Wonderful world, beautiful people
Early this year, I was elated to find out that I had been selected as one of the scholars under the international scholarship program of the Society for Conservation GIS. For all the studies and readings we did on different cultures as an anthropology graduate, 2011 was admittedly the first time I found myself in a multi-cultural classroom setting over an extended period of time.
I had a very spatial experience (pun intended) while undergoing training in geographic information systems (GIS) and attending related conferences in California. I was able to learn with and from people from all around the world. Under the program, we had instructors from America and Brazil and classmates coming from a wide gamut of countries from Asia, Latin America, Europe and Africa. What better way to learn geography than with a diverse set of people from different organizations who were all doing conservation work.
My organization uses GIS to assist in community development planning for indigenous peoples, particularly in the creation of maps which aid in managing ancestral domains. Other people I met used GIS to map out protected areas, forest fires and archaeological sites, make habitat models for jaguars, tigers and lemurs, as well as map out species distribution of plants in the Amazon among other place. Meeting people from a variety of fields gave me a wider perspective of the potential and promise of GIS to better understand our world and to make the world understand our concerns and advocacies. Learning about GIS this way was exciting for me as much as it was enlightening.
I had initially thought that one month would be too much time away from home but it turned out to be the opposite. The time we had was too short, as it always is when one is having fun. In that span of time, I acquired new skills in spatial analysis, felt how it was to travel independently abroad for the first time, tasted a microcosm of the world on my plate in potluck style, drank different brews of beer in moderation but to my heart’s content, danced to the tune of an African drumbeat and a Russian folk song, learned a Malagasy song, practiced my Bahasa with Indonesian friends, visited new places and made new friends. It was surreal in a way. I will never forget it.
The opportunity was a dream come true for me. The SCGIS grant provided me a chance to study again, something that I’ve always wanted to do since I graduated but cannot pursue at the moment because of the circumstances of my work. You see, it would be impossible to study for one’s master’s degree while shuttling back and forth from Occidental Mindoro, the field area where I am based, to UP Diliman. Besides, I could not bear to leave in the middle of our project, not when there is still so much work to do and so little time left on our hands. Having been awarded a chance for short-term study was perfect and timely given my situation.
I guess it is true that there are trade-offs to everything; we cannot always get what we want all at the same time. Oftentimes, we find ourselves having to choose between divergent paths and making decisions. At 25, one starts to feel the weight of these choices, especially upon realizing that time isn’t on our side anymore, as it used to be. For now, however, I shelve my worries away, accepting that I can only do so much at a given time and that the choice I made to stay on as a development worker instead of becoming a full-time student again is still worth it, despite the occasional heartaches and stress that comes with the job. Development, after all, is a big concept and a very long process. This much I know from experience.
I also know that at this age I am still pretty young, with plenty of time left to cross out items on the bucket list I made for my life. Perhaps there would be time for long-term study next year or room for some more travel. Who knows? Possibilities are endless. I noticed that life often takes you by surprise and brings you to places you never thought you’d reach, or courses you never thought you’d take up. Sometimes, things just come to you as a serendipitous moment and you find yourself enjoying and staying on for the ride. That was how it was for me with anthropology and now, GIS.
It has been almost two months now since I came back from the US with a suitcase full of pasalubong, gigabytes of photos and happy memories. In retrospect, I would say that it was one of the proudest moments of my life. There I was, iskolar ng bayan turned global scholar, representing the Philippines, albeit for a short period of time, sharing what I know and learning what I can from others so I can undertake the bigger challenge of applying it into action upon returning home.
Anthropologist Margaret Mead once said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has.” As I recall the interactions I had with my classmates-turned-friends during my recent trip and all the amazing people I’ve met in development work, I remember her words and nod in agreement. It feels nice to be part of a global community with a passion for our shared planet. Knowing that there are many people out there committed to causes bigger than themselves inspires me to never give up on the idea of making a difference and learning new, creative ways (such as mapping) to make this happen.
My heart is filled with awe and gratitude for this wonderful world and all the beautiful people in it who are doing what they can, in their own ways, to contribute to saving the earth. One cannot do everything, but I believe each must do his or her part. In this world I have learned that a little something goes a long way and that every effort counts.
Diana Josefa O. San Jose, 25, is a project staff member of Anthropology Watch, a support NGO working with indigenous peoples in the Philippines in ancestral domain delineation and community development planning.
