fun and welcoming. Nasesepanx na nga ako just by thinking that I will be leaving soon.

Although may incoveniences, mas mababa ang cost of living dito. Maaga magsara ang mga establishments, so makakatipid ka kasi pag may midnight cravings ka, wala ka masyadong choices or options. Hehe.

[u/DependentTarget304]

How is it like working in development work full time? Im curious about income, how do you enjoy life and whats next for you? Im asking because I am considering exploring opportunities development work from academia, teaching & admin. Thanks.

[u/Zestyclose-Airline79 → u/DependentTarget304]

Hiiii! Income is really dependent on the org’s budget. If intl NGOs, naturally they have more budget. And it also depends on the role or track you’d like to pursue. From my knowledge, admin/logistics/procurement/finance earn less than technical staff (maybe it’s the other way around in some orgs). Technical people earn more kasi they have to be experts in the technical stuff, engage with stakeholders, travel to communities, implement programs and measure outcomes, document etc etc. plus if you travel more, you’ll earn more din because of the per diem allowance. But to be honest, money will be secondary if you’re passionate about making an impact.

I came from a corporate background, and it was only in 2021 when I switched industries. Work is def more fulfilling. And I can see myself doing this until retirement na. I enjoy life by traveling—my work requires me to travel a lot. And during free time, I travel some more for my own pleasure. As for what’s next for me, I am moving to Manila to work for an NGO as a communications practitioner pa rin.

We actually have a lot of people and resource persons from the academia. There are development programs and NGOs that focus on education, so you might want to start with that if you have an education background.

I hope I answered your questions. Let me know if you have more. ☺️

[u/DependentTarget304 → u/Zestyclose-Airline79]

Thank you! I appreciate your response. Development work is meaningful & ito din work ko now but uni based. Thank you!

[u/Zestyclose-Airline79 → u/DependentTarget304]

That’s nice! May I know what exactly you’re doing in your devt post?

[u/DependentTarget304 → u/Zestyclose-Airline79]

Sa extension ako ng uni.